topic Re: ECHO Dot Question in Community Chat

ECHO Dot Question

Bridgegal — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 03:45:05 GMT

I was given an ECHO Dot . I've read and read about it and just don't see how I would use it. I don't listen to music at home. I can turn on lights fine. We don't have a programable thermostat or any of the other gizmos that 'automate' your home. I can check weather on my phone or laptop.

What am I missing? Why is this thing so HOT? I don't want to return it to Amazon if I would really be missing out on things.

If you have it, how do you use it? Thanks.

Re: ECHO Dot Question

silentgirl — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 04:14:01 GMT

Give it some time-you will be amazed how much you might like it-when I'm busy it's just easier to ask her for the information-she can really do a great deal-

Look up information-read books-weather-order things for you-tell you where it is etc. It all ties into your phone so you can have your lists etc-set her alarm-get the news reports-it really does eliminate a lot of things...

If you haven't actually read through the list of what you can ask her-here is a link for the complete list-https://www.cnet.com/how-to/the-complete-list-of-alexa-commands/

We do have it hooked up to our lighting and thermostats which is just kind of a convenient thing because our home is zoned-

Her jokes are a wee bit lame, but she is helpful so, I overlook it....

Good luck....

Re: ECHO Dot Question

Kachina624 — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 04:20:03 GMT

Have you watched any of the many, many, many etc., etc repetitious presentations of the TSV Today? They should give you a good idea of what this thing will do.

Re: ECHO Dot Question

Bridgegal — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 04:26:10 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
Have you watched any of the many, many, many etc., etc repetitious presentations of the TSV Today? They should give you a good idea of what this thing will do.

No, I've been gone all day and night. I didn't even know it was the TSV until I came here to ask my questions. A missed opportunity for sure.

Re: ECHO Dot Question

Snowpuppy — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 04:27:21 GMT

I don't "get it" either. Maybe if you're home all day? But you'd still have to be close enough for it to pick up your voice?

Like I couldn't be in bed and yell loud enough to tell it to turn up the heat if I'm in the bedroom and it's in the kitchen? If it reads me a book then I'd have to move it to the bedroom or living room?

I don't have a "smart home" and don't intend on upgrading. In a world where ppl put tape on their webcam, they invite the ultimate listening device into your home.

Re: ECHO Dot Question

Mz iMac — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 04:29:39 GMT

@Bridgegal

"I can check weather on my phone or laptop."

With the dot, you can just ask her for the weather instead of you grabbing your phone, going to your laptop, etc.

I don't even own a cell phone. I plan on keeping my Dot in my bedroom. The Dot will be alarm clock, news reporter, tell me the weather all w/o me getting out of bed.

I have my own music/stereo/receiver set up. I found out that from my computer I can transfer all my burned cd to the Dot. The max allowed is 250 songs. I don't need those music programs that Amazon & those other music outlets have.

@silentgirl

Thank you for that website. I bookmarked it. When I get my Dot, I am going to print it out.

Re: ECHO Dot Question

Bridgegal — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 04:32:35 GMT

@silentgirl wrote:
Give it some time-you will be amazed how much you might like it-when I'm busy it's just easier to ask her for the information-she can really do a great deal-

Look up information-read books-weather-order things for you-tell you where it is etc. It all ties into your phone so you can have your lists etc-set her alarm-get the news reports-it really does eliminate a lot of things...

If you haven't actually read through the list of what you can ask her-here is a link for the complete list-https://www.cnet.com/how-to/the-complete-list-of-alexa-commands/

We do have it hooked up to our lighting and thermostats which is just kind of a convenient thing because our home is zoned-

Her jokes are a wee bit lame, but she is helpful so, I overlook it....

Good luck....

Re: ECHO Dot Question

Bridgegal — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 04:38:20 GMT

Thank you for the link. It was very helpful.

So, Alexa is a voice activated Google. Instead of looking / typing for information, you just ask for it. I can see that would be faster but I have enough noise in my life as it is. And most of the commands I wouldn't use or don't want to access information that way.

I think I'm going to pass on it. I may change my mind later and if I do, I'll buy one.

Re: ECHO Dot Question

Shorty2U — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 04:53:20 GMT

I have the original (larger) one. I love it! You can ask it the weather, the news,traffic, various questions, tons of games that are fun, recipes, shopping lists, set it up to have an alarm or timer go off. I ask it to play my music playlist and it does. Also you can set it up if you fall or need emergency help it sends messages to your family immediately. It does all of that and so much more. All this is done by enabling features via the Alexa app. (I have not bought the attachments so I can have it turn out the lights, heater, etc). Anyway I love mine. I just ordered my adult son the dot via Amazon as one of his Christmas gifts because he saw mine and loved it too.

Re: ECHO Dot Question

Moonchilde — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 05:17:09 GMT

@silentgirl, thank you for the info from CNET. I ordered a Dot and won't get it until next week but have been configuring the app and trying to read up and do stuff in advance. This will help!

Re: ECHO Dot Question

Moonchilde — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 05:20:43 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
@Bridgegal

"I can check weather on my phone or laptop."
With the dot, you can just ask her for the weather instead of you grabbing your phone, going to your laptop, etc.
I don't even own a cell phone. I plan on keeping my Dot in my bedroom. The Dot will be alarm clock, news reporter, tell me the weather all w/o me getting out of bed.

I have my own music/stereo/receiver set up. I found out that from my computer I can transfer all my burned cd to the Dot. The max allowed is 250 songs. I don't need those music programs that Amazon & those other music outlets have.

@silentgirl
Thank you for that website. I bookmarked it. When I get my Dot, I am going to print it out.

@Mz iMac, I plan to use mine much the same. Is the max 250 songs allowed from other sources? I would think any Amazon music would be okay no matter how much, because it's cloud-stored?

Re: ECHO Dot Question

Mz iMac — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 05:26:55 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
@Mz iMac wrote:
@Bridgegal

"I can check weather on my phone or laptop."
With the dot, you can just ask her for the weather instead of you grabbing your phone, going to your laptop, etc.
I don't even own a cell phone. I plan on keeping my Dot in my bedroom. The Dot will be alarm clock, news reporter, tell me the weather all w/o me getting out of bed.

I have my own music/stereo/receiver set up. I found out that from my computer I can transfer all my burned cd to the Dot. The max allowed is 250 songs. I don't need those music programs that Amazon & those other music outlets have.

@silentgirl
Thank you for that website. I bookmarked it. When I get my Dot, I am going to print it out.

@Mz iMac, I plan to use mine much the same. Is the max 250 songs allowed from other sources? I would think any Amazon music would be okay no matter how much, because it's cloud-stored?

@Moonchilde

I am not a member of Amazon & do not plan on becoming one.

Yes, you can upload music (no matter where it came from) from your computer onto the Dot.

I have a massive music collection (5000+ songs) on my computer & just a tad less on my iPod Nano. Reason why I do not need those music type sites that one must "pay" for.

Through the years up to the present, I burn my own music cds. I can probably start my own internet music business.

Re: ECHO Dot Question

Moonchilde — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 05:31:19 GMT

@Mz iMac, 95% of my music is from iTunes, and I have several ways to play it. I have enough that 250 songs would be a drop in the bucket. But I might avail myself of some of the Amazon services because I'm a Prime member and so much is included free. Will probably buy some Amazon music. I have a bluetooth speaker already that I could use for that if I want to. I rarely turn on my laptop these days.

Re: ECHO Dot Question

Mz iMac — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 05:37:57 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
@Mz iMac, 95% of my music is from iTunes,

Mac....

To upload from iTunes go into iTunes library & upload from there.

Don't know how to upload from iTunes from a PC.

Since you are Amazon Prime member, your work is cut out for ya! I would take full advantage of that too!

Re: ECHO Dot Question

wagirl — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 15:53:46 GMT

I ordered my dot from Ama*zon without the bells and whistles; don't need them and I'll get it Friday. Was virtually the same price; but with the added audio cable to hook it to my speaker/dock. It will be in my kitchen area as that is where I am most the time. I am interested in being able to generate a shopping list when I think of the things I need. Seems like that chore gets away from me these days. And I'll pair it with my phone and my Ipad too. And if I don't love it--back it goes.My house is not a Smart one either but you can get the plug ins for the lights and such also you would need a few more dots to be able to use it that way. I may get another one for that reason. Bedrooms are upstairs. And you need wi-fi too. I do have that. Kind of looking forward to it actually.

Re: ECHO Dot Question

NanaLinda — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 16:03:24 GMT

I have the first Echo, not the Dot, so can't really answer your specific question, BUT...a new feature that I'm really enjoying is...it will play Jeopardy and Twenty Questions with me! It's sharpening my mind and giving me something new to do when I have free time! I love it!

I should add that to play these games, just tell Alexa to enable Jeopardy and to enable Twenty Questions.

Re: ECHO Dot Question

qvcaddition — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 16:15:31 GMT

Bridges, I was watching it on U tube and it tells you what it does and compares it to Echo. Also on u tube, compares Echo to Google. My opinion, waste of time and money. I look at my calender to see my schedule for the day or appointments. Have a pad near refrigerator To write what I need at store. My radio in kitchen and bedroom with remotes to turn on, and alarm. Are we getting that forgetful and lazy? I turn off the light as I leave the room, switch on wall near door. IMO, the brain will stop working and by the time you are my age, the brain will be dead and not creative. Everyone will weigh 1000 lbs from lack of exercise. Now I,m joking. Enjoy your devices, I have some but draw the line at these.

The demo on u tube favored the ECHO over GOOGLE.

Re: ECHO Dot Question

cherry — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 16:54:26 GMT

I would never use it.

Re: ECHO Dot Question

mima — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 17:13:46 GMT

Love my BIG Echoes (I have 2) and my Little Dot! I have a big Echo at home and one at my store. I have a Dot in my bedroom.

I mainly use my Dot in the bedroom to set a wake-up alarm, check the weather before dressing, adding things to my shopping list such as shower gel, listen to the news while doing my makeup and playing relaxing sounds (such as birds chirping or a rain storm) while "trying" to sleep".

In the kitchen I use my Echo to add grocery items to my list (same list as the Dot), set cooking timers, and play music.

At work I check my spelling, set timers or alarms so I make sure we don't forget to do a delivery, check the weather and play music. I also amuse customers with her!

I don't have any of the smart home do-hickeys. My son does have all that smart home stuff and uses his Echo for that. It's pretty fun.

I bought my granddaughter (age 16) a dot for her birthday. I hope she has a better attitude towards trying all the features out before saying she doesn't need it. If you don't have it, you really don't know what your missing.

I remember when VCRs first came out, I thought that was the dumbest thing ever. LOL

Re: ECHO Dot Question

jonbon — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 17:16:39 GMT

We got an original Echo when they first came out, for $99. My son always says, "That Alexa is the best $99 dollar timer out there." Yes, that's mostly how we've ended up using it -- for timers and alarms. My kids also enjoy trying to trip "her" up by saying strange things, putting goofy things on the shopping list, and we all laugh when she says something way off from what we actually asked or pipes up when we haven't even spoken to "her." But I know people who love theirs and use them for all sorts of practical things.