Amazon Echo Club

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I assumed that it did. It's a feature I'd never use because music never woke me up. I always used alarms. Anyway, wake-to-music works with a workaround if you have Spotify Premium.

Alexa tip: Wake up to any song on Spotify

Unfortunately Alexa does not have visual display capability. Maybe not that important to some as far as alarm clocks go, but a huge thing to me. I want to be able to glance at a display of the time and know whether I need to jump up in a hurry and go into rush mode, or roll over and sleep another hour. Alarm clock and Alexa is just one more cool feature that just falls flat for my usage.

[wodin]

Don't need no steeking daylight savings time!

Originally Posted by wodin

Don't need no steeking daylight savings time!

Off topic, but I agree. DST was originally thought up during the 18th century but not put into practice until the 20th century. Really no need for it in my opinion. And it makes for an unnecessary adjustment to our schedules and biological clocks twice a year. For the few workers and/or professions that it might help, they should just modify their schedules accordingly and leave the rest of us alone.

[issybird]

The first day of DST is my most favorite day of the year. Light in the evening! I'd so much rather have light at the end of the day. If it were up to me, we'd never go off.

[wodin]

Originally Posted by jswinden

Off topic, but I agree. DST was originally thought up during the 18th century but not put into practice until the 20th century. Really no need for it in my opinion. And it makes for an unnecessary adjustment to our schedules and biological clocks twice a year. For the few workers and/or professions that it might help, they should just modify their schedules accordingly and leave the rest of us alone.

My comment was based on the fact that here in the beautiful Sandwich Islands we don't have Hawaii Daylight Time (HDT), but instead observer Hawaii Standard Time (HST) year around. And we like it that way!

The only trouble is that those of us who do business with folks in the Continental US (CONUS), the time zone offset changes each spring and fall, leading to some confusion for those who are unaware of the barbaric practice that you guys have.

One saving grace is that much of my CONUS business is with people in Arizona who also practice civilized behavior by eschewing DST.

[ApK]

In the age of flex schedules and globalization, DST is pointless. Any individual who wants more daylight is free to get up earlier.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by ApK

In the age of flex schedules and globalization, DST is pointless. Any individual who wants more daylight is free to get up earlier.

But an hour of extra daylight helps crops grow quicker

[ApK]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

But an hour of extra daylight helps crops grow quicker

The real trick is training all the roosters to crow an hour earlier.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I assumed that it did. It's a feature I'd never use because music never woke me up. I always used alarms. Anyway, wake-to-music works with a workaround if you have Spotify Premium.

Alexa tip: Wake up to any song on Spotify

Missy Elliott wakes me up. I highly recommend her if you have a hard time waking up to traditional alarms. "WAKE UP! You know the first step toward being a superstar is rolling out the bed!" I forgot how I got her on my Echo, but no doubt you can access her and a few other celebrities via the app.

Did I mention that in her younger days she lived a couple of blocks from the house in which I grew up? That's right. We're from the 'hood! (B street {now Blair street} in the Park View section of Portsmouth). Unfortunately I didn't know her. Different generations. But I do know some folks who were inn her high school in the Churchland section.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

But an hour of extra daylight helps crops grow quicker

😅 I'll keep that in mind next time I hear someone say there are no real benefits to Daylight Saving Time.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

But an hour of extra daylight helps crops grow quicker

I think one of the reasons they gave for DST was for farmers. I used to work with a guy who would help the Amish if they needed a ride somewhere. He always had to ask if the time they needed him was fast time or slow time. The Amish just got up earlier, so there was no need to change the time.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

I think one of the reasons they gave for DST was for farmers. I used to work with a guy who would help the Amish if they needed a ride somewhere. He always had to ask if the time they needed him was fast time or slow time. The Amish just got up earlier, so there was no need to change the time.

At the risk of veering further off topic, I'm pretty sure the idea of DST being for the farmers is a popular misunderstanding. Hence my rooster comment.

I believe the idea of DST is entirely about reducing use of energy for lighting and because people like having daylight in the evening (which is, presumably, good for the economy...folks go out and do stuff.)

Originally Posted by ApK

At the risk of veering further off topic, I'm pretty sure the idea of DST being for the farmers is a popular misunderstanding. Hence my rooster comment.

I believe the idea of DST is entirely about reducing use of energy for lighting and because people like having daylight in the evening (which is, presumably, good for the economy...folks go out and do stuff.)

I think when Ben Franklin introduced the concept of DST in the 1700s his idea was that it would save on candles which were at the time a major source of indoor lighting. And candles were not cheap then, hence the need to use fewer. I agree that farmers don't care what time the sun comes up or sets. They will work when it is up, period. I think DST was first used in USA during the 1920s or 1930s. So a long time passed between Ben Franklin suggesting it and the country instituting it.

[Cinisajoy]

Here you all go.
https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/history.html

[tubemonkey]

Amazon Echo can now be connected to Bluetooth speakers

In a recent software update, Amazon has added the ability for the Amazon Echo to connect to external Bluetooth speakers. The Echo Dot has always had this ability because you’re expected to connect it to external speakers, but the full sized Echo is meant to be a stand alone device, so external speaker connectivity was never present until now.

If you’re unhappy with the performance of the Echo’s built-in speaker, you can go into the Alexa app and connect it to better speakers, as long as they support Bluetooth. The Echo Dot also has an auxiliary 3.5mm audio out connection, but that is not present on the full sized Echo.