Re: First impressions of the Alexa calling feature

[Kenny]

Very nice review by you. I'll definitely keep 
this email for future reference if I do decide to buy this item.


At 03:03 PM 5/11/2017, you wrote:
Here are my First impressions of the new Alexa 
calling feature using the IOS Alexa app!


The setup was pretty straight forward.

You are asked to sign into the app and enter 
your credentials and proceed to the setup. you 
will need to supply the phone number you will be 
using to receive and make calls on your mobile 
phone whether it be android or IOS.


When you continue you are sent a verification 
code to your mobile phone. once you are 
verified, you will here a chime on your Alexa 
device, and you are taken to a screen where you 
import your contacts, allow Alexa to use the microphone and so on.


Once this is all done, you are given a brief 
explanation of how to insert contacts to make 
calls and send messages, and so forth.


Making calls from the Alexa devices is quite 
easy to do. You say, Elexa call so and so. As 
long as the person in your contacts has the 
Alexa app on there phone, Alexa will make the 
call for you. Anyone can download the app and 
enable the calling feature. I would think they 
had better have an Amazon account though!


Making calls from the Alexa app itself is 
another matter. You search for a contact in your 
address book and tap it to make your call. If 
the person doesn’t answer,you don’t hear 
anything at all. You can’t power down the 
phone or anything.  you don’t have voiceover 
to end the call. The only way I got voiceover 
back was to call myself with one of my Alexa 
devices. The phone vibrated and eventually I 
heard the Amazon ringtone and I could answer or 
decline my call. I think I will stick to using the Elexa devices to make calls.


When I called my self, the audio was quite 
clear. I then told my device at hand to hang up. 
it did and my phone when back to normal. I guess 
the other party you are talking to will have to 
end the calls, because there is no way to find 
the end call icon if you are totally blind because you have no voiceover.


I think the Alexa calling and message feature 
has potential, and I am waiting for some blind 
individual to buy the Echo show when it comes 
out and let all of us know how accessible it is.


If you call yourself for testing purposes, make 
sure the volume on the device is turned down 
low, or you will have ear splitting feedback.

The calls don’t show up in your IOS calls either.

Re: First impressions of the Alexi calling feature

[Gary Schindler]

I never thought about using the feature as a wireless intercom. I like that 
idea.


-Original Message- 
From: Merv Keck

Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2017 3:33 PM
To: 'PC Audio Discussion List'
Subject: RE: First impressions of the Alexa calling feature

Hi,
There have also been a few issues with the Alexa app and voice messages not 
being carried to the recipient. We had quite a bit of trouble with that 
yesterday. Even the transcripts of the messages got lost sometimes if two 
people attempted to message one another at the exact same time.
I do think it is an excellent new feature and has great potential. We have 
two dots at each end of a 988 square foot apartment. we have been looking 
for a decent set of wireless intercoms for years. Now we just use the 
message or call feature on our Dots.
And we are considering the Shows but are concerned about accessibility or 
future loss of accessibility.

Merv

-

For all things Echo:
echoing+subscr...@groups.io


-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan

Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2017 3:27 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List 
Subject: Re: First impressions of the Alexa calling feature

You took the words right out of my mouth, I was going to ask whether anyone 
had yet used this functionality of Alexa so thanks for letting us know your 
impressions.


Unfortunately this functionality isn't available in Australia as yet.



On 12/05/2017 5:03 AM, Gary Schindler wrote:
Here are my First impressions of the new Alexa calling feature using the 
IOS Alexa app!


The setup was pretty straight forward.

You are asked to sign into the app and enter your credentials and proceed 
to the setup. you will need to supply the phone number you will be using 
to receive and make calls on your mobile phone whether it be android or 
IOS.


When you continue you are sent a verification code to your mobile phone. 
once you are verified, you will here a chime on your Alexa device, and you 
are taken to a screen where you import your contacts, allow Alexa to use 
the microphone and so on.


Once this is all done, you are given a brief explanation of how to insert 
contacts to make calls and send messages, and so forth.


Making calls from the Alexa devices is quite easy to do. You say, Elexa 
call so and so. As long as the person in your contacts has the Alexa app 
on there phone, Alexa will make the call for you. Anyone can download the 
app and enable the calling feature. I would think they had better have an 
Amazon account though!


Making calls from the Alexa app itself is another matter. You search for a 
contact in your address book and tap it to make your call. If the person 
doesn’t answer,you don’t hear anything at all. You can’t power down the 
phone or anything.  you don’t have voiceover to end the call. The only way 
I got voiceover back was to call myself with one of my Alexa devices. The 
phone vibrated and eventually I heard the Amazon ringtone and I could 
answer or decline my call. I think I will stick to using the Elexa devices 
to make calls.


When I called my self, the audio was quite clear. I then told my device at 
hand to hang up. it did and my phone when back to normal. I guess the 
other party you are talking to will have to end the calls, because there 
is no way to find the end call icon if you are totally blind because you 
have no voiceover.


I think the Alexa calling and message feature has potential, and I am 
waiting for some blind individual to buy the Echo show when it comes out 
and let all of us know how accessible it is.


If you call yourself for testing purposes, make sure the volume on the 
device is turned down low, or you will have ear splitting feedback.

The calls don’t show up in your IOS calls either.


--

**
"Live each day as if you were goiing to die tomorrow, learn each day as if 
you were going to live forever"

RE: First impressions of the Alexa calling feature

[Tom Kaufman]

Just as an aside, I understand that this new feature of Amazon Echo is 
available oonly on the Echo and the Dot; not aavailable on the Tap yet!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Merv Keck
Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2017 3:33 PM
To: 'PC Audio Discussion List' 
Subject: RE: First impressions of the Alexa calling feature

Hi,
There have also been a few issues with the Alexa app and voice messages not 
being carried to the recipient. We had quite a bit of trouble with that 
yesterday. Even the transcripts of the messages got lost sometimes if two 
people attempted to message one another at the exact same time.
I do think it is an excellent new feature and has great potential. We have two 
dots at each end of a 988 square foot apartment. we have been looking for a 
decent set of wireless intercoms for years. Now we just use the message or call 
feature on our Dots.
And we are considering the Shows but are concerned about accessibility or 
future loss of accessibility.
Merv

-

For all things Echo:
echoing+subscr...@groups.io


-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2017 3:27 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List 
Subject: Re: First impressions of the Alexa calling feature

You took the words right out of my mouth, I was going to ask whether anyone had 
yet used this functionality of Alexa so thanks for letting us know your 
impressions.

Unfortunately this functionality isn't available in Australia as yet.



On 12/05/2017 5:03 AM, Gary Schindler wrote:
> Here are my First impressions of the new Alexa calling feature using the IOS 
> Alexa app!
>
> The setup was pretty straight forward.
>
> You are asked to sign into the app and enter your credentials and proceed to 
> the setup. you will need to supply the phone number you will be using to 
> receive and make calls on your mobile phone whether it be android or IOS.
>
> When you continue you are sent a verification code to your mobile phone. once 
> you are verified, you will here a chime on your Alexa device, and you are 
> taken to a screen where you import your contacts, allow Alexa to use the 
> microphone and so on.
>
> Once this is all done, you are given a brief explanation of how to insert 
> contacts to make calls and send messages, and so forth.
>
> Making calls from the Alexa devices is quite easy to do. You say, Elexa call 
> so and so. As long as the person in your contacts has the Alexa app on there 
> phone, Alexa will make the call for you. Anyone can download the app and 
> enable the calling feature. I would think they had better have an Amazon 
> account though!
>
> Making calls from the Alexa app itself is another matter. You search for a 
> contact in your address book and tap it to make your call. If the person 
> doesn’t answer,you don’t hear anything at all. You can’t power down the phone 
> or anything.  you don’t have voiceover to end the call. The only way I got 
> voiceover back was to call myself with one of my Alexa devices. The phone 
> vibrated and eventually I heard the Amazon ringtone and I could answer or 
> decline my call. I think I will stick to using the Elexa devices to make 
> calls.
>
> When I called my self, the audio was quite clear. I then told my device at 
> hand to hang up. it did and my phone when back to normal. I guess the other 
> party you are talking to will have to end the calls, because there is no way 
> to find the end call icon if you are totally blind because you have no 
> voiceover.
>
> I think the Alexa calling and message feature has potential, and I am waiting 
> for some blind individual to buy the Echo show when it comes out and let all 
> of us know how accessible it is.
>
> If you call yourself for testing purposes, make sure the volume on the device 
> is turned down low, or you will have ear splitting feedback.
> The calls don’t show up in your IOS calls either.

-- 

**
"Live each day as if you were goiing to die tomorrow, learn each day as if you 
were going to live forever"

RE: First impressions of the Alexa calling feature

[Merv Keck]

Hi,
There have also been a few issues with the Alexa app and voice messages not 
being carried to the recipient. We had quite a bit of trouble with that 
yesterday. Even the transcripts of the messages got lost sometimes if two 
people attempted to message one another at the exact same time.
I do think it is an excellent new feature and has great potential. We have two 
dots at each end of a 988 square foot apartment. we have been looking for a 
decent set of wireless intercoms for years. Now we just use the message or call 
feature on our Dots.
And we are considering the Shows but are concerned about accessibility or 
future loss of accessibility.
Merv

-

For all things Echo:
echoing+subscr...@groups.io


-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2017 3:27 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List 
Subject: Re: First impressions of the Alexa calling feature

You took the words right out of my mouth, I was going to ask whether anyone had 
yet used this functionality of Alexa so thanks for letting us know your 
impressions.

Unfortunately this functionality isn't available in Australia as yet.



On 12/05/2017 5:03 AM, Gary Schindler wrote:
> Here are my First impressions of the new Alexa calling feature using the IOS 
> Alexa app!
>
> The setup was pretty straight forward.
>
> You are asked to sign into the app and enter your credentials and proceed to 
> the setup. you will need to supply the phone number you will be using to 
> receive and make calls on your mobile phone whether it be android or IOS.
>
> When you continue you are sent a verification code to your mobile phone. once 
> you are verified, you will here a chime on your Alexa device, and you are 
> taken to a screen where you import your contacts, allow Alexa to use the 
> microphone and so on.
>
> Once this is all done, you are given a brief explanation of how to insert 
> contacts to make calls and send messages, and so forth.
>
> Making calls from the Alexa devices is quite easy to do. You say, Elexa call 
> so and so. As long as the person in your contacts has the Alexa app on there 
> phone, Alexa will make the call for you. Anyone can download the app and 
> enable the calling feature. I would think they had better have an Amazon 
> account though!
>
> Making calls from the Alexa app itself is another matter. You search for a 
> contact in your address book and tap it to make your call. If the person 
> doesn’t answer,you don’t hear anything at all. You can’t power down the phone 
> or anything.  you don’t have voiceover to end the call. The only way I got 
> voiceover back was to call myself with one of my Alexa devices. The phone 
> vibrated and eventually I heard the Amazon ringtone and I could answer or 
> decline my call. I think I will stick to using the Elexa devices to make 
> calls.
>
> When I called my self, the audio was quite clear. I then told my device at 
> hand to hang up. it did and my phone when back to normal. I guess the other 
> party you are talking to will have to end the calls, because there is no way 
> to find the end call icon if you are totally blind because you have no 
> voiceover.
>
> I think the Alexa calling and message feature has potential, and I am waiting 
> for some blind individual to buy the Echo show when it comes out and let all 
> of us know how accessible it is.
>
> If you call yourself for testing purposes, make sure the volume on the device 
> is turned down low, or you will have ear splitting feedback.
> The calls don’t show up in your IOS calls either.

-- 

**
"Live each day as if you were goiing to die tomorrow, learn each day as if you 
were going to live forever"

Re: First impressions of the Alexa calling feature

[Dane Trethowan]

You took the words right out of my mouth, I was going to ask whether 
anyone had yet used this functionality of Alexa so thanks for letting us 
know your impressions.


Unfortunately this functionality isn't available in Australia as yet.



On 12/05/2017 5:03 AM, Gary Schindler wrote:

Here are my First impressions of the new Alexa calling feature using the IOS 
Alexa app!

The setup was pretty straight forward.

You are asked to sign into the app and enter your credentials and proceed to 
the setup. you will need to supply the phone number you will be using to 
receive and make calls on your mobile phone whether it be android or IOS.

When you continue you are sent a verification code to your mobile phone. once 
you are verified, you will here a chime on your Alexa device, and you are taken 
to a screen where you import your contacts, allow Alexa to use the microphone 
and so on.

Once this is all done, you are given a brief explanation of how to insert 
contacts to make calls and send messages, and so forth.

Making calls from the Alexa devices is quite easy to do. You say, Elexa call so 
and so. As long as the person in your contacts has the Alexa app on there 
phone, Alexa will make the call for you. Anyone can download the app and enable 
the calling feature. I would think they had better have an Amazon account 
though!

Making calls from the Alexa app itself is another matter. You search for a 
contact in your address book and tap it to make your call. If the person 
doesn’t answer,you don’t hear anything at all. You can’t power down the phone 
or anything.  you don’t have voiceover to end the call. The only way I got 
voiceover back was to call myself with one of my Alexa devices. The phone 
vibrated and eventually I heard the Amazon ringtone and I could answer or 
decline my call. I think I will stick to using the Elexa devices to make calls.

When I called my self, the audio was quite clear. I then told my device at hand 
to hang up. it did and my phone when back to normal. I guess the other party 
you are talking to will have to end the calls, because there is no way to find 
the end call icon if you are totally blind because you have no voiceover.

I think the Alexa calling and message feature has potential, and I am waiting 
for some blind individual to buy the Echo show when it comes out and let all of 
us know how accessible it is.

If you call yourself for testing purposes, make sure the volume on the device 
is turned down low, or you will have ear splitting feedback.
The calls don’t show up in your IOS calls either.


--

**
"Live each day as if you were goiing to die tomorrow, learn each day as if you were 
going to live forever"

RE: First impressions of the Alexa calling feature

[Merv Keck]

I keep hoping someone evaluates the Echo show for accessibility while the buy 
two get $100 off the second one is still available at amazon. We have been 
discussing the show and the calling feature for a few days now and other than 
quite a few YouTube demonstrations by sighted reviewers we have not seen any 
thing as to the accessibility of the touch screen.
Merv

-

For all things related to the Echo:
echoing+subscr...@groups.io


-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Gary 
Schindler
Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2017 3:03 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List 
Subject: First impressions of the Alexa calling feature

Here are my First impressions of the new Alexa calling feature using the IOS 
Alexa app!

The setup was pretty straight forward.

You are asked to sign into the app and enter your credentials and proceed to 
the setup. you will need to supply the phone number you will be using to 
receive and make calls on your mobile phone whether it be android or IOS.

When you continue you are sent a verification code to your mobile phone. once 
you are verified, you will here a chime on your Alexa device, and you are taken 
to a screen where you import your contacts, allow Alexa to use the microphone 
and so on.

Once this is all done, you are given a brief explanation of how to insert 
contacts to make calls and send messages, and so forth.

Making calls from the Alexa devices is quite easy to do. You say, Elexa call so 
and so. As long as the person in your contacts has the Alexa app on there 
phone, Alexa will make the call for you. Anyone can download the app and enable 
the calling feature. I would think they had better have an Amazon account 
though!

Making calls from the Alexa app itself is another matter. You search for a 
contact in your address book and tap it to make your call. If the person 
doesn’t answer,you don’t hear anything at all. You can’t power down the phone 
or anything.  you don’t have voiceover to end the call. The only way I got 
voiceover back was to call myself with one of my Alexa devices. The phone 
vibrated and eventually I heard the Amazon ringtone and I could answer or 
decline my call. I think I will stick to using the Elexa devices to make calls.

When I called my self, the audio was quite clear. I then told my device at hand 
to hang up. it did and my phone when back to normal. I guess the other party 
you are talking to will have to end the calls, because there is no way to find 
the end call icon if you are totally blind because you have no voiceover. 

I think the Alexa calling and message feature has potential, and I am waiting 
for some blind individual to buy the Echo show when it comes out and let all of 
us know how accessible it is.

If you call yourself for testing purposes, make sure the volume on the device 
is turned down low, or you will have ear splitting feedback.
The calls don’t show up in your IOS calls either.

First impressions of the Alexa calling feature

[Gary Schindler]

Here are my First impressions of the new Alexa calling feature using the IOS 
Alexa app!

The setup was pretty straight forward.

You are asked to sign into the app and enter your credentials and proceed to 
the setup. you will need to supply the phone number you will be using to 
receive and make calls on your mobile phone whether it be android or IOS.

When you continue you are sent a verification code to your mobile phone. once 
you are verified, you will here a chime on your Alexa device, and you are taken 
to a screen where you import your contacts, allow Alexa to use the microphone 
and so on.

Once this is all done, you are given a brief explanation of how to insert 
contacts to make calls and send messages, and so forth.

Making calls from the Alexa devices is quite easy to do. You say, Elexa call so 
and so. As long as the person in your contacts has the Alexa app on there 
phone, Alexa will make the call for you. Anyone can download the app and enable 
the calling feature. I would think they had better have an Amazon account 
though!

Making calls from the Alexa app itself is another matter. You search for a 
contact in your address book and tap it to make your call. If the person 
doesn’t answer,you don’t hear anything at all. You can’t power down the phone 
or anything.  you don’t have voiceover to end the call. The only way I got 
voiceover back was to call myself with one of my Alexa devices. The phone 
vibrated and eventually I heard the Amazon ringtone and I could answer or 
decline my call. I think I will stick to using the Elexa devices to make calls.

When I called my self, the audio was quite clear. I then told my device at hand 
to hang up. it did and my phone when back to normal. I guess the other party 
you are talking to will have to end the calls, because there is no way to find 
the end call icon if you are totally blind because you have no voiceover. 

I think the Alexa calling and message feature has potential, and I am waiting 
for some blind individual to buy the Echo show when it comes out and let all of 
us know how accessible it is.

If you call yourself for testing purposes, make sure the volume on the device 
is turned down low, or you will have ear splitting feedback.
The calls don’t show up in your IOS calls either.

Skype For Windows New Interface

[Dane Trethowan]

Hi!

Anyone had a look at this? I've been trying it here myself for a few 
days and its okay, easy enough to get around but a little different from 
the older Interface we know.


Perhaps my only complaint about this new style is that it attempts to 
show too much information at any one time.




--

**
"Live each day as if you were goiing to die tomorrow, learn each day as if you were 
going to live forever"