Amazon Echo Club

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I wonder what the device will look like? I can't see slipping my present Echo into my shirt pocket. Or will it be mainly for home use?

Glad I got the original when the original still came with the remote, but this might be better than a remote.

According to the WSJ:

The report claims that the new Fox unit is beer-can size and resembles a Beats Pill speaker but stands vertically – see the (slightly tongue-in-cheek) in-house mockup here.

[wodin]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I wonder what the device will look like? I can't see slipping my present Echo into my shirt pocket. Or will it be mainly for home use?

Glad I got the original when the original still came with the remote, but this might be better than a remote.

I'm not sure, but I'd think it would have to be connected to your WiFi network which would limit it to home use.

[Conan46]

Beer can size will be perfect for moving from room to room or tossing into a bag for a trip somewhere.
Perhaps stick it in the cup holder in your car?

[DreamWriter]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

My prediction is $99.

Reports are saying that Baby Echo is not always on. That's a shame. The ability to walk into a room and issue a voice command is a major plus. Having to directly push a button on it or use a remote to issue commands is a major step backwards.

Hands-free control of the current Echo is a major advantage, but I'd probably buy the rumored mini-Echo if the price is low enough. It'd be nice to have one in the master bedroom.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by DreamWriter

Hands-free control of the current Echo is a major advantage, but I'd probably buy the rumored mini-Echo if the price is low enough. It'd be nice to have one in the master bedroom.

Hopefully, they'll offer hands free as an option. I don't relish the idea of having to walk over to it or use another gadget to issue commands.

I keep mine in the bedroom, so a second one will go to the living room.

[tubemonkey]

Alexa on Amazon Echo and Fire TV can now initiate phone calls through new Ooma skill

A new Ooma skill for Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant now lets you initiate phone calls using your Amazon Echo or Fire TV. After enabling the skill and linking it to a free Ooma account, simply say “Alexa, use Ooma to call [PHONE NUMBER].” Alexa will then ask you for a nickname for that number, so that in the future you can simply say something like “Alexa, use Ooma to call Mom.” After asking to make a phone call, your phone will ring. When you answer it, the number you asked to call will be ringing as if you started the call. You don’t use the Echo or Fire TV to talk to the person you’re calling. It’s just a feature that saves you from unlocking your phone, finding your contact, and starting the call. It’s as if you had a personal assistant who hands you an already ringing phone after you tell them who you want to call.

While Ooma does sell a voice-over-IP device, which allows you to make internet calls, the hardware is not required to use this new Alexa feature. All that is required is a free Ooma account which grants you “300 minutes per month of complimentary calling, and up to a 1,500 minute lifetime maximum.” If you find you’ve exceed the free quota, you’ll have to sign up for an Ooma Telo account, which runs about $10 a month and comes with additional features like voicemail and international calling.

[Conan46]

I'm kind of surprised Amazon has not pursued VOIP for the Echo. Seems like it would be a good fit, but maybe the smartphone disaster chilled them out altogether on phone stuff. I can't help but wonder how things might have been different if Amazon had released a budget phone with something like Google's Project Fi.

[tubemonkey]

*** New Feature ***

Ask Alexa about movie showtimes

Alexa can now tell you movie showtimes at theaters near you. Let Alexa help you plan your weekend, with information about films currently in theaters. To get started, just ask:

“Alexa, when is 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' playing?”
“Alexa, tell me about the movie 'The Revenant.'”
“Alexa, what movies are playing?”
“Alexa, what action movies are playing Saturday night?”

To learn more about this feature, go to Find Movie Showtimes.

[DreamWriter]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

*** New Feature ***

Ask Alexa about movie showtimes

If I still watched movies in a theater, this would be helpful, but I only stream films at home now. Sometimes I do miss the olden days, though—waiting in line for real buttered popcorn, the big screen, squeaky seats, sticky floors...

[ApK]

Originally Posted by DreamWriter

I do miss the olden days, though—waiting in line for real buttered popcorn, the big screen, squeaky seats, sticky floors...

Sometimes it's still worth going out for the big screens, and just to generally make an event out of it, but they haven't used real butter in a long time.

[WT Sharpe]

I do so miss those $3 bottles of water.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by DreamWriter

If I still watched movies in a theater, this would be helpful, but I only stream films at home now. Sometimes I do miss the olden days, though—waiting in line for real buttered popcorn, the big screen, squeaky seats, sticky floors...

As a kid in the 60's, I remember getting up early on Saturdays, meeting with a few friends and then spending a few hours collecting pop bottles. When we had enough to pay for a movie and snacks, we'd stop and redeem our haul. Then we'd spend the rest of the day at the movies. Back then, we got a double feature, a newsreel, a cartoon, an episode of a serial, and coming attractions. Pretty good.

The good ole days

[ApK]

Wow, you're old!

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by ApK

Wow, you're old!

I would've said ancient.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by ApK

Wow, you're old!

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

I would've said ancient.

I would've said prehistoric