Amazon announces: Echo

[wodin]

My second Echo was waiting when I got home, and I set it up with minimum hassle. Just a slight confusion about which wi-fi access point my phone was connected to (my router or the Echo), which was probably my own fault for not reading the destructions correctly. I wonder if it might be easier to set it up from the web page?

It inherited all settings from the Bedroom Echo except the sounds it plays when it starts and stops listening, and the history of the music I had played in the bedroom. All lights and groups work equally well from both locations. I don't know yet if I'll have to add new lights in both profiles, or just one.

The Livingroom Echo is much better at hearing what I say because the bedroom is very much noisier with white noise from fans and the TV blaring all the time. I have to practically yell at Alexa in the bedroom, but normal conversation volume is adequate in the living room.

[wodin]

BTW, Alexa thinks John Galt was a Scottish novelist, entrepreneur, and political and social commentator.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by wodin

The Livingroom Echo is much better at hearing what I say because the bedroom is very much noisier with white noise from fans and the TV blaring all the time. I have to practically yell at Alexa in the bedroom, but normal conversation volume is adequate in the living room.

Do you have a remote? I use it when I play music a bit loud.

ps: congrats on getting a second Echo

[wodin]

No, since going public they don't include the remote anymore. It's worth thinking about though.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by wodin

No, since going public they don't include the remote anymore. It's worth thinking about though.

At $180, the remote should be included.

"Alexa, beam me up Scotty."

"Transporters engaged. Welcome aboard."

[SCION]

Originally Posted by wodin

No, since going public they don't include the remote anymore. It's worth thinking about though.

Wow, no remote. Really, Amazon?

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by SCION

Wow, no remote. Really, Amazon?

My thoughts exactly. The remote is now a $30 accessory.

[wodin]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

At $180, the remote should be included.

"Alexa, beam me up Scotty."

"Transporters engaged. Welcome aboard."

Hmm, she just told me "Aye aye, Captain".

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by wodin

Hmm, she just told me "Aye aye, Captain".

She varies her answers. Not sure how many there are.

[mycurlylocks]

Anyone get the email from Staples that they are selling the Echo?

http://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/marketing/staples-connect/amazon-echo.html?icid=HP20:LPB:1:AMAZONECHO:20150802

I still don't think it's worth the $179.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by mycurlylocks

Anyone get the email from Staples that they are selling the Echo?

http://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/marketing/staples-connect/amazon-echo.html?icid=HP20:LPB:1:AMAZONECHO:20150802

I still don't think it's worth the $179.

Exclusive deal since early this month:

http://www.aftvnews.com/amazon-echo-...arty-retailer/

And no, it's not worth the price if all you use it for is as a Bluetooth speaker.
But if you use, and benefit from, the *other* features...

At this point it is fair to say Echo is a full-blown computing platform in its own right and a voice-driven computer platform for $180 is fair value. The next cheapest is XBOX Kinect and that runs around $200-250 and has a media focus, not audiobooks and home automation.

[WT Sharpe]

My farther, who was a bit of a tech head, died in 1967. I often wonder what his reaction would be if he could step in my house today long enough to hear me interacting with Alexa? I think his mind would be blown. I'm sure if he were to return from the grave, he'd have an Echo of his own within six months, right after he got through buying a computer and smartphone.

[DreamWriter]

Multiple timers and alarms!

From an email I received from Amazon last week:

Cooking more than one dish or need another alarm to get up in the morning? Amazon Echo is now ready to help with multiple timers and alarms--just ask:

- "Alexa, start a timer for 10 minutes."
- "Alexa, start another timer for 15 minutes."
- "Alexa, set an alarm for 8:30 AM."
- "Alexa, set another alarm for 9:30 AM."

You can also view, edit, cancel, and set specific volumes for your timers and alarms in the Echo App.

Want to take your timers and alarms one step further? @jimwoz uses an IFTTT recipe to trigger his Philips Hue lights when his alarm goes off.
https://twitter.com/jimwoz/status/622482930686889985
https://ifttt.com/recipes/303972-tur...alarm-goes-off

I would love it if we could somehow label each alarm/timer and have Alexa speak it. I sometimes can't remember why I set a particular timer while cooking multiple items.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

My farther, who was a bit of a tech head, died in 1967. I often wonder what his reaction would be if he could step in my house today long enough to hear me interacting with Alexa? I think his mind would be blown. I'm site if he were to return from the grave, he'd have an Echo of his own within six months, right after he got through buying a computer and smartphone.

I was the first monkey in my troop to get an Echo

[Tarana]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

My thoughts exactly. The remote is now a $30 accessory.

I've yet to use mine. Not even sure where it is.