Amazon Echo Dot Christmas Present

[countrykid]

A family member has bought us an Amazon Echo Dot for Christmas. The box says "Add Alexa to any room".
We know next to nothing about using this cute looking speaker, but from a quick Google we'd need to subscribe to a music streaming service such as Amazon, Spotify etc.
We don't have a subscription and have no plans to. Is it of use for anything other than streaming? Thanks

[bookbinder]

https://venturebeat.com/2019/12/25/10-things-to-try-with-your-new-amazon-echo-speaker/

[Buenchico]

See here:
https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Technology/Question1686738.html

[bednobs]

do you have an amazon account?

[countrykid]

Many thanks for responses. I'll check the links out. Yes we do have an Amazon account

[pixie374]

Look on your app for "skills" to enable. I have the unlimited music subscription, but it has plenty of other choices too.

[sherrardk]

An Amazon music subscription is currently 99p for 4 months :)

[Tuvok]

Don't have any of these voice gadgets, but you can use Spotify without subscribing - you just get the occasional advert.

[countrykid]

I’m so grateful for all responses. Really helpful, especially the links from buenchico and bookbinder which led to so much info that I need to spend time checking it out further in next few days.
Pixie, which app do you mean to check for “skills”.
It’s pretty clear that this cute little speaker is so much more than a means to stream music via subscriptions. Thanks again

[HansUrbancka]

Have a think about something that Dannyk mentioned at 17.43 in the link given above by Buenchico. Then, for you privacy, alter the settings of Alexa, as explained in the following :-

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/9658182/amazon-echo-spying-alexa-how-to-stop-listening/

Hans.

[countrykid]

Thanks Hansurbanka, I'll definietly look into privacy etc.

I've made progress today, set the little "dot" up having taken a trial subscription to Amazon music just to get a feel for it. No doubt there are various other ways of listening to "content" of one kind or another via this speaker.

The one thing that has puzzled me, having set the speaker up to recognise my voice, is that when my partner spoke and said "alexa, play......." she did what was asked, without my partner having done the voive recognition thing. Am I doing something wrong as I thought it only responded to voices that have been "registered" to the unit

[HansUrbancka]

G'morning countrykid......Good to hear that you are making progress with your Echo Dot.

I must admit that I don't have such a device but, from time to time, I read about such items. In fact I thought that Amazon had corrected the matter of 'fake wakes', but that does not appear to be the case. It seems that anyone saying "Alexa" can wake her; even if the name or similar (Alex Alexis) is heard from a radio. Consequently, you will need to set things differently, if the issue is causing you concern.

There are lots of articles on the Internet which are helpful and the following is one of them:-

https://www.digitaltrends.com/

Incidentally,as regards adding Alexa to other rooms, it will mean getting further Echo Dots

Best wishes .....Hans.

[HansUrbancka]

Sorry, something went wrong with the link. Hope it works this time.

https://www.digitaltrends.com/home/how-to-set-up-an-amazon-alexa-voice-profile/

Hans.

[pixie374]

Have you downloaded the app to your phone, which relates to Alexa?
Mine has only recently asked me for voice recognition. As far as I am aware, anyone can "wake" Alexa... but at least now, it is understanding that I don't like R&B, which did confuse it after my daughter had used it for a while. It seems to be more about remembering preferences, than security.

[countrykid]

Thanks for the link Hands, I'll check it out.
Thanks also to Pixie - yes I have now downloaded the Alexa app to my phone. Learning quite quickly, but lots more to discover. I've googled a few things and each time, learn a bit more.

I realise I'll need additional "dots" for other rooms to have the Alexa facility but unsure if each for would be "linked" and thus be playing the same content at sand time eg multi room sound, or can each one be on independently, playing totally different things. I'm guessing it can perhaps be yes to both questions, it just being how they are "set up"? Feel free to respond but I will also Google this. I'm grateful for all the help I've been given. Thank you all

[pixie374]

They can be used separately (my sister has lots), but with a subscription, if you are only paying for one, you can only use it on one at a time.