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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:
Oblomov18 · 28/08/2018 16:09

Reading with interest.

Original poster
AnEPleaseBob · 28/08/2018 16:11

Sandstorm, I'm livechatting with Google Home support right now. They say I can make calls but not recieve calls, and can't do texts or whatsapp?

OP posts:
Sandstormbrewing · 28/08/2018 16:12

It HAS to be listening all the time

listening NOT recording. Huge difference.

Sandstormbrewing · 28/08/2018 16:13

I can send texts to DH - he can then respond to the google home. Usually "on way home". It's not text like text message but more like voice text. It probably has a different name!

Sandstormbrewing · 28/08/2018 16:14

And they come through in the weird google home voice!

Ta1kinpeace · 28/08/2018 16:25

sandstormbrewing
The voice recognition software downloads EVERY SOUND in your house and analyses it to listen out for the important words
it HAS to be storing it in some sort of drive to do that analysis
download / record - same thing really

TheSpottedZebra · 28/08/2018 16:25

The Google one has a microphone that you can manually switch off (not sure if Alexa does). Or, you can switch it off entirely.

Re the calling, it is really easy to set up, but you do need to do a bit with verifying voice and setting default settings if you want to use it smoothly. But yes, it is then as easy as saying 'ok google, call Bob mobile'- if Bob mobile is what you have saved in your phonebook/contacts. It used 'the Internet' (VOIP I presume, like a whatsapp call) so it doesn't count towards your contacted phone call minutes.

Yep, the only difference between the big google home and the minibus the speaker. So one home mini and chromecast audio to link with your kitchen thing would be a maybe for you? Plus the chromecast tv if you want to tell google to turn off your tv. I do use the tv chromecast a log to play things from iplayer and 4od, but I tend to do that manually rather than by voice. My tv isn't a smart tv is so doesn't have those apps built in.

Twixes · 28/08/2018 16:28

Like you AnEPleaseBob I've a music obsessed husband and I'm also in Ireland Smile we recently got the Sonos One and we're delighted with it. I think Sonos is the only way to go if you've a musician in the house, could you really bear listening to him moan about the bass all the time? He'll be EQing the damn thing every 5 min!

I mostly use it for Spotify and radio and the odd time I listen to Audible on it. The timer function is v handy and we got lots of mileage trying to get it to play rte radio gold...it either tries to sell me gold or attempts to play a tourist radio station from Ecuador...wtf?! Doesn't seem to have the knack of my accent Grin has us in stitches.

PeridotCricket · 28/08/2018 16:34

The Sonos has a great sound quality - but it does need plugged in. The ALexa on it is OK but we only use if for turning the radio on and off and playing spotify.

Original poster
AnEPleaseBob · 28/08/2018 16:53

I can send texts to DH - he can then respond to the google home. Usually "on way home". It's not text like text message but more like voice text. It probably has a different name!

Ok thats good, but weird, because google is adamant that thats not possible! You don't know if you do that through a third party app or anything?

OP posts:
Original poster
AnEPleaseBob · 28/08/2018 17:07

Some more reading says you can do it by using a third party workaround called IFTT (if this then that).

OP posts:
weekfour · 28/08/2018 17:34

We've got sonos throughout our home. They're really good speakers. If I'd been eyeing up speakers and my DH bought me Alexa, I wouldn't be impressed.

I think you need to find out if it was the speaker quality he was impressed by or the functionality.

Sandstormbrewing · 28/08/2018 21:50

Some more reading says you can do it by using a third party workaround called IFTT (if this then that). I don't think so, but it's possible DH has installed that without me knowing (he does just put stuff on).

It's more like I'm texting through google assistant than like a sms text message - I say something like "broadcast to Bob" then my message and it works out if Bob is in a room with a google home or not (by hone location I believe) if he is, it'll play a recording of what I've just said (e.g. teas on the table) and if he isn't it'll text it to his phone. When he replies, he types a text to me and google reads it out on the assistant.

Original poster
AnEPleaseBob · 28/08/2018 22:13

I think you need to find out if it was the speaker quality he was impressed by or the functionality

I think it was the combo of both, but since we already have several quality speakers I think adding the functionality to those via bluetooth should be enough. That;s the conclusion I appear to have reached anyway. I think what I will do is hook up google minis to the speakers we already have, and then when we are ready to upgrade the tv in a year or two, we'll get a really good quality soundbar with that, and link that in as well.

OP posts:
weekfour · 29/08/2018 14:59

It seems you're covering all bases there.

I do love a conclusion.

Ta1kinpeace · 29/08/2018 20:23

I am still jaw dropped that people are happy that a microphone is listening to everything that goes on in their houses

to be listened to by - well nobody knows
to be recorded by - well nobody knows
to be analysed for - well nobody knows

Sonos is interesting though

Original poster
AnEPleaseBob · 29/08/2018 20:29

It's NOT recorded though, so that;s nonsense. And its not analysed by anyone.
Why do you think anyone would be interested in anything you were saying, enough to spend time analysing it? What for?

OP posts:
Ta1kinpeace · 29/08/2018 20:44

AnEPleaseBob
It listens all the time to hear its name
how can it do that WITHOUT some sort of recording ?
Its electronic after all ...

Original poster
AnEPleaseBob · 29/08/2018 20:52

I suggest you go and find out how, before making pronouncements on it. It helps to have a basic understanding of things before criticising them in public.

OP posts:
Ta1kinpeace · 29/08/2018 20:57

AnEPleaseBob
What do you mean "how"
Please explain "how" it knows to wake up if it is not listening all the time.
Alexa is a microphone that is always on
attached to speaker that is sometimes on
and the microphone is connected to speech analyser software
that listens all the time for its name
and then pays attention

Original poster
AnEPleaseBob · 29/08/2018 21:00

As previously explained to you listening is not the same as recording and analysing. Which bit of that do you not understand?

OP posts:
Sandstormbrewing · 29/08/2018 21:16

It listens but does not record until it hears the trigger word.

It scans the input then deletes it unless it's the trigger word.

There was a whole court case and legal issue around it!

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