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Original poster

Can anyone tell me about Alexa, Echo, etc?

72 replies

AnEPleaseBob · 27/08/2018 22:07

Himself has been asking me for a while for an Alexa jobbie for the house. I get the whole concept but there are a few things I could do with some help with if anyone can oblige.

Like the sound quality. I'm looking at the Echo 2nd Gen. Is it a good speaker for music, like actual quality. I know he was eyeing up the Sonos One in a relatives house but its three times the price and it doesn't even do as much. Is the Echo good enough to play quality music, mainly through Spotify?

Can I get the Echo for downstairs and then a Dot upstairs and link them up? Can I use it as an alarm, like to play music or the radio or does Alexa just shout at you to get out of bed? What;s the sound like on the Dot?

Does anyone have it in Ireland? I heard half of the apps etc aren't available to use here? but then others are. Amazon didn't give a straight answer when asked.

Any help gratefully recieved, I want to get one as a gift but can't really afford to get it wrong.

OP posts:
mineofuselessinformation · 27/08/2018 23:26

Oh, and I picked up three Alexa compatible plugs in various sales so when I go to bed, I just tell her to turn the lights off - luxury! Smile

Original poster
AnEPleaseBob · 27/08/2018 23:27

I've thought of another question (might be a stupid one), does the Google Home (or the Echo) connect to bluetooth wireless headphones?

OP posts:
Sandstormbrewing · 27/08/2018 23:29

DH says he doesn't think so (for either).

Sandstormbrewing · 27/08/2018 23:30

We take that back. It's definitely possible with google!

TheSpottedZebra · 27/08/2018 23:30

Re the tv, I think it would depend what functionality the model has. But I think only the very recent and top ofnthe range ones have compatibility built in. I have a chromecast tv as well, and I use that. But to be honest, the tv/google home interface is the least used.

Original poster
AnEPleaseBob · 27/08/2018 23:31

Thanks. It's not really important anyway, he can connect his headphones to the phone. And possible the swanky radio yokey.
Seriously, I think he already has enough sound stuff (we have a music room full of instruments, sound gear, amps, mixers etc as well!) I should just get what I want for a change! Grin

OP posts:
Sandstormbrewing · 27/08/2018 23:32

And here is the evidence:

support.google.com/googlehome/answer/7672356?hl=en-GB

CointreauVersial · 27/08/2018 23:33

We have linked our Alexa to our Sonos speaker. The Sonos speaker is better quality (as others have said) and is in the living room, whereas the Alexa is in the kitchen, where it is perfectly adequate in the smaller room.

If we say "Alexa, play Coldplay from Spotify" then it plays on the kitchen Alexa, but if we say "Alexa, play Coldplay from Spotify on Sonos", it plays through the living room (Sonos) speaker. Brilliant.

The other feature we use a lot is the shopping list.

Original poster
AnEPleaseBob · 27/08/2018 23:33

But I think only the very recent and top ofnthe range ones have compatibility built in. I have a chromecast tv as well, and I use that. But to be honest, the tv/google home interface is the least used

Yeah, its a few years old, its probably not compatible. But then I don't actually need it to be, its not exactly difficult to turn it on with the remote instead Wink
It might be something to look out for if we upgrade the tv in a few years though.

OP posts:
TheSpottedZebra · 27/08/2018 23:33

Yes you can pair bluetooth devices. So if swanky kitchen speaker is bluetooth enabled, you may not need a chromecast audio (if you go that way). NB I haven't used the bluetooth speaker way, so have no idea of sound quality.

Sandstormbrewing · 27/08/2018 23:34

We have a chromecast on a stereo so it can link to that. We used to have on eon the TV but now just have a compatible TV.

Original poster
AnEPleaseBob · 27/08/2018 23:35

Cross posted with you Sand, I see it does work! I guess headphones work exactly the same as a speaker so it makes sense? Would be handy to keep the noise levels down, so we don't all have to constantly listen to his music.

OP posts:
Original poster
AnEPleaseBob · 27/08/2018 23:38

I don't know if the swanky radio is bluetooth enabled, but it should be for the price of it.
No, just checked and it isn't but you can buy an adaptor for it to make it bluetoothy. More expensive than the chromecast audio though, so not worth the bother of getting it,

OP posts:
Sandstormbrewing · 27/08/2018 23:40

The chromecast audio will work better too, if you want to link it to the google home for spotify.

mineofuselessinformation · 28/08/2018 09:58

Amazon has a sale on just now - £20 off the echo.

Afonavon · 28/08/2018 10:40

Can any of these devices understand Welsh? It is our home language and It would be great if we could use our mother tongue.

Original poster
AnEPleaseBob · 28/08/2018 15:45

I've just been into Harvey Norman and the guy whose job it is to sell them to me said in all honesty that while the Home speaker is better than the Echo, neither are good enough to use as music speakers if you are in any way used to decent speakers.
His advice was to buy only Home minis at a third of the cost and pair them up with a sound bar or decent bluetooth speaker, which I think is probably what I will do?

And yes, you can call, text, whatsapp and call to other google homes (e.g. "dinners on the table") via it

Can you tell me how you make calls and text with it? I forgot to ask the shop guy and google is not clear at all about how it works.

OP posts:
Original poster
AnEPleaseBob · 28/08/2018 15:45

I've just been into Harvey Norman and the guy whose job it is to sell them to me said in all honesty that while the Home speaker is better than the Echo, neither are good enough to use as music speakers if you are in any way used to decent speakers.
His advice was to buy only Home minis at a third of the cost and pair them up with a sound bar or decent bluetooth speaker, which I think is probably what I will do?

And yes, you can call, text, whatsapp and call to other google homes (e.g. "dinners on the table") via it

Can you tell me how you make calls and text with it? I forgot to ask the shop guy and google is not clear at all about how it works.

OP posts:
Ta1kinpeace · 28/08/2018 15:50

I do not like the idea of Amazon / Google / whoever listening in to EVERY word happening in the house all the time

what are they doing with the information you do not intend to give them ?

Sandstormbrewing · 28/08/2018 15:54

You need to link it to the google account on your phone, then just say "Google, call Bob".

Sandstormbrewing · 28/08/2018 15:57

Apparently it doesn't work like that Ta1kinpeace. It used to and they got fined for it. Now it doesn't record anything until you say the trigger word, then it starts recording (but it tells you that in the sign u bumph). And it stops recording once it has answered your query/ completed the command and doesn't start again until you say the trigger word again.

Original poster
AnEPleaseBob · 28/08/2018 15:58

I do not like the idea of Amazon / Google / whoever listening in to EVERY word happening in the house all the time

You can turn it off any time you want, very easily. One tap turns the microphone off.
I always wonder what people think would be so interesting to Google about their conversations? I know I'm just not that interesting.

You need to link it to the google account on your phone, then just say "Google, call Bob"

Ok so its that simple? Any call costs are the same as if you are on your mobile? Thank for all the info

OP posts:
Sandstormbrewing · 28/08/2018 16:02

Yes, you have to verify your voice, so it knows who is asking it, you do that in the google home app. But once it's all set up you can just ask it to do stuff basically.

Ta1kinpeace · 28/08/2018 16:03

Sorry but that does not make sense.
It HAS to be listening all the time
to hear the trigger word ......

Original poster
AnEPleaseBob · 28/08/2018 16:04

Great. I'm trying to make sure I know as much as possible before buying as its something that I couldn't afford to discard and try something else. It's a commitment!

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