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Amazon Echo
https://www.beexcellenttoeachother.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10252		 Page 3 of 4
Author:  Warhead [ Wed Aug 02, 2017 13:16 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Well, don't say I didn't warn you when some script kiddie in China starts switching your lights on and off randomly in the middle of the night..
Author:  asfish [ Thu Nov 09, 2017 9:14 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Planning an investment in Phillips Hue before the end of the year, so I bought the Echo Plus

This is the same size as the Echo but comes with a built in smart home hub.

Can always find space for another Echo :) and it came with a free Hue bulb (a crap white one that only does soft white) also the hue bridge costs £50 so it was worth a punt.

I took home a hue colour strip light we had a work when we were testing Echo to see if it could be used to start meeting rooms, this project was shoe string in that we borrowed the required hue bridge from a guy in the dept for testing!

So I set it all up and go into the Alexia App then into the Smart Home section, the strip light is there but functionally is disappointing. All I can do is dim and turn on and off there, no options to set colour.

With Echo voice control there is a bit more, I can change the strip to primary colours, as well as soft and cool white and dim it.

What is missing are scenes, this are built in colour configuration such as "Hawaiian sunset" using a Hue bridge and Echo there would be 40-50 of these to choose from, not something for daily use but annoying its missing.

Also missing is the ability to add hue sensors, this let you switch lights on based on conditions when the sensor detects you.

So if you want to have white lights and on\off and dim then this is fine and you don't need a hue bridge.

If you want colour scenes, and sensors and other hue devices then you need to buy a hue bridge.

I may send this back if I find the smart home hub in the Echo is one thing too many when I get a hue bridge and cause complexity.
Author:  Warhead [ Wed Dec 13, 2017 1:45 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
My son has had a Firestick, with voice control, for a few months and is very impressed with it. A couple of days ago we were discussing David Lynch’s Dune and what should pop up as a film suggestion for him today? You guessed it, Dune. Is Alexa listening when he hasn’t pressed the mic button or is this just a coincidence?
Author:  markg [ Wed Dec 13, 2017 8:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Coincidence, the other night it appeared right at the front of Amazon video for me. I think probably it just came on there and he has watched some scifi before.
Author:  asfish [ Tue Dec 19, 2017 11:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
As I was going back into my sons room at bedtime last night I heard him say "Alexa can you do a fart?"

The Echo replied back that it couldn't but asked if he would like to enable some fart skill

I got into the room just as he said yes, now when asked if it can do a fart it does one :D

So a good 10 minutes added to bedtime last night :)
Author:  Hearthly [ Tue Jul 09, 2019 10:04 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Are these things any good? Me and Mrs Hearthly were in Curry's yesterday getting something for her dad and we were looking at the Google Home and Amazon Echo gizmos.

We very nearly bought one but we (1) Couldn't decide which to get and (2) Weren't entirely sure what we'd do with it.

We have Amazon Prime but all of our stuff is on Google.
Author:  DavPaz [ Tue Jul 09, 2019 10:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
If you're invested in Google's world, it makes sense to go with a Google home. You're a Spotify premium user, right?
Author:  Kern [ Tue Jul 09, 2019 10:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
I was initially sceptical about my Echo Dot but now I love it. I mostly use it for checking the weather, setting timers when I'm cooking, and controlling my thermostat. I'll occasionally ask it for random facts about obscure countries, tell a joke, or to make the noise of a bear.

When my current kitchen radio dies I'll probably replace it with the standard sized Echo and use it for radio.
Author:  MaliA [ Tue Jul 09, 2019 10:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Ours is commonly tuned to NME2 music, and controls the majority of the downstairs lights. I live it.
Author:  Hearthly [ Tue Jul 09, 2019 10:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
DavPaz wrote:
If you're invested in Google's world, it makes sense to go with a Google home. You're a Spotify premium user, right?


Yes we have the mega family package.

Don't they both work with Spotify then?
Author:  DavPaz [ Tue Jul 09, 2019 10:48 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Hearthly wrote:
DavPaz wrote:
If you're invested in Google's world, it makes sense to go with a Google home. You're a Spotify premium user, right?


Yes we have the mega family package.

Don't they both work with Spotify then?

Yep.
Author:  Hearthly [ Tue Jul 09, 2019 11:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
I chatted to a chum who has both of them and he said to get the Google one.
Author:  Squirt [ Tue Jul 09, 2019 11:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Amazon! Amazon! Amazon! Amazon! Amazon!




AAAAAAMMMMMAAAAZOOOON!

(don't listen to me, I've been got to by Big Alexa )
Author:  DavPaz [ Tue Jul 09, 2019 11:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Hearthly wrote:
I chatted to a chum who has both of them and he said to get the Google one.

Was it me? Am I the chum?
Author:  Hearthly [ Tue Jul 09, 2019 18:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Your input was considered and appreciated.

I'm still not fucking convinced we'll actually do anything with a Google Home gizmo though, my chum said it's basically the Google Assistant off a smartphone, embedded in a device with a speaker.

Also another chum said he went into his Google archive thingy and it had recorded all sorts of shit, including him having an argument with his wife about cakes.
Author:  Warhead [ Wed Jul 10, 2019 8:21 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Hearthly wrote:
Your input was considered and appreciated.

I'm still not fucking convinced we'll actually do anything with a Google Home gizmo though, my chum said it's basically the Google Assistant off a smartphone, embedded in a device with a speaker.

Also another chum said he went into his Google archive thingy and it had recorded all sorts of shit, including him having an argument with his wife about cakes.

See? I was right about Facebook being a pile of shite when it first started up and I'll be right about these damn spying devices.
Author:  Grim... [ Wed Jul 10, 2019 8:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Google Home Mini's are half price right now.
Author:  Warhead [ Wed Jul 10, 2019 8:33 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Grim... wrote:
Google Home Mini's are half price right now.

Mini's? :facepalm:
Author:  DavPaz [ Wed Jul 10, 2019 8:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Grim... wrote:
Google Home Mini's are half price right now.

They should add an audio out to the mini. If they did that, I'd buy another one. I'm tempted by Nest Hub though.
Author:  DavPaz [ Wed Jul 10, 2019 8:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Warhead wrote:
See? I was right about Facebook being a pile of shite when it first started up and I'll be right about these damn spying devices.


Ok pops. The point is we *know* they're spying on us. That's the point. We don't care. Seriously. If I was worried about it, I would be off the grid. But I'm not.

I have deleted Facebook though. Fuck that noise.
Author:  Warhead [ Wed Jul 10, 2019 12:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
DavPaz wrote:
Warhead wrote:
See? I was right about Facebook being a pile of shite when it first started up and I'll be right about these damn spying devices.


Ok pops. The point is we *know* they're spying on us. That's the point. We don't care. Seriously. If I was worried about it, I would be off the grid. But I'm not.

I have deleted Facebook though. Fuck that noise.

Ohhhh, right, so you're going to feed it disinformation and undermine big data.

Sounds like a plan.

I might have to start plugging in my Dot for an hour per day and reciting a long series of random four digit numbers and make hissing and crackling noises to make them think something sinister is going on.
Author:  DavPaz [ Wed Jul 10, 2019 12:48 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Warhead wrote:
DavPaz wrote:
Warhead wrote:
See? I was right about Facebook being a pile of shite when it first started up and I'll be right about these damn spying devices.


Ok pops. The point is we *know* they're spying on us. That's the point. We don't care. Seriously. If I was worried about it, I would be off the grid. But I'm not.

I have deleted Facebook though. Fuck that noise.

Ohhhh, right, so you're going to feed it disinformation and undermine big data.

Sounds like a plan.

I might have to start plugging in my Dot for an hour per day and reciting a long series of random four digit numbers and make hissing and crackling noises to make them think something sinister is going on.

"The Swallows are flying again"
Author:  Grim... [ Wed Jul 10, 2019 17:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
DavPaz wrote:
Grim... wrote:
Google Home Mini's are half price right now.

They should add an audio out to the mini. If they did that, I'd buy another one. I'm tempted by Nest Hub though.

They should. It does Bluetooth out, though.
Author:  DavPaz [ Wed Jul 10, 2019 18:30 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Grim... wrote:
DavPaz wrote:
Grim... wrote:
Google Home Mini's are half price right now.

They should add an audio out to the mini. If they did that, I'd buy another one. I'm tempted by Nest Hub though.

They should. It does Bluetooth out, though.

It does, but it seems like an extra step when an aux out is still pretty universal
Author:  Trooper [ Wed Jul 10, 2019 18:31 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Grim... wrote:
DavPaz wrote:
Grim... wrote:
Google Home Mini's are half price right now.

They should add an audio out to the mini. If they did that, I'd buy another one. I'm tempted by Nest Hub though.

They should. It does Bluetooth out, though.


Whenever I want to play music, I need to resync my Bluetooth speaker, which is annoying. Both the home and the speaker are always plugged in and left on.
Author:  Hearthly [ Wed Jul 10, 2019 18:45 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
I have DECIDED AGAINST getting one of these things, and I love buying gizmos and generally spunking cash on even the flimsiest of premises.

Not because I care about the big brother aspect of things, and I've given up on Google ever serving up relevant YouTube ads to me however much data I encourage them to harvest (it was some sort of Pakistani musical thing the other day, honestly, I have no fucking idea), but because I just don't see the use for it.

We have PCs/laptops in pretty much every room of the house anyway, and down in the kitchen I just use the All-In-One PC for everything, including playing music.

So for now it is NO DEAL.
Author:  DavPaz [ Wed Jul 10, 2019 18:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
I'll give it 3 days before you buy both
Author:  Mimi [ Wed Jul 10, 2019 18:49 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
I hear if you get an Echo Dot you can use ITTT to automatically order you a new car from a local dealer every two months and then post to your favourite friendly forum both the dealership listing and a positive little message saying you’ll absolutely definitely be keeping this one for at least two years.

Think of the time you’ll save. ;)
Author:  Hearthly [ Wed Jul 10, 2019 18:55 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Our survey officially found Mimi's post NOT AMUSING.

:p
Author:  myp [ Wed Jul 10, 2019 19:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
DavPaz wrote:
I'll give it 3 days before you buy both

This is what he said about smart watches. And about four of the cars he then went on to buy.

Also he still hasn’t taken his £2k laptop off the WongaWatch scoreboard so he is making a mockery of the whole competition.
Author:  Hearthly [ Thu Jul 11, 2019 9:25 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Mr Chonks wrote:
Also he still hasn’t taken his £2k laptop off the WongaWatch scoreboard so he is making a mockery of the whole competition.


Huh?
Author:  Bamba [ Thu Jul 11, 2019 10:07 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Hearthly wrote:
Mr Chonks wrote:
Also he still hasn’t taken his £2k laptop off the WongaWatch scoreboard so he is making a mockery of the whole competition.


Huh?


You returned your new laptop but it's still being counted on the WongaWatch thread. Mop's post seemed pretty clear there I thought?
Author:  Hearthly [ Thu Jul 11, 2019 10:15 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
It's in for a replacement so the money is still spent, I'm still out £2000.
Author:  Bamba [ Thu Jul 11, 2019 10:21 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Fair enough, I thought you'd returned it entirely.
Author:  Hearthly [ Thu Jul 11, 2019 10:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
No it's currently back with Ebuyer under the RMA and is in the 3-5 day window them allow themselves for a 'technical assessment', I have asked for a replacement of the same model, assuming they can confirm the faults, which they should be able to do.

(TBH I'm a bit narky as they confirmed they received it on Monday, so we're now on Day 4, I was hoping they'd turn it around a bit quicker than that, considering it's a £2K piece of kit and was basically faulty on arrival.)
Author:  myp [ Thu Jul 11, 2019 10:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
I, too, thought you had returned it for a refund under your statutory rights.
Author:  Hearthly [ Thu Jul 11, 2019 10:43 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
When I submitted the RMA I requested a refund (and if granted I would have updated WongaWatch accordingly), however following conversations with Ebuyer tech support and particularly ASUS technical support (who were very clear there is no known widespread issue with this model), I changed the RMA request to a replacement.

TBH I liked the laptop so much I was almost tempted to keep it and just put up with the issues, (Mrs Hearthly was a bit put out too as she was getting good use out of it), but in the end decided to send it away and go through the (rather longwinded.....) RMA process, since it's definitely not right.
Author:  MaliA [ Thu Jul 11, 2019 10:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Well, this is tedious. Hearthly, you don't have to justify yourself
Author:  Warhead [ Thu Jul 11, 2019 12:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: Amazon Echo
Some would beg to differ.
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