Hello everybody I just posted about the Google ChromeCast Ultra to this group. Unfortunately, I accidentally clicked on Send before modifying an old draft to update information.
So, if you’ll pardon my indiscretion, I shall update that now, for the sake of completeness. The ChromeCast Ultra is, in fact, already available. I have one on order right now. It is fully accessible via the “Cast” app on the Play Store. That’s how you set them up. I saw one just this morning and I nearly fell on the floor when I saw the size and build of the device. All I can say is that I wish other brands would follow Google’s example. This is also born out by the Google Home, one of which I already own. On the subject of the Home, several so-called knowledgeable people said to me, “You’v e wasted your money! You’ll never get that to work in the UK because the network parameters are so radically different”, and other such things. All I can say is don’t listen to the salesman, he’s not an expert. Well, neither am I if truth be told, although I do happen to have quite a bit of networking knowledge. Anyway, with a few small modifications to my network, (very small ones), I was able to get the Home talking to my router just fine. All I had to do was to force the router to utilise the 5.whatever the hell it is GHZ band by default. Actually the US Wi-Fi is quite a bit more bandwidth intensive than ours. This brings up obvious advantages, of which both range and speed of access are just two. However, be that as it may, I have been able to kid the Google Home that my default location is in the US and, accordingly, get it to work. But here’s the clever bit, well OK, maybe not quite so clever. I was able to tell the Home to search based on my IP address. My IP address is an obvious UK one, so accordingly, the Home now goes away and starts searching UK resources for things like fast food, electronics supplies and other generic web resources. So, all I do is say: “Hey, Google” or, “OK, Google! Where can I get an Indian curry?” OK, Google!” Or: “Hey, Google” are the two “Wake phrases” which trigger the device into action. Just utter those words, (either combination), and tell her what you want her to search for! Invariably, she’ll find something, just like doing a search on the website. And all this is voice activated, so you don’t need to lift a finger in order to have something done. Your wish is her command or, as isn my own home, my wish is her command! She can even play music using your Spotify premium account, and much much more. In comparison to my other little friend, the Amazon Echo’ and Echo Dot, There core functionality is similar, yet it isn’t the same. The Amazon device is, as would be the way of Amazon, quite commercially oriented. There are, of course, things that you can do with the Echo which do not entail any commerce at all. Very many things, actually. The Echo can, for instance, integrate with your Audible library, and stream your books directly. It can play music from both your own music library, or else from the Amazon Music Unlimited streaming service. Both of which work very well. And the forty-million songs which Amazon claim to have available is certainly surreal! I have used many different formats of music throughout my testing of the devices. I’ve just completed a report for a commercial client actually on the relative worth of both of these devices. I cam by my own Google Home based on that client’s need for informed and objective evaluation. And that, is something which, I hope, I have now been able to provide. Aesthetically speaking, the Google device is much more pleasing than the taller and more substantial Echo. Both, however, have 360-degrees surround-sound speakers and both devices produce exceedingly excellent audio. The Echo has an easy-to-see ring of multi-coloured LEDs on the top of the device, which change colour depending upon what the device is doing. When you’re configuring the device, for instance, the ring glows orange. When you’re using the divide it changes to red and green. For example, when you issue it a command, if it finds something that it believes is a match for your voice command, it glows green. If no match is found, it glows red for a couple of seconds whilst it sadly and mournfully informs you of the lack of information. There are three other variants of the Echo. The Echo Dot, (more about that in a moment), the Echo Tap, (at least, I think that’s what it’s called), and the Echo Touch. The Tap and the Touch are used in conjunction with some kind of video output, and as well as spoken commands they also support multi-action gestures. However, I don’t personally own those devices, as I have no use for them. The full-sized Echo incorporates no less than seven microphones, strategically positioned around the device, so that every directly and every nook and cranny in your room is covered. Now, the Echo Dot. This device is almost the same size as the aforementioned Google ChromeCast Ultra. It fits easily into the palm of the hand, and can also be purchased with a custom case, to protect the plastic edges of the device from being scratched or bumped. There are two cases; black leather, (feels a bit like an elephant’s rump, to be honest), and either Black or Red Nylon. The Dot only has a single speaker, and a single omnidirectional microphone. But essentially, in every other respect, the Dot is the same as the big brother, or should that be sister! For those who are paranoid about machines listening to every word they utter, there is a “Cut-off” button for the microphone or microphones on all of these devices. However, there is one element of the Echo which I found somewhat alarming. Because of the Echo’s integration with Amazon, it is possible to have it place orders using your Amazon account. There is, as far as I know, no way to disable this, and no password option that I’ve discovered. That isn’t to say that there isn’t an option , I just haven’t found it. I tested this out by re-purchasing another of a device that I’d already bought. I wanted one any way so it wasn’t an issue. But all the same, I was at no time prompted to log in or to enter a password. It just used my default payment option to execute the transaction. That, to me at least, is a horrible oversight which I have taken up with the Amazon customer services personnel and on which I am awaiting a response. If and when I receive one I shall certain let the group know ifs, for no other reason, only to allay any concerns. Of course, if any other member of the group who owns one of these things knows more on this point, I would be most receptive to that information. In summary then, three great devices all things considered. My daily life has changed dramatically since I started using them. Speech recognition on all devices is unsurpassed. Finally, I have yet to acquire any smart switchable devices so have not yet tried out those skills. But all of these devices are updated daily, firmware updates happen seamlessly and quietly so as not to disturb your daily activities. Back to the ChromeCast Ultra, I shall comment in detail on that device too when I receive and have got it up and running. ======================================== My compliments and kindest regards Gordon Smith: <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> Accessibility & Information Technology Support Specialist. Mobile/SMS: +44 (0)7907 823971 ————————————————————
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