800pods.com – Page 4 – Smart speakers and devices.

Black Friday Week

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It seems odd that we know have a week called “Black Friday Week”, but I guess that does give us time to look around and compare prices. Probably more importantly at this time, it will get the all the delivery companies to deliver the goods in a reasonable time frame.

Amazon as also have generous discount of all their Alexa controlled devices at this time of year. As Black Friday Week lasts until November 30th there is plenty of time to decide which one is best for you.

Biggest bargains of the week are the range of 3rd generation Echo* devices with smart plugs* or smart bulbs*. Both of these are offered with a 63% discount off normal retail. These are a great way to start you smart home. Voice control you lighting or appliciances are use your Alexa app when away from home.

The Echo Show 5* and Echo Show 8* both come with a Blink mini indoor security camera with a motion detector function. Not only are these little cameras great for security but they also allow you keep an eye on your pets whilst you are away from home.

There are many more bargains to be had. The offers outlined above because basically you are being offered the smart bulb or plug etc free of charge. It costs the same to buy the product without them.

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Stand and Deliver

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There are a number of stands and mounts available for the various Echo devices that allow you to deliver you Alexa powered skills and Amazon music perfectly.

Echogear make a wall mount* for the Echo (4th gen) that allows you place your device anywhere on the wall and then tilt & swivel it for the best audio. It swivels 150º and tilts 30º for maximum placement flexibility.

For the Echo (3rd Gen)* and Echo Plus (2nd Gen) you might like a pair of Adjustable Floor Stands*. The stands offer 10″ of height adjustment meaning you place your speakers at the perfect height. Each stand comes with a 6-foot-long extension cord specially designed for Echo (3rd Gen) and Echo Plus (2nd Gen).

Echogear offer a range of Echo accessories, check the out here*.

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Ask Alexa 8

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As previously mentioned I use Alexa* lot as a timer. I do a lot of work that needs to be assigned a certain amount of time so I am constantly saying “Alexa*, set timer for 20 minutes”.

Timers on Alexa - Sand glass timer. — Timers on Alexa

I have to take regular medication every evening and when I am particularly tired I have a tendency to forget to take my pills and then end up taking them the following morning, which isn’t great as one of them is supposed to be taken before I go to sleep. I came across a useful command the other day to help me remember.

“Alexa, remind me to take my vitamins every day at 8 a.m.” You can adapt this to suit your needs. So I use “Alexa*, remind me to take my pills every day at 9 p.m.”

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Echo Dot which one is for me and which one is for you.

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The Echo Dot* is currently available in three flavors. The standard Echo Dot* is Amazon’s most popular speaker and normally retails for just under $50. For this you are to stream songs from Amazon Music*, Apple Music, Spotify, SiriusXM, and others. Also access podcasts and audiobooks.

Of course will all these type of Amazon products you get Alexa* who will attempt to fulfill your every command, including telling jokes, some are better than others. And of course you can control smart home using voice command.

For $10 more go for the Echo Dot with LED display*. Perfect for your nightstand – See the time, alarms, and timers on the LED display. Tap the top to snooze an alarm.

Third in the range is the all-new Echo Dot Kids Edition* – Our most popular smart speaker with Alexa*, made for kids (not a toy). Kids can ask Alexa questions, set alarms, and get help with their homework.

Unlock a world of kid-friendly content – The included year of Amazon Kids+ (FreeTime Unlimited) gives them access to thousands of hours of kid-friendly Audible* books, interactive games, and educational skills.

Any links with an * by them are affiliated, which means get a product via this link and a contribution may be made to us.

Talk to me Alexa!

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Coming soon to your Alexa device is an upgrade called “natural turn-taking”. The thought behind this upgrade is that you shouldn’t have to continually say “Alexa” to complete relatively simple tasks when they are only a few seconds apart.

Alexa’s AI will be able to recognize when users have finished speaking, when their speech is directed at the device, when it’s not, and whether or not a reply is expected.

On to privacy matters, you can now delete you can now delete every interaction you’ve had with Alexa with just one command. To do so, just say “Alexa, delete everything I’ve ever said.” This follows on from being able to delete everything you had just said that was introduced last year.

Echo Buds

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Looking to replace your earphones, headphones or ear buds then Amazon now have a very impressive set of “Echo Buds“. They have Bose Active Noise Reduction Technology and a sealed in-ear design that limits background noise.

The Echo Buds work with the Alexa app to stream music, play Audible audiobooks, make calls etc. It will carry out the majority of tasks that you other Alexa controlled devices do. They will also allow you to access other assistants like Siri or Google Assistant from a supported device.

The Echo Buds will give you up to 5 hours music playback per charge. If you are in a rush get 2 hours with a 15 minutes quick charge and up to 20 hours with the charging case.

There are 3 sizes of ear tip to help you obtain the best sound from your Echo Buds. There is a handy feature built into the bud app to allow you to work out the best ones for you. Due to this, it means that when exercising they remain secure.

Also available are a Echo Buds Ear Tips and Wing Tips Fit Kit. This kit includes XL Ear Tips that do not come as standard with the Echo Buds.

Ask Alexa 7

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I came across the Alexa command “Red Alert” a few weeks back when it appeared on the screen of my Amazon Echo. You are instantly greeted with a siren and a message that says “ship’s deflector shields have been raised.” It is now my got to damage when I am frustrated. Thirty seconds of the siren wailing seems to calm me down. Its as if to say that there are more important things it in life. The Enterprise is under attack and unless I refocus it could be obliterated.

In fact in an interview with the Washington Post in 2016, Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, said part of the inspiration for the echo came from Star Trek. Growing up, Bezos and his friends would play Star Trek every day who got to play Spock, Captain Kirk and the computer.

Star Trek Figures — Alexa, watch Star Trek

I have come across a number of Star Trek related commands that you might like to try for yourself. “Alexa, beam me up!” … or “Alexa, fire photon torpedoes!”. Other favorites of mine include: “Speak Klingon” to get the phrase of the day. “State Starfleet rank and class” and finally do you trust Klingons.

You could if you wanted to change the command word on your Alexa to “computer” to give it that genuine Star Trek feel. Whilst waiting for your next Star Trek mission ask “Alexa, watch Star Trek” and you will be given an extentsive list of Star Trek series and films to choose between.

Google Nest Learning Thermostat

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With increased compatibility between Smart Devices you can use items that you thought were not previously available to you. A good example of this is the Google Nest Learning Thermostat. Please not that this item requires professional installation.

In as little as a week the Nest Learning Thermostat will automatically adapt as your life changes. It learns from your patterns of us and soon you won’t need to remember to change the settings because it will do it for you. That doesn’t mean that it is inflexible to one off situations. You can control the temperature from your smart phone, echo or other Alexa compatible device.

Google suggest that its Learning Thermostat will help you save money as it will adjust the temperature to your needs. It will adjust itself to an Eco Temperature after you leave the house. You will also need a Nest Temperature Sensor to ensure a certain room is the exact temperature you would like it to be.

Independent studies have shown that on average customers could save around 10% on their heating and around 15% on their cooling bills once a Nest Learning Thermostat has been installed.

Ask Alexa 6

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Not managed to get away on vacation this year. Then why don’t you ask “Alexa, open Beach Sounds”. Then sit back and listen to the sound of waves crashing on the beach. What a wonderful day to spend a sunny day sitting in your yard, eyes closed. You could be on any beach in the world. Use it a night time to help you get off to sleep. When you want a change from the sound of the waves then just say “Alexa stop” or if you have no manners “Alexa shut up“.

Beach Sea Sand Wave Enrique — Beach Sounds

You may as well check the temperature at home “Alexa what is the temperature?” or in your favourite holiday destination say “Alexa what is the temperature in xxxx”? For the weather rather than judge the temperature just swap out temperature for weather. Change your commands slightly and get the weather for tommorrow. Try “Alexa what will be the weather be in Miami tomorrow?”

If you want to, you can try Ocean Sounds “Alexa, open Ocean Sounds”. See if you can hear the difference to Beach Sounds. Having straying in a real beach hut in the Caribbean a few back. In the real world the novelty can wear off if you have been listening to the waves crash all day and night long!

Finally whilst we are still dealing with the inpact of the coronavirus on our lives you can ask Alexa the following: “Alexa, what is the coronavirus?” “Alexa, what’s the latest with the coronavirus?” “Alexa, help me wash my hands.”

Hand washing: Couleur — “Alexa, help me wash my hands.”

Echo Glow

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The Echo Glow is a smart lamp designed with children in mind. It can be paried with any compatible Alexa device to control color and brightness with your voice.

With Echo Glow you can create various lighting cues to make family cues colorful and less stressful. For exampe it can be used to help countdown to meal times, homework times and even bed time. Using the Rainbow Timer – your children will get a visual reminder that can help morning and bedtime routines stay on track.

Children (or young at heart adults) can create and choose to add fun lighting and color whilst playing or listening to music. Ask Alexa to start a dance party for a music and light show. have fun with dynamic modes like color flow, campfire, siren, firetruck, and underwater, and try holiday modes for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Valentine’s Day.