topic Re: ❔ About TSV (10/5) Amazon Echo ❔ in Today's Special Value

❔ About TSV (10/5) Amazon Echo ❔

Mz iMac — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 04:49:21 GMT

Can you use the Echo and/or does it work if you do not have an Amazon account?

I did a Google search & could not find a very clear answer. One site stated that you need an Amazon acct to register Echo. That's it.

Also checked the Q website. No mention either way. Not even in the "Important Info" section.

Been listening to Rick & the vendor for 45 minutes & not one word if you need an Amazon acct or not.

Re: ❔ About TSV (10/5) Amazon Echo ❔

granny me — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 05:04:19 GMT

I don't know if this is true, but can these devices listen in? I read an article about smart TV being capable. I am not a techie person, but I just wonder.

Re: ❔ About TSV (10/5) Amazon Echo ❔

libbyannE — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 05:15:25 GMT

I still do not understand what this is and how it works. Do you connect it to the computer it IS it a computer? How does it play my CDs? If I orally tell it to put something on a grocery list, how do I get the list OUT of it? Nothing is explained in the presentations. They talk around all the most basic questions!

Re: ❔ About TSV (10/5) Amazon Echo ❔

Kachina624 — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 06:08:02 GMT

It is not a computer; it's a Bluetooth speaker with a voice recognition system. You wouldn't need an Amazon Prime account but you would need the ordinary free account a customer would use to make a purchase. You have to download the Echo app from Amazon to set it up. It plays music from what you've got loaded on your pad or computer. Regarding the grocery list, I've never used that but I'd probably have it recite the list while I wrote it. It may be retrievable on your computer or pad and could be printed. I don't have a printer.

I don't use mine to its full capability. I use it mostly to check the weather, temperature and to get miscellaneous information like the distance between two cities. Also use the timer.

The speaker is excellent quality, comparable to a Bose radio.

Re: ❔ About TSV (10/5) Amazon Echo ❔

Kachina624 — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 06:22:23 GMT

From the Echo ad on Amazon.

Plays all your music from Prime Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and more using just your voice
Fills the room with immersive, 360º omni-directional audio
Allows hands-free convenience with voice-control
Hears you from across the room with far-field voice recognition, even while music is playing
Answers questions, reads audiobooks and the news, reports traffic and weather, gives info on local businesses, provides sports scores and schedules, and more using the Alexa Voice Service
Controls lights, switches, and thermostats with compatible WeMo, Philips Hue, Samsung SmartThings, Wink, Insteon, Nest, and ecobee smart home devices
Always getting smarter and adding new features, plus thousands of skills like Uber, Domino's, and more

Re: ❔ About TSV (10/5) Amazon Echo ❔

wishmoon — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 08:51:04 GMT

I receive an email every Friday telling me new things the Echo can do. To be honest, I don't use it fully either.

Re: ❔ About TSV (10/5) Amazon Echo ❔

millieshops — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 10:51:22 GMT

I don't use anything much to its fullest capability. Probably my coffee pots come the cloest to full use, but not the TV and its remote, certainly not even this old laptop I'm using right now, definitely not my smartphone , and -- but you get it, I bet.

All I know is that if a new gadget has features I will use and I can afford to buy it and use it, it's okay to own one more thing I won't use to its best because if I waited for that, I'd never buy anything new.

But I'm not buying an Echo today!

Re: ❔ About TSV (10/5) Amazon Echo ❔

BalletBabe — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 11:47:59 GMT

I love this. I use it for everything. I Use it for grocery items. Tell her what to put on your list and it goes right to your phone. This works great for me since I always forget my list at home. The thing I like best is the ask my buddy feature. I have 5 emergency contacts in it. Since live alone, all I have to say contact so in so. It send them a tect and a email telling them they need to get in contact with you. I also purchased the hand held remote. THat way I can take it to bathroom if I fall, or talk to it fom a different room. I also have a tap, but I woud have preferred two of these instead of the tap. The tap is nice since it is portable. You have to push the mic everytime you want to talk to it and that I don't like. You can also get the app from the itunes store for your iphone and i pad. It has bad reviews but I have never had an issue with it.

Re: ❔ About TSV (10/5) Amazon Echo ❔

Caaareful Shopper — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 14:21:19 GMT

I've had mine since May and I love it. ❤️

My main & nearly daily uses:

play my audiobooks from my Audible account
weather and traffic for my commute
shopping list -- the best thing about this for me is that my son moved back in with me. We have totally different working hours, so he can add his suggestions to my shopping list automatically without me going back & forth between texts and my shopping list on my phone.
play music from Pandora (I don't want Amazon Prime) -- it has exceptional sound!
CNN (or any outlet) news & sports highlights
thesaurus
as a timer for my workouts
recipe ideas
It gets smarter and smarter and can answer more questions each month.

Re: ❔ About TSV (10/5) Amazon Echo ❔

NanaLinda — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 14:39:23 GMT

@granny me, before the Echo will listen to conversation, you have to say her name (Alexa) to get her attention. Hope this helps.

Re: ❔ About TSV (10/5) Amazon Echo ❔

SunnyDiva — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 15:18:46 GMT

Hi- I bought the Amazon ECHO last time it was TSV and sold out ( of ourse). You will need to have an Amazon account- because you will also need to add the ALEXA app - on your phone or tablet (ETC) to allow her SKILLS to be opened and to play. For example- to read a book- you direct her - but you have to have an audible book in your AUDIBLE account in your AMAZON account- Otherwise she responds- there is nothing available to read. Same for Music. Music has to be available in the AMAZON account- but instead of wanting to duplicate music sets- I linked the MUSIC area- in the ALEXA profile- and linked it to SPOTIFY- where I have a premium account. I TELL ALEXA to open SPOTIFY and she plays my music list- and I can also open my Spotify app separately and change music if I want- or ask Alexa to search for XXMusic or Song etc- on Spotify. I added 2 free books via Audible- and I have Alewa reading 1 of 2 books to me. You could also do this with an Audible cookbook- she can read you the recipe and instructions as you are cooking- Genius right?

Also- When she tells a joke or when she plays TRIVIA games- you need to go to the ALEXA app you downloaded- scroll through it- and add the skill for jokes, and Trivia etc. Once her SKILL is enabled- you can have her use it all you want.

Likewise- with the heating system- You can emable her Skill to manage that- but you have to have a control in your home that allows and accepts " smart" applications. Its digital connection- its one "system" talking to another. Unfortunately- it mkes it look they just talk into Alexa and she controls the temperature- not accurate.

You should go to the Google Playstore - download the Alexa App and look at what she can do . You don't have to have an Amazon Prime account- if that was your question. I took the free Amazon Prime account- tested it for 30 days with Alexa and cancelled it- because I didnt want the added expense. She will not read the audible book- because Amazon Prime is cancelled- but she does play my music and other things available via the APP. If I want the books read- I can open the AUDIBLE app and have it read- Alexa just makes it easy and convenient.

I hope that answers your questions

Re: ❔ About TSV (10/5) Amazon Echo ❔

Mz iMac — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 16:49:33 GMT

@Kachina624

"but you would need the ordinary free account a customer would use to make a purchase."

"You have to download the Echo app from Amazon to set it up."

@SunnyDiva

"You will need to have an Amazon account- because you will also need to add the ALEXA app - on your phone or tablet (ETC) to allow her SKILLS to be opened and to play."

To both of you.....

I find it very strange that there is NO mention from the vendor & the host & hostesses that you need an Amazon account to properly use Echo.

Not everyone are members. Including me! I am not an online shopper unless the business has a toll free # to "make purchases."

Re: ❔ About TSV (10/5) Amazon Echo ❔

mima — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 18:30:02 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
@Kachina624
"but you would need the ordinary free account a customer would use to make a purchase."
"You have to download the Echo app from Amazon to set it up."

@SunnyDiva
"You will need to have an Amazon account- because you will also need to add the ALEXA app - on your phone or tablet (ETC) to allow her SKILLS to be opened and to play."

To both of you.....

I find it very strange that there is NO mention from the vendor & the host & hostesses that you need an Amazon account to properly use Echo.
Not everyone are members. Including me! I am not an online shopper unless the business has a toll free # to "make purchases."

You don't need a paid Prime account. You just have to register at amazon and get a free account. You don't have to shop on Amazon, you just need an account and also their free Echo/Alexa app. Hope that helps.

Re: ❔ About TSV (10/5) Amazon Echo ❔

Mz iMac — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 19:52:58 GMT

@mima

"You don't have to shop on Amazon, you just need an account and also their free Echo/Alexa app."

I found 1 website that stated what you did. I assumed you needed to register w/Amazon in order to download their app too.

This type of information I would think should be mentioned over & over by Q's vendor as well as the host & hostesses.

Re: ❔ About TSV (10/5) Amazon Echo ❔

Kachina624 — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 23:37:25 GMT

@Mz iMac I imagine it wasn't mentioned because to most people it's not a big deal. I find Amazon Prime to be the best thing since sliced bread since I have limited mobility for shopping. I get big bags of dog food delivered free to my front door. I buy just about everything there. The regular Amazon account doesn't cost anything and they don't advertise so why would anyone hesitate? It's also a great place to read reviews of any product.

I did hear this discussed early this morning.

Re: ❔ About TSV (10/5) Amazon Echo ❔

Mz iMac — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 23:59:50 GMT

@Kachina624

Don't get me wrong. I have no problem w/Amazon. It's just that I am not an "online" shopper. In other words, I do not want to imput my credit card on a website. The only places I shop online are the ones that provide a toll free number AND accepts personal checks like the Q.

Amazon does accept checks however, you have to provide them w/your routing # as well as your acct # on their website. Amazon does not have a toll free # to make purchases.

Call me cyber paranoid.

Re: ❔ About TSV (10/5) Amazon Echo ❔

libbyannE — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 03:27:51 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
It is not a computer; it's a Bluetooth speaker with a voice recognition system. You wouldn't need an Amazon Prime account but you would need the ordinary free account a customer would use to make a purchase. You have to download the Echo app from Amazon to set it up. It plays music from what you've got loaded on your pad or computer. Regarding the grocery list, I've never used that but I'd probably have it recite the list while I wrote it. It may be retrievable on your computer or pad and could be printed. I don't have a printer.

I don't use mine to its full capability. I use it mostly to check the weather, temperature and to get miscellaneous information like the distance between two cities. Also use the timer.

The speaker is excellent quality, comparable to a Bose radio.

@Kachina624

Ok. Tx. they never really explain enough on air. I am a serious musician and music collector, and i am not going to replace my huge cd collection. Too much of the music is "lost" on iPad, etc., which is why I don't use it for music. I tried Bose radio and sound quality was ok but, again, some of the richness was lost, so I took it to goodwill. I didn't think I was interested in this, but I was curious. If I have to print out a grocery list from my printer, it's faster to just write the list as things occur to us, as we do now. Thx for taking time to explain a bit. Looks like a fun toy for some people.

Re: ❔ About TSV (10/5) Amazon Echo ❔

sparklestar — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 03:33:03 GMT

I'm not talking to a machine. I don't mind turning my lights on and off or looking at a clock to see the time. I don't need to have a book read to me. I can write my own grocery list. I can't decide if people are really all that busy and involved that they can't perform these functions themselves or if we are all just getting lazy.

Re: ❔ About TSV (10/5) Amazon Echo ❔

Sooner — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 03:34:03 GMT

YOU HAVE TO HAVE WIRELESS INTERNET CONNECTION IN YOUR HOME TO USE THIS! They never mentioned that when I was watching (which wan't all the time but enough that it should have been pointed out). They just talked like it was self contained and it IS NOT. You have to have internet.

Your grocery or to do list is accessible through your phone. You just open the app and there it is.

Re: ❔ About TSV (10/5) Amazon Echo ❔

Shorty2U — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 16:27:24 GMT

Just wanted to say I love my Echo (which DH got me for Christmas last year), and use it daily (every thing it does was pretty much covered above).

But what I wanted to add is the Echo dot (a shorter tower) is coming out Oct 20th for 49 dollars. If you buy so many you get one free. I saw it on Amazon. So this is a huge savings compared to the first version. QVC of course doesnt tell you this.