800pods.com – Page 2 – Smart speakers and devices.

Blink Mini Camera

We briefly mentioned the Blink Mini Camera* on our piece about Black Friday deals at Amazon. The Blink Mini Camera is a1080P HD indoor, plug-in security camera with motion detection and two way audio that lets you monitor the inside of your home day and night. You will recieve alerts on your smartphone whenever motion is detected or if you have a number of cameras you can customize motion detection zones so you can see what matters most.

See, hear, and speak to people and pets in your home on your smartphone with Blink Mini’s live view and two-way audio features (live view is not continuous).

Store events conveniently and securely in the cloud with a 30-day free trial of the Blink Subscription Plan or locally with the Sync Module 2 and a USB flash drive (USB sold separately).

The Blink Mini Camera is easy to set up, it takes just a few minutes. Plug it in, connect to the wi-fi and add it to your Blink app.Sets up in minutes – just plug in the camera, connect it to wifi, and add it to your Blink app.

For additional ease of use, pair Blink Mini with a supported Alexa-enabled device to engage live view, and arm and disarm your camera, and more using just your voice.

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Fire 7 Kids Pro

Looking for a tabket designed specifically for kids ages 6+ that includes 1 year of Amazon Kids+, parental controls, a slim case, and a 2-year worry-free guarantee, versus items purchased separately at a bargain basement price that Amazon have put together, then click here*.

Fire 7 Pro Tablet - Copyright Amazon. — Fire 7 Pro Tablet

School-age kids will enjoy a 1-year subscription to Amazon Kids+ that unlocks over 20,000 apps, games, books, videos, songs, and Audible books. They’ll find educational content from National Geographic, Rabbids Coding, LEGO, and others, plus more than 9,000 titles for kids ages 6 and up. After 1 year, your subscription will automatically renew every month starting at just $2.99 per month plus applicable tax. unless cancelled.

In addition to Kids+ content, Kids Pro* tablets include access to a digital store. Kids can request apps, but as a prent you have to purchases and downloads.

The web browser comes with built-in controls designed to help filter out inappropriate sites and let parents add or block specific websites at any time.

The Fire 7 Pro comes with a 2-year guarantee. If it breaks, return it and Amazon will replace it for free. Looking for a larger screen and HD display then click try out the Fire HD 8 Kids Pro tablet*.

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Google Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Generation

Most of the devices we look at here on 800pods.com are ones that you can set up yourself. The Google Nest Learning Thermostat* is one of those exceptions. Google suggest that it should be installed by a professional. However if you are competent then you should be able to install it, in under half an hour. It is now 10 years since Google released their first thermostat and there have been improvments in the performance of these pieces of kit.

Copyright Google. Google Nest Learning Thermostat. — Google Nest Learning Thermostat.

The device itself looks great and is available in chrome, copper, white or black. Not quite a color for everyone, but certainly one for each season of the year.

You can check whether the Nest Learning Thermostat is compatible with your existing unit by clicking here.

The Nest Learning Thermostat automatically adapts as your life changes. Just use it for a week and it programs itself. If you turn your heating up or down on a certain day and at a certain time, then you the Learning Thermostat will learn and remember your preferences. Using sensors and your phone’s location is will determine when your home is empty and turn down the heating to save you money.

You can now control your hot water tank with the Nest Learning Thermostat. It comes with a hot water schedule but you can adjust this from the Nest app. Also you can get switch on to add extra hot water anytime you want to. When you’re away from home for a few days, you don’t have to remember to turn off the hot water. The Nest Learning Thermostat will do it for you.

You can see how much energy you are using and when so that you can take steps to adjust your energy usage and save yourself money. So although the Google Nest Learning Thermostat is not cheap to install it will save you money in the long run.

For those of you that like all things Alexa, this unit is Alexa compatible,

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Ask Alexa 11

With the UEFA Euros taking place in Europe and the Cupa American taking place in South America at this time, you might want to ask Alexa*; “Alexa, open Fanzone Soccer Quiz” or if you want to just focus on the Euros ask “Alexa, quiz me on the EUROs”.

Growing up in my early years being ambidextrous, I am always facinated by facts about the differences between those people who are right or left-handed dominant. Maybe you might like to check these out “Alexa, tell me a left handed fact”. We recently went bowling with some friends who were admanant their son was right-handed until he picked up the ball! I asked to him to hop and he hopped on his left leg”.

If you like corny or should I say coffee jokes, there Alexa has a long list of coffee jokes for you to entertain your work colleagues and the children. Check them out by asking “Alexa, tell me a joke about coffee”.

A man when the to the pet store to buy 12 bees, the store keeper counted them out, 1 bee, 2 bees, 3 bees…. 12 bees and then 13 bees. The man said I only asked for 12 bees. The last one is a “freebee”.

Thats about the standard of the coffee jokes from Alexa.

Remember than every month there are free books from Audible* available from Alexa, just ask “Alexa, what’s free from Audible?”.

Remember you can keep up to date with Alexa’s new features by asking “Alexa, what new features do you have?”

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Amazon Fire 10 Tablet

2021 sees a new updated version of Amazon’s Fire 10 Tablet*. It comes is 4 flavors: black, denim, lavender and olive.

With a powerful octa-core processor and 3 GB RAM it is more responsive than the previous model and the screen is said to be 10% brighter than before. The battery will give you up to 12 hours of power and the Fire 10 can be ordered with 32 or 64 GB internal storage. If you want more storage you can fit your own microSD card and have up to 1TB more storage.

You can enjoy your favorite apps like Netflix, Facebook, Hulu, Instagram, TikTok, and more through Amazon’s Appstore, unfortunately Google Play not supported (normal subscriptions apply.

The Fire comes with Alexa so you can control a number of functions on your Fire with voice commands including making video calls to friends and family.

The neat thing about the Fire tablets is the ability now to use Microsoft Office, OneNote, and Dropbox and well as check email, make shopping lists and set reminders.

A new feature of the Fire OS is the ability to show two compatible apps side by side so that you have some easy multitasking function.

Amazon sell what they call a productivity version* of the Fire 10 that comes with a specially designed Amazon keyboard and a years subscription to Office 365. Worth checking it out if you are looking to be more productive work-wise.

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Echo Link

Ironically the advent of smart speakers has led to an increase in the demand for “Hi-Fi” systems as consumers have sought out better quality sound. Amazon have responded by gradually improved the quality of their speakers and a couple of extra items, the Echo Link and the Echo Link Amp which is designed to power any standard pair of passive speakers. Today we will focus on teh Echo Link.

The Echo Link has no speak of its own and therefore needs to be connected to an Echo devices or controled by the Alexa app. Connect your Echo device and the Link in one ‘group’, then when you say “Alexa, play Johnny Cash”, then music will automatically begin playing from the stereo speakers connected.

You can connect yourEcho Link to your stereo and group with other supported Echo devices to play music throughout your home. Multiple digital and analog inputs and outputs provide compatibility with your existing stereo equipment.

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Echo Show 5 2021

The all new Echo Show 5* for 2021 is the perfect bedside companion. You can see your day clearly with Alexa* at the ready. You can set alarms and times etc and have visual reminders as well as verbal ones. You can ease into your day with a routine that turns your lights or gradually, whilst you wake to the news, your favorite music or the weather forecast for the day.

The 5″ screen allows you to play TV shows and movies via Prime Video* and Netflix. Display your photos as well make video calls to your family and friends with a compatible Alexa* device. Of course you can stream your music from Amazon Music*, Apple Music, Spotify, and others.

From your bedside or wherever you place your Echo Show 5* control you smart home devices. You can even look in when you are away with the built-in camera.

Worried about your privacy, its nice to know there’s an off button for the mic / camera and even a built-in camera shutter.

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Echo Dot (4th Gen) Kids Edition.

Amazon claim that this is their more popular smart speak and it is easy to see why. The updated 4th generation Echo Dot Kids edition comes in Panda form or Tiger form.

The Echo Dot will help kids learn and grow – as they can ask Alexa questions, set alarms, and get help with their homework. It is possible to unlock a world of kid-friendly content. The price includes a year of Amazon Kids+ gives them access to thousands of hours of kid-friendly Audible books, interactive games, and educational skills. After 1 year, your subscription will automatically renew every month starting at just $2.99/month plus applicable tax. You may cancel any time by visiting the Amazon Parent Dashboard or contacting Customer Service.

There are easy-to-use parental controls, where you can set daily time limits, filter explicit songs, and review activity in the Amazon Parent Dashboard. Kids can ask Alexa to play music, read stories, and call approved friends and family.

This kids edition comes with a 2-year worry-free guarantee – which in Amazon’s case means that if it breaks, you return it and Amazon will replace it for free.

Ask Alexa 10

If you are a regular reader of the posts on this site, then you know that one of the main uses our Alexa devices get used for are timers. A useful feature to know how long is left on your timer. “Alexa, how long’s left on my timer?” will solve that one for you.

Searching around on the internet the other day we also discovered that you can ask Alexa to “remind me” instead of “set a timer.” With Reminders, you can ask Alexa to alert you to anything of your choosing – even if it’s at a later date. For example, Amazon suggests you could remind yourself to pick up a parcel, or pay the electric bill. You can ask to be reminded at a particular date, day , or just time of day.

Timers can be assigned names, which will make them easier to manage. Especially when you have multiple timers going at the same time. To name a timer, you can just ask Alexa to set a timer using the name you want, like “Alexa, set a rice timer for…” Plus, you can cancel or check on these timers by name, as well, like “Alexa, how much time is left on the rice timer?”

You can also see a list of your active timers and reminders within the Alexa app.

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All-new Echo (4th Gen) With premium sound

If I have one criticism of my Amazon Echo, it is the sound quality when cranked up. Amazon has gradually improved the quality of their speakers over time and now the 4^th Generation Echo comes with a premium speaker.

Amazon claims that it delivers clear highs, dynamic mids, and deep bass for rich, detailed sound that automatically adapts to any room. One of the neat features that some people are not aware of is that you can combine your echo devices to deliver multi-room music, play synchronized music across Echo devices in different rooms. Or pair your Echo with compatible Fire TV devices to feel scenes come to life with home theater audio.

Of course your 4^th Gen Echo will do all the usual Echo stuff:

Voice control your entertainment – Stream songs from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, SiriusXM, and more. Plus listen to radio stations, podcasts, and Audible audiobooks.
Ready to help – Ask Alexa to play music, answer questions, play the news, check the weather, set alarms, control compatible smart home devices, and more.
Smart home made simple – With the built-in hub, easily set up compatible Zigbee devices or Ring Smart Lighting products (coming soon) to voice control lights, locks, and sensors.
Connect with others – Call almost anyone hands-free. Instantly drop in on other rooms or announce to the whole house that dinner’s ready.
Designed to protect your privacy – Amazon is not in the business of selling your personal information to others. Built with multiple layers of privacy controls including a mic off button.

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