Amazon Echo Dot

[swill453]

I was looking for a compact Internet radio to put in my kitchen, then suddenly thought of the Echo Dot as a possibility.

I know it can do a lot more, but can someone confirm that if I connect it to my wifi broadband, I could tell it to "Play Radio 4" (or whatever) and it would do so, without a subscription to anything?

Scott.

[swill453]

Thanks. Does the Google Home Mini need the Google Home as well, or can you just have the Mini? And does it need anything else (like a smart phone or a computer) connected to the wifi at the same time?

Scott.

[Julian]

I am a Google user. I have a Google Mini in 3 rooms so can confirm what Snorvey says but, despite my allegiance (formed because the Google AI is said to be smarter than the Amazon one), for Scott's application from what I have read I would be leaning strongly towards the Echo Dot if I was him and did only want it as a compact internet radio. Amazon just released a new version of the Dot and the reviews that I've read have all said that the big improvement is in the sound quality (Amazon increased the speaker size slightly) and it is now noticeably better than both the old Dot and the Google Mini. I haven't heard it myself so DYOR. I also think the new dot looks way nicer than the old one, more like a Google Mini actually, being less squared-off at the edges than the 1st gen Dot and with fabric covering.

One observation as a Google Mini user. One (of many) perplexing deficiencies of the Google system is that there is no way to set a time on the radio if you want to use it as an alarm clock. The night before you can say "OK Google, Set an alarm at 7:00am" and then when you wake the following morning say "OK Google, play BBC Radio 4" and it will but you can't say "OK Google, play BBC Radio 4 at 7:00am tomorrow" to set a radio wakeup. I don't know if Alexa does better in this particular alarm-clock-radio area.

- Julian

[Infrasonic]

Julian, set your Google home/ min I to US settings.

Same as the 'OK Google' voice commands when it first came to Android, US settings only.
Two nations separated by a common language...

[elkay]

From a knowledge perspective.....I frequently find myself getting "I don't know" and misheard responses* from my Echoes. Amusing at times, but I then ask Google Assistant on my phone and usually get a decent response.

If I hadn't got my Echoes as a bundle, I would go down the Google mini route.

* eg...
What height is Mark Labette?
This might answer your question: Mark was Pope between 336 CE and 336 CE.
(Alexa heard "what time is Mark Lovette")

[johnhemming]

We have three echo dots and are just buying two more. That will enable having a voice controlled intercom in every bedroom and the two living rooms which is quite useful (ie from one room drop in on "x" and the intercom connects. It will also keep our 6 year old happy as he will have his own.

It is also nice to have an alarm that can be easily set just to ring on weekdays and not need stopping at the weekend.

I don't know how the google one compares. My 13 year old wants to play with the phillips colour controlled led lights as well. (those should arrive with one of the echo dots today).

[argoal]

We have an Amazon Echo and I think it is baffled by some accents.

My mum - Irish accent ...... perfectly understood by Alexa.
Me - London accent.......... perfectly understood by Alexa.
My wife - Scottish (Fife)..... complete incomprehension by Alexa.

It drives my wife mad and amuses me no end.

[swill453]

My wife - Scottish (Fife)..... complete incomprehension by Alexa.

Well obviously https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAz_UvnUeuU

Scott.

[Julian]

My wife - Scottish (Fife)..... complete incomprehension by Alexa.

Well obviously https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAz_UvnUeuU

Scott.

Or...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYvFxs32zvQ

It's well worth watching (rather than skipping) to the end because, at least in my opinion, the last 5 seconds is hilarious.

Snorvey - Thanks for the tip on US English & alarm clock radio. Continued conversations is another feature only available at the moment if one sets the language to US English. Annoying. I presume there is a reason but I just don't see why these features depend on language at all let alone what version of English is being used.

- Julian

[Gaggsy]

I ... thought of the Echo Dot as a possibility.

I know it can do a lot more, but can someone confirm that if I connect it to my wifi broadband, I could tell it to "Play Radio 4" (or whatever) and it would do so, without a subscription to anything?

Scott.

I can confirm that it will.
I have the Echo Dot 2nd gen. I say "Alexa, play Radio Four" or "Alexa play Radio Five" or "Alexa play Radio Paradise" and it just plays. Other internet radio stations can be accessed via the Tune-In skill, e.g. "Alexa play WJAZ radio on Tune-In".

You will need an Amazon account to set up the Echo Dot but no other subscriptions. You may need to enable some 'skills'.
You need the paid subscription Spotify account to play music. The free one doesn't work. Likewise with Amazon Music - sub required.

Echo Dot 3rd gen appears to have better sound quality as a stand-alone device. However, you can also link it via Bluetooth to other speakers (or other sources). An advantage that the Echo Dot has over the Google Mini is that it has 3.5mm jack on the back for connecting headphones or an external speaker (not possible on the Google Mini).

Another thought - maybe hold on until Black Friday before buying - you might get a good offer.

[swill453]

Another thought - maybe hold on until Black Friday before buying - you might get a good offer.

I'm putting it on my Christmas list, if Santa chooses to buy on Black Friday so be it.

Scott.

[johnhemming]

A prime account gives some music, but not all.

[Gaggsy]

Another thought - maybe hold on until Black Friday before buying - you might get a good offer.

I'm putting it on my Christmas list, if Santa chooses to buy on Black Friday so be it.

Scott.

£24.99 today for the 3rd gen Echo Dot

[Lanark]

It is a complete mystery to me why anyone would voluntarily accept a 'big brother' style audio monitor into their house. I wouldnt have any of those smart listening devices if they paid me, but horses for courses I guess.

[mrbrightside]

It is a complete mystery to me why anyone would voluntarily accept a 'big brother' style audio monitor into their house. I wouldnt have any of those smart listening devices if they paid me, but horses for courses I guess.

Indeed. Of course, Google, Amazon et al are already paying the consumer. Do you really suppose these gadgets cost £35 to develop and manufacture ?

If then product is 'free' (cheap), then the product is you (your privacy).

[Scott0966]

Another thought - maybe hold on until Black Friday before buying - you might get a good offer.

I'm putting it on my Christmas list, if Santa chooses to buy on Black Friday so be it.

Scott.

£24.99 today for the 3rd gen Echo Dot

£20 at Screwfix on Monday apparently for the 2nd Gen model.

[Scott0966]

...and just noticed they're £20 already on Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amazon-Echo-Do ... KJCB4HCFRM

[Mike88]

...and just noticed they're £20 already on Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amazon-Echo-Do ... KJCB4HCFRM

But for £5 more you an get the 3rd generation model.

[Infrasonic]

It is a complete mystery to me why anyone would voluntarily accept a 'big brother' style audio monitor into their house. I wouldnt have any of those smart listening devices if they paid me, but horses for courses I guess.

There is a move towards more and more tech having hardware based on/off switches for built in microphones and cameras, even some of the newer security focused smartphones have them now.
A good trend IMHO, I'm not that keen on 'smart' IoT stuff I can't switch off physically.
Give me dumb stuff that I can add to with cabled accessories...

[Mike88]

For those who own an Amazon Echo Dot could they inform me if the sound quality is acceptable and audible for speech radio such as LBC, Talk Sport, Talk Radio and Radio 4 or whether it would be better to buy the larger Echo version? I have noted the Dot is 3rd generation whereas the larger Echo is second generation. Does that make much difference?