By: Gordon Kinlaw
iOS 10.0.2
We’ve had 2 minor updates since 10 came out a couple of weeks ago. I hope you are still waiting to update. The first major update is being worked up as I write. Since Apple is jamming the updates on my phone that is filled up with apps, I pretty much had to update. If you can wait until the first major update and maybe the biggest bugs will be gone.
If you didn’t see the notes in the last newsletter, please do not use the movie rental trick with Cleopatra to get phone space. Apple Store changed their rental methods and this option does not work.
Gadget: Amazon Echo $179 and App
I’ve been looking at the Echo for a year and finally decided to jump in. i found a refurbished unit for $140 and it arrived in two days since we have Amazon Prime. I thought it would be handy and I knew the speak sound was very rich and I was correct.
But it’s really AMAZING!!! It does so much more and has a great tone and range. It’s not an expensive Bose speaker but it is as good as a $200 Sonos speaker. (Sonos is a satellite multi-speaker system).
You can see from the graphic to the right that the echo has the ability to access many music sources and IFTTT. I will attempt to list features below, but I’m sure I will understate it’s current and future capabilities. The Echo is about 4″ in diameter and 10” high. There is also a remote control and newly introduced mini satellite version call the DOT. I have a DOT ($49) ordered that I found on sale at $29. The DOT connects to Echo and/or works independently. It appears to be a couple of inches high and does have a speaker. You can DOT your house in strategic areas like bedroom or bath leaving the Echo in the kitchen of living area.
The Echo does not have a battery and so it much be powered by AC at all times. It’s easy to pick up and move to other rooms or locations that are on it’s Wifi list. Multiple devices will play the same music but are totally sync’d.
Features
*Has alarm clock and timer
*Connects to your Google calendar
*Connects to Prime Music, Pandora, Spotify and Tunin and your phone’s music list.
*Has a customizable “News Brief” NPR is default.
*Knows the weather
*Gives driving information and traffic conditions
* Tells jokes
*Answers questions about history and geography
*Converts measurements
* Performs math
*Announces Time
*Reads books to you via Audible.com
*Plays a massive music collection, If you have Prime
*Compiles a grocery list that shows up on your phone
*Orders staple supplies on voice demand (items set up on Amazon grocery)
*Know status of your current Amazon orders
*Reorders an item from your past orders
*Connects with IFTTT, If This Then That, which connect Echo to home control
*And then there is around 1000 apps that can be downloaded to play games, help your kids learn, and provide information like recipes from cooking shows
Commands I Use – and I selected “Echo” vs “Alexa” as the wake-up word. You can use
a whole sentence or just a keyword depending on your experience with Echo.
Echo – time
Echo – weather forecast
Echo – news
Echo – play Jazz
Echo – play WBT (Boston radio news station from Tunin)
Echo – play WHQR
Echo – where’s my stuff (order status)
Echo – Add potato chips to shopping list
Echo – set thermostat to 77 or Set thermostat lower (preset to 2 degrees for 1 hr)
Echo – stop to quit any audio output
Echo – volume higher or lower ( the top of the Echo rotates as a volume control)
Echo – give me a list of radio stations in Fayetteville North Carolina
Echo – restaurants near me
Echo – what is the phone number for San Jose restaurant
Echo – What is the address for Bladen County Hospital, etc. etc.
The APP – free
The app is necessary to setup each (and multiple) Echo & Dot. Setup includes connecting to Wifi, deciding on news briefing content, accessing Music content, adding apps (they call them “Skills”). If you move your Echo to another Wifi zone, you will have to use the app to connect and then the Echo will remember.
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