or with the echo, you can press the mute button, and this turns off the
mike.
But it isn't interested, in anything we say, or sending off to the CIA, lol.
If people are worried over these kind of things, then they should stop using
computers.
Dave.
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Arrigo
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2018 8:06 PM
To: viphone@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Definitely Better than Apple HomePod, in One
Respect
The story of how I got interested in the Amazon Echo is kind of funny. I
didn't want any of those speakers either because I've heard that they are
always listening, which of course they are. My mom had gone for a visit to
see my cousin who had an Echo and was showing her how you can play music on
it all with voice commands. When my mom got back she decided to get one. She
is not tech minded at all and asked if I could help her learn to use it. I
admited that I knew nothing about them but said I would try. When she
received it, she brought it to my place and asked me to play with it for a
few days and to bring it over once I figured it out which was fine. She did
not have an Amazon account at this point but I did, so I tied the Echo to my
account planning on doing a hard reset on it and setting it up with a new
account for my mom when the time came. Then I started playing with it, and,
well, I got hooked. Having radio stations and just about any album or song
at your command was awesome. I called my mom and told her I wasn't sure I
could give this up. So, what ended up happening was, she gave me that for my
birthday and she purchased another one for herself which I helped her set
up, she loves it. I then got a Google Home as well which is also very nice.
If you are concerned about the devices listening when you don't want them
to, just unplug them.
On Dec 30, 2018, at 4:51 PM, Sieghard Weitzel <siegh...@live.ca> wrote:
Hi Mary,
Do you use Google to search for stuff on the web? I also see you have a
gmail address, I bet Google is happily collecting information about all
you do online. You can choose Apple over Android or choose to buy an Echo
over a Google Home or not buy a smart speaker at all, but you absolutely
cannot not separate this stuff any more today and if you are online you
may as well make peace with the fact that you are giving up a good amount
of information for the convenience of it.
-----Original Message-----
From: viphone@googlegroups.com <viphone@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of
Mary Otten
Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2018 9:48 AM
To: viphone@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Definitely Better than Apple HomePod, in One
Respect
Yes, I am not surprised that the Google assistant tops the list. However,
I don’t like their business model one little bit. I don’t want to be sold
by Google. So I don’t mess with it. But I understand the attraction.
Mary
Sent from my iPhone
On Dec 29, 2018, at 9:21 AM, Donald Roberts <donald.robert...@gmail.com>
wrote:
I agree Mary with everything you said in this message. However, I would
add that if you are looking for substantive information rather than silly
games, the Google home and mini is the best. My wife uses the Google
products to get gardening info, medical information, recipes, and all
kinds of factual information. The echo provides more choices in terms of
music services.
Don Roberts
----- Original Message ----- From: "Mary Otten" <motte...@gmail.com>
To: <viphone@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2018 1:55 PM
Subject: Re: Amazon Echo Definitely Better than Apple HomePod, in One
Respect
I agree with you, Ed. I own a couple of echoes. Generally, I find that
the Alexa system is horrible with respect to giving the information I
actually need or could use, outside of the weather and a little bit of
news briefing. and most of the skills are junk games and other Time
wasters. That said, I do appreciate the echo for the easy access to
SiriusXM and to its ability for reading kindle or audible books while I
exercise. I’m not into the automated so-called smart home, so I have no
comment on HomePod or echo in that regard. But as a music listening
sores, the HomePods kill the echoes. They should, they are more
expensive. I have a pair of HomePods that I got when the price came down
to $500 for the pair. They sound almost as good as my wonderful
floorstanding stereo speakers it cost me over twice what I paid for the
HomePods. I would never consider any pair of echoes as any sort of real
hi-fi system even for moderately good audio quality listening.
Sent from my iPhone
On Dec 27, 2018, at 1:31 PM, Ed Worrell <blindworr...@gmail.com> wrote:
I have both an Apple HomePod and an Echo Dot connected to Bose speakers.
I am not sure why everyone thinks the HomePod is so far behind on
“skills”. The HomePod is a far better device, Now with Siri short cuts
you can use third party apps to do things from the HomePod. I find the
Apple speaker much simpler to use than the Amazon Echo. You have to
remember very specific application names and commands to use the Echo’s
3 million fart applications. The skills on the Echo aren’t that
impressive to me. It’s next to impossible to set up using the app, you
almost always have to use the internet browser on a computer for full
access to the settings.
JMO
Ed Worrell
On Dec 24, 2018, at 11:06 AM, Mike Arrigo <n0...@charter.net> wrote:
The home pod is behind both the Echo and Google home in many respects.
Even with general features, the home pod is really lacking, and I think
you can now play Apple music on the echo so there is little reason to
get a home pod. Hopefully Apple will catch up but they have a ways to
go.
On Dec 23, 2018, at 5:36 PM, M. Taylor <mk...@ucla.edu> wrote:
Hello Everyone,
You know, one of the most popular request made to both Apple and
Amazon is that they provide independent sound equalizer support for
their music/speaker devices.
When I purchased my first Echo device, a while ago, this feature
was not available. The same was true for HomePod.
However, recently, this feature has now been added to the Echo
interface, under audio from within the Settings area of the Alexa
app. This is very, very nice.
However, Apple has not added this feature to HomePod. At least, if
it has,
I have not been abel to locate it in the HomePod interface.
And yes, I know there is a general sound equalizer, of sort, in the
iOS settings area of the music app but, hereto, Apple falls short
as these options are merely presets, not true customizable
controls. Moreover, one should not have to adjust the sound levels
for an entire operating system in order to customize the sound
setting for one specific device that is marketed as an entertainment
listening device.
Besides, it's ridiculous to pay over $300 for a speaker and not
have the ability to adjust its sound settings, independently.
I have owned my HomePod for over a year or so, I think, and have
only used it 3 times because there is just too much bass, for my
liking.
With the overwhelming success of Echo, you'd think that Apple would
realize that, especially when it comes to hearing, as well as
vision, one size definitely does not fit all.
Just some venting, on my part.
Mark
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