Hmm. will be interesting to see whether the new version is compatible with other countries outside the U.S. Perhaps I’ve miss-read something but the options described in what you’ve posted sound remarkably similar to what is available already. I myself have been meaning to order one - having set one up already I’m impressed by the performance and functionality - however there’s the Google Home coming and of course Apple TV will offer similar functionality however that will be limited to the Apple TV box itself and not a separate unit.
> On 17 Oct. 2016, at 4:49 am, Gordon Smith <[email protected]> wrote: > > Remember though, these options will apply to the old version. The new one > does not hit the market until 28 October. > > ======================================== > > My compliments and kindest regards > Gordon Smith: > <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> > > Accessibility & Information Technology Support Specialist. > Mobile/SMS: > +44 (0)7907 823971 > > ———————————————————— > > > >> On 16 Oct 2016, at 18:27, Chris Moore <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> >> I love mine, and with the help of wemo switches and ITaTT I have my lights >> automatically coming on at sunset >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> On 16 Oct 2016, at 4:25 pm, Dane Trethowan <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> >>> Hi! >>> I know someone who bought one and he's extremely happy with it though he >>> had to do a little fiddling to have it work properly in Australia. >>> Even now the Echo still doesn't read phone numbers correctly - we have 8 >>> digit phone numbers whereas the U.S. have 7 digit phone numbers. - >>> Part of getting the Echo working correctly was to set it to a location with >>> the same time zone as Australia, Guam was the obvious choice here. >>> Then the problem arose of getting the App from the IOS App store, the Echo >>> App isn't available in Australia so a workaround had to be put into place. >>> I don't recall all of what had to be done now as it was some time ago - >>> I actually posted all the steps required to techno-chat at the time - but >>> now my friend can sign into his account on the web and control the echo >>> from there - well most of it -. >>> As was written in the original mail, there are 3 different echos available >>> right now and a review of each model was in Access World a couple of months >>> ago, turns out the original echo is by far the best one to buy and - from >>> the demos I've heard - I'd be pretty happy with that too. >>> Amazon does have competition from the Google Home device, the Google Home >>> was demonstrated on the BBC Radio 4 Today show a month or so back, I >>> actually heard the demo live, Google is to launch the Home soon. >>> If you'd rather get ahead of the Home and the Echo - and you have an >>> Android phone - then you can either try the Google Allo App or - if you'd >>> rather your Android device be shiny and new with all the features of Amazon >>> Echo and Google Home Built-in - buy a Google Pixel smartphone. >>> >>> On 15/10/2016 6:22 AM, Gordon Smith wrote: >>>> Hello everybody >>>> >>>> I’ve been silently watching this one for about 5 months now, and tonight I >>>> placed an order for one. It isn’t just a speaker that you can listen from, >>>> it’s a “Listener” that you can talk too. You add all your commands >>>> verbally, and you can now have it do quite a wide range of tasks for you. >>>> It’s the first step along the way towards a “Smart” home; read on: >>>> >>>> Amazon's voice-activated smart home speaker is undeniably futuristic, but >>>> it's also practical and accessible. With a rapidly growing slate of >>>> features and integrations, it's easy to get excited about the Echo's >>>> potential. >>>> >>>> THE BAD The Echo's sound quality is uneven at times, with weak bass at >>>> high volumes. The growing list of "Skills" in the Alexa app could also >>>> benefit from better organisation. >>>> >>>> >>>> THE BOTTOM LINE More than a year after its debut, the Echo is smarter than >>>> ever, and one of the best connected home products money can currently buy. >>>> >>>> >>>> Autumn 2016 update >>>> Since introducing the original Amazon Echo in November 2014, Amazon has >>>> continued to refresh and expand its lineup of hands-free, voice-enabled >>>> speakers. In April, the company introduced the Echo >>>> <https://www.cnet.com/products/amazon-echo-dot/>Dot, which is a smaller >>>> version of the Echo, and in September returned with an updated version of >>>> the Dot, simultaneously cutting its price almost in half to $50(US) or £50 >>>> (UK Sterling). >>>> >>>> >>>> This new Echo Dot, has a slightly sleeker design than the original, though >>>> it comes equipped with the same array of seven microphones and advanced >>>> noise-cancelling technology. Amazon says that the new Dot features a more >>>> powerful speech processor, which delivers improved far-field speech >>>> recognition accuracy. It's currently available for preorder and will ship >>>> on 28 October. >>>> >>>> The original, more expensive Echo can fill a room with sound. The Dot >>>> features much of the same functionality as the Echo, just with a less >>>> powerful speaker and a line-out plug on the back. In April, also Amazon >>>> introduced the $130.00 Echo Tap. Because it runs on a battery, you need to >>>> hit a button to initiate interactions; it's less convenient than the >>>> always-listening Echo and Dot, but it's also portable. And once you do >>>> push the button, you can issue voice commands to Alexa, play music from >>>> your phone or stream it over Wi-Fi, check the weather or news, and issue >>>> commands to control your smart home. >>>> >>>> >>>> I can’t wait! I’ve ordered the full Echo, so if there’s interest I shall >>>> produce an extensive audio demonstration to show it off in all its glory. >>>> >>>> ======================================== >>>> >>>> My compliments and kindest regards >>>> Gordon Smith: >>>> <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> >>>> >>>> Accessibility & Information Technology Support Specialist. >>>> Mobile/SMS: >>>> +44 (0)7907 823971 >>>> >>>> ———————————————————— >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> > ********** Those of a positive and enquiring frame of mind will leave the rest of the halfwits in this world behind.
