Alexa goes Mobile - Page 5

fjtorres · 03-29-2016, 12:03 PM

Amazon has released step-by-step instructions for building an Alexa terminal out of a Raspberry Pi 2 or 3:

http://www.zdnet.com/article/raspber...tag=TRE17cfd61

https://github.com/amzn/alexa-avs-raspberry-pi

This allows Alexa access outside the markets where the Echo, Dot, and Tap are sold.

The design is Tap-like in that it requires pushing a button to activate the microphone but the build cost is significantly lower than even the Dot. (~US$50, maybe less.) And not much of a handicap for audiobook playback or Kindle ebook TTS.

Given the flexibility of the Raspberries and the ingenuity of the hackers interesting things will be forthcoming.

tubemonkey · 03-29-2016, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Amazon has released step-by-step instructions for building an Alexa terminal out of a Raspberry Pi 2 or 3:

http://www.zdnet.com/article/raspber...tag=TRE17cfd61

https://github.com/amzn/alexa-avs-raspberry-pi

This allows Alexa access outside the markets where the Echo, Dot, and Tap are sold.

The design is Tap-like in that it requires pushing a button to activate the microphone but the build cost is significantly lower than even the Dot. (~US$50, maybe less.) And not much of a handicap for audiobook playback or Kindle ebook TTS.

Given the flexibility of the Raspberries and the ingenuity of the hackers interesting things will be forthcoming.

Shrewd move on Amazon's part. Hackers will cover ground Lab126 wouldn't even think of.

wodin · 03-29-2016, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Shrewd move on Amazon's part. Hackers will cover ground Lab126 wouldn't even think of.

After all, look what they did with an iPhone that Apple couldn't/wouldn't hack.

Shane R · 03-30-2016, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Amazon has released step-by-step instructions for building an Alexa terminal out of a Raspberry Pi 2 or 3:

http://www.zdnet.com/article/raspber...tag=TRE17cfd61

https://github.com/amzn/alexa-avs-raspberry-pi

This allows Alexa access outside the markets where the Echo, Dot, and Tap are sold.

The design is Tap-like in that it requires pushing a button to activate the microphone but the build cost is significantly lower than even the Dot. (~US$50, maybe less.) And not much of a handicap for audiobook playback or Kindle ebook TTS.

Given the flexibility of the Raspberries and the ingenuity of the hackers interesting things will be forthcoming.

Interesting.

This means that they want Alexa to be an ecosystem and not strictly a product.

fjtorres · 03-30-2016, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shane R

Interesting.

This means that they want Alexa to be an ecosystem and not strictly a product.

Yup. And a free one at that.

After all, Alexa is the cloud service and, like Kindle books, it is accessible everywhere.

Where they make their money are Echo, Dot, Tap, Fire TV & Stick, and the content and products they sell through them. They have targeted home automation as a strategic target and the want Alexa to be everybody's front end there. A whole new approach to building an ecosystem.

I think Wozniak is right and Alexa is the next great platform, the one that will take home automation into the mainstream.

tubemonkey · 03-31-2016, 09:41 AM

Amazon Tap ($129.99) is now in stock.

ApK · 03-31-2016, 09:55 AM

Supposedly our Dot shipped and will arrive tomorrow!
(Weee! New toy for the weekend!)

ApK

tubemonkey · 03-31-2016, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApK

Supposedly our Dot shipped and will arrive tomorrow!
(Weee! New toy for the weekend!)

ApK

Cool

The Dot's website is mysterious about availability and shipping info.

wodin · 03-31-2016, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApK

Supposedly our Dot shipped and will arrive tomorrow!
(Weee! New toy for the weekend!)

ApK

+1...

rem736 · 03-31-2016, 02:59 PM

got dot today. configuring for use in car for music, news, info, etc. network access is through a mobile hotspot.

wodin · 03-31-2016, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rem736

got dot today. configuring for use in car for music, news, info, etc. network access is through a mobile hotspot.

That works with the Dot? I thought they had to be on the same private IP space to work with IoT stuff, but now that I think about it, it really shouldn't matter for cloud based things like Samsung SmartThings or Wink.

If it does, I guess I'm going to have to buy another one to use at work. My 2 GB/mo hotspot on my phone is only about 2% utilized so I should have plenty of room.

rem736 · 03-31-2016, 05:00 PM

i don't think my mobile dot will be able to access my home network to turn the lights on/off. but access to my music services and information such as news/weather or wikipedia works just fine. if i really needed to turn off my lights remotely, the app from the automation device works just fine. i haven't attempted to have alexa read my kindle books yet. but that should also work.

ApK · 03-31-2016, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rem736

i don't think my mobile dot will be able to access my home network to turn the lights on/off. but access to my music services and information such as news/weather or wikipedia works just fine. if i really needed to turn off my lights remotely, the app from the automation device works just fine. i haven't attempted to have alexa read my kindle books yet. but that should also work.

If you use a cloud hub like wink, why wouldn't it work? I'll have to try.

rem736 · 04-01-2016, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApK

If you use a cloud hub like wink, why wouldn't it work? I'll have to try.

sorry, my mistake. i tried it in the car yesterday on the way home and it does work for home automation using wemo. so you don't have to be connected to the home network to control your home lighting, etc.

however, i am rethinking its use in the car. first, the road noise really makes it hard for "Echo" to be heard. i think this is because it designed to listen from many directions and is getting a lot of environmental noise...even with all the windows up. i drive a sub-compact car. maybe a larger, more luxury oriented car could suppress road noise more. second. the audio line out produces a very noticeable hum/buzz through the car speakers. i'm not sure if there is a filter than can resolve this problem.

ApK · 04-01-2016, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rem736

however, i am rethinking its use in the car. first, the road noise really makes it hard for "Echo" to be heard. i think this is because it designed to listen from many directions and is getting a lot of environmental noise...even with all the windows up. i drive a sub-compact car. maybe a larger, more luxury oriented car could suppress road noise more. second. the audio line out produces a very noticeable hum/buzz through the car speakers. i'm not sure if there is a filter than can resolve this problem.

Keep us posted. The car thing is intriguing.

ApK

03-29-2016, 12:03 PM	#61
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	Amazon has released step-by-step instructions for building an Alexa terminal out of a Raspberry Pi 2 or 3: http://www.zdnet.com/article/raspber...tag=TRE17cfd61 https://github.com/amzn/alexa-avs-raspberry-pi This allows Alexa access outside the markets where the Echo, Dot, and Tap are sold. The design is Tap-like in that it requires pushing a button to activate the microphone but the build cost is significantly lower than even the Dot. (~US$50, maybe less.) And not much of a handicap for audiobook playback or Kindle ebook TTS. Given the flexibility of the Raspberries and the ingenuity of the hackers interesting things will be forthcoming. Last edited by fjtorres; 03-29-2016 at 12:07 PM.

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03-31-2016, 09:41 AM	#66
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,746 Karma: 158575914 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	Amazon Tap ($129.99) is now in stock.

03-31-2016, 09:55 AM	#67
ApK Award-Winning Participant Posts: 7,384 Karma: 68329346 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ, USA Device: Kindle	Supposedly our Dot shipped and will arrive tomorrow! (Weee! New toy for the weekend!) ApK

03-31-2016, 02:59 PM	#70
rem736 purpose priority passion Posts: 645 Karma: 9002000 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: socal, usa Device: sony prs-350, b&n ngp, rM2, kindle scribe, boox poke5	got dot today. configuring for use in car for music, news, info, etc. network access is through a mobile hotspot.

03-31-2016, 05:00 PM	#72
rem736 purpose priority passion Posts: 645 Karma: 9002000 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: socal, usa Device: sony prs-350, b&n ngp, rM2, kindle scribe, boox poke5	i don't think my mobile dot will be able to access my home network to turn the lights on/off. but access to my music services and information such as news/weather or wikipedia works just fine. if i really needed to turn off my lights remotely, the app from the automation device works just fine. i haven't attempted to have alexa read my kindle books yet. but that should also work.

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