Amazon Echo Club

[ApK]

None of our devices, including first gen echo and Dot have had this problem, happily.

Anyone see the mention of "whisper mode?" Where if you whisper to Alexa she's supposed to whisper her response? We can't get it to work.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by ApK

None of our devices, including first gen echo and Dot have had this problem, happily.

Anyone see the mention of "whisper mode?" Where if you whisper to Alexa she's supposed to whisper her response? We can't get it to work.

Did you turn on Whisper Response in the Alexa app?

Settings → Alexa Account → Alexa Voice Responses → Whispered Responses.

Whisper Mode can also be enabled by voice, simply by saying “Alexa, turn on whisper mode.”

I tried it on one of my Taps and it works. However, I did have to wait for an Alexa app update before the option appeared.

ETA: She is very quiet when she whispers back! I had to turn the volume way up to hear her. I suspect that is due to listening to too much loud rock & roll in the 1970s as a teenager! Well, that and being old...

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by OtinG

ETA: She is very quiet when she whispers back! I had to turn the volume way up to hear her. I suspect that is due to listening to too much loud rock & roll in the 1970s as a teenager! Well, that and being old...

I hear things, too many things. Voices in the night, whispers in the shadows. I suspect it's due to all of the chemically enhanced sugar cubes I ate in the 60's

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I hear things, too many things. Voices in the night, whispers in the shadows. I suspect it's due to all of the chemically enhanced sugar cubes I ate in the 60's

LOL! Was that part of the CIA's top secret chemically enhanced sugar cubes testing program on monkeys in the 1960s?

[tubemonkey]

No wonder the power bill is so high

[tubemonkey]

The bird wants chicken

[tubemonkey]

Qualcomm Makes It Easier for Manufacturers to Develop Wireless Earbuds and Hearables Featuring Amazon Alexa

Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd, a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM), today announced the industry’s first qualified end-to-end Bluetooth Smart Headset reference design featuring push-button activation support for Alexa for users of Android phones with the Alexa app. Based on Qualcomm Technologies International’s most advanced family of Bluetooth audio chips (QCC5100-series), the reference design includes virtually all the key hardware and software required for manufacturers to help them develop advanced Bluetooth headsets more efficiently and cost-effectively. In addition to support for Alexa, the solution also supports ultra-low power consumption for extended playback time and battery life, as well as Qualcomm® cVc™ noise reduction technology designed for superior audio and voice service capabilities. Manufacturers can also add support for active noise cancellation and Qualcomm® aptX™ HD high-resolution wireless audio.

The Qualcomm® Smart Headset Development Kit is the first Bluetooth Smart Headset reference design built with support for the Alexa Mobile Accessory Kit, a protocol that runs over Bluetooth and is designed to allow users to easily connect Bluetooth-enabled audio devices with Alexa via the Alexa app. This means device makers no longer need to oversee the bulk of coding for their Alexa integration or to add any communication hardware beyond Bluetooth, which helps to reduce cost and accelerates development time.

“Our consumer research shows that four out of five consumers have embraced voice services, but the vast majority are also looking for superb audio quality. The Qualcomm Smart Headset reference design brings this and more together, helping consumers to take advantage of Alexa on-the-go, without the need to interact with their phone,” said Anthony Murray, senior vice president and general manager, voice & music, Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd. “With this solution, we expect to support companies big and small to develop innovative and exciting headsets covering a range of styles featuring Alexa.”

[OtinG]

There is a confusing TV commercial I've seen a couple of times with a young woman riding on a train wearing a set of headphones. At one point it appears the train passes near a movie set where a truck of bananas get t-boned by a vehicle and bananas go flying everywhere. The woman presses a button on the headphones and give an Alexa command. I couldn't hear the command very well, but I think she tells Alexa to add or delete bananas from her shopping list. The commercial really doesn't seem to be advertising a new set of Alexa headphones, it seems to just be a general Alexa commercial. Kind of odd though, as it seems to have no real point to make other than Alexa exists.

As far as BT and Alexa devices (Echos and Taps), I've had issues with same. It never seems to be a seamless integration and it often is a bit flaky on execution. Hopefully they can improve that in the future. But currently I find trying to connect a smartphone to a Tap or Echo to stream music is hit and miss and rather sluggish at times, even when the two devices are three feet apart.

[ApK]

If you're describing the commercial accurately, the point seems to be "Always have Alexa available, since you never know when you'll want her."

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by ApK

If you're describing the commercial accurately, the point seems to be "Always have Alexa available, since you never know when you'll want her."

Maybe, but I think it was more of a "this is what is possible with Alexa" statement. At any rate it was poorly executed as I watched the entire commercial wondering what the heck it is for then near the very end she briefly gives an Alexa command. I would have put some text on the screen to point out that an Alexa commercial was on. As it was, I basically tuned it out until I heard her mention Alexa at the end. As a matter of fact, the first time I saw the commercial I didn't even notice the Alexa command because I was so bored with it that I tuned it completely out. I think they need to get your attention up front rather than lull you asleep. But I'm old and the commercial was likely geared toward Millennials who or two generations younger than I am.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by OtinG

Maybe, but I think it was more of a "this is what is possible with Alexa" statement. At any rate it was poorly executed as I watched the entire commercial wondering what the heck it is for then near the very end she briefly gives an Alexa command. I would have put some text on the screen to point out that an Alexa commercial was on. As it was, I basically tuned it out until I heard her mention Alexa at the end. As a matter of fact, the first time I saw the commercial I didn't even notice the Alexa command because I was so bored with it that I tuned it completely out. I think they need to get your attention up front rather than lull you asleep. But I'm old and the commercial was likely geared toward Millennials who or two generations younger than I am.

Um...you watched it, remembered it, and are talking about it. I think they were right on target.

[tubemonkey]

That commercial is missing a key segment of its target audience. It has bananas in it and monkey hasn't seen it yet

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by OtinG

As far as BT and Alexa devices (Echos and Taps), I've had issues with same. It never seems to be a seamless integration and it often is a bit flaky on execution. Hopefully they can improve that in the future. But currently I find trying to connect a smartphone to a Tap or Echo to stream music is hit and miss and rather sluggish at times, even when the two devices are three feet apart.

What is it that you listen to? I used to use an echo dot to play Tunein Radio, but it kept going out so I now use an old phone connected to a Bluetooth speaker. Hubby researched it and said that there is a known issue with Tunein Radio. I need to listen to music all night to sleep and when it goes out I wake up.

[wodin]

What is Amazon Alexa Guard?

Alexa Guard will be a way you can use your existing Echo speakers to build a home security system. Here's how it'll work: your Echo speakers already have microphones on them to hear voice commands. If you tell your speaker you're leaving the house, the microphones will start monitoring for strange sounds.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

What is it that you listen to? I used to use an echo dot to play Tunein Radio, but it kept going out so I now use an old phone connected to a Bluetooth speaker. Hubby researched it and said that there is a known issue with Tunein Radio. I need to listen to music all night to sleep and when it goes out I wake up.

I've tried connecting my iPhone and iPads to my Echos via BT to listen to Spotify and SiriusXM streaming services. It would work, but it would often be flaky. I wanted to use the speakers from my Echo while having a display on my iPad to see what song was playing. The BT connection was not the way to go in those cases and signals often dropped out and the screen usually froze on a song and never updated. Using Echo directly to stream Spotify or SiriusXM works pretty well except for the drop outs that occur about once an hour or so. Once the connection drops out, Alexa cannot get it back without me issuing another command to do so. I also tried streaming locally loaded songs from my iPhone to the Echo via BT and again the results were not that good. It might be a BT issue, but it is annoying. After all, BT in general on any device can be rather annoying and finicky.