Amazon Echo Club

[OtinG]

Speaking of BIG businesses getting bigger and more dominating, SiriusXM is buying Pandora in $3.5 billion deal.

https://money.cnn.com/2018/09/24/med...ora/index.html

The deal will create the world's largest audio entertainment company, the companies said early Monday.

SiriusXM (SIRI) has 36 million subscribers in North America. It was formed with the merger of the Sirius and XM satellite radio services in 2008.

[tubemonkey]

The problem with OTA channels is that I don't watch them. The programming on them sucks big time.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by Alohamora

I would expect a mobile Alexa to buffer some amount of audio for playback.

However, apparently from my research, Alexa doesn't know how to play audiobooks from Overdrive, only Audible. That makes it far less useful.

I tried using Alexa (the app) on my iPhone connected via BT to my car stereo system. Sound quality was good. I tried Amazon Music, Spotify, and Pandora. That arrangement was usable, but there were a lot of dropouts due to loss of or poor cellular signal, and I live in a metropolitan area with 7.2 million people. I didn't use it via voice though, I just set the service to whichever one I wanted to use and then selected one of the channels to listen to. If you live in a rural area, cellular coverage might be an issue.

As far as audiobooks, it might be better to download those directly to your phone then connect the phone to your car stereo system and use an audiobook app rather than Alexa. I'm not familiar with Overdrive, so I have no clue if they will let you download the entire book or whether they force you to stream it.

The same goes for podcasts. It would be best to download the podcast to your phone then connect the phone to your stereo and use a podcasting app rather than Alexa.

As far as the pre-downloading goes, Spotify allows you to download a large number of songs to your phone so you can listen even when you don't have an internet connection. It requires the premium subscription and I think you can download at least a thousand songs, but I don't remember the exact number. I did this and used the Spotify app connected via my phone to the car stereo (no Alexa app) and it worked very well. You can also stream through Spotify, but then you risk losing the connection in poor cellular coverage areas.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by OtinG

Speaking of BIG businesses getting bigger and more dominating, SiriusXM is buying Pandora in $3.5 billion deal.

https://money.cnn.com/2018/09/24/med...ora/index.html

Sure hope they don't mess with the free Pandora content. It's one of my go to stations for my Echo.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

The problem with OTA channels is that I don't watch them. The programming on them sucks big time.

Well yes, most of them do suck. Although in my area OTA means the local ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, and CW channels. I do watch a lot of prime time shows on those channels, and a lot of shows at any time, especially the weekends, on PBS. The rest of the OTA channels, and I have about 80 in my area, are either religious programs, non-English language programs, are old TV series from the 1950s through the 1980s which tend to look terrible when viewed in low resolution and letter-boxing on HDTVs. There is no way I would ever cut the cable cord if all I could get would be the local OTA channels, especially during the rerun summertime.

I use to love PBS, but now our local PBS station alternates between broadcasting 3 weeks of programming, mostly old reruns, then broadcasting 3 weeks of what I call their Begging Fest. During Begging Fest we get the same old garbage that is mostly old live music performances and self-help gurus with their long infomercials. PBS has lost its soul as far as I'm concerned. Other than Nova, Frontline, British sitcoms, and few good weekend shows, it blows chunks. And most of the good shows are reruns rather than newer shows. I wish they would just start using commercials and get better, newer programs rather than showing the same tire old reruns and garbage.

[tubemonkey]

I was thinking about getting the new Dot 3 over Black Friday because it has a larger speaker and better sound. But, I just discovered that it no longer has a mUSB power port. It uses a dedicated power adapter with a round power port. Just what I needed, more single use adapters. Count me out.

Bad move Amazon and another step backwards

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Sure hope they don't mess with the free Pandora content. It's one of my go to stations for my Echo.

Actually, I hope they don't degrade either service. I currently, but reluctantly, have SiriusXM because it is the best over all option at this time for me because it works well in my car and in my house.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by OtinG

Actually, I hope they don't degrade either service. I currently, but reluctantly, have SiriusXM because it is the best over all option at this time for me because it works well in my car and in my house.

My car audio is simple. I only listen to FM radio and I never use my phone while driving. I have no need for BT, cellular data plans, USB sticks, mSD cards, or cords in the car. The only time I look at my phone is when the car is parked.

...simple monkey, simple solutions

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

My car audio is simple. I only listen to FM radio and I never use my phone while driving. I have no need for BT, cellular data plans, USB sticks, mSD cards, or cords in the car. The only time I look at my phone is when the car is parked.

...simple monkey, simple solutions

I never have to look at my iPhone in the car either. It stays in my belt holster the entire time. The BT connection is automatically done as soon as I start up my RAV4. Everything is done automatically. My radio and BT handsfree phone controls are built into my steering wheel. I never initiate phone calls or text messaging while the vehicle is moving, preferring to pull off the road into a parking lot or just wait until I arrive at my destination. If I get a phone call I can answer with the pressing of a button on the steering wheel, but I seldom get phone calls so it usually isn't an issue.

As for as FM radio--it sucks in my area. Every time I get in the car they have a string of commercials on which only end moments before I reach my destination. FM is much worse than TV as far as commercials. That, and DJs who talk constantly, even during songs. FM is totally useless in my area. Plenty of stations, but none worth tuning to.

BTW, I share your disgust with the new Dot Gen 3 power connector. It took years for electronics companies to finally start using a standardized power system with mini USB and micro USB. To jump back to proprietary connectors, even if they are a standard size, is a slap in our faces. Now a days many newer devices have built in USB ports that can power additional devices. These incluse TVs, cable boxes, UPS backups, lamps, etc. It is so easy to find an available USB power port near your new device, but not always that easy to find a nearby AC plug for another wall wart.

[cc_in_oh]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

My car audio is simple. I only listen to FM radio and I never use my phone while driving. I have no need for BT, cellular data plans, USB sticks, mSD cards, or cords in the car. The only time I look at my phone is when the car is parked.

...simple monkey, simple solutions

My 2015 Murano plays audio from its USB ports so I have one of those 128GB "ultra-fit" flash drives loaded with music and old radio dramas like Inner Sanctum. FLAC is choppy so I settle for MP3, and 128GB is really more content than I can manage effectively with the car's toylike folder interface. I assume I could play borrowed audiobooks on the phone's Overdrive app and pair it to the car but I've never gotten around to trying that...

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by OtinG

I never have to look at my iPhone in the car either. It stays in my belt holster the entire time. The BT connection is automatically done as soon as I start up my RAV4. Everything is done automatically. My radio and BT handsfree phone controls are built into my steering wheel. I never initiate phone calls or text messaging while the vehicle is moving, preferring to pull off the road into a parking lot or just wait until I arrive at my destination. If I get a phone call I can answer with the pressing of a button on the steering wheel, but I seldom get phone calls so it usually isn't an issue.

As for as FM radio--it sucks in my area. Every time I get in the car they have a string of commercials on which only end moments before I reach my destination. FM is much worse than TV as far as commercials. That, and DJs who talk constantly, even during songs. FM is totally useless in my area. Plenty of stations, but none worth tuning to.

Originally Posted by cc_in_oh

My 2015 Murano plays audio from its USB ports so I have one of those 128GB "ultra-fit" flash drives loaded with music and old radio dramas like Inner Sanctum. FLAC is choppy so I settle for MP3, and 128GB is really more content than I can manage effectively with the car's toylike folder interface. I assume I could play borrowed audiobooks on the phone's Overdrive app and pair it to the car but I've never gotten around to trying that...

I have a new Outback and it's loaded with numerous ports, BT, steering wheel controls, and a large display; but I don't bother with any of it. So far, FM's more than enough for me

At some point I might take advantage of the tech.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by OtinG

BTW, I share your disgust with the new Dot Gen 3 power connector. It took years for electronics companies to finally start using a standardized power system with mini USB and micro USB. To jump back to proprietary connectors, even if they are a standard size, is a slap in our faces. Now a days many newer devices have built in USB ports that can power additional devices. These incluse TVs, cable boxes, UPS backups, lamps, etc. It is so easy to find an available USB power port near your new device, but not always that easy to find a nearby AC plug for another wall wart.

Totally agree. This one is a major annoyance for me and a deal breaker at this point.

[ApK]

I put a Bluetooth-capable stereo in my 2002 Outback a few years ago. Freaking awesome. I start the car, and whatever audiobook or podcast I'm listening to on my phone starts right up. I love it. Not to mention it has a good speakerphone.

We finally did the same for my wife's 2007 minivan recently.

And I'm with you on the usb power connector. Bad enough not to switch to it, but to have it and then switch back is Evil.
Unless the device actually needs more current than micro usb can handle, it's unacceptable.

And don't get me started on wall warts. Put the freaking power supply in the device! If you can't for legitimate size or heat reasons, then put it in-line, like a laptop power supply, don't take up half my freaking power strip!!!

Arrgh!

ApK

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by ApK

I put a Bluetooth-capable stereo in my 2002 Outback a few years ago. Freaking awesome. I start the car, and whatever audiobook or podcast I'm listening to on my phone starts right up. I love it. Not to mention it has a good speakerphone.

We finally did the same for my wife's 2007 minivan recently.

And I'm with you on the usb power connector. Bad enough not to switch to it, but to have it and then switch back is Evil.
Unless the device actually needs more current than micro usb can handle, it's unacceptable.

And don't get me started on wall warts. Put the freaking power supply in the device! If you can't for legitimate size or heat reasons, then put it in-line, like a laptop power supply, don't take up half my freaking power strip!!!

Arrgh!

ApK

Hey, ApK -- try these things: https://smile.amazon.com/Etekcity-Po.../dp/B00CEJW0WQ

They completely change that whole concern. (I deal with it a lot with wall warts that need to go into UPSs where outlets are at a premium!)

[ApK]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Hey, ApK -- try these things: https://smile.amazon.com/Etekcity-Po.../dp/B00CEJW0WQ

They completely change that whole concern. (I deal with it a lot with wall warts that need to go into UPSs where outlets are at a premium!)

Yup, I have a few of those for my UPS and my power strips.
But it's a matter of principle!
I didn't say I couldn't solve the problem on my own, I just feel I shouldn't HAVE TO!
Our Edison outlets weren't designed to have big boxes hanging from them!

(I'd settle for manufactures including one of those things in the package for us along with the wall warts, like the way some of the HDMI sticks include a six inch HDMI extender....)

ApK