To be honest I don’t know whether I’d make all that use of the onboard storage of the Apple TV. The idea of the storage is to download Apps? Last time I heard there weren’t too many IOSTV Apps that were accessible or useable by blind people so - if that’s indeed the case - then onboard storage isn’t gong to be an important issue, something I’ll have to research before purchasing. Sound quality - strange as it may seem - may not be a pressing issue for me either given I wish to use the Apple TV as an Apple Homekit hub, plenty of time to find out the pros and cons.
********** “For the gardener nothing is more handier than bulbs, I mean the 1’s you put in the ground and not the electric light 1’s.” > On 17 Nov 2017, at 3:11 am, Gordon Smith <gor...@mac-access.net> wrote: > > To be utterly fair, I own a third generation Apple TV, and I find it off > great use. However, I am contemplating an upgrade for no other reason than > the improvement in sound quality it brings. I believe the onboard storage has > also be increased. > > ======================================== > > My compliments and kindest regards > Gordon Smith: > <gor...@mac-access.net <mailto:gor...@mac-access.net>> > Accessibility & Information Technology Support Specialist.. > > This Message Was Created Using 100% Recycled Electrons. If you can avoid > printing it, please do so. Think of the environment, save a tree! > > Contact: > > • UK Free Phone: > 0800 8620538 > • UK Geographic / Global: > +44(0) 1642 688095 > • UK Mobile/SMS: > +44 (0)7804 983849 > • Vic. Australia: > +61 38 82059300 > • US/Canada: > +1 646 9151493 > > ---------------------------------------- > > > > > > > > > On 15 Nov 2017, at 15:18, Dane Trethowan <grtd...@internode.on.net > <mailto:grtd...@internode.on.net>> wrote: > > I’m mystified as to why the Echo Tap isn’t available in the United Kingdom, > would save you heaps of money and time buying all these battery bases. > The device that sounds mild interesting to me right now is the Google Home > Max which will be available shortly. > Good to see the Amazon Echo+ has a lie out so perhaps in time Amazon will see > fit to have that line out jack a digital connection as well as an analog one. > Now I have to admit that - for the first time - I’m thinking of purchasing an > Apple TV 4K as I’m toying with the idea of setting up a Homekit Hub. > I already have some home automation in my house in the form of the Demo light > bulbs and I can control these with Google Home. > There are some interesting Homekit compatible devices around such as an > indoor sensor that measures air quality etc, you can use SIRI to ask for > measurements such as indoor temperature and so on. > > > ********** > “For the gardener nothing is more handier than bulbs, I mean the 1’s you put > in the ground and not the electric light 1’s.” > > > > >> On 15 Nov 2017, at 11:56 pm, Gordon Smith <gor...@mac-access.net >> <mailto:gor...@mac-access.net>> wrote: >> >> Another subtle difference I forgot to mention is that the Plus has a line >> output, whereas the Echo does not. I’m off to look for a battery base >> actually, similar to the ones I have for the Echo and for the Dot. >> >> I’m quite surprised that Amazon haven’t yet established a presence over >> there. I would have thought that there is quite a market. >> >> ======================================== >> >> My compliments and kindest regards >> Gordon Smith: >> <gor...@mac-access.net <mailto:gor...@mac-access.net>> >> Accessibility & Information Technology Support Specialist.. >> >> This Message Was Created Using 100% Recycled Electrons. If you can avoid >> printing it, please do so. Think of the environment, save a tree! >> >> Contact: >> >> • UK Free Phone: >> 0800 8620538 >> • UK Geographic / Global: >> +44(0) 1642 688095 >> • UK Mobile/SMS: >> +44 (0)7804 983849 >> • Vic. Australia: >> +61 38 82059300 >> • US/Canada: >> +1 646 9151493 >> >> ---------------------------------------- >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On 14 Nov 2017, at 21:16, Dane Trethowan <grtd...@internode.on.net >> <mailto:grtd...@internode.on.net>> wrote: >> >> Interesting. >> >> I've decided to hold back on any further Amazon Echo purchases until Amazon >> officially start their services in Australia, that won't be too much longer >> in coming. >> >> >> >> On 11/15/2017 7:39 AM, Gordon Smith wrote: >>> Just to clarify. I said that the audio hasn’t changed much. Not true. My >>> error, when writing the message I posted a few moments ago, was that I >>> forgot that I’d tried them both in the same room conditions previously, and >>> noticed the difference. On my last test, I had them in totally separate >>> rooms, which moves the goal posts. As I said below, the speakers have >>> indeed been upgraded. >>> >>> Regarding the Echo Show, I think that there are probably better ways of >>> accomplishing an upgrade, without losing accessibility. Several >>> manufacturers are now producing speaker products with Alexa built-in. So >>> look around before buying an Echo Show. >>> >>> ======================================== >>> >>> My compliments and kindest regards >>> Gordon Smith: >>> <gor...@mac-access.net <mailto:gor...@mac-access.net>> >>> Accessibility & Information Technology Support Specialist.. >>> >>> This Message Was Created Using 100% Recycled Electrons. If you can avoid >>> printing it, please do so. Think of the environment, save a tree! >>> >>> Contact: >>> >>> • UK Free Phone: >>> 0800 8620538 >>> • UK Geographic / Global: >>> +44(0) 1642 688095 >>> • UK Mobile/SMS: >>> +44 (0)7804 983849 >>> • Vic. Australia: >>> +61 38 82059300 >>> • US/Canada: >>> +1 646 9151493 >>> >>> ---------------------------------------- >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On 10 Nov 2017, at 10:00, Kulvinder Singh Bhogal <kbhog...@btinternet.com >>> <mailto:kbhog...@btinternet.com>> wrote: >>> >>> Hi there Gordon >>> >>> Thanks for the review. >>> >>> you have just helped me decide against getting the Show since it isn’t >>> going to be all that useful to me. >>> >>> Thanks again and keep it coming sur. >>> >>> Regards. >>> >>> Kulvinder Bhogal >>> E-mail: kbhog...@btinternet.com <mailto:kbhog...@btinternet.com> >>> Facetime: kulvinder.bho...@techie.com <mailto:kulvinder.bho...@techie.com> >>> Skypename: bobba2006 >>> >>>> On 9 Nov 2017, at 18:10, Gordon Smith <gor...@mac-access.net >>>> <mailto:gor...@mac-access.net>> wrote: >>>> >>>> Hello everybody >>>> >>>> Yesterday I took delivery of my new Echo+, which has relegated the >>>> previous generation Echo to my bedside table, and my Echo Dot too my >>>> studio. Both will still be used a lot, so I’m not worried about that. >>>> >>>> Downstairs, here in the lounge, the Echo+ now sits beside my multimedia >>>> equipment. So here are my initial impressions of the Echo+. >>>> >>>> If you got your hands on an Echo+, and sat it beside an Echo, you wouldn’t >>>> be able to tell them apart. Not, at least, without examining the silicone >>>> sheet that they both sit upon. The power connectors are the same, but >>>> orientated at right-angles to one another. In the case of the Echo, the >>>> power connector protrudes from the back of the case, indented from the >>>> outer rim of the case. On the Echo+, the power connector is mounted on the >>>> rim of the case, and the indentation does not even exist. >>>> >>>> In every other respect, the appearance of the two devices are absolutely >>>> identical. >>>> >>>> Another difference is that the Echo previous generation had 7 discrete >>>> microphones. The new generation of Echo and Echo+ has 8. Tests have proven >>>> that this is quite an important addition. Even >>>> with music playing at a considerable volume, the Alexa interface can still >>>> detect your voice and comprehend your commands. >>>> >>>> The processor in the new generation of Alexa-based devices has been >>>> upgraded. It now seems to be somewhat more responsive. This shows up most >>>> when you compare the new Echo and Echo+ to the second generation Echo Dot. >>>> But that doesn’t particularly worry me. >>>> >>>> There are two reasons why I opted to go for the Echo+ rather than the >>>> Echo. Firstly, I’m not convinced that an upgrade, new for old, would have >>>> been particularly advantageous. The Echo+ has an integrated Smart Hub, >>>> meaning that it’s no longer necessary to “bridge” an external hub to >>>> support those smart devices that need a hub. Not all of them do, of course. >>>> >>>> But the real reason why I upgraded was the quality of the audio. The >>>> speaker system has been upgraded, and the audio is now much more rich at >>>> the top end, and deep at the lower end of the spectrum. >>>> >>>> Setup was a piece of cake. Because I already have an Amazon account, the >>>> device was pre-registered for me. All I had to do was to set up the WiFi, >>>> Bluetooth® and Voice Remote, the latter of which I have hijacked from the >>>> Echo Dot, where it never really worked too well anyway. >>>> >>>> I’ve only had the device for just over 24 hours. But really, configuration >>>> was like home from home. It took me no more than 2 minutes in the Alexa >>>> app to get the thing set the way I wanted it set. >>>> >>>> I’m not about to start raving about how good the device is. Yes, as I >>>> said, there are advantages. However, unless the quality of the audio in >>>> the previous generation Echo really grates you, (and I can’t imagine why >>>> it would), and unless you are particularly in need of a smart hub, it’s >>>> probably not worth upgrading. In actual fact, I’m not really sure why >>>> Amazon bothered with the Echo upgrade. As in the Echo, not the Echo+. >>>> Upgrading from the previous generation Echo which, I think, was the second >>>> generation to the current generation Echo is, to my mind, completely >>>> vacuous. I had originally planned to go for an Echo Sow. But I bottled out >>>> because of the possibility that some of the more used commands might have >>>> been visual. But that is apparently not the case. Amazon tell me that >>>> although their quick start guide discusses setup using the touch screen, >>>> it can in fact be performed using the Alexa app just like any other echo. >>>> >>>> Thereafter, the Touch screen is an optional extra. The primary use of the >>>> screen is just to display video content. There is also a 5MP camera which >>>> can be used for video calls and chat. The Show has twin 4.9-Inch woofers, >>>> and twin side-facing tweeters which, if memory serves, are 2.6-inch. It >>>> also uses ambient audio, meaning it adjusts the audio to suit the >>>> characteristics of the room in which it is in use. This is one facet which >>>> it shares with the Google Home Max. >>>> >>>> Whether I decide to go for a Show at a later date is, at this time, very >>>> much in the lap of the gods. But I would doubt it. I think that >>>> their are other options which, were I in the market for >>>> another speaker system, I would opt for in preference to the Echo Show. >>>> >>>> Just my thoughts, for whatever they’re worth. >>>> >>>> >>>> ======================================== >>>> >>>> My compliments and kindest regards >>>> Gordon Smith: >>>> <gor...@mac-access.net <mailto:gor...@mac-access.net>> >>>> Accessibility & Information Technology Support Specialist.. >>>> >>>> This Message Was Created Using 100% Recycled Electrons. If you can avoid >>>> printing it, please do so. Think of the environment, save a tree! >>>> >>>> Contact: >>>> >>>> • UK Free Phone: >>>> 0800 8620538 >>>> • UK Geographic / Global: >>>> +44(0) 1642 688095 >>>> • UK Mobile/SMS: >>>> +44 (0)7804 983849 >>>> • Vic. Australia: >>>> +61 38 82059300 >>>> • US/Canada: >>>> +1 646 9151493 >>>> >>>> ---------------------------------------- >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >> >> -- >> >> ********** >> "For the gardener nothing is more handier than bulbs, I mean the one's you >> put in the ground and not the electric light one's." >> ********** >> > >
