Anyone know about the Amazon Echo?

[Scruff]

But doesn't the smart phone in your pocket already do all of this stuff.

What's new here?

Erm... Not quite.

[Platypus]

Bought a Dot just for fun. It arrived today. I'll wait till the missus is out and try a few lewd suggestions

But seriously, for £40, just asking it to play a particular radio station is worth the dosh in itself.

There are lots of (no doubt hilarious) "Easter Eggs" to try,
https://www.reddit.com/r/amazonecho/...n_echo_so_far/

Those should keep geeks and saddos busy for a while

[original PM]

Bought a Dot just for fun. It arrived today. I'll wait till the missus is out and try a few lewd suggestions

But seriously, for £40, just asking it to play a particular radio station is worth the dosh in itself.

There are lots of (no doubt hilarious) "Easter Eggs" to try,
https://www.reddit.com/r/amazonecho/...n_echo_so_far/

Those should keep geeks and saddos busy for a while

Cos like pressing the on button on a radio is so last year darling!

I sort of want one but is it just a gimmick???

I see technology as a means to solve a problem - and this does not seem to be a problem I have...

However should I start to look at technology as a way to enhance my life not just solve problems????

I just do not know

[DimPrawn]

It will just annoy the tulip out of you like all this overhyped crap.

[SueEllen]

Cos like pressing the on button on a radio is so last year darling!

I sort of want one but is it just a gimmick???

I see technology as a means to solve a problem - and this does not seem to be a problem I have...

However should I start to look at technology as a way to enhance my life not just solve problems????

I just do not know

Nope otherwise you end up with a house full of junk.

[vetran]

Nope otherwise you end up with a house full of junk.

Point is the Dot will replace so much junk on view and stress.

I have radio on there (8"x4" saved on desktop), alarm (2"x1" saved), Calculator, train times etc ok most of the time its on your PC or laptop but being able to check train times on the way out is handy, I look forward to "Alexa text me the address of X or Alexa load address into my sat nav" once Vera / harmony integration works then 4 remotes (6*1/2" x 4), CDs are already ripped but I have a huge amount of songs on Amazon as well as DLNA or possibly squeezebox (just had that idea seems to be a goer) playing of ripped songs (I have thousands of albums not all on Amazon music) / books, DLNA / KODI playing of videos (Again thousands of films/episodes the DVDs fill a portion of my loft).

So technology has probably halved the first access storage space (DVDs & CDs were/are on shelves in my office now moving to the loft). I am also looking to decrease the number of books.

And because its voice controlled I won't hunt for a remote again! It sits on a shelf that is useless for anything else.

In the small lounge where the kids hang out we will be hiding remotes and using Echo, after the minded or even our own kids have been there I can never find the remotes.

Instead of finding switches or remotes I can say as I walk in the house
Alexa turn on the hall lights
Alexa turn on the playroom lights
Alexa turn on the Kitchen lights
Alexa Night Night!

Maybe "Alexa start my commuting playlist in my car".
Alexa Text me my shopping list.

It is a technology that will have a real impact on my life. I think it will also be great for people with disabilities/limited movement.

[SueEllen]

Point is the Dot will replace so much junk on view and stress.

I have radio on there (8"x4" saved on desktop), alarm (2"x1" saved), Calculator, train times etc ok most of the time its on your PC or laptop but being able to check train times on the way out is handy, I look forward to "Alexa text me the address of X or Alexa load address into my sat nav" once Vera / harmony integration works then 4 remotes (6*1/2" x 4), CDs are already ripped but I have a huge amount of songs on Amazon as well as DLNA or possibly squeezebox (just had that idea seems to be a goer) playing of ripped songs (I have thousands of albums not all on Amazon music) / books, DLNA / KODI playing of videos (Again thousands of films/episodes the DVDs fill a portion of my loft).

So technology has probably halved the first access storage space (DVDs & CDs were/are on shelves in my office now moving to the loft). I am also looking to decrease the number of books.

And because its voice controlled I won't hunt for a remote again! It sits on a shelf that is useless for anything else.

In the small lounge where the kids hang out we will be hiding remotes and using Echo, after the minded or even our own kids have been there I can never find the remotes.

Instead of finding switches or remotes I can say as I walk in the house
Alexa turn on the hall lights
Alexa turn on the playroom lights
Alexa turn on the Kitchen lights
Alexa Night Night!

Maybe "Alexa start my commuting playlist in my car".
Alexa Text me my shopping list.

It is a technology that will have a real impact on my life. I think it will also be great for people with disabilities/limited movement.

At the moment Amazon echo/dot can't do that all. Once it or Google Home can then it's worth buying one.

At the moment it's a fancy technological toy and people can use their smart phone for everything you suggested plus as a sat nav which is great if you are walking or cycling.

In regards to journeys I check them on my phone on the way out, as I'm walking or when I'm at the station/bus stop you can't do that with something fixed in your house.

Plus for certain things e.g. radio people have gone out to deliberately buy them when there are alternative things in their house they could use instead.

[woohoo]

It will just annoy the tulip out of you like all this overhyped crap.

It doesn't annoy me, I find it pretty useful.

[sal]

I like it so far, is it overhyped - sure. Is it useful in it's current state - quite so. I have yet to play with some of the skills, but for me it's worth the £39 just for the ability to make a damn shopping list. Yes you can have a shopping list app / notes on your phone, but when you notice that you lack something or you have a craving you have drop what you are doing to find your phone, turn on the app and type what you need, less you forget what you want to add to the shopping list. With the Echo you just say "Echo, add some lube to the shopping list, looks like HMRC are getting ready to f**k us good" and presto.

The other usefull thing is to let it play some music while i'm in the kitchen all messy and don't want to wash my hands just to touch the remote for the radio/stereo.

It's not a solution to a particular problem, it's a small QoL improvement and it's lots of fun for the price of a round in the pub.

[woohoo]

At the moment Amazon echo/dot can't do that all. Once it or Google Home can then it's worth buying one.

At the moment it's a fancy technological toy and people can use their smart phone for everything you suggested plus as a sat nav which is great if you are walking or cycling.

In regards to journeys I check them on my phone on the way out, as I'm walking or when I'm at the station/bus stop you can't do that with something fixed in your house.

Plus for certain things e.g. radio people have gone out to deliberately buy them when there are alternative things in their house they could use instead.

Wow its amazing how passionate people get about this. It's a small cheap bit of kit that some people find useful and fun, especially those that like to automate their houses. Some people won't find it useful and amazon won't force you to buy it.