Amazon Echo

**cyprus** · 14th October 2016

Put some pictures up please.

**akimba** · 14th October 2016

Is that what the FBI woman on MR Robot has as I wondered what it was ;-)

**ss30** · 14th October 2016

Originally Posted by akimba

Is that what the FBI woman on MR Robot has as I wondered what it was ;-)

Yes it is

**akimba** · 14th October 2016

So is Amazons Cortana/Siri then?

**crazyal** · 14th October 2016

Alexa now controls our Lounge/Hallway & Security lights.

Having existing light switches aren't a problem as we simply don't use them any more but nice to have as a backup though in case the internet fails.

How have I lived with this device all these years! Great bit of kit.

**beerman** · 22nd October 2016

Sending mine back. It barely recognises what I've said. It asks me to repeat nearly everything and sometimes when I've asked it to change the temperature it says I have nothing in my to do list. It kind of defeats the object having this lazy mans device if it works 30% of the time. It could do with some work I think.

I've gone back to using a spare tablet with tasker, autovoice and hue, nest and harmony plugins. It works better than the dedicated unit from amazon. The only problem I have is when I say ok google my phone accepts the input too, although it hasn't got the plugins so does nothing apart from give me a random search.

**MHP** · 22nd October 2016

Originally Posted by beerman

Sending mine back. It barely recognises what I've said. It asks me to repeat nearly everything and sometimes when I've asked it to change the temperature it says I have nothing in my to do list. It kind of defeats the object having this lazy mans device if it works 30% of the time. It could do with some work I think.

I've gone back to using a spare tablet with tasker, autovoice and hue, nest and harmony plugins. It works better than the dedicated unit from amazon. The only problem I have is when I say ok google my phone accepts the input too, although it hasn't got the plugins so does nothing apart from give me a random search.

Sounds like you've got a duff one or you've got some acoustic issues in the area of your home where the Echo is setup. Voice recognition on mine is excellent it's just the lack of UK skills at the moment that's letting it down. I'm sure Amazon will exchange it, I'm sticking with mine because I can see the possibilities.

**maltloaf** · 23rd October 2016

OK guys, I'm all for tech and even pointless tech but I don't see the slightest point in this.

Controlling your lights is all well and good but if you're going into the hallway and want the lights on isn't it easier to just hit the switch rather than talk to your assistant ?

Someone sell it to me as if I'm a granny in Curry's looking for a present for her grandson. What does it do that's cool ? (so I can sell it to the missus) lol.

cheers,

malty

**Squizza** · 23rd October 2016

I find it really useful for telling me the latest news, boosting the heating (Hive), playing music, setting reminders.

The playing music part is excellent. Simply just asking for a song/album/radio station without having to get your phone out, messing around with something is brilliant.

I would say get a Dot to start and plug it into a speaker you have and try it out! The Dot's speaker is about as good as a tablet speaker no more. But for a bedroom device it is great.