Amazon Echo

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Amazon Echo

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Networkn
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#1179316 19-Nov-2014 09:59

freitasm:
networkn: Well my invite was confirmed and my purchase made. Youshop will have it Saturday and if that's the case I might have it next Friday and will post feedback after that.

What? I didn't get my invite confirmation!

Outraged!

Are you a Prime Member?

freitasm

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#1179317 19-Nov-2014 10:01

Ah... No, I was., not anymore.

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hairy1

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#1179324 19-Nov-2014 10:07

I am prime and haven't been confirmed... Sad face.....

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

richms

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#1179515 19-Nov-2014 13:30

How do you know your invites approved? Do they email?

Richard rich.ms

networkn

Networkn
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#1179520 19-Nov-2014 13:35

richms: How do you know your invites approved? Do they email?

Yes. My understanding is that if you didn't get one today, you won't get one unless enough of those invited opt to not take the offer, though also as part of my understanding, they have a 98%+ order rate from offer status.

networkn

Networkn
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#1183279 26-Nov-2014 13:37

Well my Echo arrived into NZ 2 hours ago, and cleared customs 10 minutes ago, delivery looks likely for tomorrow!

I'll post initial findings on Friday AM.

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hairy1

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#1183350 26-Nov-2014 14:48

Show off! :-p

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

networkn

Networkn
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#1183868 27-Nov-2014 10:24

Well it arrived today, it's configured on my desk.

I am IMPRESSED. It's really very very good. Voice recognition has not skipped a single beat EXCEPT when I asked for the weather in Auckland and it thought I said Oakland (California). It's not NZ friendly yet, as it wants me to set a zipcode for time, weather etc, so some of those features won't work.

It has managed to add items to my shopping list, play about 9-10 different types of music (Alexa, play think twice by Celine Dion was got right the first time for example). It managed to cope with one staff members strong Russian accent without many issues (His not hers).

It's a nice looking unit, sound quality is good, setup was a cinch (Load the companion app, plug the device in, connect to the device, and via the app tell it the wireless settings, everything else works via voice. Comes with the same remote as the FireTV so I can give it instructions from outside the room too.

It's cost about $150 NZD to get here and so far it's worth every cent.

jonathan18

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#1183879 27-Nov-2014 10:34

networkn: ...(Alexa, play think twice by Celine Dion was got right the first time for example).

Clearly it's not working properly, and I suggest you return it for a full refund - any such device that was functioning correctly would have refused such a request.

networkn

Networkn
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#1183887 27-Nov-2014 10:48

jonathan18:
networkn: ...(Alexa, play think twice by Celine Dion was got right the first time for example).

Clearly it's not working properly, and I suggest you return it for a full refund - any such device that was functioning correctly would have refused such a request.

Bite me.

SumnerBoy

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#1183904 27-Nov-2014 10:54

Do you know if they have any sort of open API for this? Sounds like the perfect addition to my home automation system to allow voice control/commands...

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networkn

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#1183917 27-Nov-2014 10:59

SumnerBoy: Do you know if they have any sort of open API for this? Sounds like the perfect addition to my home automation system to allow voice control/commands...

I don't but I imagine it might at some stage.

networkn

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#1184752 28-Nov-2014 10:29

So a bit more time with it, and I am thinking this thing is going to be a real winner, the possibilities are fairly endless, for the future.

It was a hit at home. Both my kids are now in love with Alexa (though neither are recognised by it thankfully.

The cutest thing was when over dinner I had been saying "Alex Play <insert music or artist>", and then after dinner my 2 year old daugher dissappears, comes back with a ball and says :

"Alexa, Play ball!"

She was mightily disappointed.

There are a few things that aren't ideal, such as in order for weather, time, location etc things to work, even day of the week, a zip code in the US needs to be set.

It has some excellent interactions with other devices. You can buy books and send them to your kindle, or play music and send it to your Amazon HDX 8.9 Tablet, or ask it to find you a recipe for a dish and then send to tablet, and it shows up on the screen.

We haven't tested if profiles are an option so it knows my wifes tasklist and shopping list aren't the same as mine. Will update accordingly.

I have already ordered a second one because I want one at the office as a music player in the corner of my office.

Jaxson

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#1184800 28-Nov-2014 11:28

Glad to see the discussion here on Geekzone. We started watching this a while back. Considered a 6 months trial of Prime for the cheaper price also lol.

Reviews I've seen suggest it's quite connected into the Amazon world, but one would assume this would expand at a later date, or for use with an open API etc.
As in, where can it play the music from? Where can it source answers from? etc

Other suggestions have asked for:
Voice recognition, so you can have multiple 'accounts' as such via the one interface, so anyone can ask for something to be added to their own list.
Support for multiple base units, so you can have more than one in a house.
Support for a wireless subwoofer, so the music can be upped a bit.

Sounds good to me, but am anticipating violent opposition from the 'it's always listening' personal privacy brigade.

networkn

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#1184819 28-Nov-2014 11:39

Jaxson: Glad to see the discussion here on Geekzone. We started watching this a while back. Considered a 6 months trial of Prime for the cheaper price also lol.

Reviews I've seen suggest it's quite connected into the Amazon world, but one would assume this would expand at a later date, or for use with an open API etc.
As in, where can it play the music from? Where can it source answers from? etc

Other suggestions have asked for:
Voice recognition, so you can have multiple 'accounts' as such via the one interface, so anyone can ask for something to be added to their own list.
Support for multiple base units, so you can have more than one in a house.
Support for a wireless subwoofer, so the music can be upped a bit.

Sounds good to me, but am anticipating violent opposition from the 'it's always listening' personal privacy brigade.

It's always listening for the word "alexa" and discards everything else. Only when Alexa is "listening" is anything you say being sent anywhere.

My understanding is that it's powered somewhat by Bing.

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