Okay...as I figured, I hadn't seen this when I sent that last post to the list! But my question is this: it says "Amazon Android app!" So does this mean that only people with Android phones can take advantage of this app? I have an Iphone, so if this be the case, maybe I'm out of luck...or have I misread what this is saying! Tom Kaufman
-----Original Message----- From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane Trethowan Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:47 PM To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa Here's the link to the article and yep I was right and good on Amazon for addressing what I consider to be an obvious and unnecessary flaw in the firmware. http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/02/09/amazon-tap-firmware-update-enables-echo-style-hands-free-voice-commands/ On 12/02/2017 7:26 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote: > Dane: I think you're probably right on track; at least that would also be my > guess as well! > Tom Kaufman > > -----Original Message----- > From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane > Trethowan > Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:16 PM > To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org> > Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa > > Yep, will keep an eye on that, I don’t suppose you have any idea of what > exactly the hands free update does? I think I know and I’ll explain and I’ll > make it clear that I’m only guessing. > With the Tap at present you have to press a button and then speak your > request to Tap. > With the other units you just speak your request and that request is > performed so I’m guessing the firmware update for the tap illumines the need > to press the button before you start speaking? > >> On 12 Feb 2017, at 6:59 am, Clifford Blackwell <ceblackwe...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >> Hope that all works out for you. Let us know about the sound quality and >> look for the firmware update. >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dane Trethowan" >> <grtd...@internode.on.net> >> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org> >> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 1:53 PM >> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa >> >> >>> Wow! >>> >>> My Tap comes tomorrow. >>> >>> >>> >>> On 12/02/2017 6:21 AM, Clifford Blackwell wrote: >>>> I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that >>>> might make it even more user friendly. >>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dane Trethowan" >>>> <grtd...@internode.on.net> >>>> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org> >>>> Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM >>>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa >>>> >>>> >>>> to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely >>>> impressive. >>>> >>>> I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I >>>> listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was >>>> quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as >>>> wonderful as my B&W A7 and I didn't expect it to be either. >>>> >>>> I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed >>>> if that's the case. >>>> >>>> Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that >>>> the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the >>>> Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of >>>> course but you can't stream from it. >>>> >>>> I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over >>>> the weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I >>>> had been thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so >>>> perhaps its best to kill some b irds with a stone and just get the >>>> Amazon Tap? Will think about it. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote: >>>>> I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot >>>>> does not have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a >>>>> battery base for it (I didn't know that) but I personally don't think it >>>>> would be worthwhile. The Dot is fine for speech and books and even casual >>>>> radio but I wouldn't spend much time listening to music on it. I've never >>>>> connected it to external speakers. The Echo is much better for music but >>>>> it is still not as good as my Bose Soundlink Mini or Creative Roar. I >>>>> noticed the Echo is very susceptible to positioning: on a table away from >>>>> a wall it is quite mid-rangey with little base, on a carpeted wooden >>>>> floor the base is very good but it's speech is too base heavy. I have it >>>>> on a table near a wall and it sounds reasonably good. >>>>> >>>>> Apart from the Hive skill, the following are the ones I found of most >>>>> use. The Guardian newspaper because it is very generous with the >>>>> unabridged articles it provides and they can be accessed in categories. I >>>>> was using the Telegraph occasionally but I removed it as suddenly the few >>>>> available articles are now truncated to the first few paragraphs. The >>>>> National Rail skill is very basic but great for quickly getting the times >>>>> and status of a single pre-set up route. I've enabled Radio Player as >>>>> well as the TuneIn Skill and have sometimes found radio stations that for >>>>> some reason TuneIn won't find. I've dabbled with the Magic Door game >>>>> which is a basic Interactive Fiction with sound effects and although it's >>>>> quite amusing I ultimately found it a bit limited. I've just enabled the >>>>> International Space Station skill and enjoy finding out where it is at >>>>> any given moment and when it will pass Glasgow next as well as news about >>>>> what the astronauts are doing. Alexa has a lot of hidden talents herself >>>>> but you have to work quite hard to find them and doing so is very hit and >>>>> miss. >>>>> >>>>> Oh, and just for you, Dane, I asked Alexa to play the Pipes. The first >>>>> time I got the Pogues instead and the second I got the Pipes of the Royal >>>>> Tank Command playing Chariots of Fire of all things. It didn't last long >>>>> as military bands are definitely not my thing. I'm not keen on the >>>>> Scottish Pipes on their own although there is a very excellent pipe-based >>>>> rock band called the Red Hot Chile Pipers. Sadly, Alexa will always think >>>>> you want the more famous Peppers. :) >>>>> >>>>> John >>>>> >>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of >>>>> Clifford Blackwell >>>>> Sent: 04 February 2017 20:05 >>>>> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org> >>>>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa >>>>> >>>>> You can purchase a battery base for the Dot. I haven't wanted to spend >>>>> the extra money on this though so I can't verify how well it works. >>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>> From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net> >>>>> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org> >>>>> Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:57 PM >>>>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> Have you tried any "Skills" yet? I've tried a few such as 20 >>>>>> questions, Mystery Radio Theatre etc. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On 4/02/2017 10:18 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote: >>>>>>> Yep...that's the one; it has a chargeable battery and seems to have >>>>>>> good battery life; seems to charge up fairly quickly! >>>>>>> Tom >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>>>> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of >>>>>>> Dane Trethowan >>>>>>> Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 3:44 PM >>>>>>> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org> >>>>>>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa >>>>>>> >>>>>>> And the Tap is the one you have right? Is that battery powered? >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On 4 Feb 2017, at 6:13 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Dane: The Dot can be connected to a stereo, but not the Tap. >>>>>>>> Tom Kaufman >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>>>>> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of >>>>>>>> Dane Trethowan >>>>>>>> Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:25 AM >>>>>>>> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org> >>>>>>>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Now that I’ve had mine up and running for a little longer than 24 >>>>>>>> hours I’m probably in a better position to reply to this eMail than >>>>>>>> I was Yesterday. >>>>>>>> Firstly a note to anyone in Australia or outside the US or UK who >>>>>>>> may be thinking of going down the Echo path, is it worth it? Well >>>>>>>> yep, I reckon it is and even better is the fact that setup requires >>>>>>>> no hacks or cracks to be applied as was previously the case. >>>>>>>> Your Echo will still think you’re somewhere else - Mine thinks I’m >>>>>>>> in Seattle - but I can still get standard time for my local >>>>>>>> location, this can be set easily in settings, in my case I chose the >>>>>>>> Australian time zone and the NSW Eastern Time region, works fine! >>>>>>>> If you’re in Australia then probably one of the best places to get >>>>>>>> an Amazon Echo is from eBay, they sell for as little as around $100 >>>>>>>> Australian depending on the model you want. >>>>>>>> I had my Echo 24 hours after I ordered it, the eBay store I bought >>>>>>>> from dispatched the item using Australia Post Express Post. >>>>>>>> The first thing I had to do was to find a wall adapter to make the >>>>>>>> supplied power supply compatible with our AC mains socket, that done >>>>>>>> it was just a matter of plugging the supply into the mains and >>>>>>>> connecting to the Echo, the power lead plugs into the bottom of the >>>>>>>> Echo and protrudes from the rear of the unit. >>>>>>>> Echo will say “Hell” and I think she tells you you’re in setup mode >>>>>>>> so you know you can proceed with the setup which is all done from >>>>>>>> the Amazon Alexa home page. >>>>>>>> For those using Echo now and who have it set up the home page is >>>>>>>> well worth exploring if you haven’t done so already, so much there >>>>>>>> to tweak and see. >>>>>>>> Even though I’m in Australia I’ve had little trouble having my Echo >>>>>>>> recognise the voice commands I’ve issued. >>>>>>>> There’s a lot I can’t use but a hell of a lot I can, I can use >>>>>>>> Spotify Premium with Echo however I can’t use Amazon’s Unlimited Music >>>>>>>> Service. >>>>>>>> Radio is an oddity I have to admit, I can’t get Echo to tune into >>>>>>>> many stations using voice commands however I can manually have Echo >>>>>>>> tune into stations if I use the Tunein interface from the Echo Home >>>>>>>> Page so go work that one out, if anyone manages to listen to radio >>>>>>>> 2GB in Sydney Australia with their Echo then I’d be interested to >>>>>>>> know how you did it with voice commands? >>>>>>>> The Echo can be paired with an amazon remote controller, has anyone >>>>>>>> done this? >>>>>>>> I’m a little disappointed with the Bluetooth facilities offered, yes >>>>>>>> you can stream to Echo using Bluetooth so that’s nice and handy if >>>>>>>> you want to use Echo as a speaker for your mobile device etc but I’m >>>>>>>> surprised that Echo can’t stream the other way - say stream the >>>>>>>> output using Bluetooth to a pair of Bluetooth headphones etc. >>>>>>>> To summarise, this purchase was well worth the while for me and I’m >>>>>>>> sure I’m going to be served well for many years to come, I may even >>>>>>>> consider buying one of the other Echo models such as the Dot, the >>>>>>>> Tap can be connected to a stereo or television, is that right? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On 2 Feb 2017, at 2:15 pm, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> II am enjoying mine (I have the one that is known as the Tap) >>>>>>>>> mostly listen to music on it...but it can do other things like tell >>>>>>>>> you the weather, tell you a joke (haven't tried that yet) am sure >>>>>>>>> there's lots of things you can ask her to do! >>>>>>>>> Tom Kaufman >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>>>>>> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of >>>>>>>>> Dane Trethowan >>>>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2017 10:05 PM >>>>>>>>> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org> >>>>>>>>> Subject: Amazon Echo Alexa >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Hi! >>>>>>>>> For those of you who have one of these - can’t say what it is again >>>>>>>>> or the device will get upset when its name is called <smile> - then >>>>>>>>> I sincerely hope you’re enjoying your as I am mine. >>>>>>>>> Unfortunately Australia isn’t one of the support country’s for the >>>>>>>>> product yet - I’m in Seattle apparently - so I still need to do a >>>>>>>>> little tweaking. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> ********** >>>>>>>>> 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. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> ********** >>>>>>> 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. > > > >
