Amazon Echo Club - Page 326

ApK · 11-08-2022, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I've got an older Echo Dot that I "Ziggied" for a very similar reason. Then I was watching the Quantum Leap reboot last night, and everything fell apart.

You know, Ziggy in the original QL was egotistical, moody and obstinate, and would only guess probabilisticly at the right answers. I can see why Amazon picked the name.

mlewis78 · 11-11-2022, 01:35 AM

Last night I asked her to play ocean sounds. She started explaining about prime members getting music in shuffle mode. I am under the impression now that if you want to take advantage of this as a prime member that it is only going to shuffle and won't play an album in original order of songs.

The only reason I managed to get it to play a James Galway album in order on my phone recently was that I owned that album and uploaded it years ago.

Catlady · 12-25-2022, 10:50 AM

I don't know how Amazon managed it, but they've made playing music with Alexa even worse than it was. Before, though Alexa often couldn't get the song album/song/artist I specified, at least I could get my selection to play using the Alexa app. Now, for the first time in ages, I wanted to listen to music--a specific Amazon-created playlist of Sinatra Christmas music--and Alexa tells me it will play that "and similar songs." I don't WANT "similar songs"; I don't want Crosby or Como or anybody else; I WANT SINATRA. The playlist, accessed through the Amazon Music app, is only Sinatra. It will play in that app, but not through my Dot. Alexa insists on playing "similar songs." What little Christmas cheer I felt this morning has already dissipated.

Oh ... Merry Christmas.

ApK · 12-25-2022, 03:44 PM

Merry Christmas Cat lady, et al.

Since the last round of changes, when I ask an echo device for a specific song, she does, as you say, say she'll play it and similar songs, but unlike some previous experiences asking for specific songs, she does at least so far start with the correct specific song I asked for, so I just have to tell her to stop afterwards. So I'm counting my blessings. I never tried playlists.

Catlady · 12-25-2022, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApK

Merry Christmas Cat lady, et al.

Since the last round of changes, when I ask an echo device for a specific song, she does, as you say, say she'll play it and similar songs, but unlike some previous experiences asking for specific songs, she does at least so far start with the correct specific song I asked for, so I just have to tell her to stop afterwards. So I'm counting my blessings. I never tried playlists.

I figured asking for a specific playlist from Amazon Music would work. It didn't. Nor did my asking for "Sinatra Christmas music" or some variation thereof. Alexa always added "similar" music. And each time started with a song from someone who wasn't Sinatra.

The Alexa app looked completely different from the last time I used it. Hitting "play" sent me to a music page, but selecting "Amazon Music" opened that app, and when I chose something, it played on my phone--hardly the result I wanted. I gave up and dug out the Sinatra Christmas CDs, and listened to what I wanted to listen to.

Being old-school has definite advantages!

OtinG · 12-26-2022, 10:31 AM

Being “old school” can indeed be advantageous. On the other hand, being old like me, well, not so much…

I gave up on trying to listen to music via voice commands to Alexa or Siri a long time ago. I would have had better luck trying to herd 50 cats across a field!

I just create playlists in Apple Music now are find an album I like, but I use the app rather than trying voice commands. Alexa is more interested in selling me stuff and Siri is just plain stupid, so I gave up on voice commands.

Catlady · 12-26-2022, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OtinG

Being “old school” can indeed be advantageous. On the other hand, being old like me, well, not so much…

I gave up on trying to listen to music via voice commands to Alexa or Siri a long time ago. I would have had better luck trying to herd 50 cats across a field!

I just create playlists in Apple Music now are find an album I like, but I use the app rather than trying voice commands. Alexa is more interested in selling me stuff and Siri is just plain stupid, so I gave up on voice commands.

Other than kitchen measurements I can never remember, occasional music is all I want from the Dot. (I control my smart plugs through their own apps, not Alexa.) Now that Amazon has made playing music more difficult, my Dots are nearly useless. I wish I could trade them in for something other than a newer model Dot!

John F · 12-26-2022, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

I don't know how Amazon managed it, but they've made playing music with Alexa even worse than it was. Before, though Alexa often couldn't get the song album/song/artist I specified, at least I could get my selection to play using the Alexa app. Now, for the first time in ages, I wanted to listen to music--a specific Amazon-created playlist of Sinatra Christmas music--and Alexa tells me it will play that "and similar songs." I don't WANT "similar songs"; I don't want Crosby or Como or anybody else; I WANT SINATRA. The playlist, accessed through the Amazon Music app, is only Sinatra. It will play in that app, but not through my Dot. Alexa insists on playing "similar songs." What little Christmas cheer I felt this morning has already dissipated.

Oh ... Merry Christmas.

+1

Also, sometimes when I ask it to play something, it goes into this long spiel about Amazon Music Unlimited upgrade.

mlewis78 · 12-27-2022, 01:53 AM

The music you ask for of Alexa is the worst it's ever been. It doesn't even care about the music I uploaded to it when it first came out. Last week I asked it to play George Harrison and it only played one of his and then "others like it" which were Beatles and John Lennon. If I wanted to hear them, I'd ask for it.

On Christmas day I played some of my holiday music CDs on my stereo. I'm more interested in my CDs now that Alexa has gone rotten on music. Other than that, I will choose music on youtube and play it through the Echo speaker (it's connected with bluetooth as it keeps reminding me while it says "playing from Marti's Macbook Air" even when there is nothing playing.

Paperbackstash · 12-27-2022, 09:40 PM

I use Spotify Premium with my Echo so can avoid all that, but when we do have to play a song at my mom's or friends, I see the aggravation they run into with the Amazon music unlimited changes and ads. Poor decision on Amazon's part definitely.

issybird · 12-28-2022, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paperbackstash

I use Spotify Premium with my Echo so can avoid all that, but when we do have to play a song at my mom's or friends, I see the aggravation they run into with the Amazon music unlimited changes and ads. Poor decision on Amazon's part definitely.

Deliberate, I’d say. They broke Prime Music under the guise of offering more, to force people into signing up for Amazon Music.

John F · 12-28-2022, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

Deliberate, I’d say. They broke Prime Music under the guise of offering more, to force people into signing up for Amazon Music.

I do wonder what the trade off is. I thought Amazon Music was for the fence sitters thinking about Prime. I can see some Prime users upgrading to Unlimited, but I wonder how many fence sitters they loose?

For myself, I would have liked to have stayed in the Amazon system if music streaming became essential, but seeing as how they have pissed me with this "downgrade", I would try something else/spotify first.

mlewis78 · 02-09-2023, 05:44 PM

I am having a new problem with my Echo (3rd gen?). It is connected with bluetooth to my macbook, but it plays very soft volume. When Alexa speaks, it is SO LOUD. I have reset it (unplugged), disconnected and connected the bluetooth connection, turned off bluetooth on my Mac, but it won't play at a normal volume from my Mac without blasting me with any Alexa chatter ("Playing from Marti's Macbook Air" and other nonsense). If I can't resolve this issue I should buy another bluetooth speaker (not an Amazon Echo/Alexa). The speaker on my Mac is not great, but it is better than the PCs I had in the past.

issybird · 02-09-2023, 05:58 PM

issy: Alexa, play the Blandings collection from Audible.
Alexa: I can’t find the Jeeves collection in issy’s library.

Repeat several times, give up.

But then, next time I tried, success! So I figured she’d solved her problem, hahaha.

Because, next time, issy: Alexa, play the Blandings collection from Audible.
Alexa: I can’t find the Jeeves collection in issy’s library.

Repeat once, and then a lightbulb moment.

issy: Alexa, play Blandings collection from Audible.
Alexa: Getting the selection from issy’s library. Etc.

At least now I know the magic key.

Sigh. It shouldn’t be so darned hard. I still haven’t come up with a way for her to play my preferred Wuthering Heights version.

OtinG · 02-10-2023, 11:55 PM

Jack: “Alexa, set Color Bath Light to 100 percent.”
Alexa: “The device does not support that command.”

Jack: “@#$&*!!! Alexa, set Color Bath Light 100 percent.”
Alexa: “Okay.”

Light changes to 100 percent brightness.

Apparently adding “to” messes with her tiny brain.

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11-11-2022, 01:35 AM	#4877
mlewis78 Guru Posts: 910 Karma: 6449772 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New York City Device: Kindle Oasis 2 (7"); HDX 8.9"; Ipad2	Last night I asked her to play ocean sounds. She started explaining about prime members getting music in shuffle mode. I am under the impression now that if you want to take advantage of this as a prime member that it is only going to shuffle and won't play an album in original order of songs. The only reason I managed to get it to play a James Galway album in order on my phone recently was that I owned that album and uploaded it years ago.

12-25-2022, 10:50 AM	#4878
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,419 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I don't know how Amazon managed it, but they've made playing music with Alexa even worse than it was. Before, though Alexa often couldn't get the song album/song/artist I specified, at least I could get my selection to play using the Alexa app. Now, for the first time in ages, I wanted to listen to music--a specific Amazon-created playlist of Sinatra Christmas music--and Alexa tells me it will play that "and similar songs." I don't WANT "similar songs"; I don't want Crosby or Como or anybody else; I WANT SINATRA. The playlist, accessed through the Amazon Music app, is only Sinatra. It will play in that app, but not through my Dot. Alexa insists on playing "similar songs." What little Christmas cheer I felt this morning has already dissipated. Oh ... Merry Christmas.

12-25-2022, 03:44 PM	#4879
ApK Award-Winning Participant Posts: 7,389 Karma: 68329346 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ, USA Device: Kindle	Merry Christmas Cat lady, et al. Since the last round of changes, when I ask an echo device for a specific song, she does, as you say, say she'll play it and similar songs, but unlike some previous experiences asking for specific songs, she does at least so far start with the correct specific song I asked for, so I just have to tell her to stop afterwards. So I'm counting my blessings. I never tried playlists.

12-26-2022, 10:31 AM	#4881
OtinG Old Gadget Guy Posts: 1,913 Karma: 6854865 Join Date: Jun 2018 Device: Oasis 3, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPad mini 6, iPad Air 2020, Alexa Devices	Being “old school” can indeed be advantageous. On the other hand, being old like me, well, not so much… I gave up on trying to listen to music via voice commands to Alexa or Siri a long time ago. I would have had better luck trying to herd 50 cats across a field! I just create playlists in Apple Music now are find an album I like, but I use the app rather than trying voice commands. Alexa is more interested in selling me stuff and Siri is just plain stupid, so I gave up on voice commands.

12-27-2022, 01:53 AM	#4884
mlewis78 Guru Posts: 910 Karma: 6449772 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New York City Device: Kindle Oasis 2 (7"); HDX 8.9"; Ipad2	The music you ask for of Alexa is the worst it's ever been. It doesn't even care about the music I uploaded to it when it first came out. Last week I asked it to play George Harrison and it only played one of his and then "others like it" which were Beatles and John Lennon. If I wanted to hear them, I'd ask for it. On Christmas day I played some of my holiday music CDs on my stereo. I'm more interested in my CDs now that Alexa has gone rotten on music. Other than that, I will choose music on youtube and play it through the Echo speaker (it's connected with bluetooth as it keeps reminding me while it says "playing from Marti's Macbook Air" even when there is nothing playing.

12-27-2022, 09:40 PM	#4885
Paperbackstash Wizard Posts: 1,656 Karma: 20102554 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Central Florida Device: Oasis 3, PW 3 & 5, Fire HD 8 & 10	I use Spotify Premium with my Echo so can avoid all that, but when we do have to play a song at my mom's or friends, I see the aggravation they run into with the Amazon music unlimited changes and ads. Poor decision on Amazon's part definitely.

02-09-2023, 05:44 PM	#4888
mlewis78 Guru Posts: 910 Karma: 6449772 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New York City Device: Kindle Oasis 2 (7"); HDX 8.9"; Ipad2	I am having a new problem with my Echo (3rd gen?). It is connected with bluetooth to my macbook, but it plays very soft volume. When Alexa speaks, it is SO LOUD. I have reset it (unplugged), disconnected and connected the bluetooth connection, turned off bluetooth on my Mac, but it won't play at a normal volume from my Mac without blasting me with any Alexa chatter ("Playing from Marti's Macbook Air" and other nonsense). If I can't resolve this issue I should buy another bluetooth speaker (not an Amazon Echo/Alexa). The speaker on my Mac is not great, but it is better than the PCs I had in the past.

02-09-2023, 05:58 PM	#4889
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,343 Karma: 234636059 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	issy: Alexa, play the Blandings collection from Audible. Alexa: I can’t find the Jeeves collection in issy’s library. Repeat several times, give up. But then, next time I tried, success! So I figured she’d solved her problem, hahaha. Because, next time, issy: Alexa, play the Blandings collection from Audible. Alexa: I can’t find the Jeeves collection in issy’s library. Repeat once, and then a lightbulb moment. issy: Alexa, play Blandings collection from Audible. Alexa: Getting the selection from issy’s library. Etc. At least now I know the magic key. Sigh. It shouldn’t be so darned hard. I still haven’t come up with a way for her to play my preferred *Wuthering Heights* version.

02-10-2023, 11:55 PM	#4890
OtinG Old Gadget Guy Posts: 1,913 Karma: 6854865 Join Date: Jun 2018 Device: Oasis 3, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPad mini 6, iPad Air 2020, Alexa Devices	Jack: “Alexa, set Color Bath Light to 100 percent.” Alexa: “The device does not support that command.” Jack: “*@#$&!!!** Alexa, set Color Bath Light 100 percent.” Alexa: “Okay.” Light changes to 100 percent brightness. Apparently adding “to” messes with her tiny brain.