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Amazon Echo |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Scotland, Dunfermline Area
Posts: 10,698
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Amazon Echo
I ordered the Amazon Echo the day from QVC as part of my sisters Christmas as it looked good and tane the 3 easy payments. Had been waiting for it to come on QVC. May order this for my sister also https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-Con...rds=smart+plug
It it works with the Amazon Echo. QVC is sold out of the smart plug. I may end up buying the Amazon Echo for myself at a later date. What do others think of the Amazon Echo. Darren |
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#2 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 215
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i looked at it and although it looks a reasonably cool bit of kit i cant think of a situation id actually use it.
it tells me the weather, so does my phone it can tell me the latest news, so does my phone it can play music, so does my phone etc etc etc.... im usually one for gadgets but think ill pass on this one. |
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 18,871
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unnecessary gadget.
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#4 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Scotland, Dunfermline Area
Posts: 10,698
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I'm also one for gadgets and stuff. Will see how my sister gats on with it first before I order one for myself. I do agree that my IPhone 5s and IPad Min 4 can give mostly the same but the Amazon Echo looks good.
Darren |
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Scotland, Dunfermline Area
Posts: 10,698
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I have since also ordered this Wi-Fi smart plug https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 from Amazon for my sister to go with the Amazon Echo from QVC that I'm getting her as part of her Christmas.
I have noticed that price has gone up by at lest Ģ3 since I ordered the Wi-Fi smart plug earlier this evening. I see the Echo has now fully sold out on QVC. Darren |
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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: It's Grim
Posts: 24,400
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The idea is nice but maybe the technology is not quite advanced enough.
When "Echo" becomes a full person you can chat too it'll be a smash hit product. |
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#7 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 68,696
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Quote:
The idea is nice but maybe the technology is not quite advanced enough.
When "Echo" becomes a full person you can chat too it'll be a smash hit product. "OK Google, does my local Sainsburys have any Marmite?" followed by "OK Google, which supermarkets do?". |
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 2,101
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I am actually really loving the echo, I got it on special offer (if you are a member of amazon Prime for 99.99, that off only lasted two days however), It might be worth waiting for the end of November Black Friday it is possible you might get a little off.....when you think what you can do with it its great value, a similar portable sound system is even more expensive.....you can ask it to play radio stations (through internet) and plays your music you have in the cloud or from Amazon Prime music (which has over a million songs).
I also like the way there are sort of apps coming onto it now (through the alexa app) which you can add to the echo. So you could set up a quiz or tune your guitar through it for example......tried out a pub quiz, which only asks 5 questions at a time, which actually worked pretty well, but its early days and things will get a lot better. The sound is excellent and although it does make some mistakes when you try to think of the correct words.....it isn't enough to get frustrating and it even heard me shout a command from upstairs (and it was downstairs). Follow the instructions because if you have it too near a wall the communications can get a bit confused with sound bouncing off the walls (advises not less that 20cm)... One point it might be worth getting the dot (49.99) to see how you get on with it.....although the speaker isn't as good it will give you an idea what to expect and maybe wait til their is an offer on the echo for 99pounds as that is great value. |
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Scotland, Dunfermline Area
Posts: 10,698
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Quote:
I am actually really loving the echo, I got it on special offer (if you are a member of amazon Prime for 99.99, that off only lasted two days however), It might be worth waiting for the end of November Black Friday it is possible you might get a little off.....when you think what you can do with it its great value, a similar portable sound system is even more expensive.....you can ask it to play radio stations (through internet) and plays your music you have in the cloud or from Amazon Prime music (which has over a million songs).
I also like the way there are sort of apps coming onto it now (through the alexa app) which you can add to the echo. So you could set up a quiz or tune your guitar through it for example......tried out a pub quiz, which only asks 5 questions at a time, which actually worked pretty well, but its early days and things will get a lot better. The sound is excellent and although it does make some mistakes when you try to think of the correct words.....it isn't enough to get frustrating and it even heard me shout a command from upstairs (and it was downstairs). Follow the instructions because if you have it too near a wall the communications can get a bit confused with sound bouncing off the walls (advises not less that 20cm)... One point it might be worth getting the dot (49.99) to see how you get on with it.....although the speaker isn't as good it will give you an idea what to expect and maybe wait til their is an offer on the echo for 99pounds as that is great value. I'm tempted to also buy the Echo for myself but will hold off to see if its in the black Friday deals like you say. The QVC deal was good. I ordered it for my sister with 3 easy payments and after P&P I still got it for nearly Ģ3 cheaper than on the Amazon and Currys websites. I should get it in the next 10 days and will give it to my sister at Christmas. Along with the Wi-Fi smart plug I ordered off Amazon to go with it. Darren |
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#10 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 2,101
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Quote:
I take it can also play songs from the likes of Spotify. I'm sure the guy Lee on QVC said it could. My sister has the free Spotify and she has an Apple music membership but she don't have Amazon music. I just have the premium Spotify service. I also don't have Amazon Music.
I'm tempted to also buy the Echo for myself but will hold off to see if its in the black Friday deals like you say. The QVC deal was good. I ordered it for my sister with 3 easy payments and after P&P I still got it for nearly Ģ3 cheaper than on the Amazon and Currys websites. I should get it in the next 10 days and will give it to my sister at Christmas. Along with the Wi-Fi smart plug I ordered off Amazon to go with it. Darren
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#11 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: south yorkshire
Posts: 1,262
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I don't get it.
Watched QVC last night Ģ138, erm. www.google.com is free and does basically the same thing ?? And by all accounts the tech sites have pretty much all said the same thing, the speaker isn't that good and once the novelty wears off? |
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#12 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 279
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The Echo Dot is a better buy imo.
Basically a sawn off version of the Echo that you connect to your own speakers, and only Ģ50 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01DFKBL...7-7670b8100827 |
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#13 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 1
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Hi there, I work for a research company based in London and we are studying new Amazon Echo users in the UK. We're particularly interested in people who are 'power users' and have truly integrated Alexa into their lives. Would anyone be interested in taking part in the research? We'd be able to compensate you for your time. Please drop me a line at anna.zavyalova@stripepartners.com
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#14 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Scotland, Dunfermline Area
Posts: 10,698
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I know Siri on my IPhone 5s and IPad Mini 4 can also do most things and I have this bluetooth speaker that my sister got me last Christmas and I use it when I'm in the shower and was using it during the summer when I was in the back garden https://www.amazon.co.uk/Relaxer-Res...s=vtin+speaker and sound from it seems ok.
I would still use it while I'm in the shower or sitting in the back garden in the summer but I'm still thinking of also getting the Echo for myself before the end of the year. One I'm getting from QVC with the 3 easy payments is still part of my sisters Christmas. Darren |
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#15 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 29
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I have had one for the last couple of days. Speech recognition is really good - I have a broad northern Scottish accent and it picks up what I say easily 9 times out of 10. It's niche - in my opinion - is when it is located in your kitchen. The hands free always on aspect of it is great when your hands are wet/covered in raw chicken etc. Links really well with my Spotify account, allowing me access to my playlists etc.
It's not as good as the US version, the searches for information are a bit hit and miss, but it is at the beginnings of a new technological concept for the masses, and it's nice to be a part of it. |
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#16 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Wigan
Posts: 4,877
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Not a user. Yet.
But I can see its potential. Controlling your mood lighting or your streaming music is only the beginning. What it can do right now is just a taste of what it will be able to do in the future when there are more compatible smart devices and services. When out and about, use your smart phone. When in and around the house, use Echo dot . Why carry your phone about in the house? Why not go "hands free" in your house, as you can right now in your car? For example, imagine having a phone chat via Echo dotin any room in the house without needing your phone. "Picard to away team!" Or connected to a smart fridge... and ordering what you're missing from the fridge from your supermarket. "Computer...<your request here>" The problem is I foresee yet another "format war" in the making. Siri vs Alexa vs Google Now vs Cortana. Devices and services that hook up to Siri won't necessarily work with Alexa or Cortana, etc, etc. Buy now into the one that fails and you'll be left with a piece of useless electronics later on. Manufacturers will have to make devices that are compatible with all cloud based voice recognition services. Service providers similarly. At least the Echo dot is inexpensive enough to try it out without putting too much money at risk. For now Amazon have stolen a march in home automation but I'm pretty sure Apple, Google and Microsoft have their own strategy for getting their services into your (smart) home. |
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#17 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 9,292
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We have 2 Echo Dots. One in the lounge and 1 in the bedroom for alarms.
We use them to control our philips hue bulbs all round the house, do our shopping list and loads of other things. Oddly, this morning i was woken by it when my alarm went off to Jeremy Clarkson shouting "WAKE UP, WAKE UP!!!" as they added it as part of the Grand Tour thing. Was quite amusing
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#18 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Scotland, Dunfermline Area
Posts: 10,698
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Amazon Echo that I ordered for my sisters Christmas will arrive this week. I ordered myself one that arrived the day and I have to say set up via the BT Home Hub was not easy as it tane a good few mins.
Dose anyone know how to set it up some it will tell me the weather forecast for my area. Darren |
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#19 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 915
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Quote:
Amazon Echo that I ordered for my sisters Christmas will arrive this week. I ordered myself one that arrived the day and I have to say set up via the BT Home Hub was not easy as it tane a good few mins.
Dose anyone know how to set it up some it will tell me the weather forecast for my area. Darren |
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#20 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Scotland, Dunfermline Area
Posts: 10,698
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Quote:
Go to settings in the Alexa app and put your address details in device location.
For some reason it's don't seem to save my postcode. Darren |
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#21 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Scotland, Dunfermline Area
Posts: 10,698
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It seems I'm having problems saving some of my preferences on the Amazon Alexa app. Anyone got any ideas how to fix this.
Darren |
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#22 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 26
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Canīt see any advantage to my life if i buy Amazon Echo.
For me itīs just another Gadget which you buy and soon you get borred of. How many times you really wanna know the weather or how long the supermarket is open? If it could be a real electronic help for me it had to control all my other electronic devices, like "Alexa start the washmachine." |
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#23 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,454
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Quote:
Canīt see any advantage to my life if i buy Amazon Echo.
For me itīs just another Gadget which you buy and soon you get borred of. How many times you really wanna know the weather or how long the supermarket is open? If it could be a real electronic help for me it had to control all my other electronic devices, like "Alexa start the washmachine." |
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#24 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Scotland, Dunfermline Area
Posts: 10,698
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Think I got it sorted after I reset the Echo. Just need a o try and get it to use TuneIn radio to play radio stations.
Darren |
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#25 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Scotland, Dunfermline Area
Posts: 10,698
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Think I got it sorted after I reset the Echo. Just need a o try and get it to use TuneIn radio to play radio stations.
Darren |
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