Smart Speakers

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Smart Speakers

YvonneW

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#248206 14-Mar-2019 14:22

I'm late to the party. Which is better Google Home Hub or Alexa (Echo, Dot etc.) There may be others? I realise the aim is for home automation but for now I would just mainly use one for streaming music and to ask it questions. I may get the light bulbs.

Do they all have to stay plugged in to the mains?

As you can tell I don't know much about them at all!

For info I have an Android phone, an Amazon Kindle and a Windows laptop, it that makes any difference.

trig42

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#2198056 14-Mar-2019 15:09

I don't know which is better, but I have an Amazon Echo Plus, and it is good.

Speaker wise, it sounds fine. Assistant-wise, it works well. I have some bulbs, a couple of WiFi switches (one Belikin, one Broadlink) a Sensibo and a Logitech Harmony remote that all interact with it.

It is handy for setting timers and reminders. I also ask it questions and usually it gets the answer I am looking for (sometimes, she flies off on a tangent and has obviously misheard me).

Haven't used Google's equivalent.

freitasm

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#2198058 14-Mar-2019 15:11

I think Alexa will have more integrations with services... I like how I have an Amazon Fire TV and can say "Alexa, show my driveway" and the live stream from my Ring Floodlight Cam appears on the TV - just an example.

amanzi

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#2198083 14-Mar-2019 15:42

Not sure if it matters to you but Alexa is the only one supported in NZ. All of the Google Home devices are parallel imported and need some tweaking to work in NZ. In saying that, I prefer Google Home - the language recognition and comprehension seems better.

smcc

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#2198108 14-Mar-2019 16:14

If you want portable, Amazon Tap is the answer. Basically a portable Bluetooth speaker with Alexa and most other smart speaker functionality. I use mine for streaming music and podcasts in the back yard. Not sure if they are on sale in NZ, you may have to import from Amazon US.

jonathan18

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#2198264 14-Mar-2019 21:39

smcc:

If you want portable, Amazon Tap is the answer. Basically a portable Bluetooth speaker with Alexa and most other smart speaker functionality. I use mine for streaming music and podcasts in the back yard. Not sure if they are on sale in NZ, you may have to import from Amazon US.

Or, alternatively, for a portable product sold in NZ there's the UE Blast and Megablast, which appear to be variations of the Boom and Megaboom but with Alexa built-in (https://www.ultimateears.com/en-nz/wireless-speakers/blast.html). (There are limitations of these compared to the Boom equivalents - eg no ability to connect multiple speakers in tandem.)

Stu1

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#2198354 15-Mar-2019 07:18

The Sonos has great sound, the apple version is good but expensive. I find Alexa really hard to use for changing radio stations on iHeartRadio radio and tunein often plays wrong station I give up and use the Sonos app on my phone. The wife hates it wants cd player back in the kitchen. It struggles with Maori words . The Sonos is powered great looking speaker with good sound Alexa is a bonus

rogercruse

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#2198430 15-Mar-2019 09:52

smcc:

If you want portable, Amazon Tap is the answer. Basically a portable Bluetooth speaker with Alexa and most other smart speaker functionality. I use mine for streaming music and podcasts in the back yard. Not sure if they are on sale in NZ, you may have to import from Amazon US.

I purchased one of these https://ninety7.com/products/vaux-echo-dot-speaker?variant=27663402891

You simply drop your Echo Dot (gen 2) in and then use your existing USB cable to keep the battery fully charged.

When I want music and Alexa in the garden, I simply unplug it and carry it outside.

Two issues though:

1. The Echo Dot gen 2 has been superseded by the Echo Dot gen 3. and the supplier hasn't produced a battery device for this model yet.

2. Getting this item delivered to New Zealand was made difficult because its a battery and YourShop won't ship it, and I couldn't order it directly from the supplier or from Amazon. I finally found a dealer on ebay that would ship.