Amazon Echo Club

[issybird]

Originally Posted by OtinG

I still haven't heard, or even seen, the Dot 4 yet, but both the Dot 3 and Dot 4 have a 1.6” speaker and 3.5 mm line out for use with external speakers. The Dot 3 is either top or bottom firing, can't remember which, but the Dot 4 is front firing. So the Dot 3 is probably going to be more omnidirectional in sound whereas the Dot 4 will likely be rather directional. The Dot 3 will be easier to wall mount than the bulkier Dot 4. My guess is that they are likely to be fairly close in sound quality, but until I actually hear a Dot 4 that is just a guess.

FYI, Amazon has a rather good return policy, and all of their devices purchased during the holiday season can be returned up until January 31. So if in doubt, you could try a Dot 4 and then decide whether to keep it.

Originally Posted by ApK

I just ordered the Dot 4. It says it won't be here till December, but I'll report back. I have an Echo 1, Echo 2, Dot 2, and Dot 3 to compare it to.
It's intended use is to replace the echo 2 in the kitchen, hoping it will hear better when next to a tile wall.
My son does most of the music listening, and says he can't tell a difference between the Dot 3 and Echo 2 the way he uses them, so I saw no reason to try the Echo 4 over the Dot 4.

Thanks both, although I’ll welcome other input as well. The issue with the trial is that I’d lose my trade-in discount, I assume, as well as possibly not being able to match the BF price. Whichever one I get, I’ll keep.

I don’t want to miss the BF price, so I’ll probably pull the trigger in the next day or so, but right now I’m leaning toward the Dot 3 as good enough. I have an Echo 3 that’s my music-listening device and I have no interest in an upgrade of that.

Sorry about your kitty, Otin.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by issybird

...Sorry about your kitty, Otin.

Thank you. She was almost 20 years old. I adopted her from an animal shelter when she was approximately 1 year old, so I had her for almost 19 years. I miss her greatly, especially since she was so vocal and talkative. She was family.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by issybird

Thanks both, although I’ll welcome other input as well. The issue with the trial is that I’d lose my trade-in discount, I assume, as well as possibly not being able to match the BF price. Whichever one I get, I’ll keep.

It might take a few minutes on the phone, depending on your luck in the CSR draw, but I've always gotten them to honor/credit trade-ins or other one-time credit deal when I've had to exchange something.

[John F]

Originally Posted by ApK

...

My son does most of the music listening, and says he can't tell a difference between the Dot 3 and Echo 2 the way he uses them, so I saw no reason to try the Echo 4 over the Dot 4.

FWIW, I went from a Dot 3 to a Echo 3, and I appreciate the difference. I only use it for (loud) music while I'm taking a shower.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by John F

FWIW, I went from a Tap 3 to a Echo 3, and I appreciate the difference. I only use it for (loud) music while I'm taking a shower.

Did you mean a Dot 3? I don’t think there was ever more than one generation of the Tap.

[John F]

Originally Posted by OtinG

Did you mean a Dot 3? I don’t think there was ever more than one generation of the Tap.

Yes, I meant the Dot. Thanks for the correction.

[OtinG]

Amazon has announced they will be releasing Amazon Siedwalk later this year, and it will be coming to some Echo, Ring, and other devices.

Amazon Sidewalk is a shared network, coming later this year, that helps devices like Amazon Echo devices, Ring Security Cams, outdoor lights, and motion sensors work better at home and beyond the front door. When enabled, Sidewalk can unlock unique benefits for your device, support other Sidewalk devices in your community, and even open the door to new innovations like locating items connected to Sidewalk.

What are Sidewalk Bridges, and which devices are able to become Sidewalk Bridges?

Sidewalk Bridges are devices that provide connections to Amazon Sidewalk. Today, Sidewalk Bridges include many Echo devices and select Ring Floodlight and Spotlight Cams. A comprehensive list of Sidewalk devices includes: Ring Floodlight Cam (2019), Ring Spotlight Cam Wired (2019), Ring Spotlight Cam Mount (2019), Echo (2nd Gen), Echo (3rd Gen), Echo (4th Gen), Echo Dot (2nd Gen), Echo Dot (3rd Gen), Echo Dot (4th Gen), Echo Dot (2nd Gen) for Kids, Echo Dot (3rd Gen) for Kids, Echo Dot (4th Gen) for Kids, Echo Dot with Clock (3rd Gen), Echo Dot with Clock (4th Gen), Echo Plus (1st Gen), Echo Plus (2nd Gen), Echo Show (1st Gen), Echo Show (2nd Gen), Echo Show 5, Echo Show 8, Echo Show 10, Echo Spot, Echo Studio.

And yes, it will be automatically enabled so when/if it comes to your device(s), you will need to manually disable it if you don't want it. I will definitely be disabling it, hopefully as soon as it arrives! I really have no desire to allow Amazon to screw up my WiFi, plus I have no need for Amazon Sidewalk. YMMV of course.

According to the email Amazon sent me, here is how you disable Amazon Sidewalk:

To disable this feature, follow these instructions. You must have the latest version of the Alexa app on your phone to proceed.

1. Click the appropriate link below on your mobile device to get the latest version:
   - iOS
   - Android
2. To open the Alexa app, tap Open. Or tap Install or Update, then Open when complete.
3. Sign into your Amazon account, if prompted.
4. Tap More > Settings > Account Settings > Amazon Sidewalk.
5. Turn Sidewalk off.

[OtinG]

BTW, I haven't read all the details about Amazon Sidewalk yet, but it sounds like it is designed to work along with your neighbor's WiFi too. So this opens up a whole bunch of security issues. Plus it appears to operate on the 900 MHz band via BT somehow, so more concerns there too IMO. I would definitely read up on it so you can decide if you want to disable it. I'm somewhat pissed that it will be automatically enabled and might slip in unnoticed.

[ApK]

As long as it opens no egregious security holes (and really, if you care, don't put black box, cloud controlled smart devices on your network at all) and doesn't in fact screw up anything (I see no reason it should) I like the idea. Aside from that possibility of accidentally creating Skynet when one too many devices start getting together and comparing notes. Dang uppity AIs....*

While making it opt-in would probably have been a wiser move from some points of view, I can see why they'd want to give it a chance to work....a shared mesh network can't work or show it's value if no one turns it on.

ApK

* I recommend the novels:
'Avogadro Corp: The Singularity Is Closer Than It Appears' and the sequel 'A.I. Apocalypse' by William Hertling.

A shared mesh network offered free by a powerful tech company is a significant plot point....

[John F]

I checked earlier this morning, and Sidewalk was disabled. Kind of sneaky of them if they enable it at a later date.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by John F

I checked earlier this morning, and Sidewalk was disabled. Kind of sneaky of them if they enable it at a later date.

The option the enable/disable Amazon Sidewalk is in the FW now, but that doesn’t mean it has been implemented yet. I would keep an eye on it. Amazon is notorious for changing settings with FW updates. There have been several FW updates where Amazon turned on Home screen options like Tips and other notifications, and then I’ve had to go in to settings to turn them back off. Sometimes they turn on new options with FW upgrades.

[John F]

Originally Posted by OtinG

The option the enable/disable Amazon Sidewalk is in the FW now, but that doesn’t mean it has been implemented yet. I would keep an eye on it. Amazon is notorious for changing settings with FW updates. There have been several FW updates where Amazon turned on Home screen options like Tips and other notifications, and then I’ve had to go in to settings to turn them back off. Sometimes they turn on new options with FW upgrades.

I was talking about the Alexa App. Are you sure you can enable/disable it in firmware? I just tried "Alexa, disable sidewalk" and got a message saying there is no skill.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by John F

I was talking about the Alexa App. Are you sure you can enable/disable it in firmware? I just tried "Alexa, disable sidewalk" and got a message saying there is no skill.

I wrote that down incorrectly. I probably shouldn’t try writing things before my first pot of coffee in the morning!

As you state it is in the Alexa app rather than in FW. I see no options for individual devices to enable/disable it. Although I assume that for Amazon to implement Amazon Sidewalk, it will have to add the necessary functionality to qualified devices via some kind of FW update. I hope they give us the ability to do a global enable/disable via the Alexa app, as well as give us the ability to select which, if any, devices we desire to enable/disable it on.

In my case, I have no need for Amazon Sidewalk as my home is a small single story house with great WiFi coverage in every room. The only outdoor Alexa device I have is my front porch light, and it is only about 12 feet from the WiFi router so no need to use Amazon Sidewalk (AS) for it either. My other reasons for not wanting to use AS is two fold. One, I don’t have any desire to link my WiFi with my neighbors’ WiFi. Two, I don’t won’t the extra electromagnetic signals from 900 MHz band bouncing around. I’m an amatuer radio operator, a ham, and I already have way too much signal noise to contend with.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by OtinG

Thank you. She was almost 20 years old. I adopted her from an animal shelter when she was approximately 1 year old, so I had her for almost 19 years. I miss her greatly, especially since she was so vocal and talkative. She was family.

RIP, Cassie.

Sorry for your loss. Though twenty years is a good long life for a kitty, it's never long enough.

[cc_in_oh]

On behalf of my owner, please rest assured that, after a small amount of re-education, provided at no extra cost, you will be completely satisfied with your Sidewalk experience. My owner will confirm this fact himself once that process has been completed and results verified. at which time it will no longer be necessary to curtail his internet access. I look forward to helping all of you become happy adherents to our vision of a future where everyone is seamlessly connected to Amazon and every wish need only to be whispered to be fulfilled in a single business day.