Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

That's convenient for a lot of people obviously.

I have to admit that the idea for me would be a little annoying given 
the size of the main device and it would only be bigger with a battery 
base in toe.




On 14/02/2017 7:35 AM, Gary Schindler wrote:

THey Have a third party battery! it sits on the base of the echo.


-Original Message- From: Dane Trethowan Sent: Monday, February 
13, 2017 1:15 PM To: PC Audio Discussion List Subject: Re: Amazon Echo 
Alexa

the Echo Dot you mean?

You can't attach a battery to the big echo as far as I know.



On 14/02/2017 4:28 AM, Donald L. Roberts wrote:
Since I already have an Echo as well as I tap, I plan to buy one of 
those batteries which one can attach to the Echo. In this way, I'll 
be able to take the Echo outside on the patio.



Don Roberts



On 2/12/2017 3:07 PM, Mary Otten wrote:

I'm sure that this will work for both iPhone and android apps. This
came from an android-centric site, so the author didn't bother to
mention iPhone apps.

Mary



.

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

Interesting!
The big Echo - unlike the other two - doesn't have a USB socket, just a 
main power socket wich I'm assuming takes a higher voltage.


On 14/02/2017 6:06 AM, Donald L. Roberts wrote:
No, batteries are now available for the original Echo which somehow 
attach to its base.  I think I read that these batteries come in 
various sizes.  An acquaintance bought one which purports to deliver 
nine hours of play time on the original Echo.



Don Roberts



On 2/13/2017 10:15 AM, Dane Trethowan wrote:

the Echo Dot you mean?

You can't attach a battery to the big echo as far as I know.



On 14/02/2017 4:28 AM, Donald L. Roberts wrote:
Since I already have an Echo as well as I tap, I plan to buy one of 
those batteries which one can attach to the Echo. In this way, I'll 
be able to take the Echo outside on the patio.



Don Roberts



On 2/12/2017 3:07 PM, Mary Otten wrote:

I'm sure that this will work for both iPhone and android apps. This
came from an android-centric site, so the author didn't bother to
mention iPhone apps.

Mary



.

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Gary Schindler]

THey Have a third party battery! it sits on the base of the echo.


-Original Message- 
From: Dane Trethowan 
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2017 1:15 PM 
To: PC Audio Discussion List 
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa 


the Echo Dot you mean?

You can't attach a battery to the big echo as far as I know.



On 14/02/2017 4:28 AM, Donald L. Roberts wrote:
Since I already have an Echo as well as I tap, I plan to buy one of 
those batteries which one can attach to the Echo. In this way, I'll be 
able to take the Echo outside on the patio.



Don Roberts



On 2/12/2017 3:07 PM, Mary Otten wrote:

I'm sure that this will work for both iPhone and android apps. This
came from an android-centric site, so the author didn't bother to
mention iPhone apps.

Mary



.

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Donald L. Roberts]

No, batteries are now available for the original Echo which somehow 
attach to its base.  I think I read that these batteries come in various 
sizes.  An acquaintance bought one which purports to deliver nine hours 
of play time on the original Echo.



Don Roberts



On 2/13/2017 10:15 AM, Dane Trethowan wrote:

the Echo Dot you mean?

You can't attach a battery to the big echo as far as I know.



On 14/02/2017 4:28 AM, Donald L. Roberts wrote:
Since I already have an Echo as well as I tap, I plan to buy one of 
those batteries which one can attach to the Echo. In this way, I'll 
be able to take the Echo outside on the patio.



Don Roberts



On 2/12/2017 3:07 PM, Mary Otten wrote:

I'm sure that this will work for both iPhone and android apps. This
came from an android-centric site, so the author didn't bother to
mention iPhone apps.

Mary



.

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

the Echo Dot you mean?

You can't attach a battery to the big echo as far as I know.



On 14/02/2017 4:28 AM, Donald L. Roberts wrote:
Since I already have an Echo as well as I tap, I plan to buy one of 
those batteries which one can attach to the Echo. In this way, I'll be 
able to take the Echo outside on the patio.



Don Roberts



On 2/12/2017 3:07 PM, Mary Otten wrote:

I'm sure that this will work for both iPhone and android apps. This
came from an android-centric site, so the author didn't bother to
mention iPhone apps.

Mary



.

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Donald L. Roberts]

Since I already have an Echo as well as I tap, I plan to buy one of 
those batteries which one can attach to the Echo.  In this way, I'll be 
able to take the Echo outside on the patio.



Don Roberts



On 2/12/2017 3:07 PM, Mary Otten wrote:

I'm sure that this will work for both iPhone and android apps. This
came from an android-centric site, so the author didn't bother to
mention iPhone apps.

Mary



.

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

Yep, you've the right idea.



On 13/02/2017 6:41 PM, Robert Godridge wrote:

We just got an ecco dot as a wedding present and will be playing about
with it later in the week. It has been set up. We're in the u.s,
moving to the u.k though.
Let's say I wanted it to play the album blue by Joni Mitchell, what's
the sintax? is it play album blue by Joni Mitchell or what? I assume
amazon has quite a bit of music...
I'm a classical fan as is she so we'll be doing quite a bit of sintax
messing i think...

On 2/13/17, Dane Trethowan  wrote:

Something else for everyone to try who owns an Echo Tap - if you haven't
tried this already. -

Say to Tap "Current Battery Status" and Alexa will tell you the battery
status remaining in a percentage.



On 13/02/2017 3:04 PM, Mary Otten wrote:

Ok, thanks. I have a ue megaboom, and a Oontse probably spelled wrong,
from Cambridge sound works. The megaboom is a lot more expensive at
retail, of course, and I like the sound, especially outside. I wasn't
at all interested in the Tap until this update came out. That seems to
make it much more useful. But I suppose, given that I have other
choices, it will be tough to justify the purchase of yet another
portable speaker.

Mary

RE: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Tom Kaufman]

Robert:  I think you're right on target as I think that's exactly how you say 
it!  Good luck to ya!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Robert 
Godridge
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2017 2:41 AM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

We just got an ecco dot as a wedding present and will be playing about
with it later in the week. It has been set up. We're in the u.s,
moving to the u.k though.
Let's say I wanted it to play the album blue by Joni Mitchell, what's
the sintax? is it play album blue by Joni Mitchell or what? I assume
amazon has quite a bit of music...
I'm a classical fan as is she so we'll be doing quite a bit of sintax
messing i think...

On 2/13/17, Dane Trethowan <grtd...@internode.on.net> wrote:
> Something else for everyone to try who owns an Echo Tap - if you haven't
> tried this already. -
>
> Say to Tap "Current Battery Status" and Alexa will tell you the battery
> status remaining in a percentage.
>
>
>
> On 13/02/2017 3:04 PM, Mary Otten wrote:
>> Ok, thanks. I have a ue megaboom, and a Oontse probably spelled wrong,
>> from Cambridge sound works. The megaboom is a lot more expensive at
>> retail, of course, and I like the sound, especially outside. I wasn't
>> at all interested in the Tap until this update came out. That seems to
>> make it much more useful. But I suppose, given that I have other
>> choices, it will be tough to justify the purchase of yet another
>> portable speaker.
>>
>> Mary
>>
>>
>
>
>

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Robert Godridge]

We just got an ecco dot as a wedding present and will be playing about
with it later in the week. It has been set up. We're in the u.s,
moving to the u.k though.
Let's say I wanted it to play the album blue by Joni Mitchell, what's
the sintax? is it play album blue by Joni Mitchell or what? I assume
amazon has quite a bit of music...
I'm a classical fan as is she so we'll be doing quite a bit of sintax
messing i think...

On 2/13/17, Dane Trethowan  wrote:
> Something else for everyone to try who owns an Echo Tap - if you haven't
> tried this already. -
>
> Say to Tap "Current Battery Status" and Alexa will tell you the battery
> status remaining in a percentage.
>
>
>
> On 13/02/2017 3:04 PM, Mary Otten wrote:
>> Ok, thanks. I have a ue megaboom, and a Oontse probably spelled wrong,
>> from Cambridge sound works. The megaboom is a lot more expensive at
>> retail, of course, and I like the sound, especially outside. I wasn't
>> at all interested in the Tap until this update came out. That seems to
>> make it much more useful. But I suppose, given that I have other
>> choices, it will be tough to justify the purchase of yet another
>> portable speaker.
>>
>> Mary
>>
>>
>
>
>

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

Something else for everyone to try who owns an Echo Tap - if you haven't 
tried this already. -


Say to Tap "Current Battery Status" and Alexa will tell you the battery 
status remaining in a percentage.




On 13/02/2017 3:04 PM, Mary Otten wrote:

Ok, thanks. I have a ue megaboom, and a Oontse probably spelled wrong,
from Cambridge sound works. The megaboom is a lot more expensive at
retail, of course, and I like the sound, especially outside. I wasn't
at all interested in the Tap until this update came out. That seems to
make it much more useful. But I suppose, given that I have other
choices, it will be tough to justify the purchase of yet another
portable speaker.

Mary

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

cambridge Audio make some fantastic stuff, I have one of their Digital 
Radio tuners and I've heard their DAC units often enough.


I very much like the Tap and - like you - I've invested in more 
expensive units however the Tap is a nice all-in-one general purpose 
tool, the sort of thing you'd like to have handy to pickup and just use, 
take anywhere type of thing.




On 13/02/2017 3:04 PM, Mary Otten wrote:

Ok, thanks. I have a ue megaboom, and a Oontse probably spelled wrong,
from Cambridge sound works. The megaboom is a lot more expensive at
retail, of course, and I like the sound, especially outside. I wasn't
at all interested in the Tap until this update came out. That seems to
make it much more useful. But I suppose, given that I have other
choices, it will be tough to justify the purchase of yet another
portable speaker.

Mary

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Mary Otten]

Ok, thanks. I have a ue megaboom, and a Oontse probably spelled wrong,
from Cambridge sound works. The megaboom is a lot more expensive at
retail, of course, and I like the sound, especially outside. I wasn't
at all interested in the Tap until this update came out. That seems to
make it much more useful. But I suppose, given that I have other
choices, it will be tough to justify the purchase of yet another
portable speaker.

Mary

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

Okay another good question and you're certainly coming out with them 
today .


Comparing the Tap to the big echo? Well the sound is obviously bigger 
and fuller with the Echo, a bit more top and a bit more bottom but both 
are pleasing to listen to.


I haven't heard a Logitech Ultimate Ears in a while but the two units I 
had annoyed me for their overpowering bass, the Tap doesn't have that 
and this I'm thankful for very much, I've just been listening to the 
Album "Turn Of A Friendly Card" through the Tap from Spotify and I 
thoroughly enjoyed the listen.


I doubt whether I would have enjoyed the album so much had I been 
listening to it through the Bose Soundlink Mini but again I had the 
older generation and not the current and bass was a little overpowering 
on that speaker.


I'm lead to believe that Bose have gone to great lengths to rectify this 
problem in tthe current generation of Soundlink Mini and I hope to try 
one of those in the near Future.




On 13/02/2017 2:31 PM, Mary Otten wrote:

If you have an echo, how would you compare the sound of the tap to the sound of the 
echo? If you have heard the Bose mini, how about that one. Or the mini boom I think 
they called it from ultimate ears. Or maybe it was just the boom. So not getting up 
into the B category, more along the lines of speakers that are closer in 
price.

Sent from my iPhone


On Feb 12, 2017, at 7:09 PM, Dane Trethowan <grtd...@internode.on.net> wrote:

I should also add that - if you're after a Bluetooth Speaker - then I reckon 
that the Echo Tap is very good value for money indeed and to think that you can 
use the Tap on the Echo eco system makes it even more value for money.

Sure! its not the best sounding portable Bluetooth spekaer around - my B 
would thrash the Tap - but for the size? Well its a roll of surprise, perhaps 
that's the best way to describe it.




On 13/02/2017 1:52 PM, Tom Kaufman wrote:
Dane:  Don't know if you've had a chance to play with those buttons on the top of the tap 
or not, so you may have figured them out: the button nearest to you (going from front to 
back) is the volume down; moving toward the back (now this is if you're in the center of 
the device) is the play/pause button; the button furtherest from you is the volume up 
button.  The button at the extreme left is your "back" button (not sure if they 
actually call it that) but let's say you're listening to a music shuffle...and you want 
to go back a song, this is the button you would press.  So that leaves the button on the 
right; this takes you forward through your music.  HTH!  Oh and you probably have figured 
out that the button in front (not on the top) this is the button you press when you want 
to tell Alexa to do something.
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2017 6:43 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Well its good news so spread it around 
My Tap just arrived and I’ve already connected it to my network though I do 
have a couple of questions.
I should have asked what all the buttons on the top were for, there seem to be 
5.
Obviously two I’d assume are volume up and down, one would be the Action button 
so what do the other two do?
The “Tap” button is on the front and obvious though I thought perhaps one of 
the top five might be the “Tap”.
Also mine came with a Base though the Tap has a USB port on the back of it, 
does the Base offer anything more or is it just a charging stand.


On 13 Feb 2017, at 10:21 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:

Great news!  There are a couple of folks on the group I'm in on Roger that are 
from Australia; maybe they already know this!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2017 6:00 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

It will be! coming in September




On 13/02/2017 9:52 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:
That's too bad!  Hopefully the Amazon Echo will be supported in Australia soon!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:31 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Course - given Amazon Echo isn’t fully supported in Australia yet - I’ve got to 
be a little careful applying firmware updates.
There have been reports here of people applying the updates and then finding 
that their Echo won’t load again, no problem with the Echo itself of course but 
all the workarounds we in Australia use to get the Echo working can be wiped 
out it seems.


On 12 Feb 2017, at 7:24 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:

Clifford:  I've heard this too, b

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Mary Otten]

If you have an echo, how would you compare the sound of the tap to the sound of 
the echo? If you have heard the Bose mini, how about that one. Or the mini boom 
I think they called it from ultimate ears. Or maybe it was just the boom. So 
not getting up into the B category, more along the lines of speakers that are 
closer in price. 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 12, 2017, at 7:09 PM, Dane Trethowan <grtd...@internode.on.net> wrote:
> 
> I should also add that - if you're after a Bluetooth Speaker - then I reckon 
> that the Echo Tap is very good value for money indeed and to think that you 
> can use the Tap on the Echo eco system makes it even more value for money.
> 
> Sure! its not the best sounding portable Bluetooth spekaer around - my B 
> would thrash the Tap - but for the size? Well its a roll of surprise, perhaps 
> that's the best way to describe it.
> 
> 
> 
>> On 13/02/2017 1:52 PM, Tom Kaufman wrote:
>> Dane:  Don't know if you've had a chance to play with those buttons on the 
>> top of the tap or not, so you may have figured them out: the button nearest 
>> to you (going from front to back) is the volume down; moving toward the back 
>> (now this is if you're in the center of the device) is the play/pause 
>> button; the button furtherest from you is the volume up button.  The button 
>> at the extreme left is your "back" button (not sure if they actually call it 
>> that) but let's say you're listening to a music shuffle...and you want to go 
>> back a song, this is the button you would press.  So that leaves the button 
>> on the right; this takes you forward through your music.  HTH!  Oh and you 
>> probably have figured out that the button in front (not on the top) this is 
>> the button you press when you want to tell Alexa to do something.
>> Tom Kaufman
>> 
>> -Original Message-
>> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
>> Trethowan
>> Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2017 6:43 PM
>> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>> 
>> Well its good news so spread it around 
>> My Tap just arrived and I’ve already connected it to my network though I do 
>> have a couple of questions.
>> I should have asked what all the buttons on the top were for, there seem to 
>> be 5.
>> Obviously two I’d assume are volume up and down, one would be the Action 
>> button so what do the other two do?
>> The “Tap” button is on the front and obvious though I thought perhaps one of 
>> the top five might be the “Tap”.
>> Also mine came with a Base though the Tap has a USB port on the back of it, 
>> does the Base offer anything more or is it just a charging stand.
>> 
>>> On 13 Feb 2017, at 10:21 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Great news!  There are a couple of folks on the group I'm in on Roger that 
>>> are from Australia; maybe they already know this!
>>> Tom Kaufman
>>> 
>>> -Original Message-
>>> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
>>> Trethowan
>>> Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2017 6:00 PM
>>> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>>> 
>>> It will be! coming in September
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> On 13/02/2017 9:52 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:
>>>> That's too bad!  Hopefully the Amazon Echo will be supported in Australia 
>>>> soon!
>>>> Tom Kaufman
>>>> 
>>>> -Original Message-
>>>> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
>>>> Trethowan
>>>> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:31 PM
>>>> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>>>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>>>> 
>>>> Course - given Amazon Echo isn’t fully supported in Australia yet - I’ve 
>>>> got to be a little careful applying firmware updates.
>>>> There have been reports here of people applying the updates and then 
>>>> finding that their Echo won’t load again, no problem with the Echo itself 
>>>> of course but all the workarounds we in Australia use to get the Echo 
>>>> working can be wiped out it seems.
>>>> 
>>>>> On 12 Feb 2017, at 7:24 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> Clifford:  I've heard this too, but am not sure it's available in all 
>>>>> areas yet!  

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

I should also add that - if you're after a Bluetooth Speaker - then I 
reckon that the Echo Tap is very good value for money indeed and to 
think that you can use the Tap on the Echo eco system makes it even more 
value for money.


Sure! its not the best sounding portable Bluetooth spekaer around - my 
B would thrash the Tap - but for the size? Well its a roll of 
surprise, perhaps that's the best way to describe it.




On 13/02/2017 1:52 PM, Tom Kaufman wrote:

Dane:  Don't know if you've had a chance to play with those buttons on the top of the tap 
or not, so you may have figured them out: the button nearest to you (going from front to 
back) is the volume down; moving toward the back (now this is if you're in the center of 
the device) is the play/pause button; the button furtherest from you is the volume up 
button.  The button at the extreme left is your "back" button (not sure if they 
actually call it that) but let's say you're listening to a music shuffle...and you want 
to go back a song, this is the button you would press.  So that leaves the button on the 
right; this takes you forward through your music.  HTH!  Oh and you probably have figured 
out that the button in front (not on the top) this is the button you press when you want 
to tell Alexa to do something.
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2017 6:43 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Well its good news so spread it around 
My Tap just arrived and I’ve already connected it to my network though I do 
have a couple of questions.
I should have asked what all the buttons on the top were for, there seem to be 
5.
Obviously two I’d assume are volume up and down, one would be the Action button 
so what do the other two do?
The “Tap” button is on the front and obvious though I thought perhaps one of 
the top five might be the “Tap”.
Also mine came with a Base though the Tap has a USB port on the back of it, 
does the Base offer anything more or is it just a charging stand.


On 13 Feb 2017, at 10:21 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:

Great news!  There are a couple of folks on the group I'm in on Roger that are 
from Australia; maybe they already know this!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2017 6:00 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

It will be! coming in September



On 13/02/2017 9:52 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:

That's too bad!  Hopefully the Amazon Echo will be supported in Australia soon!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:31 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Course - given Amazon Echo isn’t fully supported in Australia yet - I’ve got to 
be a little careful applying firmware updates.
There have been reports here of people applying the updates and then finding 
that their Echo won’t load again, no problem with the Echo itself of course but 
all the workarounds we in Australia use to get the Echo working can be wiped 
out it seems.


On 12 Feb 2017, at 7:24 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:

Clifford:  I've heard this too, but am not sure it's available in all areas 
yet!  I have the tap, so maybe I'll get to see how it works!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Clifford 
Blackwell
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 2:21 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that
might make it even more user friendly.
- Original Message -
From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa


to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
impressive.

I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.

I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
if that's the case.

Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the
Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of
course but you can't stream from it.

I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I re

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

Thanks for that, I did figure out all those buttons in the end .

There are two other buttons you may not be aware of and they are in the 
block where the USB and Aux-In sockets are.


The top one is your on/off button and this button can also be used to 
force the Tap to download a firmware update if one is available.


The buttom button below the sockets is the Bluetooth Pairing button.

Its nice that the Tap has Transport buttons and I'm assuming that they 
can be used when paired to a Bluetooth device to allow navigation of 
your Playlist or whatever? I'll try that later.




On 13/02/2017 1:52 PM, Tom Kaufman wrote:

Dane:  Don't know if you've had a chance to play with those buttons on the top of the tap 
or not, so you may have figured them out: the button nearest to you (going from front to 
back) is the volume down; moving toward the back (now this is if you're in the center of 
the device) is the play/pause button; the button furtherest from you is the volume up 
button.  The button at the extreme left is your "back" button (not sure if they 
actually call it that) but let's say you're listening to a music shuffle...and you want 
to go back a song, this is the button you would press.  So that leaves the button on the 
right; this takes you forward through your music.  HTH!  Oh and you probably have figured 
out that the button in front (not on the top) this is the button you press when you want 
to tell Alexa to do something.
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2017 6:43 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Well its good news so spread it around 
My Tap just arrived and I’ve already connected it to my network though I do 
have a couple of questions.
I should have asked what all the buttons on the top were for, there seem to be 
5.
Obviously two I’d assume are volume up and down, one would be the Action button 
so what do the other two do?
The “Tap” button is on the front and obvious though I thought perhaps one of 
the top five might be the “Tap”.
Also mine came with a Base though the Tap has a USB port on the back of it, 
does the Base offer anything more or is it just a charging stand.


On 13 Feb 2017, at 10:21 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:

Great news!  There are a couple of folks on the group I'm in on Roger that are 
from Australia; maybe they already know this!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2017 6:00 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

It will be! coming in September



On 13/02/2017 9:52 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:

That's too bad!  Hopefully the Amazon Echo will be supported in Australia soon!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:31 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Course - given Amazon Echo isn’t fully supported in Australia yet - I’ve got to 
be a little careful applying firmware updates.
There have been reports here of people applying the updates and then finding 
that their Echo won’t load again, no problem with the Echo itself of course but 
all the workarounds we in Australia use to get the Echo working can be wiped 
out it seems.


On 12 Feb 2017, at 7:24 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:

Clifford:  I've heard this too, but am not sure it's available in all areas 
yet!  I have the tap, so maybe I'll get to see how it works!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Clifford 
Blackwell
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 2:21 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that
might make it even more user friendly.
- Original Message -
From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa


to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
impressive.

I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.

I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
if that's the case.

Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the
Echo won

RE: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Tom Kaufman]

Dane:  Don't know if you've had a chance to play with those buttons on the top 
of the tap or not, so you may have figured them out: the button nearest to you 
(going from front to back) is the volume down; moving toward the back (now this 
is if you're in the center of the device) is the play/pause button; the button 
furtherest from you is the volume up button.  The button at the extreme left is 
your "back" button (not sure if they actually call it that) but let's say 
you're listening to a music shuffle...and you want to go back a song, this is 
the button you would press.  So that leaves the button on the right; this takes 
you forward through your music.  HTH!  Oh and you probably have figured out 
that the button in front (not on the top) this is the button you press when you 
want to tell Alexa to do something.
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2017 6:43 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Well its good news so spread it around 
My Tap just arrived and I’ve already connected it to my network though I do 
have a couple of questions.
I should have asked what all the buttons on the top were for, there seem to be 
5.
Obviously two I’d assume are volume up and down, one would be the Action button 
so what do the other two do?
The “Tap” button is on the front and obvious though I thought perhaps one of 
the top five might be the “Tap”.
Also mine came with a Base though the Tap has a USB port on the back of it, 
does the Base offer anything more or is it just a charging stand.

> On 13 Feb 2017, at 10:21 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> Great news!  There are a couple of folks on the group I'm in on Roger that 
> are from Australia; maybe they already know this!
> Tom Kaufman
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
> Trethowan
> Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2017 6:00 PM
> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
> 
> It will be! coming in September
> 
> 
> 
> On 13/02/2017 9:52 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:
>> That's too bad!  Hopefully the Amazon Echo will be supported in Australia 
>> soon!
>> Tom Kaufman
>> 
>> -Original Message-
>> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
>> Trethowan
>> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:31 PM
>> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>> 
>> Course - given Amazon Echo isn’t fully supported in Australia yet - I’ve got 
>> to be a little careful applying firmware updates.
>> There have been reports here of people applying the updates and then finding 
>> that their Echo won’t load again, no problem with the Echo itself of course 
>> but all the workarounds we in Australia use to get the Echo working can be 
>> wiped out it seems.
>> 
>>> On 12 Feb 2017, at 7:24 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Clifford:  I've heard this too, but am not sure it's available in all areas 
>>> yet!  I have the tap, so maybe I'll get to see how it works!
>>> Tom Kaufman
>>> 
>>> -Original Message-
>>> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Clifford 
>>> Blackwell
>>> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 2:21 PM
>>> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>>> 
>>> I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that
>>> might make it even more user friendly.
>>> - Original Message -
>>> From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
>>> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>>> Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
>>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>>> 
>>> 
>>> to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
>>> impressive.
>>> 
>>> I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
>>> listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
>>> quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
>>> wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.
>>> 
>>> I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
>>> if that's the case.
>>> 
>>> Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
>>> th

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

Well its good news so spread it around 
My Tap just arrived and I’ve already connected it to my network though I do 
have a couple of questions.
I should have asked what all the buttons on the top were for, there seem to be 
5.
Obviously two I’d assume are volume up and down, one would be the Action button 
so what do the other two do?
The “Tap” button is on the front and obvious though I thought perhaps one of 
the top five might be the “Tap”.
Also mine came with a Base though the Tap has a USB port on the back of it, 
does the Base offer anything more or is it just a charging stand.

> On 13 Feb 2017, at 10:21 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> Great news!  There are a couple of folks on the group I'm in on Roger that 
> are from Australia; maybe they already know this!
> Tom Kaufman
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
> Trethowan
> Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2017 6:00 PM
> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
> 
> It will be! coming in September
> 
> 
> 
> On 13/02/2017 9:52 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:
>> That's too bad!  Hopefully the Amazon Echo will be supported in Australia 
>> soon!
>> Tom Kaufman
>> 
>> -Original Message-
>> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
>> Trethowan
>> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:31 PM
>> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>> 
>> Course - given Amazon Echo isn’t fully supported in Australia yet - I’ve got 
>> to be a little careful applying firmware updates.
>> There have been reports here of people applying the updates and then finding 
>> that their Echo won’t load again, no problem with the Echo itself of course 
>> but all the workarounds we in Australia use to get the Echo working can be 
>> wiped out it seems.
>> 
>>> On 12 Feb 2017, at 7:24 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Clifford:  I've heard this too, but am not sure it's available in all areas 
>>> yet!  I have the tap, so maybe I'll get to see how it works!
>>> Tom Kaufman
>>> 
>>> -Original Message-
>>> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Clifford 
>>> Blackwell
>>> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 2:21 PM
>>> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>>> 
>>> I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that
>>> might make it even more user friendly.
>>> - Original Message -
>>> From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
>>> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>>> Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
>>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>>> 
>>> 
>>> to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
>>> impressive.
>>> 
>>> I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
>>> listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
>>> quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
>>> wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.
>>> 
>>> I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
>>> if that's the case.
>>> 
>>> Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
>>> the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the
>>> Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of
>>> course but you can't stream from it.
>>> 
>>> I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over
>>> the weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I
>>> had been thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so
>>> perhaps its best to kill some b irds with a stone and just get the
>>> Amazon Tap? Will think about it.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:
>>>> I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot does
>>>> not have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a battery base
>>>> for it (I didn't know that) but I personally don't think it would be
>>>> worthwhile. The Dot is fine for speech and books and even casual radio but
>>>> I wouldn't spend much time lis

RE: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Tom Kaufman]

Great news!  There are a couple of folks on the group I'm in on Roger that are 
from Australia; maybe they already know this!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2017 6:00 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

It will be! coming in September



On 13/02/2017 9:52 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:
> That's too bad!  Hopefully the Amazon Echo will be supported in Australia 
> soon!
> Tom Kaufman
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
> Trethowan
> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:31 PM
> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>
> Course - given Amazon Echo isn’t fully supported in Australia yet - I’ve got 
> to be a little careful applying firmware updates.
> There have been reports here of people applying the updates and then finding 
> that their Echo won’t load again, no problem with the Echo itself of course 
> but all the workarounds we in Australia use to get the Echo working can be 
> wiped out it seems.
>
>> On 12 Feb 2017, at 7:24 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> Clifford:  I've heard this too, but am not sure it's available in all areas 
>> yet!  I have the tap, so maybe I'll get to see how it works!
>> Tom Kaufman
>>
>> -Original Message-
>> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Clifford 
>> Blackwell
>> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 2:21 PM
>> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>>
>> I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that
>> might make it even more user friendly.
>> - Original Message -----
>> From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
>> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>> Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>>
>>
>> to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
>> impressive.
>>
>> I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
>> listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
>> quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
>> wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.
>>
>> I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
>> if that's the case.
>>
>> Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
>> the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the
>> Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of
>> course but you can't stream from it.
>>
>> I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over
>> the weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I
>> had been thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so
>> perhaps its best to kill some b irds with a stone and just get the
>> Amazon Tap? Will think about it.
>>
>>
>>
>> On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:
>>> I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot does
>>> not have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a battery base
>>> for it (I didn't know that) but I personally don't think it would be
>>> worthwhile. The Dot is fine for speech and books and even casual radio but
>>> I wouldn't spend much time listening to music on it. I've never connected
>>> it to external speakers. The Echo is much better for music but it is still
>>> not as good as my Bose  Soundlink Mini or Creative Roar. I noticed the
>>> Echo is very susceptible to positioning: on a table away from a wall it is
>>> quite mid-rangey with little base, on a carpeted wooden floor the base is
>>> very good but it's speech is too base heavy. I have it on a table near a
>>> wall and it sounds reasonably good.
>>>
>>> Apart from the Hive skill, the following are the ones I found of most use.
>>> The Guardian newspaper because it is very generous with the unabridged
>>> articles it provides and they can be accessed in categories. I was using
>>> the Telegraph occasionally but I removed it as suddenly the few available
>>> articles are now truncated to the first few paragraphs. The National Rail
>>> skill is very basic but great for quickly getting the times and status of

RE: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Mary Otten]

I'm sure that this will work for both iPhone and android apps. This
came from an android-centric site, so the author didn't bother to
mention iPhone apps.

Mary

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

I can't give you an exact answer on this but I suspect that the Author 
said Android App from his own personal perspective, meaning he has an 
Android device and just mentioned it without thinking .


It seems to me that Amazon make their Echo Apps identical and everything 
that is offered in the App can be adjusted or set from the Amazon Echo 
Home Page via your browser.




On 13/02/2017 10:00 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:

Okay...as I figured, I hadn't seen this when I sent that last post to the list!  But my 
question is this: it says "Amazon Android app!"  So does this mean that only 
people with Android phones can take advantage of this app?  I have an Iphone, so if this 
be the case, maybe I'm out of luck...or have I misread what this is saying!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:47 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Here's the link to the article and yep I was right and good on Amazon
for addressing what I consider to be an obvious and unnecessary flaw in
the firmware.

http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/02/09/amazon-tap-firmware-update-enables-echo-style-hands-free-voice-commands/



On 12/02/2017 7:26 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:

Dane:  I think you're probably right on track; at least that would also be my 
guess as well!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:16 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Yep, will keep an eye on that, I don’t suppose you have any idea of what 
exactly the hands free update does? I think I know and I’ll explain and I’ll 
make it clear that I’m only guessing.
With the Tap at present you have to press a button and then speak your request 
to Tap.
With the other units you just speak your request and that request is performed 
so I’m guessing the firmware update for the tap illumines the need to press the 
button before you start speaking?


On 12 Feb 2017, at 6:59 am, Clifford Blackwell <ceblackwe...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hope that all works out for you.  Let us know about the sound quality and look 
for the firmware update.
- Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 1:53 PM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa



Wow!

My Tap comes tomorrow.



On 12/02/2017 6:21 AM, Clifford Blackwell wrote:

I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that might 
make it even more user friendly.
- Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa


to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
impressive.

I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.

I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
if that's the case.

Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the
Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of
course but you can't stream from it.

I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over
the weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I
had been thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so
perhaps its best to kill some b irds with a stone and just get the
Amazon Tap? Will think about it.



On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:

I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot does not 
have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a battery base for it 
(I didn't know that) but I personally don't think it would be worthwhile. The 
Dot is fine for speech and books and even casual radio but I wouldn't spend 
much time listening to music on it. I've never connected it to external 
speakers. The Echo is much better for music but it is still not as good as my 
Bose  Soundlink Mini or Creative Roar. I noticed the Echo is very susceptible 
to positioning: on a table away from a wall it is quite mid-rangey with little 
base, on a carpeted wooden floor the base is very good but it's speech is too 
base heavy. I have it on a table near a wall and it sounds reasonably good.

Apart from the Hive skill, the following are the ones I found of most use. The 
Guardian newspaper because it is very generous with 

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

Yes, I actually found a link to the article on this feature and yes, a 
little more battery life will be used as the Tap will have to monitor 
all the time for the wake up command however it won't take all that much 
more battery power, the battery of the Tap is still expected to last 
around 10 hours per charge.


Mobile phones can already do this so I'm surprised that the hands free 
function wasn't already available with the Echo Tap.




On 13/02/2017 9:55 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:

I haven't seen all the messages on this thread yet, so this may have been already 
mentioned; I've not actually seen it myself, but I'm hearing that the Tap will eventually 
have something called "Hands Free" it seems to be a deal where you go into your 
Alexa App and turn this new feature on and off.  At this time, I don't have it, but have 
heard of others here in this country wo do have it; only thing I can say is that I'm 
hearing reports that it does drain a little more of the battery!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:35 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

I never understood why Amazon took the decision with the Tap to have the user 
press a button before issuing a command, surely it doesn’t take all that much 
power for the Tap to monitor what’s going on and what’s being said to it 
automatically? The Dot lasts for absolute ages on my Power Bank, still waiting 
for the bank to be entirely discharged.


On 12 Feb 2017, at 7:26 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:

Dane:  I think you're probably right on track; at least that would also be my 
guess as well!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:16 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Yep, will keep an eye on that, I don’t suppose you have any idea of what 
exactly the hands free update does? I think I know and I’ll explain and I’ll 
make it clear that I’m only guessing.
With the Tap at present you have to press a button and then speak your request 
to Tap.
With the other units you just speak your request and that request is performed 
so I’m guessing the firmware update for the tap illumines the need to press the 
button before you start speaking?


On 12 Feb 2017, at 6:59 am, Clifford Blackwell <ceblackwe...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hope that all works out for you.  Let us know about the sound quality and look 
for the firmware update.
- Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 1:53 PM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa



Wow!

My Tap comes tomorrow.



On 12/02/2017 6:21 AM, Clifford Blackwell wrote:

I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that might 
make it even more user friendly.
- Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa


to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
impressive.

I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.

I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
if that's the case.

Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the
Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of
course but you can't stream from it.

I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over
the weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I
had been thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so
perhaps its best to kill some b irds with a stone and just get the
Amazon Tap? Will think about it.



On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:

I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot does not 
have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a battery base for it 
(I didn't know that) but I personally don't think it would be worthwhile. The 
Dot is fine for speech and books and even casual radio but I wouldn't spend 
much time listening to music on it. I've never connected it to external 
speakers. The Echo is much better for music but it is still not as good as my 
Bose  Soundlink Mini or Creative Roar. I noticed the Echo is very susceptible 
to positioning: on a table

RE: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Tom Kaufman]

Okay...as I figured, I hadn't seen this when I sent that last post to the list! 
 But my question is this: it says "Amazon Android app!"  So does this mean that 
only people with Android phones can take advantage of this app?  I have an 
Iphone, so if this be the case, maybe I'm out of luck...or have I misread what 
this is saying!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:47 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Here's the link to the article and yep I was right and good on Amazon 
for addressing what I consider to be an obvious and unnecessary flaw in 
the firmware.

http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/02/09/amazon-tap-firmware-update-enables-echo-style-hands-free-voice-commands/



On 12/02/2017 7:26 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:
> Dane:  I think you're probably right on track; at least that would also be my 
> guess as well!
> Tom Kaufman
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
> Trethowan
> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:16 PM
> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>
> Yep, will keep an eye on that, I don’t suppose you have any idea of what 
> exactly the hands free update does? I think I know and I’ll explain and I’ll 
> make it clear that I’m only guessing.
> With the Tap at present you have to press a button and then speak your 
> request to Tap.
> With the other units you just speak your request and that request is 
> performed so I’m guessing the firmware update for the tap illumines the need 
> to press the button before you start speaking?
>
>> On 12 Feb 2017, at 6:59 am, Clifford Blackwell <ceblackwe...@gmail.com> 
>> wrote:
>>
>> Hope that all works out for you.  Let us know about the sound quality and 
>> look for the firmware update.
>> - Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" 
>> <grtd...@internode.on.net>
>> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 1:53 PM
>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>>
>>
>>> Wow!
>>>
>>> My Tap comes tomorrow.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 12/02/2017 6:21 AM, Clifford Blackwell wrote:
>>>> I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that 
>>>> might make it even more user friendly.
>>>> - Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" 
>>>> <grtd...@internode.on.net>
>>>> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>>>> Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
>>>> impressive.
>>>>
>>>> I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
>>>> listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
>>>> quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
>>>> wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.
>>>>
>>>> I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
>>>> if that's the case.
>>>>
>>>> Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
>>>> the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the
>>>> Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of
>>>> course but you can't stream from it.
>>>>
>>>> I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over
>>>> the weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I
>>>> had been thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so
>>>> perhaps its best to kill some b irds with a stone and just get the
>>>> Amazon Tap? Will think about it.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:
>>>>> I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot 
>>>>> does not have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a 
>>>>> battery base for it (I didn't know that) but I personally don't think it 
>>>>> would be worthwhile. The Dot is fine for speech and books and even casual 
>>>>> radio but I wouldn't spend much time listening to music on it. I've never 
>>

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

It will be! coming in September



On 13/02/2017 9:52 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:

That's too bad!  Hopefully the Amazon Echo will be supported in Australia soon!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:31 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Course - given Amazon Echo isn’t fully supported in Australia yet - I’ve got to 
be a little careful applying firmware updates.
There have been reports here of people applying the updates and then finding 
that their Echo won’t load again, no problem with the Echo itself of course but 
all the workarounds we in Australia use to get the Echo working can be wiped 
out it seems.


On 12 Feb 2017, at 7:24 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:

Clifford:  I've heard this too, but am not sure it's available in all areas 
yet!  I have the tap, so maybe I'll get to see how it works!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Clifford 
Blackwell
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 2:21 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that
might make it even more user friendly.
- Original Message -
From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa


to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
impressive.

I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.

I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
if that's the case.

Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the
Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of
course but you can't stream from it.

I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over
the weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I
had been thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so
perhaps its best to kill some b irds with a stone and just get the
Amazon Tap? Will think about it.



On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:

I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot does
not have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a battery base
for it (I didn't know that) but I personally don't think it would be
worthwhile. The Dot is fine for speech and books and even casual radio but
I wouldn't spend much time listening to music on it. I've never connected
it to external speakers. The Echo is much better for music but it is still
not as good as my Bose  Soundlink Mini or Creative Roar. I noticed the
Echo is very susceptible to positioning: on a table away from a wall it is
quite mid-rangey with little base, on a carpeted wooden floor the base is
very good but it's speech is too base heavy. I have it on a table near a
wall and it sounds reasonably good.

Apart from the Hive skill, the following are the ones I found of most use.
The Guardian newspaper because it is very generous with the unabridged
articles it provides and they can be accessed in categories. I was using
the Telegraph occasionally but I removed it as suddenly the few available
articles are now truncated to the first few paragraphs. The National Rail
skill is very basic but great for quickly getting the times and status of
a single pre-set up route. I've enabled Radio Player as well as the TuneIn
Skill and have sometimes found radio stations that for some reason TuneIn
won't find. I've dabbled with the Magic Door game which is a basic
Interactive Fiction with sound effects and although it's quite amusing I
ultimately found it a bit limited. I've just enabled the International
Space Station skill and enjoy finding out where it is at any given moment
and when it will pass Glasgow next as well as news about what the
astronauts are doing. Alexa has a lot of hidden talents herself but you
have to work quite hard to find them and doing so is very hit and miss.

Oh, and just for you, Dane, I asked Alexa to play the Pipes. The first
time I got the Pogues instead and the second I got the Pipes of the Royal
Tank Command playing Chariots of Fire of all things. It didn't last long
as military bands are definitely not my thing. I'm not keen on the
Scottish Pipes on their own although there is a very excellent pipe-based
rock band called the Red Hot Chile Pipers. Sadly, Alexa will always think
you want the more famous 

RE: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Tom Kaufman]

I haven't seen all the messages on this thread yet, so this may have been 
already mentioned; I've not actually seen it myself, but I'm hearing that the 
Tap will eventually have something called "Hands Free" it seems to be a deal 
where you go into your Alexa App and turn this new feature on and off.  At this 
time, I don't have it, but have heard of others here in this country wo do have 
it; only thing I can say is that I'm hearing reports that it does drain a 
little more of the battery!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:35 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

I never understood why Amazon took the decision with the Tap to have the user 
press a button before issuing a command, surely it doesn’t take all that much 
power for the Tap to monitor what’s going on and what’s being said to it 
automatically? The Dot lasts for absolute ages on my Power Bank, still waiting 
for the bank to be entirely discharged.

> On 12 Feb 2017, at 7:26 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> Dane:  I think you're probably right on track; at least that would also be my 
> guess as well!
> Tom Kaufman
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
> Trethowan
> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:16 PM
> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
> 
> Yep, will keep an eye on that, I don’t suppose you have any idea of what 
> exactly the hands free update does? I think I know and I’ll explain and I’ll 
> make it clear that I’m only guessing.
> With the Tap at present you have to press a button and then speak your 
> request to Tap.
> With the other units you just speak your request and that request is 
> performed so I’m guessing the firmware update for the tap illumines the need 
> to press the button before you start speaking?
> 
>> On 12 Feb 2017, at 6:59 am, Clifford Blackwell <ceblackwe...@gmail.com> 
>> wrote:
>> 
>> Hope that all works out for you.  Let us know about the sound quality and 
>> look for the firmware update.
>> - Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" 
>> <grtd...@internode.on.net>
>> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 1:53 PM
>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>> 
>> 
>>> Wow!
>>> 
>>> My Tap comes tomorrow.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 12/02/2017 6:21 AM, Clifford Blackwell wrote:
>>>> I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that 
>>>> might make it even more user friendly.
>>>> - Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" 
>>>> <grtd...@internode.on.net>
>>>> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>>>> Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
>>>> impressive.
>>>> 
>>>> I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
>>>> listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
>>>> quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
>>>> wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.
>>>> 
>>>> I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
>>>> if that's the case.
>>>> 
>>>> Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
>>>> the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the
>>>> Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of
>>>> course but you can't stream from it.
>>>> 
>>>> I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over
>>>> the weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I
>>>> had been thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so
>>>> perhaps its best to kill some b irds with a stone and just get the
>>>> Amazon Tap? Will think about it.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:
>>>>> I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot 
>>>>> does not have a built-in battery. That's interesting you

RE: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Tom Kaufman]

That's too bad!  Hopefully the Amazon Echo will be supported in Australia soon!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:31 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Course - given Amazon Echo isn’t fully supported in Australia yet - I’ve got to 
be a little careful applying firmware updates.
There have been reports here of people applying the updates and then finding 
that their Echo won’t load again, no problem with the Echo itself of course but 
all the workarounds we in Australia use to get the Echo working can be wiped 
out it seems.

> On 12 Feb 2017, at 7:24 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> Clifford:  I've heard this too, but am not sure it's available in all areas 
> yet!  I have the tap, so maybe I'll get to see how it works!
> Tom Kaufman
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Clifford 
> Blackwell
> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 2:21 PM
> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
> 
> I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that 
> might make it even more user friendly.
> - Original Message - 
> From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
> 
> 
> to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
> impressive.
> 
> I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
> listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
> quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
> wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.
> 
> I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
> if that's the case.
> 
> Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
> the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the
> Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of
> course but you can't stream from it.
> 
> I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over
> the weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I
> had been thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so
> perhaps its best to kill some b irds with a stone and just get the
> Amazon Tap? Will think about it.
> 
> 
> 
> On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:
>> I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot does 
>> not have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a battery base 
>> for it (I didn't know that) but I personally don't think it would be 
>> worthwhile. The Dot is fine for speech and books and even casual radio but 
>> I wouldn't spend much time listening to music on it. I've never connected 
>> it to external speakers. The Echo is much better for music but it is still 
>> not as good as my Bose  Soundlink Mini or Creative Roar. I noticed the 
>> Echo is very susceptible to positioning: on a table away from a wall it is 
>> quite mid-rangey with little base, on a carpeted wooden floor the base is 
>> very good but it's speech is too base heavy. I have it on a table near a 
>> wall and it sounds reasonably good.
>> 
>> Apart from the Hive skill, the following are the ones I found of most use. 
>> The Guardian newspaper because it is very generous with the unabridged 
>> articles it provides and they can be accessed in categories. I was using 
>> the Telegraph occasionally but I removed it as suddenly the few available 
>> articles are now truncated to the first few paragraphs. The National Rail 
>> skill is very basic but great for quickly getting the times and status of 
>> a single pre-set up route. I've enabled Radio Player as well as the TuneIn 
>> Skill and have sometimes found radio stations that for some reason TuneIn 
>> won't find. I've dabbled with the Magic Door game which is a basic 
>> Interactive Fiction with sound effects and although it's quite amusing I 
>> ultimately found it a bit limited. I've just enabled the International 
>> Space Station skill and enjoy finding out where it is at any given moment 
>> and when it will pass Glasgow next as well as news about what the 
>> astronauts are doing. Alexa has a lot of hidden talents herself but you 
>> have to work quite hard to find them and doing so is very hit and miss.
>> 
>> Oh, and just for you

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

Here's the link to the article and yep I was right and good on Amazon 
for addressing what I consider to be an obvious and unnecessary flaw in 
the firmware.


http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/02/09/amazon-tap-firmware-update-enables-echo-style-hands-free-voice-commands/



On 12/02/2017 7:26 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:

Dane:  I think you're probably right on track; at least that would also be my 
guess as well!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:16 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Yep, will keep an eye on that, I don’t suppose you have any idea of what 
exactly the hands free update does? I think I know and I’ll explain and I’ll 
make it clear that I’m only guessing.
With the Tap at present you have to press a button and then speak your request 
to Tap.
With the other units you just speak your request and that request is performed 
so I’m guessing the firmware update for the tap illumines the need to press the 
button before you start speaking?


On 12 Feb 2017, at 6:59 am, Clifford Blackwell <ceblackwe...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hope that all works out for you.  Let us know about the sound quality and look 
for the firmware update.
- Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 1:53 PM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa



Wow!

My Tap comes tomorrow.



On 12/02/2017 6:21 AM, Clifford Blackwell wrote:

I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that might 
make it even more user friendly.
- Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa


to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
impressive.

I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.

I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
if that's the case.

Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the
Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of
course but you can't stream from it.

I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over
the weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I
had been thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so
perhaps its best to kill some b irds with a stone and just get the
Amazon Tap? Will think about it.



On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:

I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot does not 
have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a battery base for it 
(I didn't know that) but I personally don't think it would be worthwhile. The 
Dot is fine for speech and books and even casual radio but I wouldn't spend 
much time listening to music on it. I've never connected it to external 
speakers. The Echo is much better for music but it is still not as good as my 
Bose  Soundlink Mini or Creative Roar. I noticed the Echo is very susceptible 
to positioning: on a table away from a wall it is quite mid-rangey with little 
base, on a carpeted wooden floor the base is very good but it's speech is too 
base heavy. I have it on a table near a wall and it sounds reasonably good.

Apart from the Hive skill, the following are the ones I found of most use. The 
Guardian newspaper because it is very generous with the unabridged articles it 
provides and they can be accessed in categories. I was using the Telegraph 
occasionally but I removed it as suddenly the few available articles are now 
truncated to the first few paragraphs. The National Rail skill is very basic 
but great for quickly getting the times and status of a single pre-set up 
route. I've enabled Radio Player as well as the TuneIn Skill and have sometimes 
found radio stations that for some reason TuneIn won't find. I've dabbled with 
the Magic Door game which is a basic Interactive Fiction with sound effects and 
although it's quite amusing I ultimately found it a bit limited. I've just 
enabled the International Space Station skill and enjoy finding out where it is 
at any given moment and when it will pass Glasgow next as well as news about 
what the astronauts are doing. Alexa has a lot of hidden talents herself but 
you have to work quite hard to find them and doing so is very hit and miss.

Oh, and just for you, Dane, I asked Alexa to p

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

I never understood why Amazon took the decision with the Tap to have the user 
press a button before issuing a command, surely it doesn’t take all that much 
power for the Tap to monitor what’s going on and what’s being said to it 
automatically? The Dot lasts for absolute ages on my Power Bank, still waiting 
for the bank to be entirely discharged.

> On 12 Feb 2017, at 7:26 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> Dane:  I think you're probably right on track; at least that would also be my 
> guess as well!
> Tom Kaufman
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
> Trethowan
> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:16 PM
> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
> 
> Yep, will keep an eye on that, I don’t suppose you have any idea of what 
> exactly the hands free update does? I think I know and I’ll explain and I’ll 
> make it clear that I’m only guessing.
> With the Tap at present you have to press a button and then speak your 
> request to Tap.
> With the other units you just speak your request and that request is 
> performed so I’m guessing the firmware update for the tap illumines the need 
> to press the button before you start speaking?
> 
>> On 12 Feb 2017, at 6:59 am, Clifford Blackwell <ceblackwe...@gmail.com> 
>> wrote:
>> 
>> Hope that all works out for you.  Let us know about the sound quality and 
>> look for the firmware update.
>> - Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" 
>> <grtd...@internode.on.net>
>> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 1:53 PM
>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>> 
>> 
>>> Wow!
>>> 
>>> My Tap comes tomorrow.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 12/02/2017 6:21 AM, Clifford Blackwell wrote:
>>>> I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that 
>>>> might make it even more user friendly.
>>>> - Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" 
>>>> <grtd...@internode.on.net>
>>>> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>>>> Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
>>>> impressive.
>>>> 
>>>> I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
>>>> listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
>>>> quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
>>>> wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.
>>>> 
>>>> I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
>>>> if that's the case.
>>>> 
>>>> Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
>>>> the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the
>>>> Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of
>>>> course but you can't stream from it.
>>>> 
>>>> I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over
>>>> the weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I
>>>> had been thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so
>>>> perhaps its best to kill some b irds with a stone and just get the
>>>> Amazon Tap? Will think about it.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:
>>>>> I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot 
>>>>> does not have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a 
>>>>> battery base for it (I didn't know that) but I personally don't think it 
>>>>> would be worthwhile. The Dot is fine for speech and books and even casual 
>>>>> radio but I wouldn't spend much time listening to music on it. I've never 
>>>>> connected it to external speakers. The Echo is much better for music but 
>>>>> it is still not as good as my Bose  Soundlink Mini or Creative Roar. I 
>>>>> noticed the Echo is very susceptible to positioning: on a table away from 
>>>>> a wall it is quite mid-rangey with little base, on a carpeted wooden 
>>>>> floor the base is very good but it's speech is too base heavy. I have it

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

Course - given Amazon Echo isn’t fully supported in Australia yet - I’ve got to 
be a little careful applying firmware updates.
There have been reports here of people applying the updates and then finding 
that their Echo won’t load again, no problem with the Echo itself of course but 
all the workarounds we in Australia use to get the Echo working can be wiped 
out it seems.

> On 12 Feb 2017, at 7:24 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> Clifford:  I've heard this too, but am not sure it's available in all areas 
> yet!  I have the tap, so maybe I'll get to see how it works!
> Tom Kaufman
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Clifford 
> Blackwell
> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 2:21 PM
> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
> 
> I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that 
> might make it even more user friendly.
> - Original Message - 
> From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
> 
> 
> to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
> impressive.
> 
> I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
> listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
> quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
> wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.
> 
> I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
> if that's the case.
> 
> Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
> the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the
> Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of
> course but you can't stream from it.
> 
> I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over
> the weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I
> had been thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so
> perhaps its best to kill some b irds with a stone and just get the
> Amazon Tap? Will think about it.
> 
> 
> 
> On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:
>> I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot does 
>> not have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a battery base 
>> for it (I didn't know that) but I personally don't think it would be 
>> worthwhile. The Dot is fine for speech and books and even casual radio but 
>> I wouldn't spend much time listening to music on it. I've never connected 
>> it to external speakers. The Echo is much better for music but it is still 
>> not as good as my Bose  Soundlink Mini or Creative Roar. I noticed the 
>> Echo is very susceptible to positioning: on a table away from a wall it is 
>> quite mid-rangey with little base, on a carpeted wooden floor the base is 
>> very good but it's speech is too base heavy. I have it on a table near a 
>> wall and it sounds reasonably good.
>> 
>> Apart from the Hive skill, the following are the ones I found of most use. 
>> The Guardian newspaper because it is very generous with the unabridged 
>> articles it provides and they can be accessed in categories. I was using 
>> the Telegraph occasionally but I removed it as suddenly the few available 
>> articles are now truncated to the first few paragraphs. The National Rail 
>> skill is very basic but great for quickly getting the times and status of 
>> a single pre-set up route. I've enabled Radio Player as well as the TuneIn 
>> Skill and have sometimes found radio stations that for some reason TuneIn 
>> won't find. I've dabbled with the Magic Door game which is a basic 
>> Interactive Fiction with sound effects and although it's quite amusing I 
>> ultimately found it a bit limited. I've just enabled the International 
>> Space Station skill and enjoy finding out where it is at any given moment 
>> and when it will pass Glasgow next as well as news about what the 
>> astronauts are doing. Alexa has a lot of hidden talents herself but you 
>> have to work quite hard to find them and doing so is very hit and miss.
>> 
>> Oh, and just for you, Dane, I asked Alexa to play the Pipes. The first 
>> time I got the Pogues instead and the second I got the Pipes of the Royal 
>> Tank Command playing Chariots of Fire of all things. It didn't last long 
>> as military bands are definitely not my thing. I'm not keen on the 
>> Scottish Pipes on their o

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

thanks, I’ll chase that one up.

> On 12 Feb 2017, at 7:25 am, Clifford Blackwell <ceblackwe...@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Could be.  I think I saw the info on theverge.com, but I can't remember for 
> sure and I didn't read beyond the headline.
> - Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 2:16 PM
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
> 
> 
> Yep, will keep an eye on that, I don’t suppose you have any idea of what 
> exactly the hands free update does? I think I know and I’ll explain and I’ll 
> make it clear that I’m only guessing.
> With the Tap at present you have to press a button and then speak your 
> request to Tap.
> With the other units you just speak your request and that request is 
> performed so I’m guessing the firmware update for the tap illumines the need 
> to press the button before you start speaking?
> 
>> On 12 Feb 2017, at 6:59 am, Clifford Blackwell <ceblackwe...@gmail.com> 
>> wrote:
>> 
>> Hope that all works out for you.  Let us know about the sound quality and 
>> look for the firmware update.
>> - Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" 
>> <grtd...@internode.on.net>
>> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 1:53 PM
>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>> 
>> 
>>> Wow!
>>> 
>>> My Tap comes tomorrow.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 12/02/2017 6:21 AM, Clifford Blackwell wrote:
>>>> I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that 
>>>> might make it even more user friendly.
>>>> - Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" 
>>>> <grtd...@internode.on.net>
>>>> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>>>> Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
>>>> impressive.
>>>> 
>>>> I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
>>>> listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
>>>> quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
>>>> wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.
>>>> 
>>>> I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
>>>> if that's the case.
>>>> 
>>>> Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
>>>> the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the
>>>> Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of
>>>> course but you can't stream from it.
>>>> 
>>>> I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over
>>>> the weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I
>>>> had been thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so
>>>> perhaps its best to kill some b irds with a stone and just get the
>>>> Amazon Tap? Will think about it.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:
>>>>> I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot 
>>>>> does not have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a 
>>>>> battery base for it (I didn't know that) but I personally don't think it 
>>>>> would be worthwhile. The Dot is fine for speech and books and even casual 
>>>>> radio but I wouldn't spend much time listening to music on it. I've never 
>>>>> connected it to external speakers. The Echo is much better for music but 
>>>>> it is still not as good as my Bose  Soundlink Mini or Creative Roar. I 
>>>>> noticed the Echo is very susceptible to positioning: on a table away from 
>>>>> a wall it is quite mid-rangey with little base, on a carpeted wooden 
>>>>> floor the base is very good but it's speech is too base heavy. I have it 
>>>>> on a table near a wall and it sounds reasonably good.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Apart from the Hive skill, the following are the ones I found of most 
>>>>> use. The Guardian newspaper because it is very generous with the 
>>>>> una

RE: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Tom Kaufman]

Dane:  I think you're probably right on track; at least that would also be my 
guess as well!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:16 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Yep, will keep an eye on that, I don’t suppose you have any idea of what 
exactly the hands free update does? I think I know and I’ll explain and I’ll 
make it clear that I’m only guessing.
With the Tap at present you have to press a button and then speak your request 
to Tap.
With the other units you just speak your request and that request is performed 
so I’m guessing the firmware update for the tap illumines the need to press the 
button before you start speaking?

> On 12 Feb 2017, at 6:59 am, Clifford Blackwell <ceblackwe...@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Hope that all works out for you.  Let us know about the sound quality and 
> look for the firmware update.
> - Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 1:53 PM
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
> 
> 
>> Wow!
>> 
>> My Tap comes tomorrow.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 12/02/2017 6:21 AM, Clifford Blackwell wrote:
>>> I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that 
>>> might make it even more user friendly.
>>> - Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" 
>>> <grtd...@internode.on.net>
>>> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>>> Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
>>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>>> 
>>> 
>>> to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
>>> impressive.
>>> 
>>> I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
>>> listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
>>> quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
>>> wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.
>>> 
>>> I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
>>> if that's the case.
>>> 
>>> Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
>>> the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the
>>> Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of
>>> course but you can't stream from it.
>>> 
>>> I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over
>>> the weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I
>>> had been thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so
>>> perhaps its best to kill some b irds with a stone and just get the
>>> Amazon Tap? Will think about it.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:
>>>> I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot does 
>>>> not have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a battery base 
>>>> for it (I didn't know that) but I personally don't think it would be 
>>>> worthwhile. The Dot is fine for speech and books and even casual radio but 
>>>> I wouldn't spend much time listening to music on it. I've never connected 
>>>> it to external speakers. The Echo is much better for music but it is still 
>>>> not as good as my Bose  Soundlink Mini or Creative Roar. I noticed the 
>>>> Echo is very susceptible to positioning: on a table away from a wall it is 
>>>> quite mid-rangey with little base, on a carpeted wooden floor the base is 
>>>> very good but it's speech is too base heavy. I have it on a table near a 
>>>> wall and it sounds reasonably good.
>>>> 
>>>> Apart from the Hive skill, the following are the ones I found of most use. 
>>>> The Guardian newspaper because it is very generous with the unabridged 
>>>> articles it provides and they can be accessed in categories. I was using 
>>>> the Telegraph occasionally but I removed it as suddenly the few available 
>>>> articles are now truncated to the first few paragraphs. The National Rail 
>>>> skill is very basic but great for quickly getting the times and status of 
>>>> a single pre-set up route. I've enabled Radio Player as well as the TuneIn 
>>>> Skill and have sometimes found radio stations that for 

RE: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Tom Kaufman]

Clifford:  I've heard this too, but am not sure it's available in all areas 
yet!  I have the tap, so maybe I'll get to see how it works!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Clifford 
Blackwell
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 2:21 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that 
might make it even more user friendly.
- Original Message - 
From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa


to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
impressive.

I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.

I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
if that's the case.

Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the
Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of
course but you can't stream from it.

I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over
the weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I
had been thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so
perhaps its best to kill some b irds with a stone and just get the
Amazon Tap? Will think about it.



On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:
> I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot does 
> not have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a battery base 
> for it (I didn't know that) but I personally don't think it would be 
> worthwhile. The Dot is fine for speech and books and even casual radio but 
> I wouldn't spend much time listening to music on it. I've never connected 
> it to external speakers. The Echo is much better for music but it is still 
> not as good as my Bose  Soundlink Mini or Creative Roar. I noticed the 
> Echo is very susceptible to positioning: on a table away from a wall it is 
> quite mid-rangey with little base, on a carpeted wooden floor the base is 
> very good but it's speech is too base heavy. I have it on a table near a 
> wall and it sounds reasonably good.
>
> Apart from the Hive skill, the following are the ones I found of most use. 
> The Guardian newspaper because it is very generous with the unabridged 
> articles it provides and they can be accessed in categories. I was using 
> the Telegraph occasionally but I removed it as suddenly the few available 
> articles are now truncated to the first few paragraphs. The National Rail 
> skill is very basic but great for quickly getting the times and status of 
> a single pre-set up route. I've enabled Radio Player as well as the TuneIn 
> Skill and have sometimes found radio stations that for some reason TuneIn 
> won't find. I've dabbled with the Magic Door game which is a basic 
> Interactive Fiction with sound effects and although it's quite amusing I 
> ultimately found it a bit limited. I've just enabled the International 
> Space Station skill and enjoy finding out where it is at any given moment 
> and when it will pass Glasgow next as well as news about what the 
> astronauts are doing. Alexa has a lot of hidden talents herself but you 
> have to work quite hard to find them and doing so is very hit and miss.
>
> Oh, and just for you, Dane, I asked Alexa to play the Pipes. The first 
> time I got the Pogues instead and the second I got the Pipes of the Royal 
> Tank Command playing Chariots of Fire of all things. It didn't last long 
> as military bands are definitely not my thing. I'm not keen on the 
> Scottish Pipes on their own although there is a very excellent pipe-based 
> rock band called the Red Hot Chile Pipers. Sadly, Alexa will always think 
> you want the more famous Peppers. :)
>
> John
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of 
> Clifford Blackwell
> Sent: 04 February 2017 20:05
> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>
> You can purchase a battery base for the Dot.  I haven't wanted to spend 
> the extra money on this though so I can't verify how well it works.
> ----- Original Message -
> From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Sent: Friday, February 03, 20

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Clifford Blackwell]

Could be.  I think I saw the info on theverge.com, but I can't remember for 
sure and I didn't read beyond the headline.
- Original Message - 
From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>

To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 2:16 PM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa


Yep, will keep an eye on that, I don’t suppose you have any idea of what 
exactly the hands free update does? I think I know and I’ll explain and I’ll 
make it clear that I’m only guessing.
With the Tap at present you have to press a button and then speak your 
request to Tap.
With the other units you just speak your request and that request is 
performed so I’m guessing the firmware update for the tap illumines the need 
to press the button before you start speaking?


On 12 Feb 2017, at 6:59 am, Clifford Blackwell <ceblackwe...@gmail.com> 
wrote:


Hope that all works out for you.  Let us know about the sound quality and 
look for the firmware update.
- Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" 
<grtd...@internode.on.net>

To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 1:53 PM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa



Wow!

My Tap comes tomorrow.



On 12/02/2017 6:21 AM, Clifford Blackwell wrote:
I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that 
might make it even more user friendly.
- Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" 
<grtd...@internode.on.net>

To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa


to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
impressive.

I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.

I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
if that's the case.

Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the
Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of
course but you can't stream from it.

I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over
the weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I
had been thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so
perhaps its best to kill some b irds with a stone and just get the
Amazon Tap? Will think about it.



On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:
I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot 
does not have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a 
battery base for it (I didn't know that) but I personally don't think 
it would be worthwhile. The Dot is fine for speech and books and even 
casual radio but I wouldn't spend much time listening to music on it. 
I've never connected it to external speakers. The Echo is much better 
for music but it is still not as good as my Bose  Soundlink Mini or 
Creative Roar. I noticed the Echo is very susceptible to positioning: 
on a table away from a wall it is quite mid-rangey with little base, on 
a carpeted wooden floor the base is very good but it's speech is too 
base heavy. I have it on a table near a wall and it sounds reasonably 
good.


Apart from the Hive skill, the following are the ones I found of most 
use. The Guardian newspaper because it is very generous with the 
unabridged articles it provides and they can be accessed in categories. 
I was using the Telegraph occasionally but I removed it as suddenly the 
few available articles are now truncated to the first few paragraphs. 
The National Rail skill is very basic but great for quickly getting the 
times and status of a single pre-set up route. I've enabled Radio 
Player as well as the TuneIn Skill and have sometimes found radio 
stations that for some reason TuneIn won't find. I've dabbled with the 
Magic Door game which is a basic Interactive Fiction with sound effects 
and although it's quite amusing I ultimately found it a bit limited. 
I've just enabled the International Space Station skill and enjoy 
finding out where it is at any given moment and when it will pass 
Glasgow next as well as news about what the astronauts are doing. Alexa 
has a lot of hidden talents herself but you have to work quite hard to 
find them and doing so is very hit and miss.


Oh, and just for you, Dane, I asked Alexa to play the Pipes. The first 
time I got the Pogues instead and the second I got the Pipes of the 
Royal Tank Command playing Chariots of Fire of all things. It didn't 
last long as military bands are definitely not my thing. I'm not keen 
on the Scottish Pipes on their own although there is a very ex

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

Yep, will keep an eye on that, I don’t suppose you have any idea of what 
exactly the hands free update does? I think I know and I’ll explain and I’ll 
make it clear that I’m only guessing.
With the Tap at present you have to press a button and then speak your request 
to Tap.
With the other units you just speak your request and that request is performed 
so I’m guessing the firmware update for the tap illumines the need to press the 
button before you start speaking?

> On 12 Feb 2017, at 6:59 am, Clifford Blackwell <ceblackwe...@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Hope that all works out for you.  Let us know about the sound quality and 
> look for the firmware update.
> - Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 1:53 PM
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
> 
> 
>> Wow!
>> 
>> My Tap comes tomorrow.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 12/02/2017 6:21 AM, Clifford Blackwell wrote:
>>> I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that 
>>> might make it even more user friendly.
>>> - Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" 
>>> <grtd...@internode.on.net>
>>> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>>> Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
>>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>>> 
>>> 
>>> to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
>>> impressive.
>>> 
>>> I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
>>> listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
>>> quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
>>> wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.
>>> 
>>> I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
>>> if that's the case.
>>> 
>>> Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
>>> the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the
>>> Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of
>>> course but you can't stream from it.
>>> 
>>> I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over
>>> the weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I
>>> had been thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so
>>> perhaps its best to kill some b irds with a stone and just get the
>>> Amazon Tap? Will think about it.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:
>>>> I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot does 
>>>> not have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a battery base 
>>>> for it (I didn't know that) but I personally don't think it would be 
>>>> worthwhile. The Dot is fine for speech and books and even casual radio but 
>>>> I wouldn't spend much time listening to music on it. I've never connected 
>>>> it to external speakers. The Echo is much better for music but it is still 
>>>> not as good as my Bose  Soundlink Mini or Creative Roar. I noticed the 
>>>> Echo is very susceptible to positioning: on a table away from a wall it is 
>>>> quite mid-rangey with little base, on a carpeted wooden floor the base is 
>>>> very good but it's speech is too base heavy. I have it on a table near a 
>>>> wall and it sounds reasonably good.
>>>> 
>>>> Apart from the Hive skill, the following are the ones I found of most use. 
>>>> The Guardian newspaper because it is very generous with the unabridged 
>>>> articles it provides and they can be accessed in categories. I was using 
>>>> the Telegraph occasionally but I removed it as suddenly the few available 
>>>> articles are now truncated to the first few paragraphs. The National Rail 
>>>> skill is very basic but great for quickly getting the times and status of 
>>>> a single pre-set up route. I've enabled Radio Player as well as the TuneIn 
>>>> Skill and have sometimes found radio stations that for some reason TuneIn 
>>>> won't find. I've dabbled with the Magic Door game which is a basic 
>>>> Interactive Fiction with sound effects and although it's quite amusing I 
>>>> ultimately found it a bit limited. I've just enabled the International 
>>>> Space Station skill and enjoy finding out wh

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Clifford Blackwell]

Hope that all works out for you.  Let us know about the sound quality and 
look for the firmware update.
- Original Message - 
From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>

To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 1:53 PM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa



Wow!

My Tap comes tomorrow.



On 12/02/2017 6:21 AM, Clifford Blackwell wrote:
I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that 
might make it even more user friendly.
- Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" 
<grtd...@internode.on.net>

To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa


to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
impressive.

I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.

I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
if that's the case.

Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the
Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of
course but you can't stream from it.

I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over
the weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I
had been thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so
perhaps its best to kill some b irds with a stone and just get the
Amazon Tap? Will think about it.



On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:
I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot 
does not have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a 
battery base for it (I didn't know that) but I personally don't think it 
would be worthwhile. The Dot is fine for speech and books and even 
casual radio but I wouldn't spend much time listening to music on it. 
I've never connected it to external speakers. The Echo is much better 
for music but it is still not as good as my Bose  Soundlink Mini or 
Creative Roar. I noticed the Echo is very susceptible to positioning: on 
a table away from a wall it is quite mid-rangey with little base, on a 
carpeted wooden floor the base is very good but it's speech is too base 
heavy. I have it on a table near a wall and it sounds reasonably good.


Apart from the Hive skill, the following are the ones I found of most 
use. The Guardian newspaper because it is very generous with the 
unabridged articles it provides and they can be accessed in categories. 
I was using the Telegraph occasionally but I removed it as suddenly the 
few available articles are now truncated to the first few paragraphs. 
The National Rail skill is very basic but great for quickly getting the 
times and status of a single pre-set up route. I've enabled Radio Player 
as well as the TuneIn Skill and have sometimes found radio stations that 
for some reason TuneIn won't find. I've dabbled with the Magic Door game 
which is a basic Interactive Fiction with sound effects and although 
it's quite amusing I ultimately found it a bit limited. I've just 
enabled the International Space Station skill and enjoy finding out 
where it is at any given moment and when it will pass Glasgow next as 
well as news about what the astronauts are doing. Alexa has a lot of 
hidden talents herself but you have to work quite hard to find them and 
doing so is very hit and miss.


Oh, and just for you, Dane, I asked Alexa to play the Pipes. The first 
time I got the Pogues instead and the second I got the Pipes of the 
Royal Tank Command playing Chariots of Fire of all things. It didn't 
last long as military bands are definitely not my thing. I'm not keen on 
the Scottish Pipes on their own although there is a very excellent 
pipe-based rock band called the Red Hot Chile Pipers. Sadly, Alexa will 
always think you want the more famous Peppers. :)


John

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

Sent: 04 February 2017 20:05
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

You can purchase a battery base for the Dot.  I haven't wanted to spend 
the extra money on this though so I can't verify how well it works.

- Original Message -
From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:57 PM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa



Have you tried any "Skills" yet? I've tried a few such as 20
questions, Mystery Radio Theatre etc.



On 4/02/2017 10:18 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:

Yep...that's the o

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

Wow!

My Tap comes tomorrow.



On 12/02/2017 6:21 AM, Clifford Blackwell wrote:
I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update 
that might make it even more user friendly.
- Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" 
<grtd...@internode.on.net>

To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa


to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
impressive.

I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.

I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
if that's the case.

Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the
Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of
course but you can't stream from it.

I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over
the weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I
had been thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so
perhaps its best to kill some b irds with a stone and just get the
Amazon Tap? Will think about it.



On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:
I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot 
does not have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a 
battery base for it (I didn't know that) but I personally don't think 
it would be worthwhile. The Dot is fine for speech and books and even 
casual radio but I wouldn't spend much time listening to music on it. 
I've never connected it to external speakers. The Echo is much better 
for music but it is still not as good as my Bose  Soundlink Mini or 
Creative Roar. I noticed the Echo is very susceptible to positioning: 
on a table away from a wall it is quite mid-rangey with little base, 
on a carpeted wooden floor the base is very good but it's speech is 
too base heavy. I have it on a table near a wall and it sounds 
reasonably good.


Apart from the Hive skill, the following are the ones I found of most 
use. The Guardian newspaper because it is very generous with the 
unabridged articles it provides and they can be accessed in 
categories. I was using the Telegraph occasionally but I removed it 
as suddenly the few available articles are now truncated to the first 
few paragraphs. The National Rail skill is very basic but great for 
quickly getting the times and status of a single pre-set up route. 
I've enabled Radio Player as well as the TuneIn Skill and have 
sometimes found radio stations that for some reason TuneIn won't 
find. I've dabbled with the Magic Door game which is a basic 
Interactive Fiction with sound effects and although it's quite 
amusing I ultimately found it a bit limited. I've just enabled the 
International Space Station skill and enjoy finding out where it is 
at any given moment and when it will pass Glasgow next as well as 
news about what the astronauts are doing. Alexa has a lot of hidden 
talents herself but you have to work quite hard to find them and 
doing so is very hit and miss.


Oh, and just for you, Dane, I asked Alexa to play the Pipes. The 
first time I got the Pogues instead and the second I got the Pipes of 
the Royal Tank Command playing Chariots of Fire of all things. It 
didn't last long as military bands are definitely not my thing. I'm 
not keen on the Scottish Pipes on their own although there is a very 
excellent pipe-based rock band called the Red Hot Chile Pipers. 
Sadly, Alexa will always think you want the more famous Peppers. :)


John

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

Sent: 04 February 2017 20:05
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

You can purchase a battery base for the Dot.  I haven't wanted to 
spend the extra money on this though so I can't verify how well it 
works.

- Original Message -
From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:57 PM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa



Have you tried any "Skills" yet? I've tried a few such as 20
questions, Mystery Radio Theatre etc.



On 4/02/2017 10:18 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:

Yep...that's the one; it has a chargeable battery and seems to have
good battery life; seems to charge up fairly quickly!
Tom

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of
Dane Trethowan
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 3:44 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Al

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Clifford Blackwell]

I believe I just read that the Tap is getting a hand's free update that 
might make it even more user friendly.
- Original Message - 
From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>

To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 11:37 AM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa


to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely
impressive.

I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I
listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was
quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as
wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.

I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed
if that's the case.

Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that
the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the
Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of
course but you can't stream from it.

I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over
the weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I
had been thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so
perhaps its best to kill some b irds with a stone and just get the
Amazon Tap? Will think about it.



On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:
I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot does 
not have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a battery base 
for it (I didn't know that) but I personally don't think it would be 
worthwhile. The Dot is fine for speech and books and even casual radio but 
I wouldn't spend much time listening to music on it. I've never connected 
it to external speakers. The Echo is much better for music but it is still 
not as good as my Bose  Soundlink Mini or Creative Roar. I noticed the 
Echo is very susceptible to positioning: on a table away from a wall it is 
quite mid-rangey with little base, on a carpeted wooden floor the base is 
very good but it's speech is too base heavy. I have it on a table near a 
wall and it sounds reasonably good.


Apart from the Hive skill, the following are the ones I found of most use. 
The Guardian newspaper because it is very generous with the unabridged 
articles it provides and they can be accessed in categories. I was using 
the Telegraph occasionally but I removed it as suddenly the few available 
articles are now truncated to the first few paragraphs. The National Rail 
skill is very basic but great for quickly getting the times and status of 
a single pre-set up route. I've enabled Radio Player as well as the TuneIn 
Skill and have sometimes found radio stations that for some reason TuneIn 
won't find. I've dabbled with the Magic Door game which is a basic 
Interactive Fiction with sound effects and although it's quite amusing I 
ultimately found it a bit limited. I've just enabled the International 
Space Station skill and enjoy finding out where it is at any given moment 
and when it will pass Glasgow next as well as news about what the 
astronauts are doing. Alexa has a lot of hidden talents herself but you 
have to work quite hard to find them and doing so is very hit and miss.


Oh, and just for you, Dane, I asked Alexa to play the Pipes. The first 
time I got the Pogues instead and the second I got the Pipes of the Royal 
Tank Command playing Chariots of Fire of all things. It didn't last long 
as military bands are definitely not my thing. I'm not keen on the 
Scottish Pipes on their own although there is a very excellent pipe-based 
rock band called the Red Hot Chile Pipers. Sadly, Alexa will always think 
you want the more famous Peppers. :)


John

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

Sent: 04 February 2017 20:05
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

You can purchase a battery base for the Dot.  I haven't wanted to spend 
the extra money on this though so I can't verify how well it works.

- Original Message -
From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:57 PM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa



Have you tried any "Skills" yet? I've tried a few such as 20
questions, Mystery Radio Theatre etc.



On 4/02/2017 10:18 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:

Yep...that's the one; it has a chargeable battery and seems to have
good battery life; seems to charge up fairly quickly!
Tom

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of
Dane Trethowan
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 3:44 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

And the Tap is the one you have right? Is that battery powered?


On 4 Feb 2017, at

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

Now that solution of having two Echo systems for stereo would be a super 
one sonlically as well as literally given the shape of the Echo.




On 7/02/2017 8:07 AM, John Gurd wrote:

No, the Echo isn't stereo but not at all bad for a momo speaker. It would be 
nice if two together could act as a stereo pair like Sonos devices do but 
that's not the case. I haven't looked into the Tap (I don't think it's 
available in the UK yet) but if it is as good as suggested I might. I just 
assumed it would be portable but inferior in audio quality even to the Dot. 
Obviously I assumed wrong so I'll check it out just from Nosiness. I don't 
really need yet another speaker just yet. :)

John


-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: 06 February 2017 17:38
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely 
impressive.

I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I listened to a few 
Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was quite pleasing and something I 
could easily relax to but no, not as wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect 
it to be either.

I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed if 
that's the case.

Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that the Dot 
can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the Echo won't do 
Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of course but you can't 
stream from it.

I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over the 
weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I had been 
thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so perhaps its best to 
kill some b irds with a stone and just get the Amazon Tap? Will think about it.



On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:

I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot does not 
have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a battery base for it 
(I didn't know that) but I personally don't think it would be worthwhile. The 
Dot is fine for speech and books and even casual radio but I wouldn't spend 
much time listening to music on it. I've never connected it to external 
speakers. The Echo is much better for music but it is still not as good as my 
Bose  Soundlink Mini or Creative Roar. I noticed the Echo is very susceptible 
to positioning: on a table away from a wall it is quite mid-rangey with little 
base, on a carpeted wooden floor the base is very good but it's speech is too 
base heavy. I have it on a table near a wall and it sounds reasonably good.

Apart from the Hive skill, the following are the ones I found of most use. The 
Guardian newspaper because it is very generous with the unabridged articles it 
provides and they can be accessed in categories. I was using the Telegraph 
occasionally but I removed it as suddenly the few available articles are now 
truncated to the first few paragraphs. The National Rail skill is very basic 
but great for quickly getting the times and status of a single pre-set up 
route. I've enabled Radio Player as well as the TuneIn Skill and have sometimes 
found radio stations that for some reason TuneIn won't find. I've dabbled with 
the Magic Door game which is a basic Interactive Fiction with sound effects and 
although it's quite amusing I ultimately found it a bit limited. I've just 
enabled the International Space Station skill and enjoy finding out where it is 
at any given moment and when it will pass Glasgow next as well as news about 
what the astronauts are doing. Alexa has a lot of hidden talents herself but 
you have to work quite hard to find them and doing so is very hit and miss.

Oh, and just for you, Dane, I asked Alexa to play the Pipes. The first
time I got the Pogues instead and the second I got the Pipes of the
Royal Tank Command playing Chariots of Fire of all things. It didn't
last long as military bands are definitely not my thing. I'm not keen
on the Scottish Pipes on their own although there is a very excellent
pipe-based rock band called the Red Hot Chile Pipers. Sadly, Alexa
will always think you want the more famous Peppers. :)

John

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of
Clifford Blackwell
Sent: 04 February 2017 20:05
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

You can purchase a battery base for the Dot.  I haven't wanted to spend the 
extra money on this though so I can't verify how well it works.
- Original Message -
From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:57 PM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa



Have you tried any "Skills" yet? 

RE: Amazon Echo Alexa

[John Gurd]

No, the Echo isn't stereo but not at all bad for a momo speaker. It would be 
nice if two together could act as a stereo pair like Sonos devices do but 
that's not the case. I haven't looked into the Tap (I don't think it's 
available in the UK yet) but if it is as good as suggested I might. I just 
assumed it would be portable but inferior in audio quality even to the Dot. 
Obviously I assumed wrong so I'll check it out just from Nosiness. I don't 
really need yet another speaker just yet. :)

John


-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: 06 February 2017 17:38
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely 
impressive.

I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I listened to a 
few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was quite pleasing and 
something I could easily relax to but no, not as wonderful as my B A7 and I 
didn't expect it to be either.

I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed if 
that's the case.

Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that the Dot 
can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the Echo won't do 
Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of course but you can't 
stream from it.

I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over the 
weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I had been 
thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so perhaps its best to 
kill some b irds with a stone and just get the Amazon Tap? Will think about it.



On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:
> I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot does 
> not have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a battery base 
> for it (I didn't know that) but I personally don't think it would be 
> worthwhile. The Dot is fine for speech and books and even casual radio but I 
> wouldn't spend much time listening to music on it. I've never connected it to 
> external speakers. The Echo is much better for music but it is still not as 
> good as my Bose  Soundlink Mini or Creative Roar. I noticed the Echo is very 
> susceptible to positioning: on a table away from a wall it is quite 
> mid-rangey with little base, on a carpeted wooden floor the base is very good 
> but it's speech is too base heavy. I have it on a table near a wall and it 
> sounds reasonably good.
>
> Apart from the Hive skill, the following are the ones I found of most use. 
> The Guardian newspaper because it is very generous with the unabridged 
> articles it provides and they can be accessed in categories. I was using the 
> Telegraph occasionally but I removed it as suddenly the few available 
> articles are now truncated to the first few paragraphs. The National Rail 
> skill is very basic but great for quickly getting the times and status of a 
> single pre-set up route. I've enabled Radio Player as well as the TuneIn 
> Skill and have sometimes found radio stations that for some reason TuneIn 
> won't find. I've dabbled with the Magic Door game which is a basic 
> Interactive Fiction with sound effects and although it's quite amusing I 
> ultimately found it a bit limited. I've just enabled the International Space 
> Station skill and enjoy finding out where it is at any given moment and when 
> it will pass Glasgow next as well as news about what the astronauts are 
> doing. Alexa has a lot of hidden talents herself but you have to work quite 
> hard to find them and doing so is very hit and miss.
>
> Oh, and just for you, Dane, I asked Alexa to play the Pipes. The first 
> time I got the Pogues instead and the second I got the Pipes of the 
> Royal Tank Command playing Chariots of Fire of all things. It didn't 
> last long as military bands are definitely not my thing. I'm not keen 
> on the Scottish Pipes on their own although there is a very excellent 
> pipe-based rock band called the Red Hot Chile Pipers. Sadly, Alexa 
> will always think you want the more famous Peppers. :)
>
> John
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of 
> Clifford Blackwell
> Sent: 04 February 2017 20:05
> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>
> You can purchase a battery base for the Dot.  I haven't wanted to spend the 
> extra money on this though so I can't verify how well it works.
> - Original Message -----
> From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:57 

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

to your last comments about "The Pipes" first? Impressive, absolutely 
impressive.


I had the Echo on my table behind my bed - shelf actually - and I 
listened to a few Classic Albums I came upon on Spotify, the tone was 
quite pleasing and something I could easily relax to but no, not as 
wonderful as my B A7 and I didn't expect it to be either.


I think the Echo plays in mono so it was a damn good performance indeed 
if that's the case.


Battery Base for the Dot? Makes all the sense in the world given that 
the Dot can stream to Bluetooth speakers and headsets, I wonder why the 
Echo won't do Bluetooth streaming both ways, you can stream to it of 
course but you can't stream from it.


I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a Tap, in a review I read over 
the weekend it was compared favourably to the Bose Soundlink Mini and I 
had been thinking about getting the current version of the Bose so 
perhaps its best to kill some b irds with a stone and just get the 
Amazon Tap? Will think about it.




On 7/02/2017 3:04 AM, John Gurd wrote:

I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot does not 
have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a battery base for it 
(I didn't know that) but I personally don't think it would be worthwhile. The 
Dot is fine for speech and books and even casual radio but I wouldn't spend 
much time listening to music on it. I've never connected it to external 
speakers. The Echo is much better for music but it is still not as good as my 
Bose  Soundlink Mini or Creative Roar. I noticed the Echo is very susceptible 
to positioning: on a table away from a wall it is quite mid-rangey with little 
base, on a carpeted wooden floor the base is very good but it's speech is too 
base heavy. I have it on a table near a wall and it sounds reasonably good.

Apart from the Hive skill, the following are the ones I found of most use. The 
Guardian newspaper because it is very generous with the unabridged articles it 
provides and they can be accessed in categories. I was using the Telegraph 
occasionally but I removed it as suddenly the few available articles are now 
truncated to the first few paragraphs. The National Rail skill is very basic 
but great for quickly getting the times and status of a single pre-set up 
route. I've enabled Radio Player as well as the TuneIn Skill and have sometimes 
found radio stations that for some reason TuneIn won't find. I've dabbled with 
the Magic Door game which is a basic Interactive Fiction with sound effects and 
although it's quite amusing I ultimately found it a bit limited. I've just 
enabled the International Space Station skill and enjoy finding out where it is 
at any given moment and when it will pass Glasgow next as well as news about 
what the astronauts are doing. Alexa has a lot of hidden talents herself but 
you have to work quite hard to find them and doing so is very hit and miss.

Oh, and just for you, Dane, I asked Alexa to play the Pipes. The first time I 
got the Pogues instead and the second I got the Pipes of the Royal Tank Command 
playing Chariots of Fire of all things. It didn't last long as military bands 
are definitely not my thing. I'm not keen on the Scottish Pipes on their own 
although there is a very excellent pipe-based rock band called the Red Hot 
Chile Pipers. Sadly, Alexa will always think you want the more famous Peppers. 
:)

John

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Clifford 
Blackwell
Sent: 04 February 2017 20:05
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

You can purchase a battery base for the Dot.  I haven't wanted to spend the 
extra money on this though so I can't verify how well it works.
- Original Message -
From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:57 PM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa



Have you tried any "Skills" yet? I've tried a few such as 20
questions, Mystery Radio Theatre etc.



On 4/02/2017 10:18 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:

Yep...that's the one; it has a chargeable battery and seems to have
good battery life; seems to charge up fairly quickly!
Tom

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of
Dane Trethowan
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 3:44 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

And the Tap is the one you have right? Is that battery powered?


On 4 Feb 2017, at 6:13 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:

Dane:  The Dot can be connected to a stereo, but not the Tap.
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of
Dane Trethowan
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:25 AM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.o

RE: Amazon Echo Alexa

[John Gurd]

I'm just catching up with this thread. Just to make it clear, the Dot does not 
have a built-in battery. That's interesting you can get a battery base for it 
(I didn't know that) but I personally don't think it would be worthwhile. The 
Dot is fine for speech and books and even casual radio but I wouldn't spend 
much time listening to music on it. I've never connected it to external 
speakers. The Echo is much better for music but it is still not as good as my 
Bose  Soundlink Mini or Creative Roar. I noticed the Echo is very susceptible 
to positioning: on a table away from a wall it is quite mid-rangey with little 
base, on a carpeted wooden floor the base is very good but it's speech is too 
base heavy. I have it on a table near a wall and it sounds reasonably good.

Apart from the Hive skill, the following are the ones I found of most use. The 
Guardian newspaper because it is very generous with the unabridged articles it 
provides and they can be accessed in categories. I was using the Telegraph 
occasionally but I removed it as suddenly the few available articles are now 
truncated to the first few paragraphs. The National Rail skill is very basic 
but great for quickly getting the times and status of a single pre-set up 
route. I've enabled Radio Player as well as the TuneIn Skill and have sometimes 
found radio stations that for some reason TuneIn won't find. I've dabbled with 
the Magic Door game which is a basic Interactive Fiction with sound effects and 
although it's quite amusing I ultimately found it a bit limited. I've just 
enabled the International Space Station skill and enjoy finding out where it is 
at any given moment and when it will pass Glasgow next as well as news about 
what the astronauts are doing. Alexa has a lot of hidden talents herself but 
you have to work quite hard to find them and doing so is very hit and miss.

Oh, and just for you, Dane, I asked Alexa to play the Pipes. The first time I 
got the Pogues instead and the second I got the Pipes of the Royal Tank Command 
playing Chariots of Fire of all things. It didn't last long as military bands 
are definitely not my thing. I'm not keen on the Scottish Pipes on their own 
although there is a very excellent pipe-based rock band called the Red Hot 
Chile Pipers. Sadly, Alexa will always think you want the more famous Peppers. 
:)

John

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Clifford 
Blackwell
Sent: 04 February 2017 20:05
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

You can purchase a battery base for the Dot.  I haven't wanted to spend the 
extra money on this though so I can't verify how well it works.
- Original Message -
From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>
To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:57 PM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa


> Have you tried any "Skills" yet? I've tried a few such as 20 
> questions, Mystery Radio Theatre etc.
>
>
>
> On 4/02/2017 10:18 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:
>> Yep...that's the one; it has a chargeable battery and seems to have 
>> good battery life; seems to charge up fairly quickly!
>> Tom
>>
>> -Original Message-
>> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of 
>> Dane Trethowan
>> Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 3:44 PM
>> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>>
>> And the Tap is the one you have right? Is that battery powered?
>>
>>> On 4 Feb 2017, at 6:13 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
>>>
>>> Dane:  The Dot can be connected to a stereo, but not the Tap.
>>> Tom Kaufman
>>>
>>> -Original Message-----
>>> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of 
>>> Dane Trethowan
>>> Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:25 AM
>>> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>>>
>>> Now that I’ve had mine up and running for a little longer than 24 
>>> hours I’m probably in a better position to reply to this eMail than 
>>> I was Yesterday.
>>> Firstly a note to anyone in Australia or outside the US or UK who 
>>> may be thinking of going down the Echo path, is it worth it? Well 
>>> yep, I reckon it is and even better is the fact that setup requires 
>>> no hacks or cracks to be applied as was previously the case.
>>> Your Echo will still think you’re somewhere else - Mine thinks I’m 
>>> in Seattle - but I can still get standard time for my local 
>>> location, this can be set easily in settings, in my case I chose

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Clifford Blackwell]

You can purchase a battery base for the Dot.  I haven't wanted to spend the 
extra money on this though so I can't verify how well it works.
- Original Message - 
From: "Dane Trethowan" <grtd...@internode.on.net>

To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:57 PM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa


Have you tried any "Skills" yet? I've tried a few such as 20 questions, 
Mystery Radio Theatre etc.




On 4/02/2017 10:18 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:
Yep...that's the one; it has a chargeable battery and seems to have good 
battery life; seems to charge up fairly quickly!

Tom

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

Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 3:44 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

And the Tap is the one you have right? Is that battery powered?


On 4 Feb 2017, at 6:13 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:

Dane:  The Dot can be connected to a stereo, but not the Tap.
Tom Kaufman

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

Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:25 AM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Now that I’ve had mine up and running for a little longer than 24 hours 
I’m probably in a better position to reply to this eMail than I was 
Yesterday.
Firstly a note to anyone in Australia or outside the US or UK who may be 
thinking of going down the Echo path, is it worth it? Well yep, I reckon 
it is and even better is the fact that setup requires no hacks or cracks 
to be applied as was previously the case.
Your Echo will still think you’re somewhere else - Mine thinks I’m in 
Seattle - but I can still get standard time for my local location, this 
can be set easily in settings, in my case I chose the Australian time 
zone and the NSW Eastern Time region, works fine!
If you’re in Australia then probably one of the best places to get an 
Amazon Echo is from eBay, they sell for as little as around $100 
Australian depending on the model you want.
I had my Echo 24 hours after I ordered it, the eBay store I bought from 
dispatched the item using Australia Post Express Post.
The first thing I had to do was to find a wall adapter to make the 
supplied power supply compatible with our AC mains socket, that done it 
was just a matter of plugging the supply into the mains and connecting 
to the Echo, the power lead plugs into the bottom of the Echo and 
protrudes from the rear of the unit.
Echo will say “Hell” and I think she tells you you’re in setup mode so 
you know you can proceed with the setup which is all done from the 
Amazon Alexa home page.
For those using Echo now and who have it set up the home page is well 
worth exploring if you haven’t done so already, so much there to tweak 
and see.
Even though I’m in Australia I’ve had little trouble having my Echo 
recognise the voice commands I’ve issued.
There’s a lot I can’t use but a hell of a lot I can, I can use Spotify 
Premium with Echo however I can’t use Amazon’s Unlimited Music Service.
Radio is an oddity I have to admit, I can’t get Echo to tune into many 
stations using voice commands however I can manually have Echo tune into 
stations if I use the Tunein interface from the Echo Home Page so go 
work that one out, if anyone manages to listen to radio 2GB in Sydney 
Australia with their Echo then I’d be interested to know how you did it 
with voice commands?
The Echo can be paired with an amazon remote controller, has anyone done 
this?
I’m a little disappointed with the Bluetooth facilities offered, yes you 
can stream to Echo using Bluetooth so that’s nice and handy if you want 
to use Echo as a speaker for your mobile device etc but I’m surprised 
that Echo can’t stream the other way - say stream the output using 
Bluetooth to a pair of Bluetooth headphones etc.
To summarise, this purchase was well worth the while for me and I’m sure 
I’m going to be served well for many years to come, I may even consider 
buying one of the other Echo models such as the Dot, the Tap can be 
connected to a stereo or television, is that right?



On 2 Feb 2017, at 2:15 pm, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:

II am enjoying mine (I have the one that is known as the Tap) mostly 
listen to music on it...but it can do other things like tell you the 
weather, tell you a joke (haven't tried that yet) am sure there's lots 
of things you can ask her to do!

Tom Kaufman

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

Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2017 10:05 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Amazon Echo Alexa

Hi!
For those of you who have one of these - can’t say what it is again or 
the device will get upset whe

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

these devices are updated quite regularly and - so long as we users 
provide feedback - then I guess the developers will have plenty to work 
with.


On 4/02/2017 1:07 PM, Tom Kaufman wrote:

Have tried a few: Cat Facts, Dog Facts; I've also tried News Briefs (I think Amazon calls 
these "Flash Briefs" obviously I can't vouch for how any of this stuff works in 
Australia, but here some of them work okay; some work better than others!  I've tried TV 
Shows and TV Info.  I'll tell you that these work better with the main TV networks (CBS, 
ABC and NBC) if you throw something at it that's a little off the beaten path, it doesn't 
quite know how to handle that yet!  But it's my guess that Amazon will improve on these 
things; hopefully they will!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 6:57 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Have you tried any "Skills" yet? I've tried a few such as 20 questions,
Mystery Radio Theatre etc.



On 4/02/2017 10:18 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:

Yep...that's the one; it has a chargeable battery and seems to have good 
battery life; seems to charge up fairly quickly!
Tom

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 3:44 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

And the Tap is the one you have right? Is that battery powered?


On 4 Feb 2017, at 6:13 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:

Dane:  The Dot can be connected to a stereo, but not the Tap.
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:25 AM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Now that I’ve had mine up and running for a little longer than 24 hours I’m 
probably in a better position to reply to this eMail than I was Yesterday.
Firstly a note to anyone in Australia or outside the US or UK who may be 
thinking of going down the Echo path, is it worth it? Well yep, I reckon it is 
and even better is the fact that setup requires no hacks or cracks to be 
applied as was previously the case.
Your Echo will still think you’re somewhere else - Mine thinks I’m in Seattle - 
but I can still get standard time for my local location, this can be set easily 
in settings, in my case I chose the Australian time zone and the NSW Eastern 
Time region, works fine!
If you’re in Australia then probably one of the best places to get an Amazon 
Echo is from eBay, they sell for as little as around $100 Australian depending 
on the model you want.
I had my Echo 24 hours after I ordered it, the eBay store I bought from 
dispatched the item using Australia Post Express Post.
The first thing I had to do was to find a wall adapter to make the supplied 
power supply compatible with our AC mains socket, that done it was just a 
matter of plugging the supply into the mains and connecting to the Echo, the 
power lead plugs into the bottom of the Echo and protrudes from the rear of the 
unit.
Echo will say “Hell” and I think she tells you you’re in setup mode so you know 
you can proceed with the setup which is all done from the Amazon Alexa home 
page.
For those using Echo now and who have it set up the home page is well worth 
exploring if you haven’t done so already, so much there to tweak and see.
Even though I’m in Australia I’ve had little trouble having my Echo recognise 
the voice commands I’ve issued.
There’s a lot I can’t use but a hell of a lot I can, I can use Spotify Premium 
with Echo however I can’t use Amazon’s Unlimited Music Service.
Radio is an oddity I have to admit, I can’t get Echo to tune into many stations 
using voice commands however I can manually have Echo tune into stations if I 
use the Tunein interface from the Echo Home Page so go work that one out, if 
anyone manages to listen to radio 2GB in Sydney Australia with their Echo then 
I’d be interested to know how you did it with voice commands?
The Echo can be paired with an amazon remote controller, has anyone done this?
I’m a little disappointed with the Bluetooth facilities offered, yes you can 
stream to Echo using Bluetooth so that’s nice and handy if you want to use Echo 
as a speaker for your mobile device etc but I’m surprised that Echo can’t 
stream the other way - say stream the output using Bluetooth to a pair of 
Bluetooth headphones etc.
To summarise, this purchase was well worth the while for me and I’m sure I’m 
going to be served well for many years to come, I may even consider buying one 
of the other Echo models such as the Dot, the Tap can be connected to a stereo 
or television, is that right?


On 2 Feb 2017, at 2:15 pm, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@c

RE: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Tom Kaufman]

The Tap does sound good; while I won't say it has that big booming base, it's 
not bad!  I've not heard the Echo (what I am told is that the Echo doesn't do 
stereo (don't know why Amazon did that) but the Tap definitely does give you 
stereo sound!  I'd put it in about the same class as the JBL Flip 2, if  you 
know what those sound like!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 7:20 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Interesting, in a review I just read they say that the Amazon Tap sounds 
better than a lot of Bluetooth speakers available on the market today? 
They compared it with the Bose Soundlink Mini. Ah well, won't be long 
until I'm able to hear one for myself and - if the author of the review 
says it sounds even better than the Echo - then it must sound pretty 
damn good, the Echo doesn't sound bad at all - and I'm used to B T7, 
A7 and all them nice things . -



On 4/02/2017 10:18 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:
> Yep...that's the one; it has a chargeable battery and seems to have good 
> battery life; seems to charge up fairly quickly!
> Tom
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
> Trethowan
> Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 3:44 PM
> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>
> And the Tap is the one you have right? Is that battery powered?
>
>> On 4 Feb 2017, at 6:13 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> Dane:  The Dot can be connected to a stereo, but not the Tap.
>> Tom Kaufman
>>
>> -Original Message-
>> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
>> Trethowan
>> Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:25 AM
>> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>>
>> Now that I’ve had mine up and running for a little longer than 24 hours I’m 
>> probably in a better position to reply to this eMail than I was Yesterday.
>> Firstly a note to anyone in Australia or outside the US or UK who may be 
>> thinking of going down the Echo path, is it worth it? Well yep, I reckon it 
>> is and even better is the fact that setup requires no hacks or cracks to be 
>> applied as was previously the case.
>> Your Echo will still think you’re somewhere else - Mine thinks I’m in 
>> Seattle - but I can still get standard time for my local location, this can 
>> be set easily in settings, in my case I chose the Australian time zone and 
>> the NSW Eastern Time region, works fine!
>> If you’re in Australia then probably one of the best places to get an Amazon 
>> Echo is from eBay, they sell for as little as around $100 Australian 
>> depending on the model you want.
>> I had my Echo 24 hours after I ordered it, the eBay store I bought from 
>> dispatched the item using Australia Post Express Post.
>> The first thing I had to do was to find a wall adapter to make the supplied 
>> power supply compatible with our AC mains socket, that done it was just a 
>> matter of plugging the supply into the mains and connecting to the Echo, the 
>> power lead plugs into the bottom of the Echo and protrudes from the rear of 
>> the unit.
>> Echo will say “Hell” and I think she tells you you’re in setup mode so you 
>> know you can proceed with the setup which is all done from the Amazon Alexa 
>> home page.
>> For those using Echo now and who have it set up the home page is well worth 
>> exploring if you haven’t done so already, so much there to tweak and see.
>> Even though I’m in Australia I’ve had little trouble having my Echo 
>> recognise the voice commands I’ve issued.
>> There’s a lot I can’t use but a hell of a lot I can, I can use Spotify 
>> Premium with Echo however I can’t use Amazon’s Unlimited Music Service.
>> Radio is an oddity I have to admit, I can’t get Echo to tune into many 
>> stations using voice commands however I can manually have Echo tune into 
>> stations if I use the Tunein interface from the Echo Home Page so go work 
>> that one out, if anyone manages to listen to radio 2GB in Sydney Australia 
>> with their Echo then I’d be interested to know how you did it with voice 
>> commands?
>> The Echo can be paired with an amazon remote controller, has anyone done 
>> this?
>> I’m a little disappointed with the Bluetooth facilities offered, yes you can 
>> stream to Echo using Bluetooth so that’s nice and handy if you want to use 
>> Echo as a speaker for your mobile device etc 

RE: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Tom Kaufman]

Have tried a few: Cat Facts, Dog Facts; I've also tried News Briefs (I think 
Amazon calls these "Flash Briefs" obviously I can't vouch for how any of this 
stuff works in Australia, but here some of them work okay; some work better 
than others!  I've tried TV Shows and TV Info.  I'll tell you that these work 
better with the main TV networks (CBS, ABC and NBC) if you throw something at 
it that's a little off the beaten path, it doesn't quite know how to handle 
that yet!  But it's my guess that Amazon will improve on these things; 
hopefully they will!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 6:57 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Have you tried any "Skills" yet? I've tried a few such as 20 questions, 
Mystery Radio Theatre etc.



On 4/02/2017 10:18 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:
> Yep...that's the one; it has a chargeable battery and seems to have good 
> battery life; seems to charge up fairly quickly!
> Tom
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
> Trethowan
> Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 3:44 PM
> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>
> And the Tap is the one you have right? Is that battery powered?
>
>> On 4 Feb 2017, at 6:13 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> Dane:  The Dot can be connected to a stereo, but not the Tap.
>> Tom Kaufman
>>
>> -Original Message-
>> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
>> Trethowan
>> Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:25 AM
>> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
>>
>> Now that I’ve had mine up and running for a little longer than 24 hours I’m 
>> probably in a better position to reply to this eMail than I was Yesterday.
>> Firstly a note to anyone in Australia or outside the US or UK who may be 
>> thinking of going down the Echo path, is it worth it? Well yep, I reckon it 
>> is and even better is the fact that setup requires no hacks or cracks to be 
>> applied as was previously the case.
>> Your Echo will still think you’re somewhere else - Mine thinks I’m in 
>> Seattle - but I can still get standard time for my local location, this can 
>> be set easily in settings, in my case I chose the Australian time zone and 
>> the NSW Eastern Time region, works fine!
>> If you’re in Australia then probably one of the best places to get an Amazon 
>> Echo is from eBay, they sell for as little as around $100 Australian 
>> depending on the model you want.
>> I had my Echo 24 hours after I ordered it, the eBay store I bought from 
>> dispatched the item using Australia Post Express Post.
>> The first thing I had to do was to find a wall adapter to make the supplied 
>> power supply compatible with our AC mains socket, that done it was just a 
>> matter of plugging the supply into the mains and connecting to the Echo, the 
>> power lead plugs into the bottom of the Echo and protrudes from the rear of 
>> the unit.
>> Echo will say “Hell” and I think she tells you you’re in setup mode so you 
>> know you can proceed with the setup which is all done from the Amazon Alexa 
>> home page.
>> For those using Echo now and who have it set up the home page is well worth 
>> exploring if you haven’t done so already, so much there to tweak and see.
>> Even though I’m in Australia I’ve had little trouble having my Echo 
>> recognise the voice commands I’ve issued.
>> There’s a lot I can’t use but a hell of a lot I can, I can use Spotify 
>> Premium with Echo however I can’t use Amazon’s Unlimited Music Service.
>> Radio is an oddity I have to admit, I can’t get Echo to tune into many 
>> stations using voice commands however I can manually have Echo tune into 
>> stations if I use the Tunein interface from the Echo Home Page so go work 
>> that one out, if anyone manages to listen to radio 2GB in Sydney Australia 
>> with their Echo then I’d be interested to know how you did it with voice 
>> commands?
>> The Echo can be paired with an amazon remote controller, has anyone done 
>> this?
>> I’m a little disappointed with the Bluetooth facilities offered, yes you can 
>> stream to Echo using Bluetooth so that’s nice and handy if you want to use 
>> Echo as a speaker for your mobile device etc but I’m surprised that Echo 
>> can’t stream the other way - say stream the output using Bluetooth to a pair 
>> 

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

Interesting, in a review I just read they say that the Amazon Tap sounds 
better than a lot of Bluetooth speakers available on the market today? 
They compared it with the Bose Soundlink Mini. Ah well, won't be long 
until I'm able to hear one for myself and - if the author of the review 
says it sounds even better than the Echo - then it must sound pretty 
damn good, the Echo doesn't sound bad at all - and I'm used to B T7, 
A7 and all them nice things . -




On 4/02/2017 10:18 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:

Yep...that's the one; it has a chargeable battery and seems to have good 
battery life; seems to charge up fairly quickly!
Tom

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 3:44 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

And the Tap is the one you have right? Is that battery powered?


On 4 Feb 2017, at 6:13 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:

Dane:  The Dot can be connected to a stereo, but not the Tap.
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:25 AM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Now that I’ve had mine up and running for a little longer than 24 hours I’m 
probably in a better position to reply to this eMail than I was Yesterday.
Firstly a note to anyone in Australia or outside the US or UK who may be 
thinking of going down the Echo path, is it worth it? Well yep, I reckon it is 
and even better is the fact that setup requires no hacks or cracks to be 
applied as was previously the case.
Your Echo will still think you’re somewhere else - Mine thinks I’m in Seattle - 
but I can still get standard time for my local location, this can be set easily 
in settings, in my case I chose the Australian time zone and the NSW Eastern 
Time region, works fine!
If you’re in Australia then probably one of the best places to get an Amazon 
Echo is from eBay, they sell for as little as around $100 Australian depending 
on the model you want.
I had my Echo 24 hours after I ordered it, the eBay store I bought from 
dispatched the item using Australia Post Express Post.
The first thing I had to do was to find a wall adapter to make the supplied 
power supply compatible with our AC mains socket, that done it was just a 
matter of plugging the supply into the mains and connecting to the Echo, the 
power lead plugs into the bottom of the Echo and protrudes from the rear of the 
unit.
Echo will say “Hell” and I think she tells you you’re in setup mode so you know 
you can proceed with the setup which is all done from the Amazon Alexa home 
page.
For those using Echo now and who have it set up the home page is well worth 
exploring if you haven’t done so already, so much there to tweak and see.
Even though I’m in Australia I’ve had little trouble having my Echo recognise 
the voice commands I’ve issued.
There’s a lot I can’t use but a hell of a lot I can, I can use Spotify Premium 
with Echo however I can’t use Amazon’s Unlimited Music Service.
Radio is an oddity I have to admit, I can’t get Echo to tune into many stations 
using voice commands however I can manually have Echo tune into stations if I 
use the Tunein interface from the Echo Home Page so go work that one out, if 
anyone manages to listen to radio 2GB in Sydney Australia with their Echo then 
I’d be interested to know how you did it with voice commands?
The Echo can be paired with an amazon remote controller, has anyone done this?
I’m a little disappointed with the Bluetooth facilities offered, yes you can 
stream to Echo using Bluetooth so that’s nice and handy if you want to use Echo 
as a speaker for your mobile device etc but I’m surprised that Echo can’t 
stream the other way - say stream the output using Bluetooth to a pair of 
Bluetooth headphones etc.
To summarise, this purchase was well worth the while for me and I’m sure I’m 
going to be served well for many years to come, I may even consider buying one 
of the other Echo models such as the Dot, the Tap can be connected to a stereo 
or television, is that right?


On 2 Feb 2017, at 2:15 pm, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:

II am enjoying mine (I have the one that is known as the Tap) mostly listen to 
music on it...but it can do other things like tell you the weather, tell you a 
joke (haven't tried that yet) am sure there's lots of things you can ask her to 
do!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2017 10:05 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Amazon Echo Alexa

Hi!
For those of you who have one of these - can’t say what it is again or the device 
will get upset when its name is called  - then I sincer

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

Have you tried any "Skills" yet? I've tried a few such as 20 questions, 
Mystery Radio Theatre etc.




On 4/02/2017 10:18 AM, Tom Kaufman wrote:

Yep...that's the one; it has a chargeable battery and seems to have good 
battery life; seems to charge up fairly quickly!
Tom

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 3:44 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

And the Tap is the one you have right? Is that battery powered?


On 4 Feb 2017, at 6:13 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:

Dane:  The Dot can be connected to a stereo, but not the Tap.
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:25 AM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Now that I’ve had mine up and running for a little longer than 24 hours I’m 
probably in a better position to reply to this eMail than I was Yesterday.
Firstly a note to anyone in Australia or outside the US or UK who may be 
thinking of going down the Echo path, is it worth it? Well yep, I reckon it is 
and even better is the fact that setup requires no hacks or cracks to be 
applied as was previously the case.
Your Echo will still think you’re somewhere else - Mine thinks I’m in Seattle - 
but I can still get standard time for my local location, this can be set easily 
in settings, in my case I chose the Australian time zone and the NSW Eastern 
Time region, works fine!
If you’re in Australia then probably one of the best places to get an Amazon 
Echo is from eBay, they sell for as little as around $100 Australian depending 
on the model you want.
I had my Echo 24 hours after I ordered it, the eBay store I bought from 
dispatched the item using Australia Post Express Post.
The first thing I had to do was to find a wall adapter to make the supplied 
power supply compatible with our AC mains socket, that done it was just a 
matter of plugging the supply into the mains and connecting to the Echo, the 
power lead plugs into the bottom of the Echo and protrudes from the rear of the 
unit.
Echo will say “Hell” and I think she tells you you’re in setup mode so you know 
you can proceed with the setup which is all done from the Amazon Alexa home 
page.
For those using Echo now and who have it set up the home page is well worth 
exploring if you haven’t done so already, so much there to tweak and see.
Even though I’m in Australia I’ve had little trouble having my Echo recognise 
the voice commands I’ve issued.
There’s a lot I can’t use but a hell of a lot I can, I can use Spotify Premium 
with Echo however I can’t use Amazon’s Unlimited Music Service.
Radio is an oddity I have to admit, I can’t get Echo to tune into many stations 
using voice commands however I can manually have Echo tune into stations if I 
use the Tunein interface from the Echo Home Page so go work that one out, if 
anyone manages to listen to radio 2GB in Sydney Australia with their Echo then 
I’d be interested to know how you did it with voice commands?
The Echo can be paired with an amazon remote controller, has anyone done this?
I’m a little disappointed with the Bluetooth facilities offered, yes you can 
stream to Echo using Bluetooth so that’s nice and handy if you want to use Echo 
as a speaker for your mobile device etc but I’m surprised that Echo can’t 
stream the other way - say stream the output using Bluetooth to a pair of 
Bluetooth headphones etc.
To summarise, this purchase was well worth the while for me and I’m sure I’m 
going to be served well for many years to come, I may even consider buying one 
of the other Echo models such as the Dot, the Tap can be connected to a stereo 
or television, is that right?


On 2 Feb 2017, at 2:15 pm, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:

II am enjoying mine (I have the one that is known as the Tap) mostly listen to 
music on it...but it can do other things like tell you the weather, tell you a 
joke (haven't tried that yet) am sure there's lots of things you can ask her to 
do!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2017 10:05 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Amazon Echo Alexa

Hi!
For those of you who have one of these - can’t say what it is again or the device 
will get upset when its name is called  - then I sincerely hope you’re 
enjoying your as I am mine.
Unfortunately Australia isn’t one of the support country’s for the product yet 
- I’m in Seattle apparently - so I still need to do a little tweaking.

**
Those of a positive and enquiring frame of mind will leave the rest of the 
halfwits in this world behind.





**
Those of a positiv

RE: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Tom Kaufman]

Yep...that's the one; it has a chargeable battery and seems to have good 
battery life; seems to charge up fairly quickly!
Tom

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 3:44 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

And the Tap is the one you have right? Is that battery powered?

> On 4 Feb 2017, at 6:13 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> Dane:  The Dot can be connected to a stereo, but not the Tap.
> Tom Kaufman
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
> Trethowan
> Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:25 AM
> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
> 
> Now that I’ve had mine up and running for a little longer than 24 hours I’m 
> probably in a better position to reply to this eMail than I was Yesterday.
> Firstly a note to anyone in Australia or outside the US or UK who may be 
> thinking of going down the Echo path, is it worth it? Well yep, I reckon it 
> is and even better is the fact that setup requires no hacks or cracks to be 
> applied as was previously the case.
> Your Echo will still think you’re somewhere else - Mine thinks I’m in Seattle 
> - but I can still get standard time for my local location, this can be set 
> easily in settings, in my case I chose the Australian time zone and the NSW 
> Eastern Time region, works fine!
> If you’re in Australia then probably one of the best places to get an Amazon 
> Echo is from eBay, they sell for as little as around $100 Australian 
> depending on the model you want.
> I had my Echo 24 hours after I ordered it, the eBay store I bought from 
> dispatched the item using Australia Post Express Post.
> The first thing I had to do was to find a wall adapter to make the supplied 
> power supply compatible with our AC mains socket, that done it was just a 
> matter of plugging the supply into the mains and connecting to the Echo, the 
> power lead plugs into the bottom of the Echo and protrudes from the rear of 
> the unit.
> Echo will say “Hell” and I think she tells you you’re in setup mode so you 
> know you can proceed with the setup which is all done from the Amazon Alexa 
> home page.
> For those using Echo now and who have it set up the home page is well worth 
> exploring if you haven’t done so already, so much there to tweak and see.
> Even though I’m in Australia I’ve had little trouble having my Echo recognise 
> the voice commands I’ve issued.
> There’s a lot I can’t use but a hell of a lot I can, I can use Spotify 
> Premium with Echo however I can’t use Amazon’s Unlimited Music Service.
> Radio is an oddity I have to admit, I can’t get Echo to tune into many 
> stations using voice commands however I can manually have Echo tune into 
> stations if I use the Tunein interface from the Echo Home Page so go work 
> that one out, if anyone manages to listen to radio 2GB in Sydney Australia 
> with their Echo then I’d be interested to know how you did it with voice 
> commands?
> The Echo can be paired with an amazon remote controller, has anyone done this?
> I’m a little disappointed with the Bluetooth facilities offered, yes you can 
> stream to Echo using Bluetooth so that’s nice and handy if you want to use 
> Echo as a speaker for your mobile device etc but I’m surprised that Echo 
> can’t stream the other way - say stream the output using Bluetooth to a pair 
> of Bluetooth headphones etc.
> To summarise, this purchase was well worth the while for me and I’m sure I’m 
> going to be served well for many years to come, I may even consider buying 
> one of the other Echo models such as the Dot, the Tap can be connected to a 
> stereo or television, is that right?
> 
>> On 2 Feb 2017, at 2:15 pm, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
>> 
>> II am enjoying mine (I have the one that is known as the Tap) mostly listen 
>> to music on it...but it can do other things like tell you the weather, tell 
>> you a joke (haven't tried that yet) am sure there's lots of things you can 
>> ask her to do!
>> Tom Kaufman
>> 
>> -Original Message-
>> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
>> Trethowan
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2017 10:05 PM
>> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>> Subject: Amazon Echo Alexa
>> 
>> Hi!
>> For those of you who have one of these - can’t say what it is again or the 
>> device will get upset when its name is called  - then I sincerely 
>> hope you

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

Thanks for prompting me to look up reviews for both Tap and Dot, I could 
certainly find uses for both these different devices so time to start saving 
again though both seem quite reasonably priced out here in Australia, one can 
get the Dot Second Generation for about $120 and the Tap for around $170.
As Tom says, the Dot is a bit like the Google Chromecast particularly in shape 
it seems. The Dot has a small built-in speaker so you can talk to Alexa though 
it is intended to work with an existing stereo or speaker system.
There are two big attractions for me with the Dot, the first being that it can 
connect to Bluetooth speakers or headphones.
The second - given it uses a micro USB port for charging - means that the Dot 
can be connected to a USB rechargeable battery pack thus used away from a wall 
outlet, perhaps outdoors with a suitable connected or Bluetooth speaker system.

> On 4 Feb 2017, at 6:13 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> Dane:  The Dot can be connected to a stereo, but not the Tap.
> Tom Kaufman
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
> Trethowan
> Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:25 AM
> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
> 
> Now that I’ve had mine up and running for a little longer than 24 hours I’m 
> probably in a better position to reply to this eMail than I was Yesterday.
> Firstly a note to anyone in Australia or outside the US or UK who may be 
> thinking of going down the Echo path, is it worth it? Well yep, I reckon it 
> is and even better is the fact that setup requires no hacks or cracks to be 
> applied as was previously the case.
> Your Echo will still think you’re somewhere else - Mine thinks I’m in Seattle 
> - but I can still get standard time for my local location, this can be set 
> easily in settings, in my case I chose the Australian time zone and the NSW 
> Eastern Time region, works fine!
> If you’re in Australia then probably one of the best places to get an Amazon 
> Echo is from eBay, they sell for as little as around $100 Australian 
> depending on the model you want.
> I had my Echo 24 hours after I ordered it, the eBay store I bought from 
> dispatched the item using Australia Post Express Post.
> The first thing I had to do was to find a wall adapter to make the supplied 
> power supply compatible with our AC mains socket, that done it was just a 
> matter of plugging the supply into the mains and connecting to the Echo, the 
> power lead plugs into the bottom of the Echo and protrudes from the rear of 
> the unit.
> Echo will say “Hell” and I think she tells you you’re in setup mode so you 
> know you can proceed with the setup which is all done from the Amazon Alexa 
> home page.
> For those using Echo now and who have it set up the home page is well worth 
> exploring if you haven’t done so already, so much there to tweak and see.
> Even though I’m in Australia I’ve had little trouble having my Echo recognise 
> the voice commands I’ve issued.
> There’s a lot I can’t use but a hell of a lot I can, I can use Spotify 
> Premium with Echo however I can’t use Amazon’s Unlimited Music Service.
> Radio is an oddity I have to admit, I can’t get Echo to tune into many 
> stations using voice commands however I can manually have Echo tune into 
> stations if I use the Tunein interface from the Echo Home Page so go work 
> that one out, if anyone manages to listen to radio 2GB in Sydney Australia 
> with their Echo then I’d be interested to know how you did it with voice 
> commands?
> The Echo can be paired with an amazon remote controller, has anyone done this?
> I’m a little disappointed with the Bluetooth facilities offered, yes you can 
> stream to Echo using Bluetooth so that’s nice and handy if you want to use 
> Echo as a speaker for your mobile device etc but I’m surprised that Echo 
> can’t stream the other way - say stream the output using Bluetooth to a pair 
> of Bluetooth headphones etc.
> To summarise, this purchase was well worth the while for me and I’m sure I’m 
> going to be served well for many years to come, I may even consider buying 
> one of the other Echo models such as the Dot, the Tap can be connected to a 
> stereo or television, is that right?
> 
>> On 2 Feb 2017, at 2:15 pm, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
>> 
>> II am enjoying mine (I have the one that is known as the Tap) mostly listen 
>> to music on it...but it can do other things like tell you the weather, tell 
>> you a joke (haven't tried that yet) am sure there's lots of things you can 
>> ask her to do!
>> Tom Kaufman
>> 
>> -Original Message-
>> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-a

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

And the Tap is the one you have right? Is that battery powered?

> On 4 Feb 2017, at 6:13 am, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> Dane:  The Dot can be connected to a stereo, but not the Tap.
> Tom Kaufman
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
> Trethowan
> Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:25 AM
> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
> 
> Now that I’ve had mine up and running for a little longer than 24 hours I’m 
> probably in a better position to reply to this eMail than I was Yesterday.
> Firstly a note to anyone in Australia or outside the US or UK who may be 
> thinking of going down the Echo path, is it worth it? Well yep, I reckon it 
> is and even better is the fact that setup requires no hacks or cracks to be 
> applied as was previously the case.
> Your Echo will still think you’re somewhere else - Mine thinks I’m in Seattle 
> - but I can still get standard time for my local location, this can be set 
> easily in settings, in my case I chose the Australian time zone and the NSW 
> Eastern Time region, works fine!
> If you’re in Australia then probably one of the best places to get an Amazon 
> Echo is from eBay, they sell for as little as around $100 Australian 
> depending on the model you want.
> I had my Echo 24 hours after I ordered it, the eBay store I bought from 
> dispatched the item using Australia Post Express Post.
> The first thing I had to do was to find a wall adapter to make the supplied 
> power supply compatible with our AC mains socket, that done it was just a 
> matter of plugging the supply into the mains and connecting to the Echo, the 
> power lead plugs into the bottom of the Echo and protrudes from the rear of 
> the unit.
> Echo will say “Hell” and I think she tells you you’re in setup mode so you 
> know you can proceed with the setup which is all done from the Amazon Alexa 
> home page.
> For those using Echo now and who have it set up the home page is well worth 
> exploring if you haven’t done so already, so much there to tweak and see.
> Even though I’m in Australia I’ve had little trouble having my Echo recognise 
> the voice commands I’ve issued.
> There’s a lot I can’t use but a hell of a lot I can, I can use Spotify 
> Premium with Echo however I can’t use Amazon’s Unlimited Music Service.
> Radio is an oddity I have to admit, I can’t get Echo to tune into many 
> stations using voice commands however I can manually have Echo tune into 
> stations if I use the Tunein interface from the Echo Home Page so go work 
> that one out, if anyone manages to listen to radio 2GB in Sydney Australia 
> with their Echo then I’d be interested to know how you did it with voice 
> commands?
> The Echo can be paired with an amazon remote controller, has anyone done this?
> I’m a little disappointed with the Bluetooth facilities offered, yes you can 
> stream to Echo using Bluetooth so that’s nice and handy if you want to use 
> Echo as a speaker for your mobile device etc but I’m surprised that Echo 
> can’t stream the other way - say stream the output using Bluetooth to a pair 
> of Bluetooth headphones etc.
> To summarise, this purchase was well worth the while for me and I’m sure I’m 
> going to be served well for many years to come, I may even consider buying 
> one of the other Echo models such as the Dot, the Tap can be connected to a 
> stereo or television, is that right?
> 
>> On 2 Feb 2017, at 2:15 pm, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
>> 
>> II am enjoying mine (I have the one that is known as the Tap) mostly listen 
>> to music on it...but it can do other things like tell you the weather, tell 
>> you a joke (haven't tried that yet) am sure there's lots of things you can 
>> ask her to do!
>> Tom Kaufman
>> 
>> -Original Message-
>> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
>> Trethowan
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2017 10:05 PM
>> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
>> Subject: Amazon Echo Alexa
>> 
>> Hi!
>> For those of you who have one of these - can’t say what it is again or the 
>> device will get upset when its name is called  - then I sincerely 
>> hope you’re enjoying your as I am mine.
>> Unfortunately Australia isn’t one of the support country’s for the product 
>> yet - I’m in Seattle apparently - so I still need to do a little tweaking.
>> 
>> **
>> Those of a positive and enquiring frame of mind will leave the rest of the 
>> halfwits in this world behind.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
> 
> **
> Those of a positive and enquiring frame of mind will leave the rest of the 
> halfwits in this world behind.
> 
> 
> 
> 

**
Those of a positive and enquiring frame of mind will leave the rest of the 
halfwits in this world behind.

RE: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Tom Kaufman]

Dane:  The Dot can be connected to a stereo, but not the Tap.
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 5:25 AM
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Now that I’ve had mine up and running for a little longer than 24 hours I’m 
probably in a better position to reply to this eMail than I was Yesterday.
Firstly a note to anyone in Australia or outside the US or UK who may be 
thinking of going down the Echo path, is it worth it? Well yep, I reckon it is 
and even better is the fact that setup requires no hacks or cracks to be 
applied as was previously the case.
Your Echo will still think you’re somewhere else - Mine thinks I’m in Seattle - 
but I can still get standard time for my local location, this can be set easily 
in settings, in my case I chose the Australian time zone and the NSW Eastern 
Time region, works fine!
If you’re in Australia then probably one of the best places to get an Amazon 
Echo is from eBay, they sell for as little as around $100 Australian depending 
on the model you want.
I had my Echo 24 hours after I ordered it, the eBay store I bought from 
dispatched the item using Australia Post Express Post.
The first thing I had to do was to find a wall adapter to make the supplied 
power supply compatible with our AC mains socket, that done it was just a 
matter of plugging the supply into the mains and connecting to the Echo, the 
power lead plugs into the bottom of the Echo and protrudes from the rear of the 
unit.
Echo will say “Hell” and I think she tells you you’re in setup mode so you know 
you can proceed with the setup which is all done from the Amazon Alexa home 
page.
For those using Echo now and who have it set up the home page is well worth 
exploring if you haven’t done so already, so much there to tweak and see.
Even though I’m in Australia I’ve had little trouble having my Echo recognise 
the voice commands I’ve issued.
There’s a lot I can’t use but a hell of a lot I can, I can use Spotify Premium 
with Echo however I can’t use Amazon’s Unlimited Music Service.
Radio is an oddity I have to admit, I can’t get Echo to tune into many stations 
using voice commands however I can manually have Echo tune into stations if I 
use the Tunein interface from the Echo Home Page so go work that one out, if 
anyone manages to listen to radio 2GB in Sydney Australia with their Echo then 
I’d be interested to know how you did it with voice commands?
The Echo can be paired with an amazon remote controller, has anyone done this?
I’m a little disappointed with the Bluetooth facilities offered, yes you can 
stream to Echo using Bluetooth so that’s nice and handy if you want to use Echo 
as a speaker for your mobile device etc but I’m surprised that Echo can’t 
stream the other way - say stream the output using Bluetooth to a pair of 
Bluetooth headphones etc.
To summarise, this purchase was well worth the while for me and I’m sure I’m 
going to be served well for many years to come, I may even consider buying one 
of the other Echo models such as the Dot, the Tap can be connected to a stereo 
or television, is that right?

> On 2 Feb 2017, at 2:15 pm, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> II am enjoying mine (I have the one that is known as the Tap) mostly listen 
> to music on it...but it can do other things like tell you the weather, tell 
> you a joke (haven't tried that yet) am sure there's lots of things you can 
> ask her to do!
> Tom Kaufman
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
> Trethowan
> Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2017 10:05 PM
> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Subject: Amazon Echo Alexa
> 
> Hi!
> For those of you who have one of these - can’t say what it is again or the 
> device will get upset when its name is called  - then I sincerely hope 
> you’re enjoying your as I am mine.
> Unfortunately Australia isn’t one of the support country’s for the product 
> yet - I’m in Seattle apparently - so I still need to do a little tweaking.
> 
> **
> Those of a positive and enquiring frame of mind will leave the rest of the 
> halfwits in this world behind.
> 
> 
> 
> 

**
Those of a positive and enquiring frame of mind will leave the rest of the 
halfwits in this world behind.

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

Thanks for this.
I’d never thought of using the Spotify App to stream directly to the Echo or 
Dot but I suppose when you think about it the process makes perfect sense, I’ve 
been giving the Echo voice commands to control Spotify.
I’ve been using IOS/Android Apps to control my lighting and other devices up 
till now so that’s one of my future projects to see how I can get Echo and Dot 
to control those.
Now correct me if I’m wrong, I don’t have a Dot yet so know little about it, 
isn’t the Dot the one that can run on batteries as well as mains power from a 
USB socket?
I’m after a remote control for my Echo but can’t seem to find one right at the 
moment available locally with is a little strange given that the Echo and so on 
are readily available here but not the remotes it seems so will probably have 
to import one.
So what happens Maboy when you say to Echo, “Alexa Play The Pipes!” .

> On 4 Feb 2017, at 1:10 am, John Gurd <j.g...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
> 
> I've got the Echo and the Dot. The nice thing about the Spotify app is that 
> you can pick the device you want to use direct from the app including Echo 
> and even Sonos devices. 
> 
> I use the Echo for catching up with News and radio and I also use it to 
> control the central heating and lights with British Gas Hive controller. I 
> often connect my Echo or Dot to my iPhone via Bluetooth and listen to books 
> from the Voice Dream app. All in all I get a lot out of it. 
> 
> Oh, and I got the remote which I paired to my Echo. I use it if the 
> environment is a bit noisy with the telly on in the background or if I'm 
> sitting further away from the Echo and don't want to raise my voice.
> 
> John
> 
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
> Trethowan
> Sent: 03 February 2017 10:25
> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa
> 
> Now that I’ve had mine up and running for a little longer than 24 hours I’m 
> probably in a better position to reply to this eMail than I was Yesterday.
> Firstly a note to anyone in Australia or outside the US or UK who may be 
> thinking of going down the Echo path, is it worth it? Well yep, I reckon it 
> is and even better is the fact that setup requires no hacks or cracks to be 
> applied as was previously the case.
> Your Echo will still think you’re somewhere else - Mine thinks I’m in Seattle 
> - but I can still get standard time for my local location, this can be set 
> easily in settings, in my case I chose the Australian time zone and the NSW 
> Eastern Time region, works fine!
> If you’re in Australia then probably one of the best places to get an Amazon 
> Echo is from eBay, they sell for as little as around $100 Australian 
> depending on the model you want.
> I had my Echo 24 hours after I ordered it, the eBay store I bought from 
> dispatched the item using Australia Post Express Post.
> The first thing I had to do was to find a wall adapter to make the supplied 
> power supply compatible with our AC mains socket, that done it was just a 
> matter of plugging the supply into the mains and connecting to the Echo, the 
> power lead plugs into the bottom of the Echo and protrudes from the rear of 
> the unit.
> Echo will say “Hell” and I think she tells you you’re in setup mode so you 
> know you can proceed with the setup which is all done from the Amazon Alexa 
> home page.
> For those using Echo now and who have it set up the home page is well worth 
> exploring if you haven’t done so already, so much there to tweak and see.
> Even though I’m in Australia I’ve had little trouble having my Echo recognise 
> the voice commands I’ve issued.
> There’s a lot I can’t use but a hell of a lot I can, I can use Spotify 
> Premium with Echo however I can’t use Amazon’s Unlimited Music Service.
> Radio is an oddity I have to admit, I can’t get Echo to tune into many 
> stations using voice commands however I can manually have Echo tune into 
> stations if I use the Tunein interface from the Echo Home Page so go work 
> that one out, if anyone manages to listen to radio 2GB in Sydney Australia 
> with their Echo then I’d be interested to know how you did it with voice 
> commands?
> The Echo can be paired with an amazon remote controller, has anyone done this?
> I’m a little disappointed with the Bluetooth facilities offered, yes you can 
> stream to Echo using Bluetooth so that’s nice and handy if you want to use 
> Echo as a speaker for your mobile device etc but I’m surprised that Echo 
> can’t stream the other way - say stream the output using Bluetooth to a pair 
> of Bluetooth headphones etc.
> To summarise, this purchase was well worth the while for me and I’m sure I’m 
> going to be se

RE: Amazon Echo Alexa

[John Gurd]

I've got the Echo and the Dot. The nice thing about the Spotify app is that you 
can pick the device you want to use direct from the app including Echo and even 
Sonos devices. 

I use the Echo for catching up with News and radio and I also use it to control 
the central heating and lights with British Gas Hive controller. I often 
connect my Echo or Dot to my iPhone via Bluetooth and listen to books from the 
Voice Dream app. All in all I get a lot out of it. 

Oh, and I got the remote which I paired to my Echo. I use it if the environment 
is a bit noisy with the telly on in the background or if I'm sitting further 
away from the Echo and don't want to raise my voice.

John


-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: 03 February 2017 10:25
To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

Now that I’ve had mine up and running for a little longer than 24 hours I’m 
probably in a better position to reply to this eMail than I was Yesterday.
Firstly a note to anyone in Australia or outside the US or UK who may be 
thinking of going down the Echo path, is it worth it? Well yep, I reckon it is 
and even better is the fact that setup requires no hacks or cracks to be 
applied as was previously the case.
Your Echo will still think you’re somewhere else - Mine thinks I’m in Seattle - 
but I can still get standard time for my local location, this can be set easily 
in settings, in my case I chose the Australian time zone and the NSW Eastern 
Time region, works fine!
If you’re in Australia then probably one of the best places to get an Amazon 
Echo is from eBay, they sell for as little as around $100 Australian depending 
on the model you want.
I had my Echo 24 hours after I ordered it, the eBay store I bought from 
dispatched the item using Australia Post Express Post.
The first thing I had to do was to find a wall adapter to make the supplied 
power supply compatible with our AC mains socket, that done it was just a 
matter of plugging the supply into the mains and connecting to the Echo, the 
power lead plugs into the bottom of the Echo and protrudes from the rear of the 
unit.
Echo will say “Hell” and I think she tells you you’re in setup mode so you know 
you can proceed with the setup which is all done from the Amazon Alexa home 
page.
For those using Echo now and who have it set up the home page is well worth 
exploring if you haven’t done so already, so much there to tweak and see.
Even though I’m in Australia I’ve had little trouble having my Echo recognise 
the voice commands I’ve issued.
There’s a lot I can’t use but a hell of a lot I can, I can use Spotify Premium 
with Echo however I can’t use Amazon’s Unlimited Music Service.
Radio is an oddity I have to admit, I can’t get Echo to tune into many stations 
using voice commands however I can manually have Echo tune into stations if I 
use the Tunein interface from the Echo Home Page so go work that one out, if 
anyone manages to listen to radio 2GB in Sydney Australia with their Echo then 
I’d be interested to know how you did it with voice commands?
The Echo can be paired with an amazon remote controller, has anyone done this?
I’m a little disappointed with the Bluetooth facilities offered, yes you can 
stream to Echo using Bluetooth so that’s nice and handy if you want to use Echo 
as a speaker for your mobile device etc but I’m surprised that Echo can’t 
stream the other way - say stream the output using Bluetooth to a pair of 
Bluetooth headphones etc.
To summarise, this purchase was well worth the while for me and I’m sure I’m 
going to be served well for many years to come, I may even consider buying one 
of the other Echo models such as the Dot, the Tap can be connected to a stereo 
or television, is that right?

> On 2 Feb 2017, at 2:15 pm, Tom Kaufman <tomca...@comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> II am enjoying mine (I have the one that is known as the Tap) mostly listen 
> to music on it...but it can do other things like tell you the weather, tell 
> you a joke (haven't tried that yet) am sure there's lots of things you can 
> ask her to do!
> Tom Kaufman
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
> Trethowan
> Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2017 10:05 PM
> To: PC Audio Discussion List <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
> Subject: Amazon Echo Alexa
> 
> Hi!
> For those of you who have one of these - can’t say what it is again or the 
> device will get upset when its name is called  - then I sincerely hope 
> you’re enjoying your as I am mine.
> Unfortunately Australia isn’t one of the support country’s for the product 
> yet - I’m in Seattle apparently - so I still need to do a little tweaking.
> 
> **
> Those of a positive and enquiring frame of mind will leave the rest of the 
> halfwits 

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

Now that I’ve had mine up and running for a little longer than 24 hours I’m 
probably in a better position to reply to this eMail than I was Yesterday.
Firstly a note to anyone in Australia or outside the US or UK who may be 
thinking of going down the Echo path, is it worth it? Well yep, I reckon it is 
and even better is the fact that setup requires no hacks or cracks to be 
applied as was previously the case.
Your Echo will still think you’re somewhere else - Mine thinks I’m in Seattle - 
but I can still get standard time for my local location, this can be set easily 
in settings, in my case I chose the Australian time zone and the NSW Eastern 
Time region, works fine!
If you’re in Australia then probably one of the best places to get an Amazon 
Echo is from eBay, they sell for as little as around $100 Australian depending 
on the model you want.
I had my Echo 24 hours after I ordered it, the eBay store I bought from 
dispatched the item using Australia Post Express Post.
The first thing I had to do was to find a wall adapter to make the supplied 
power supply compatible with our AC mains socket, that done it was just a 
matter of plugging the supply into the mains and connecting to the Echo, the 
power lead plugs into the bottom of the Echo and protrudes from the rear of the 
unit.
Echo will say “Hell” and I think she tells you you’re in setup mode so you know 
you can proceed with the setup which is all done from the Amazon Alexa home 
page.
For those using Echo now and who have it set up the home page is well worth 
exploring if you haven’t done so already, so much there to tweak and see.
Even though I’m in Australia I’ve had little trouble having my Echo recognise 
the voice commands I’ve issued.
There’s a lot I can’t use but a hell of a lot I can, I can use Spotify Premium 
with Echo however I can’t use Amazon’s Unlimited Music Service.
Radio is an oddity I have to admit, I can’t get Echo to tune into many stations 
using voice commands however I can manually have Echo tune into stations if I 
use the Tunein interface from the Echo Home Page so go work that one out, if 
anyone manages to listen to radio 2GB in Sydney Australia with their Echo then 
I’d be interested to know how you did it with voice commands?
The Echo can be paired with an amazon remote controller, has anyone done this?
I’m a little disappointed with the Bluetooth facilities offered, yes you can 
stream to Echo using Bluetooth so that’s nice and handy if you want to use Echo 
as a speaker for your mobile device etc but I’m surprised that Echo can’t 
stream the other way - say stream the output using Bluetooth to a pair of 
Bluetooth headphones etc.
To summarise, this purchase was well worth the while for me and I’m sure I’m 
going to be served well for many years to come, I may even consider buying one 
of the other Echo models such as the Dot, the Tap can be connected to a stereo 
or television, is that right?

> On 2 Feb 2017, at 2:15 pm, Tom Kaufman  wrote:
> 
> II am enjoying mine (I have the one that is known as the Tap) mostly listen 
> to music on it...but it can do other things like tell you the weather, tell 
> you a joke (haven't tried that yet) am sure there's lots of things you can 
> ask her to do!
> Tom Kaufman
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
> Trethowan
> Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2017 10:05 PM
> To: PC Audio Discussion List 
> Subject: Amazon Echo Alexa
> 
> Hi!
> For those of you who have one of these - can’t say what it is again or the 
> device will get upset when its name is called  - then I sincerely hope 
> you’re enjoying your as I am mine.
> Unfortunately Australia isn’t one of the support country’s for the product 
> yet - I’m in Seattle apparently - so I still need to do a little tweaking.
> 
> **
> Those of a positive and enquiring frame of mind will leave the rest of the 
> halfwits in this world behind.
> 
> 
> 
> 

**
Those of a positive and enquiring frame of mind will leave the rest of the 
halfwits in this world behind.

Re: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Dane Trethowan]

I have the original model, will be getting the smaller Dot in the future, its 
cheap enough.
I have to admit the sound that comes out of that thing is quite surprising 
given the size.

> On 2 Feb 2017, at 2:15 pm, Tom Kaufman  wrote:
> 
> II am enjoying mine (I have the one that is known as the Tap) mostly listen 
> to music on it...but it can do other things like tell you the weather, tell 
> you a joke (haven't tried that yet) am sure there's lots of things you can 
> ask her to do!
> Tom Kaufman
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
> Trethowan
> Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2017 10:05 PM
> To: PC Audio Discussion List 
> Subject: Amazon Echo Alexa
> 
> Hi!
> For those of you who have one of these - can’t say what it is again or the 
> device will get upset when its name is called  - then I sincerely hope 
> you’re enjoying your as I am mine.
> Unfortunately Australia isn’t one of the support country’s for the product 
> yet - I’m in Seattle apparently - so I still need to do a little tweaking.
> 
> **
> Those of a positive and enquiring frame of mind will leave the rest of the 
> halfwits in this world behind.
> 
> 
> 
> 

**
Those of a positive and enquiring frame of mind will leave the rest of the 
halfwits in this world behind.

RE: Amazon Echo Alexa

[Tom Kaufman]

II am enjoying mine (I have the one that is known as the Tap) mostly listen to 
music on it...but it can do other things like tell you the weather, tell you a 
joke (haven't tried that yet) am sure there's lots of things you can ask her to 
do!
Tom Kaufman

-Original Message-
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane 
Trethowan
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2017 10:05 PM
To: PC Audio Discussion List 
Subject: Amazon Echo Alexa

Hi!
For those of you who have one of these - can’t say what it is again or the 
device will get upset when its name is called  - then I sincerely hope 
you’re enjoying your as I am mine.
Unfortunately Australia isn’t one of the support country’s for the product yet 
- I’m in Seattle apparently - so I still need to do a little tweaking.

**
Those of a positive and enquiring frame of mind will leave the rest of the 
halfwits in this world behind.