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[HA Dave]

Amazon delivered an Alexa echo remote today ($29). It was an impulse buy on my part (just the other day) while ordering a Christmas gift. I hadn't seriously considered one before... mostly because I wasn't sure what it did/does. Basically... it's a Amazon remote... for use with the echo. It will allow me to control volume and play lists (music) played over an echo. But it does more.

The remote uses Bluetooth to pair with any (except the TAP) echo device. Then by pushing the microphone button.... it will transfer my voice to the echo (I used a DOT) device. Where it really excels is in a loud, noisy environment.... like in my Home Theater or in just about any room in the house during the holidays and everyone is here.

[Tuicemen]

I had read a while back where Amazon and Microsoft were in talks to combine Alexa and Cortana's abilities.
So try this: Say "Alexa ,Hey Cortana!" 
It looks like the talks haven't stalled!

[HA Dave]

I had read a while back where Amazon and Microsoft were in talks to combine Alexa and Cortana's abilities.
So try this: Say "Alexa ,Hey Cortana!" 
It looks like the talks haven't stalled!

Cool. It would be nice is Siri would relay messages to Alexa for me.

[Tuicemen]

It looks like after a recent Alexa update many of us will need to rename our devices.
It is now recommended not to add room names to the device.
if so you could get the "I'm sorry several devices share that name ,which one did you want?" reply
I've started to get that with the lamp I called livingroom lamp, I haven't got it for office light (yet)
interestingly I do have a couple lights in my livingroom but I do not have a room configured in Alexa called livingroom.
Also the lamp is the only one with livingroom in the name.

So now Alexa has issues with room or numbers in device names

[HA Dave]

It looks like after a recent Alexa update many of us will need to rename our devices.
It is now recommended not to add room names to the device.

More of a reason to adjust the letter space to 22 letters.

[HA Dave]

Was looking at the "Scenes" section of the Amazon app. Interestingly.... it searched my hubs for "Scenes". Of course without X10 WM100 WiFi HUB being on-line... without a skill as of yet... X10 "Scenes" weren't discoverable (not that I've created any yet). But it looks like real possibilities are just around the corner.

[HA Dave]

Thought this was funny:

https://youtu.be/JepKVUym9Fg

[dave w]

Thought this was funny:

https://youtu.be/JepKVUym9Fg

Well, I should have donned a Depends before watching that. Hilarious!

[HA Dave]

I bought one of the voice remotes for Alexa (not for the TV), they can be great in a noisy environment. I got mine for the Home Theater. But it should be a lot of fun with the wife, grandkids, and visitors too

This should make a great prank:  https://youtu.be/aLaRexgB0OI

Or this:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOSdWlH4Lfs

[dave w]

A little off topic but the local radio station has a commercial for themselves where the announcer tells Alexa to tune to the radio station and Siri hears the command and it leads to a verbal throw down between Alexa and Siri. Seriously funny 

[Brian H]

One of my local TV stations is also pushing access with Alexa.
I suspect all the others will be close behind. 

[HA Dave]

And now.....Alexa print my shopping list?

Although.... I am not sure why I'd ever want to do that. Because the main reason of a digital/cloud shopping or todo list is always having it with you... on your phone. But somewhere, somehow, this must have value, to someone.

[Tuicemen]

I've been helping test a new HA-Bridge version with Broadlink RM support.
Today I finally used it with Alexa to turn on/off my TV and other IR devices 
I may move my HA-Bridge now to a TV stick running Linux.
Time to dig that thing out again as you can't get much smaller then it!

[HA Dave]

.... I may move my HA-Bridge now to a TV stick running Linux.
Time to dig that thing out again as you can't get much smaller then it!

There is a lot of value/automation possibilities in the tiny PC (or Raspberry Pi) and/or HUB + a phone. Add in a little cloud control (like with Alexa and/or some Hubs) and we've never had it so good.

We've had [almost] everything before now... heck many of us have had Voice Control. But this AI stuff with Amazon or Google is simply amazing.

[Tuicemen]

The new follow up mode for Alexa was just announced.
http://myitforum.com/amazon-adds-follow-up-mode-to-allow-strings-of-alexa-requests/
Many may find this usefull.