Re: Amazon Echo devices

[Denny Schwab]

Hi,

What does the hub in the Echo Plus give you?  We have an Echo Dot
currently, and were planning on getting a few more since we were
liking it so far.  We are also getting two Nest Learning Thermostats,
a Roku, a Roomba, and a few other items that say they work with Alexa.
Do we need the hub to work with these other devices, or will the Echo
Dot do just fine?  We don't really care about the speaker quality,
since we too have the Sonos around the house.

Denny

On 11/20/17, Sieghard Weitzel <siegh...@live.ca> wrote:
> Mich,
>
> A quick Google search for “Amazon Echo on BestBuy.ca” gave me a link to the
> “Amazon Echo Store” on the canadian Best Buy
> site<https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/echo-store.aspx?icmp=echo-pdp-bar> where
> you apparently can also preorder any of the 3 Echo speakers for the
> introductory price.
> I would still order from Amazon directly, though, it’s their product and
> they offer a great return policy so why not get it from them.
>
> Take care,
> Sieghard
>
> From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf
> Of mi...@eastlink.ca
> Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2017 9:05 PM
> To: viphone@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Re: Amazon Echo devices
>
> hi i would also like to know this info as well. i also would like to know if
> these deals on the ecco are only on amazon or they also on places like best
> buy and stuff as well? the reason i ask is because with best buy i can use
> paypal and i can’t with amazon the reason why this is importent is because i
> can’t use my card right now. so that is my only option. from Mich.
>
> From: Sieghard Weitzel
> Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2017 11:50 PM
> To: viphone@googlegroups.com<mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com>
> Subject: Amazon Echo devices
>
> Hi,
>
> As Alexa is going to finally make it to Canada on December 5,
> Amazon.ca now has the Echo Dot, Echo and Echo Plus for sale at a special
> preorder price.
>
> Could some of you from the States or other countries where Alexa has been
> available explain a bit why I might want to own at least one Echo Plus which
> it is said has a built-in smart home hub? Or do I even want one of these?
> How is the sound on the Echo Dot, I understand it is meant to be connected
> to other speakers or maybe even a receiver, but there is also mention that
> it has a small built-in speaker, is that pretty OK for say listening to
> Podcasts or an Audible book?
> I am still potentially looking at buying a sonos 1 as well, but for some
> reason I thought the Echo speakers were more expensive so especially the
> echo Dot at an introductory price of $49.99 Canadian (regularly $69.99 after
> the introductory special is over) might be a good choice. The regular Echo
> is on for $99.99 (regular price will be $129.99 and the Echo Plus is on for
> $169.99 (regular $199.99).
> I like the fact that all speakers apparently have a 3.5mm output jack and
> also can send audio to a bluetooth headset. This might totally be the way
> how I might listen to Audible books, insjtead of having to use my iPhone
> with headset when I go to bed I could have an Echo Dot or Echo beside the
> bed and use it either with a wired or bluetooth headset.
> It also mentions any of the Echo speakers can do “Free audio calls to
> Canada, the US and Mexico”. Does this mean I can tell it to call a
> particular number just like I tell SIRI or can it even call a business just
> by saying call so and so company?
>
> Best regards,
> Sieghard
>
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RE: Amazon Echo devices

[Sieghard Weitzel]

Mich,

A quick Google search for “Amazon Echo on BestBuy.ca” gave me a link to the 
“Amazon Echo Store” on the canadian Best Buy 
site<https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/echo-store.aspx?icmp=echo-pdp-bar> where you 
apparently can also preorder any of the 3 Echo speakers for the introductory 
price.
I would still order from Amazon directly, though, it’s their product and they 
offer a great return policy so why not get it from them.

Take care,
Sieghard

From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of 
mi...@eastlink.ca
Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2017 9:05 PM
To: viphone@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo devices

hi i would also like to know this info as well. i also would like to know if 
these deals on the ecco are only on amazon or they also on places like best buy 
and stuff as well? the reason i ask is because with best buy i can use paypal 
and i can’t with amazon the reason why this is importent is because i can’t use 
my card right now. so that is my only option. from Mich.

From: Sieghard Weitzel
Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2017 11:50 PM
To: viphone@googlegroups.com<mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Amazon Echo devices

Hi,

As Alexa is going to finally make it to Canada on December 5,
Amazon.ca now has the Echo Dot, Echo and Echo Plus for sale at a special 
preorder price.

Could some of you from the States or other countries where Alexa has been 
available explain a bit why I might want to own at least one Echo Plus which it 
is said has a built-in smart home hub? Or do I even want one of these?
How is the sound on the Echo Dot, I understand it is meant to be connected to 
other speakers or maybe even a receiver, but there is also mention that it has 
a small built-in speaker, is that pretty OK for say listening to Podcasts or an 
Audible book?
I am still potentially looking at buying a sonos 1 as well, but for some reason 
I thought the Echo speakers were more expensive so especially the echo Dot at 
an introductory price of $49.99 Canadian (regularly $69.99 after the 
introductory special is over) might be a good choice. The regular Echo is on 
for $99.99 (regular price will be $129.99 and the Echo Plus is on for $169.99 
(regular $199.99).
I like the fact that all speakers apparently have a 3.5mm output jack and also 
can send audio to a bluetooth headset. This might totally be the way how I 
might listen to Audible books, insjtead of having to use my iPhone with headset 
when I go to bed I could have an Echo Dot or Echo beside the bed and use it 
either with a wired or bluetooth headset.
It also mentions any of the Echo speakers can do “Free audio calls to Canada, 
the US and Mexico”. Does this mean I can tell it to call a particular number 
just like I tell SIRI or can it even call a business just by saying call so and 
so company?

Best regards,
Sieghard

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RE: Amazon Echo devices

[Sieghard Weitzel]

Thanks, Deb, that was a very good summary and I am glad you mentioned that I 
could plug an Echo Dot into Sonos.
I did sort of read a bit more after I sent my message and read about the Echo 
Plus. We have a bunch of Philipps Hue lights and while I am not totally sure 
about this, it sounds almost like you wouldn't need the Philipps Hue bridge if 
you have an Echo Plus with the smart home hub, but then again we of course 
already have the Philipps Hue Bridge and I also assume that if I removed it 
maybe the lights wouldn't respond to SIRI any more?
I forgot about the Tap, it was  not even listed, but it sounds from what you 
said it's still being developed?
I think I will probably order one of each, an Echo Plus which for $169 right 
now also comes with 1 Philipps Hue bulb as a bonus and then we'll probably get 
an echo and a Dot and this way we can just test them and use them for a week or 
so and I assume Amazon's return policy applies if we decide we don't need the 
Echo Plus, for example. I am not overly concerned with the sound quality since 
we do have Sonos throughout the house and while at $169.99 the Echo Plus is 
still $70 cheaper than a Sonos 1, I believe we might get more use out of the 
Sonos 1.
I like the idea of the intercom function, I think they call it Drop In, where 
you can just ask Alexa to drop in with another Echo in your house and you can 
talk just as with an intercom.
Might even get a couple of Echo Dot at my store to use them for that, even if 
you primarily use it as an Intercom for $49.99/each that is not bad at all.
I have a feeling that if these things work as good as I expect they will that 
for using them for our Hue lights and the new Honeywell Lyrick T5 thermostat I 
should get in a week or so these will be easier to use than SIRI via the phone 
since they are always there ready to be used. Yes, Hey SIRI works well on the 
phone as well, but often I have my phone in my pocket or belt holster and Hey 
SIRI works only if the phone's screen isn't covered.

Regards,
Sieghard

-Original Message-
From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of 
Deb Lewis
Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2017 9:44 PM
To: viphone@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo devices

I believe the deals are only on Amazon but the easiest way to figure that out 
is to check other sites.
OK. So here's my run down on the Echo family.
If you want to use A for smart home stuff I highly recommend one Echo Plus so 
you'll ahve the hub built in. It's a lot of crap otherwise.
But it's really easy and efficient with the plus. You only need one Plus. Once 
you've got a hub, everything else will use it. Kind of like a router for your 
modem. Th ePlus is the best sounding Echo as well so all in all I'd go for that.
So then the real question is about the Echo 2 aqnd the dots. Dots are 
inexpensive, they'll sound cheap because they have no base at all. But you can 
plug them into something else including your Sonos, so that's OK. Amazon thinks 
you should just put htose around. So again, depending on how smart you plan to 
make your home, Dots are useful to ut in rooms where she needs to hear you give 
a command to something.
The Echo 2 sounds much better than the dot but not as good as the plus. It's 
twice the price of the Dot in the states and you don't quite get what you pay 
for. But still, if you're going to actually listen to music on it and if you're 
not plugging into something else, they're significantly better than the Dot.
The Tap is still in production too. It sounds pretty good. Not quite as good as 
the Plus but actually better then the Echo 2 I think. And it's portable. But it 
has limitations with respect to your smart home plan.

On 11/19/17, mi...@eastlink.ca <mi...@eastlink.ca> wrote:
> hi i would also like to know this info as well. i also would like to 
> know if these deals on the ecco are only on amazon or they also on 
> places like best buy and stuff as well? the reason i ask is because 
> with best buy i can use paypal and i can’t with amazon the reason why 
> this is importent is because i can’t use my card right now. so that is my 
> only option. from Mich.
>
> From: Sieghard Weitzel
> Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2017 11:50 PM
> To: viphone@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Amazon Echo devices
>
> Hi,
>
>
>
> As Alexa is going to finally make it to Canada on December 5,
>
> Amazon.ca now has the Echo Dot, Echo and Echo Plus for sale at a 
> special preorder price.
>
>
>
> Could some of you from the States or other countries where Alexa has 
> been available explain a bit why I might want to own at least one Echo 
> Plus which it is said has a built-in smart home hub? Or do I even want one of 
> these?
>
> How is the sound on the Echo Dot, I understand it is meant to be 
> connected to other speakers or maybe even a receiver, but there is 
> also mention that it 

Re: Amazon Echo devices

[Deb Lewis]

I believe the deals are only on Amazon but the easiest way to figure
that out is to check other sites.
OK. So here's my run down on the Echo family.
If you want to use A for smart home stuff I highly recommend one Echo
Plus so you'll ahve the hub built in. It's a lot of crap otherwise.
But it's really easy and efficient with the plus. You only need one
Plus. Once you've got a hub, everything else will use it. Kind of like
a router for your modem. Th ePlus is the best sounding Echo as well so
all in all I'd go for that.
So then the real question is about the Echo 2 aqnd the dots. Dots are
inexpensive, they'll sound cheap because they have no base at all. But
you can plug them into something else including your Sonos, so that's
OK. Amazon thinks you should just put htose around. So again,
depending on how smart you plan to make your home, Dots are useful to
ut in rooms where she needs to hear you give a command to something.
The Echo 2 sounds much better than the dot but not as good as the
plus. It's twice the price of the Dot in the states and you don't
quite get what you pay for. But still, if you're going to actually
listen to music on it and if you're not plugging into something else,
they're significantly better than the Dot.
The Tap is still in production too. It sounds pretty good. Not quite
as good as the Plus but actually better then the Echo 2 I think. And
it's portable. But it has limitations with respect to your smart home
plan.

On 11/19/17, mi...@eastlink.ca  wrote:
> hi i would also like to know this info as well. i also would like to know if
> these deals on the ecco are only on amazon or they also on places like best
> buy and stuff as well? the reason i ask is because with best buy i can use
> paypal and i can’t with amazon the reason why this is importent is because i
> can’t use my card right now. so that is my only option. from Mich.
>
> From: Sieghard Weitzel
> Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2017 11:50 PM
> To: viphone@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Amazon Echo devices
>
> Hi,
>
>
>
> As Alexa is going to finally make it to Canada on December 5,
>
> Amazon.ca now has the Echo Dot, Echo and Echo Plus for sale at a special
> preorder price.
>
>
>
> Could some of you from the States or other countries where Alexa has been
> available explain a bit why I might want to own at least one Echo Plus which
> it is said has a built-in smart home hub? Or do I even want one of these?
>
> How is the sound on the Echo Dot, I understand it is meant to be connected
> to other speakers or maybe even a receiver, but there is also mention that
> it has a small built-in speaker, is that pretty OK for say listening to
> Podcasts or an Audible book?
>
> I am still potentially looking at buying a sonos 1 as well, but for some
> reason I thought the Echo speakers were more expensive so especially the
> echo Dot at an introductory price of $49.99 Canadian (regularly $69.99 after
> the introductory special is over) might be a good choice. The regular Echo
> is on for $99.99 (regular price will be $129.99 and the Echo Plus is on for
> $169.99 (regular $199.99).
>
> I like the fact that all speakers apparently have a 3.5mm output jack and
> also can send audio to a bluetooth headset. This might totally be the way
> how I might listen to Audible books, insjtead of having to use my iPhone
> with headset when I go to bed I could have an Echo Dot or Echo beside the
> bed and use it either with a wired or bluetooth headset.
>
> It also mentions any of the Echo speakers can do “Free audio calls to
> Canada, the US and Mexico”. Does this mean I can tell it to call a
> particular number just like I tell SIRI or can it even call a business just
> by saying call so and so company?
>
>
>
> Best regards,
>
> Sieghard
>
>
>
> --
> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone
> list.
>
> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if
> you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or
> moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself.
>
> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at:
> mk...@ucla.edu. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at
> caraqu...@caraquinn.com
>
> The archives for this list can be searched at:
> http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/
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Re: Amazon Echo devices

[michv]

hi i would also like to know this info as well. i also would like to know if 
these deals on the ecco are only on amazon or they also on places like best buy 
and stuff as well? the reason i ask is because with best buy i can use paypal 
and i can’t with amazon the reason why this is importent is because i can’t use 
my card right now. so that is my only option. from Mich.

From: Sieghard Weitzel 
Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2017 11:50 PM
To: viphone@googlegroups.com 
Subject: Amazon Echo devices

Hi,

 

As Alexa is going to finally make it to Canada on December 5, 

Amazon.ca now has the Echo Dot, Echo and Echo Plus for sale at a special 
preorder price.

 

Could some of you from the States or other countries where Alexa has been 
available explain a bit why I might want to own at least one Echo Plus which it 
is said has a built-in smart home hub? Or do I even want one of these?

How is the sound on the Echo Dot, I understand it is meant to be connected to 
other speakers or maybe even a receiver, but there is also mention that it has 
a small built-in speaker, is that pretty OK for say listening to Podcasts or an 
Audible book?

I am still potentially looking at buying a sonos 1 as well, but for some reason 
I thought the Echo speakers were more expensive so especially the echo Dot at 
an introductory price of $49.99 Canadian (regularly $69.99 after the 
introductory special is over) might be a good choice. The regular Echo is on 
for $99.99 (regular price will be $129.99 and the Echo Plus is on for $169.99 
(regular $199.99).

I like the fact that all speakers apparently have a 3.5mm output jack and also 
can send audio to a bluetooth headset. This might totally be the way how I 
might listen to Audible books, insjtead of having to use my iPhone with headset 
when I go to bed I could have an Echo Dot or Echo beside the bed and use it 
either with a wired or bluetooth headset.

It also mentions any of the Echo speakers can do “Free audio calls to Canada, 
the US and Mexico”. Does this mean I can tell it to call a particular number 
just like I tell SIRI or can it even call a business just by saying call so and 
so company?

 

Best regards,

Sieghard

 

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If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you 
feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or 
moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself.
 
Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: 
mk...@ucla.edu. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at 
caraqu...@caraquinn.com
 
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mk...@ucla.edu.  Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at 
caraqu...@caraquinn.com

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