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Post by Slinger on Apr 11, 2019 15:21:20 GMT
Just a quick "FYI" for If anyone interested in entering the wonderful world of "Alexa, Lounge Light, ON" and all the other joys of automating stuff and asking questions of a plastic blob - Amazon is currently running a "Spring" sale which is pretty much like their "every other week of the year" sale except that they're selling the 3rd generation Dot at £29.99 instead of £49.99. I honestly didn't realise how much I'd come to appreciate voice-controlled lights when I started messing around, but they really do become more and more useful as time goes by. It sounds trivial, perhaps, when I say that being able to turn the kitchen light on from the lounge is useful, but it means I can carry stuff through using both hands and I don't need to try and switch the light on with my nose, or my chin, any more.  |
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Post by MartinT on Apr 11, 2019 16:19:30 GMT
I can see me possibly going for it in future. How useful do you find voice enquiry, e.g. asking it questions when you don't have a display in front of you?
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Post by Slinger on Apr 11, 2019 16:41:40 GMT
I can see me possibly going for it in future. How useful do you find voice enquiry, e.g. asking it questions when you don't have a display in front of you? To be honest, it's very rare that I don't have a device of some description with a screen in front of me. I've probably only "asked" Alexa things a handful of times. I must get an aux speaker of some sort into the bedroom though, so I can ask Alexa to play some (Amazon)music while I'm reading in bed of a night. Last time I did it I asked for "Bach" and "she" went straight into the Toccata and Fugue in D minor. The little speakers in the Dot really aren't made to handle things like that. Thinking about it... I've got a couple of Chinese amps not doing anything much, and a pair of Gale 3060s somewhere... |
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Post by MartinT on Apr 11, 2019 16:45:39 GMT
I'm thinking of whether I could use it for spelling or defining a word, giving me news headlines or other quick questions.
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Post by MikeMusic on Apr 11, 2019 17:10:24 GMT
Alexa What's Trump done now ?
Where do I start ?!
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Post by Slinger on Apr 11, 2019 17:11:28 GMT
News headlines are quite easy to set up - there's a BBC News app (for Alexa they are called "skills.") for starters. The most useful function, though, is probably the " Flash Briefing." You add skills for different News services and Alexa will act as a sort of aggregator. I've only got the BBC News, Weather, Sky Sports, and Liverpool FC News in mine but you can add as many as you like, I believe. Just say "Alexa. Next" to move on to the next article. There are dictionary skills available, but I haven't investigated them. |
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Post by speedysteve on Apr 11, 2019 17:37:56 GMT
When it can open doors so I can carry things in both hands, and not have to open them with my elbow, nose or whatever  I'm in.. |
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Post by Slinger on Apr 11, 2019 17:41:24 GMT
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Post by speedysteve on Apr 11, 2019 19:47:47 GMT
Not holding my breath |
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Post by MikeMusic on Apr 12, 2019 10:03:35 GMT
You probably could Steve
Bet there is one out very soon
This is a huge new industry that many can make a large fortune in
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Post by MartinT on Apr 12, 2019 10:53:16 GMT
Hmm, and a radio announcer says something and all your doors open!
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 12, 2019 13:43:07 GMT
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Post by Slinger on Apr 12, 2019 15:45:18 GMT
They'll be bored silly if they're listening to me converse with Alexa.  |
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Post by Slinger on Apr 12, 2019 15:48:05 GMT
New experiment - Smart bulbs. One for my bedroom and one for the loo. 5 minutes setup and I can now set the brightness (i.e. dim them) and change colour temperature of the two bulbs as well as turn them on and off, by voice, or from an app.
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Post by MikeMusic on Apr 12, 2019 15:56:14 GMT
Stop this right now !
I'm getting interested and we all know what will happen
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seanm
Rank: Trio
Posts: 162 
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Post by seanm on Apr 12, 2019 18:29:55 GMT
and change colour temperature of the two bulbs as well can you change the colour temperature to different flavours of white? warm, daylight cool? Thus far I have only seen colour (i.e. RGB) changing Thanks Sean |
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Post by Slinger on Apr 12, 2019 19:13:57 GMT
and change colour temperature of the two bulbs as well can you change the colour temperature to different flavours of white? warm, daylight cool? Thus far I have only seen colour (i.e. RGB) changing Thanks Sean I ignored the silly colour-changing bulbs. The ones I bought (£18.39 in the Amazon Spring sale, now £22.99, for two) are dimmable LED 9w/60w equivalent (800 Lumens) and the colour temp is settable between 2700K and 6500K.  |
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seanm
Rank: Trio
Posts: 162
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Post by seanm on Apr 12, 2019 19:27:58 GMT
Thanks Slinger, This is interesting, I like the idea of having control over colour temp... Daylight ones are good for actually seeing stuff, but are pretty brutal for just relaxing in the evening. I like the idea of being able to track what natural light actual does which should monkey less with sleep cycles
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Post by MikeMusic on Apr 12, 2019 19:35:04 GMT
Let us know how they are
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Post by Slinger on Apr 12, 2019 19:38:12 GMT
Thanks Slinger, This is interesting, I like the idea of having control over colour temp... Daylight ones are good for actually seeing stuff, but are pretty brutal for just relaxing in the evening. I like the idea of being able to track what natural light actual does which should monkey less with sleep cycles It was being able to change the colour temperature that made me try the bulbs rather than fitting more wireless light switches, especially for the bedroom. With the app they are actually programmable too, although I haven't investigated that aspect yet. |
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I'm in..
