Yes, we’re discussing the Amazon Echo on another list as it happens and I just wanted to confirm that the Dot indeed is a battery unit. The whole Voice recognition game has gone ahead ahead in leaps and bounds, obviously I don’t have an Amazon Echo - not yet - or a Google Home but I do have my Samsung Galaxy S6 with “OK Google” and “Google Now” installed and the things that combination can do - if you’re prepared to spend the time to speak your mind as the saying goes - is astonishing. For example I can tell the phone to “Play Radio 1070 KNX with Tunein” to which Google responds, “Playing KNX 1070 News Radio” and that you then hear. To stop playing all I have to do is to wake up google , “Ok Google” and say, “Stop Play”, to which Google Responds, “Sure!”. I have Google do a whole heap of other things besides, I just mentioned this example as its one I’ve only refined the voice commands for over the last few days, practise makes perfect <smile>.
> On 28 Nov. 2016, at 1:42 am, John Gurd <j.g...@ntlworld.com> wrote: > > Yes, it's the smaller unit by far but has all the features of it's bigger > sibling. The Dot can be connected by audio cable to a larger speaker or even > an amplifier. I haven't done this. It also has Bluetooth. There is a misnomer > that it doesn't have a built-in speaker but it does. The sound quality is > much like an old-fashioned transistor radio but I have listened to music from > a random playlist in the background from amazon Prime and it is okay for > casual radio listening. I can also tell it to connect via Bluetooth to my > iPhone and play my book from the Voice Dream app via the Dot. It certainly > sounds fine and can play at a reasonable volume for the equivalent of a > transistor radio. > > If I should be fortunate to get the bigger Echo for Xmas I'll keep it in the > living room and move the Dot to the bedroom. That way I can use it to control > the heating and lighting from either place by voice and it will serve as an > alarm clock as well. Incidentally, it also tells Jokes and Interesting Facts > on demand. In fact it is quite a good dictionary and calculator too. > > John > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane > Trethowan > Sent: 27 November 2016 02:27 > To: PC Audio Discussion List > Subject: Re: Who's the better BFF: Amazon Echo or Google Home? > > The Echo Dot is the smaller unit right? Does it run on battery power too? > >> On 27 Nov. 2016, at 6:58 am, John Gurd <j.g...@ntlworld.com> wrote: >> >> I just got the Echo Dot to try it out as I already have a Hive home >> connected system. I can control some lights and the central heating >> thermostat with it. It's fairly rudimentary but has a lot of potential that >> I hope will be realised in the near future. I've found it handy for a quick >> news summary, checking my local train service, and for simple questions and >> even a casual dip into radio such as BBC radio 4. Overall, I like it enough >> to anticipate getting its bigger brother for Xmas. >> >> John >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Jim >> Noseworthy >> Sent: 25 November 2016 11:43 >> To: 'PC Audio Discussion List' >> Subject: RE: Who's the better BFF: Amazon Echo or Google Home? >> >> Hi: >> >> In my opinion, if you're not wanting to use Audible, Google home wins the >> vote; however, if Audible is important, then forget Google home. I have >> access to both devices. >> >> Cheers. >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane >> Trethowan >> Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2016 4:53 PM >> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org> >> Subject: Who's the better BFF: Amazon Echo or Google Home? >> >> All I can say is that Home and Echo are incredibly powerful tools as this >> article demonstrates all too clearly. >> http://newatlas.com/amazon-echo-vs-google-home/46423/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=4cc9032d68-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-4cc9032d68-92350869 >> >> -- >> >> ********** >> ?Oh, I?m an activist and I?m OK / I sleep all night and I tweet all day.? >> >> >> >> >> > > ********** > Those of a positive and enquiring frame of mind will leave the rest of the > halfwits in this world behind. > > > > ********** Those of a positive and enquiring frame of mind will leave the rest of the halfwits in this world behind.
