Amazon Echo

Very soon, Amazon will release the "Fox" which is a smaller version of the Echo. The Fox will have a battery for those interested in a battery model.

1/11/16 "Amazon is reportedly gearing up to launch a new and portable version of its Amazon Echo device. The Amazon Echo has gained popularity for allowing users to query the smart engine, dubbed Alexa, to learn the weather, sports scores and more. In fact, third parties have turned it into a useful device for doing everything from controlling the smart home, including devices such as smart light bulbs, to checking in on Santa’s progress on Christmas Eve.

The Wall Street Journal said the new version, code named “Fox,” will be smaller and portable, which suggests users might be able to take it around to places like the office or vacation homes. That would suggest it will also be capable of storing multiple Wi-Fi networks for use. It will also reportedly use a “docking station” for charging and will rely on an internal battery, though will only work with voice commands with a user taps a button, the news outlet explained.

The Wall Street Journal didn’t provide information on possible pricing for the device and only said it’s scheduled to launch in the coming weeks."

Interested in home automation in regard to your lighting...If you are wanting just white lights, consider the following items that work well with the Amazon Echo. Just tell Alexa to turn off this light or that light and lights respond accordingly. Purchase the Phillips Starter Kit ($79) Additional bulbs are $14+. These items can be found at Best Buy and elsewhere. You think you enjoy your Echo now, wait til you use her in home automation.
Phillips Starter Kit #455287
Phillips White HUE Bulb # 455295 (Same bulb that comes with the Phillips Starter Kit #455287)

For color lighting go with: Philips 456210 Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 Bulb Starter Kit 2nd Generation ($199)

Note: For items like space heaters, crock pots, other electrical devices you want want to automate, consider the WEMO Switch or WEMO Insight Switch. They work well with the Echo/Alexa.

I purchased one a couple of months ago and use it every day. I even wrote a quick application/skill to prove I could it.


Dean

Have had one since Prime members got the beta. We've definitely had it longer than one year though :)

We use it occasionally, but with an iPhone and an Android device, it's less useful for us. Both of us are geeks but we don't run home automation - if the power is out, it's not much good to us.

Mostly we use it for playing music, checking weather, and when watching TV, a laugh when it "hears" something calling its name on the show.

One of the first things I thought it should do is "check my Amazon order". My wife has been a Prime member for years and orders very frequently. probably 8-10 shipments a month. We do a lot of shopping online, it saves us time when we know what we're looking for. But you can't check status of your order via Alexa.

Anyway, if we used more IFTTT or Next or Belkin wireless stuff, it'd be more useful. I bet there are many people opening their garage doors with Alexa :)

Friends of ours have one and I am intriqued by it. But, I'm hoping that they add a stereo output so that you can hook it up to a stereo system for listening to music. Yes, the sound of the built in speaker is pretty good but it would be nice to be able to plug it in to something better.

Works with the ifttt app.
"IFTTT is a web-based service that allows users to create chains of simple conditional statements, called "recipes", which are triggered based on changes to other web services such as Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. IFTTT is an abbreviation of "If This Then That" (pronounced like "gift" without the "g")."
Among all the other things we use ours to control all our Hue lights, which are programmed using ifttt recipes. Like having the Hall light come on at sunset, and off at sunrise, etc.
I'm going to have to buy another one to keep in the kitchen.

Our granddaughters love to talk to Alexa and ask her to play music from their favorite Disney Channel shows!

Currently, you can listen to audio directly from these providers:

Amazon Music
Prime Music
TuneIn
iHeartRadio
Pandora
Audible

I've had one for over a year and it has come a long way since its inception. If you use Prime Music it is a great little speaker and I love that you can get sports scores and schedules for all professional baseball, basketball, football teams and major college teams.

New devises for home automation seem to be added weekly that are compatible with the Echo.

We've had one since it was released only to Amazon Prime customers. We currently use it for music, alarms, reading our calendars. setting tasks, adding to shopping lists, jokes (yes jokes), research, weather, traffic information. Echo (Alexa) connects to the internet so anything it can find, can be searched verbally.