topic Re: Echo dot in Community Chat

Echo dot

Elom — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 21:47:38 GMT

Would anyone let me know how they like the echo dot. I just got one and she keeps telling me I don't have an answer for that. I am glad I didn't get the larger one but I will use this as it was a gift. I tried watching you tube videos thinking I was doing something wrong.

Re: Echo dot

chrystaltree — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 21:51:41 GMT

I wish I could! Mine seems to be lost in UPS limbo. I doubt I'll ever get it, it's been roaming the country for 10 days now. I know what QVC is going to say....wait....so I'm waiting another 10 days before I call QVC to demand my refund. My fault. If I'd ordered it directly from Amazon, it would have been delivered in 2 days.

Re: Echo dot

Mz iMac — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 21:59:37 GMT

I received my yesterday. Been spending all day yesterday & today trying to customize all my settings. So far so good.

What I did was download all the instructions I could find for easy install as I have a Mac & NO CELL phone.

My initial set up was through the web based Alexa app. Very simple.

Right now I am listening to talk radio.

Re: Echo dot

Mz iMac — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 22:06:44 GMT

I forgot to add.....

Amazon has an extensive FAQ & Troubleshooting guides w/step by step instructions for the Amazon DOT & Echo since they are basically the same except for the size.

Re: Echo dot

Moonchilde — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 22:10:43 GMT

@Elom, you do understand that you have to ask specific questions using specific wording, right? If you say "Alexa, how hot is it?" she might not respond. You'd have to say "Alexa, what's the temperature in (your town)" or, once you have it configured so her GPS knows where you are, you might try "Alexa, what's the temperature? Or "temperature here."

You have to "enable" Alexa to do certain skills, through the app. You can't, for example, ask Alexa to play 20 Questions unless you have enabled her to do that in the app.

Go through all instructions and info in the app, page by page. And, she needs to "learn" your voice.

Alexa/Dot does take some prep work.

Mine arrives Monday!

Re: Echo dot

silentgirl — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 22:18:43 GMT

Most likely when she states she doesn't have the answer, it's because we have not structured the question according to her program. Or it may not be a question she can answer.

She usually suggests you refer to the Alexa app.

Have you taken the time to familiarize your voice with her so she understands what you are asking? That's pretty important.

If you read the information Mz Imac provided-take the time for the voice recognition and maybe print out the numerous ways to ask the questions to request her tasks-I think you may find she functions relatively well-

Good luck

kinda crossed with @Moonchilde

Re: Echo dot

Moonchilde — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 22:28:28 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
I forgot to add.....

Amazon has an extensive FAQ & Troubleshooting guides w/step by step instructions for the Amazon DOT & Echo since they are basically the same except for the size.

All of Amazon's references are good. You can also go to the Kindle forum on Amazon: www.amazondotcom/forum/kindle

There is a thread running titled Amazon Echo (Part 2). If you can find Part 1 I'm sure it's valuable reading as well. That thread was begun when the Echo was new. The threads on the Amazon forums stop at 10,000 posts, so that's why Part 2 is necessary.

Re: Echo dot

Moonchilde — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 22:33:01 GMT

No worries, @silentgirl ;-) GMTA

I'm looking forward to my new toy, and determined to get to know her well. Like @Mz iMac says, a lot of early adopters in concert with Amazon tech support have tried to give all the info they can.

I had extensive dental work done yesterday and have mouth misery ahead through Xmas, so this will be perfect to take my mind off drinking my meals ;-(

Re: Echo dot

CareBears — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 22:38:20 GMT

I LOVE mine, I just received it yesterday, and I have been listening to non-stop Chtristmas music, I am still learning but having fun, and bopping around the house to the Osmonds filling my home with JOY!

Re: Echo dot

Moonchilde — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 22:42:37 GMT

@CareBears wrote:
I LOVE mine, I just received it yesterday, and I have been listening to non-stop Chtristmas music, I am still learning but having fun, and bopping around the house to the Osmonds filling my home with JOY!

@CareBears, is the music through Amazon Music, Pandora, or ? If I could stream Xmas music with AM that'd be a good reason for me to sign up.

Re: Echo dot

CareBears — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 22:49:18 GMT

@Moonchilde I just say "Alexa, play Donny Osmond" and BAM the Echo Dot starts playing his music, I am the worst person to ask this kind of a question, I am so not anywhere near being a techie (is that a word), I just followed the simple set up, and minutes later I was having Donny swoon me? Sorry I could not give you a technical answer?

Re: Echo dot

Moonchilde — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 23:15:03 GMT

@CareBears wrote:
@Moonchilde I just say "Alexa, play Donny Osmond" and BAM the Echo Dot starts playing his music, I am the worst person to ask this kind of a question, I am so not anywhere near being a techie (is that a word), I just followed the simple set up, and minutes later I was having Donny swoon me? Sorry I could not give you a technical answer?

@CareBears, if you're a Prime Member they include 2 million songs free. Maybe that's it.

Re: Echo dot

Beth-QVC — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 23:17:48 GMT

@chrystaltree

Would you please send me an email to QVCSocialTeam@qvc.com as I am showing your Echo Dot is being held by UPS by request???? Should it be going to a UPS Access point?

Beth QVC

Re: Echo dot

Mz iMac — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 23:22:17 GMT

@Moonchilde

"If I could stream Xmas music with AM"

If you mean radio "AM" the DOT appears to use iHeart & Tunesin for radio music.

I am not a member of Amazon therefore, I do not have any of their music subscriptions. My DOT is bluetooth connected to my comp which has over 5000 songs. That is how DOT is playing my music.

SIDEBAR: The DOT comes w/a special 3 months FREE Amazon Unlimited Music subscription for QVC members. Strongly urge you read the small print w/a magnafying glass on the website-Amazon.

Re: Echo dot

silentgirl — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 23:24:55 GMT

Gee whiz @Moonchilde I hope you feel better. I can deal with almost anything but, dental issues and mouth pain--I totally sympathize.

Your AM question is a bit over my head-but-I stream through Amazon-

A CNET article I read said if you can stream it through a bluetooth device you can stream it through your echo-

I dunno-sure you get it.

Re: Echo dot

Moonchilde — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 23:33:45 GMT

@Mz iMac, I do have some music bought from Amazon, bought randomly. Not much, but some. So it would play that. Prime Music is 2 million+ songs available on demand free to Prime members, so anyone who is a prime member could say "Play X" and it would most likely just play. I love that idea!

I meant "Amazon Music" by AM. I listen to Pandora & have many playlists there, so could also do that. I just bookmarked an Echo/Pandora how-to page.

Kindle Unlimited is for books (incl audio), and honestly, is mostly the 99 cent books of self-published authors, i.e. kwap, so I wouldn't do that. That's one reason I bought from Amazon directly - I don't want KU.

Re: Echo dot

Mz iMac — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 23:35:54 GMT

@Moonchilde

I think you mentioned you are a Prime member. For free you can upload your personal music unlimited to Amazons Cloud from your "My Music" account or something like that if you do not want to go the bluetooth route. DOT told me that!

Re: Echo dot

Moonchilde — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 23:38:21 GMT

Thanks, @silentgirl - hangin' in there 😜

As per my reply to @Mz iMac, streaming either Pandora or the free 2,000,000+ titles through Prime Music would do me very well.

Re: Echo dot

silentgirl — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 00:15:28 GMT

Your welcome @Moonchilde

As a prime member too, I just say, "Alexa shuffle so and so music-and she does-if I'm not fond of a tune, I just say skip-

I seriously listened to one artist the other night for hours and never repeated a song-

I've always purchased from iTunes - but after my last upgrade on my phone I lost all my music-finally got it all back-but iTunes was so goofed up I just gave it up-

You'll love it-

Re: Echo dot

MalteseMomma — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 00:53:43 GMT

@Mz iMac

....I did not know I could listen to talk radio ....................thanks

I love music but more into talk

I really want the google one because I am a real google freak..................or "lover"