[Offers] Black Friday / Deals on Amazon goods (eg Echo £54.99, Echo Dot £19.99)

[Bozza]

That most American of traditions is nearly upon us and Amazon are in on it early with some good prices on some of the NSCiteratti's favourite gadgets...

Echo reduced from £89.99 to £54.99 -> https://amzn.to/2OLVK4x

Echo Dot 3rd gen £49.99 to £24.99 -> https://amzn.to/2OWGIcj

Echo Dot reduced from £49.99 to £19.99 -> https://amzn.to/2ONgUiU

Kindle Paperwhite (all-new and just released) from £119.99 to £89.99 -> https://amzn.to/2BdjLOq

Fire TV Stick reduced from £39.99 to £24.99 -> https://amzn.to/2ONkqtq

Fire 7 tablet reduced from £49.99 to £29.99 -> https://amzn.to/2TkurBN

Fire 7 Kids Edition reduced from £99.99 to £59.99 -> https://amzn.to/2PwzpNz

Echo Dot + Philips Hue White and Colour kit reduced from £199.98 to £89.99 -> https://amzn.to/2QOXlbF

 

[Bry Nylon]

I bought Mrs Nylon an Echo thing for ninety quid last Christmas and to this very day it remains as yet unboxed and unused.

Must try harder...

 

[southstandandy]

For Echo, see Laserdisc or Mini Disc. Saw one in a car boot being offered for £20 last month as an unwanted birthday present! 3 hours later as I was leaving it was still there. Why would anyone want such a crap device?

 

[Bold Seagull]

For Echo, see Laserdisc or Mini Disc. Saw one in a car boot being offered for £20 last month as an unwanted birthday present! 3 hours later as I was leaving it was still there. Why would anyone want such a crap device?

I really like mine! Generally if I’m repairing the bikes covered in oil or in the garden, I love being able to tell it what to play, find out the weather forecast etc without stopping what I’m doing. Decent enough sound too, and now I’ve got smart heating controls, can tell it to adjust that too. It’s not life changing but it’s a decent enough device.

 

[BNthree]

I really like mine! Generally if I’m repairing the bikes covered in oil or in the garden, I love being able to tell it what to play, find out the weather forecast etc without stopping what I’m doing. Decent enough sound too, and now I’ve got smart heating controls, can tell it to adjust that too. It’s not life changing but it’s a decent enough device.

Find it great as a kitchen gadget; can play music or radio and do timer or do weight conversions.

 

[LamieRobertson]

I really like mine! Generally if I’m repairing the bikes covered in oil or in the garden, I love being able to tell it what to play, find out the weather forecast etc without stopping what I’m doing. Decent enough sound too, and now I’ve got smart heating controls, can tell it to adjust that too. It’s not life changing but it’s a decent enough device.

Can you give it another name..like Jurgen say

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

.....when you was in dad's bag.

(see other thread).

FFS. Work out what you need, buy it, enjoy it.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Can you give it another name..like Jurgen say

Already have!

 

[Taybha]

So what do they do i couldn't do before they existed ? curious , you know , it's not for me and all that .

 

[Mr deez]

- be spied upon and have every word you say recorded in order that you can be advertised to in a more effective manner.

 

[Bold Seagull]

- be spied upon and have every word you say recorded in order that you can be advertised to in a more effective manner.

He says posting from his smart phone...

 

[clippedgull]

I haven't really got into these 'home helpers' yet. Maybe it's the fact even Siri sometimes won't talk to me

 

[Taybha]

Main uses I've found for it are:

- Vocally tell it what song or radio station you want to listen to.
- Tell your lights to dim, or go off, or turn on at a specific time, etc.
- Ask it to read a detail from your Google calender or reminders.
- Setting alarms/timers vocally - useful when cooking, can set numerous.

Interesting , could you ask it if Locadia is actually shyte or just unlucky , thanks .

 

[Saltydog]

Main uses I've found for it are:

- Vocally tell it what song or radio station you want to listen to.
- Tell your lights to dim, or go off, or turn on at a specific time, etc.
- Ask it to read a detail from your Google calender or reminders.
- Setting alarms/timers vocally - useful when cooking, can set numerous.

I am not overly familiar with how these devices operate and not been particular inspired to research. But as a thread has been posted on this topic I can use this as an opportunity to learn from existing owners and their experiences.

Am very happy to select my own tunes - can Alexa connect to my 10-15 year old (pre AI) stereo system and if so how?
Do you need to purchase special lighting to have it dim your lights or can it somehow just do this?
Pretty much know what I am doing and when - also can ask wife so not sure this would benefit us. Also I would not want open access to my outlook calendar. However as this is an WiFi enabled device I can see how Alexa can access this - or Bluetooth connect to my phone which also has a replica instance of my outlook objects.
The Timer is very accessible being located right in front of the cooker - again can Alexa connect to my cooker and if so how as it is not an AI enabled device. I also have a couple of sockets with built in timers so am able to have lights come on randomly at different times

Yet to be convinced Alexa would benefit us - but maybe it’s cause we are part of the older generation now.

PS. I would be compelled to rename Alexa as “Norma or Norman”.

 

[Saltydog]

No. The most you could do is control the power supply to the stereo, on or off.

To select music vocally by title, you will need to subscribe to Spotify or Amazon music, although there are many free songs. All radio stations are free, including local and DAB radio.



You will need to buy a smart bulb, as the device communicates through wi-fi, so the bulb or its hub will be connected to the internet. One advantage of this is that you can also control the light when you are not at home. In addition, there are lights where you can change its colour, hue and brightness - all by asking it to do so, or with an app on your phone.



It is essentially a bit of fun, but there are some conveniences that I would imagine would be helpful to older people. "Alexa, remind me to get some stamps" or "Alexa, turn off the hall lights". "Alexa, what is the weather like tomorrow?", etc.

Ah so nothing that I could not ask the missus to do for me ....

 

[Dave the OAP]

After a sound bar thing as the TVs sound is on its way out

 

[PeterOut]

After a sound bar thing as the TVs sound is on its way out

Just pop into Richer Sounds and take their advice

 

[Dave the OAP]

Just pop into Richer Sounds and take their advice

Oooh. Good idea.

 

[Nitram]

You can get this through Amazon or with Hive and get an Echo dot free. Got one last year and added some of the hive bulbs which are activated by ‘Alexa’ good piece of kit at a good price with British Gas installation for the thermostat.
https://www.hivehome.com/products/hive-active-heating/buy

 

[wealdgull]

Yet to be convinced Alexa would benefit us - but maybe it’s cause we are part of the older generation now.

You'd be after this, then.