topic Re: Amazon Echo TSV in Electronics

Amazon Echo TSV

granny me — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 19:37:36 GMT

If you have received it do you love it? I like gadgets, but I can't figure out how I would use except to play music, which I have a Bose for listening.

What practical ways have you found for using?

Re: Amazon Echo TSV

BalletBabe — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:10:04 GMT

@granny me I have 2 of them. There are many ways to use it. I put my grocery list on it that goes to my phone. She tells you the weather, any news you want to hear. Traffic issues in your area, plays any music with Pandora and others, She tells you jokes, but best feature is ask my buddy. You can alert someone if you fall or something. She can read audible books and more. You need to play with it and explore. You will get emails on anything new that she does. They are always upgrading it.

Re: Amazon Echo TSV

Nuttmeg — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:28:36 GMT

@BalletBabe wrote:
@granny me I have 2 of them. There are many ways to use it. I put my grocery list on it that goes to my phone. She tells you the weather, any news you want to hear. Traffic issues in your area, plays any music with Pandora and others, She tells you jokes, but best feature is ask my buddy. You can alert someone if you fall or something. She can read audible books and more. You need to play with it and explore. You will get emails on anything new that she does. They are always upgrading it.

"She" even reads your Kindle books.

@granny me

if you can not decide what to with "Alexa" give "her" away.

Re: Amazon Echo TSV

ChynnaBlue — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:49:24 GMT

@granny me wrote:
If you have received it do you love it? I like gadgets, but I can't figure out how I would use except to play music, which I have a Bose for listening.

What practical ways have you found for using?

I got mine the first time it was a TSV. I primarily use mine to control the lights in my home right now. I have several Philips Hue "smart bulbs" and use both the Echo and Siri to control them, depending on which room I am in. (The Echo does a much better job managing them than Siri, so I bought an Echo Dot for my bedroom during the Cyber week sale.)

I plan to get a smart thermostat at some point and will use it to control the temperature, as well.

I also use it to tell me the weather, play music, or my Audible books. I signed up for email notifications, so every Friday I get an email telling me about something new that the Echo can do.

Re: Amazon Echo TSV

ctinaw — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 15:00:57 GMT

It can do quite a bit so Im guessing what everyone might use it for would be different. We just got ours so I haven't had a lot of time to see all it can do. It's great for music or just entertainment (games, jokes). Weather. If you're a prime member she has special deals you can order directly by voice which is neat. I haven't bought any lights to use with it yet but I think I probably will do that eventually. Would be nice when I'm trying to leave and EVERY light is on.

Re: Amazon Echo TSV

grannyjan — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 22:52:28 GMT

I don't always like to be pracical......even though Echo IS that and so much more. I didn't want it to listen to music or have things read to me...I got it for fun and found it is really handy. All my lists and reminders that I have made at home are right on my phone so when I go to shop I have my phone I know my shopping list is not still at home on the table....My husband said I was to lazy to write things down and that wasn't true I wrote them down and then forgot the note....not anymore......

Then one day I heard him ask her something and she answered him and I think he was impressed......it is fun, helpful and useful.....I even tell her good night sometimes.....lol....Just play with it you will like it I am sure...

Re: Amazon Echo TSV

apple1964 — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 13:06:29 GMT

New to this device. Do you need a smart phone to have this work? What does it connect with wifi or internet, sounds like a handy thing to have. It also sounds to me like the voice activated thing on my computers and Ipads. TIA

Re: Amazon Echo TSV

Mz iMac — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 18:54:12 GMT

@apple1964

I received my Amazon DOT yesterday. DOT is the smaller & cheaper version of the ECHO but works/functions exactly the same way.

I do not own a cell phone. However, I do own a desktop & notebook both Macs as well as a router-Airport Extreme. Both computers are bluetooth & wi-fi enabled.

If you live in a wi-fi free community you do not need a router.

My DOT connects directly to my "bluetooth" enabled computers.

The Amazon Alexa app can be downloaded from any browser. The app is used to set up your "settings."

So to answer your question, no you do not need a cell phone-smart phone to take advantage of all of Echo's or the DOTs functions.

Re: Amazon Echo TSV

Nuttmeg — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 00:33:08 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
@apple1964
I received my Amazon DOT yesterday. DOT is the smaller & cheaper version of the ECHO but works/functions exactly the same way.

I do not own a cell phone. However, I do own a desktop & notebook both Macs as well as a router-Airport Extreme. Both computers are bluetooth & wi-fi enabled.
If you live in a wi-fi free community you do not need a router.

My DOT connects directly to my "bluetooth" enabled computers.
The Amazon Alexa app can be downloaded from any browser. The app is used to set up your "settings."

So to answer your question, no you do not need a cell phone-smart phone to take advantage of all of Echo's or the DOTs functions.

This maybe OT. Enjoy your DOT. You may want to train your dot to understand how you speak. You can check under the setting.

Re: Amazon Echo TSV

Nataliesgramma — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 00:48:52 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
@apple1964
I received my Amazon DOT yesterday. DOT is the smaller & cheaper version of the ECHO but works/functions exactly the same way.

I do not own a cell phone. However, I do own a desktop & notebook both Macs as well as a router-Airport Extreme. Both computers are bluetooth & wi-fi enabled.
If you live in a wi-fi free community you do not need a router.

My DOT connects directly to my "bluetooth" enabled computers.
The Amazon Alexa app can be downloaded from any browser. The app is used to set up your "settings."

So to answer your question, no you do not need a cell phone-smart phone to take advantage of all of Echo's or the DOTs functions.

I just picked one up for my son-in-law as a Christmas gift.....I am hoping he likes it.....

Re: Amazon Echo TSV

apple1964 — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 16:12:14 GMT

@Nataliesgramma wrote:
@Mz iMac wrote:
@apple1964
I received my Amazon DOT yesterday. DOT is the smaller & cheaper version of the ECHO but works/functions exactly the same way.

I do not own a cell phone. However, I do own a desktop & notebook both Macs as well as a router-Airport Extreme. Both computers are bluetooth & wi-fi enabled.
If you live in a wi-fi free community you do not need a router.

My DOT connects directly to my "bluetooth" enabled computers.
The Amazon Alexa app can be downloaded from any browser. The app is used to set up your "settings."

So to answer your question, no you do not need a cell phone-smart phone to take advantage of all of Echo's or the DOTs functions.
I just picked one up for my son-in-law as a Christmas gift.....I am hoping he likes it.....

Okay, thank you. I do have wifi and the newest equiptment for my internet access. I brought it for my daughter she has a apple computer and mini Ipad . I am sure she will be fine. Merry X-mas!

Re: Amazon Echo TSV

Mz iMac — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 20:58:18 GMT

@Nuttmeg wrote:

This maybe OT. Enjoy your DOT. You may want to train your dot to understand how you speak. You can check under the setting.

@Nuttmeg Glad you mentioned that. 2 days ago, I spent about an hour going through all the voice training questions. DOT was having trouble understanding my tone of voice when I said the wake work "Alexa." I have a deep voice & found that strange. So I changed my wake word to "Echo" & went through the voice training again. No problem now. DOT even now understands me if I wake it from another room even if I have the tv on! So that voice training setting is spot on. At least for me.

FWIW...

I wish we could name these devices w/any name we want like I can do on my Mac w/its Speakable Items program.

Re: Amazon Echo TSV

kcladyz — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 03:03:41 GMT

does she have access to play non amazon music?

Re: Amazon Echo TSV

Mz iMac — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 21:50:01 GMT

@kcladyz

@kcladyz wrote:
does she have access to play non amazon music?

I know on the DOT the answer is yes. Non-Amazon music is connected through Bluetooth.

Me personally, I don't need Amazon's music. My DOT is connected directly to iTunes which is on my MBP & iMac.

HTH

Re: Amazon Echo TSV

reiki604 — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 23:45:38 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
@kcladyz
@kcladyz wrote:
does she have access to play non amazon music?
I know on the DOT the answer is yes. Non-Amazon music is connected through Bluetooth.
Me personally, I don't need Amazon's music. My DOT is connected directly to iTunes which is on my MBP & iMac.

HTH

@Mz iMacHow do you connect it to ITunes? I asked support how I could access my playlists from iTunes and they said it wasn't supported.

Re: Amazon Echo TSV

Mz iMac — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 00:19:40 GMT

@reiki604

If you have iTunes on your mobile device and/or computer, you connect your Dot to them through Bloothtooth.

After you set up your Bluetooth through the Alexa app, you can tell Alexa (or whatever your named it) to connect to bluetooth.

Once connected, tell Dot to play the song you want from iTunes.

**iTunes app must be "on." **

=============

Pair Your Mobile Device with Echo

Your Echo is Bluetooth-enabled so you can stream popular audio services (like iTunes or Google Play Music) from a mobile device (such as your phone or tablet).

Before you begin

Set your mobile device to Bluetooth pairing mode.
Make sure your mobile device is in range of your Echo.

Note: Phone calls, text messages, and other notifications from your mobile device can't be received or read by Echo, and audio from Echo can't be sent to Bluetooth speakers or headphones.

Say, "Pair." Alexa lets you know that Echo is ready to pair.

Note: To exit Bluetooth pairing mode, say, "Cancel."
Open the Bluetooth settings menu on your mobile device, and select your Echo. Alexa tells you if the connection is successful. You are now ready to stream audio from your mobile device to Echo.
To disconnect your mobile device from Echo, say, "Disconnect."

Note: After you pair your mobile device, you can immediately connect your Echo to your mobile device. Turn on Bluetooth on your mobile device, and then say, "Connect." If your Echo is paired with multiple mobile devices, it connects to the most recently paired device.

Above instructions are from Amazon's Echo/Dot website. Suggest that you bookmark Amazon's Echo/Dot's troubleshooting website. Also, there are many instructions on the web for whatever you want to do w/Echo & Dot if you do a Google search.

Another resource:

Bluetooth Playback Controls For iTunes On Echo, Google Music On Echo

Re: Amazon Echo TSV

reiki604 — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 13:06:37 GMT

@Mz iMac Thank you so much!! I have over 5000 songs downloaded from CDs in iTunes with some carefully curated playlists.

Re: Amazon Echo TSV

Mz iMac — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 18:54:50 GMT

@reiki604

"I have over 5000 songs downloaded from CDs in iTunes"

As do I. Plus over 2000 on my MBP.

If you are a Amazon member, you can upload unlimited music from your iTunes library into My Music which is on the Alexa app and/or the Amazon Music installer app. Non members its a 250 song limit. I am a non-member so I play unlimited music from bluetooth to Dot instead of using My Music (which wants my cc info ).

Re: Amazon Echo TSV

Nuttmeg — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 19:33:56 GMT

Please go find out how many tracks of music Amazon will store on their cloud free.

You can upload up to 250 songs to My Music for free. Amazon Digital Music purchases do not count towards library limits.
You can set an automatic file import location for the Amazon Music app from the Settings menu. Open the dropdown menu in the upper right corner of the application window, select Preferences, then choose your preferred folder or location.
Some record companies require us to insert identifiers in the metadata that accompanies music when you download it from the Digital Music Store or My Music. For more information, go to About Record Company Required Metadata.