Introducing the Amazon Echo (Smart Speaker) (1 Viewer)

[Buddy Ball 2K3]

Last week I hooked it up to a Wink Hub and paired it with a bunch of the GE Link Bulbs and I absolutely love it. Keep in mind I have an Echo at each end of my house so she.. I mean it is almost always in range of our voices if the doors are all open. I can turn on living room and bedroom lights simply by saying "Alexa, turn on living room lights" and they go on. Set up was easy once the Wink Hub updated (took about 10-15 minutes). You simply have to add each individual bulb to the wink hub. I named every bulb something different (all depending on where they were going in the house) and then put them into their own groups (Living room, bedroom, kitchen etc). Once these were all grouped I synced everything with the Echo app and I could then command the lights via voice or app on my phone/tablet. You can set up all sorts of schedules for your lights to run etc if thats your thing. Control them while you are on vacation etc. Very handy. I will be hooking up some switches and possibly an outlet or two this weekend to try out certain "appliances"

 

[Bogart]

I will be hooking up some switches and possibly an outlet or two this weekend to try out certain "appliances"

"Alexa, turn on vibrator."

The future is now.

 

[Buddy Ball 2K3]

I will be hooking up some switches and possibly an outlet or two this weekend to try out certain "appliances"

"Alexa, turn on vibrator."

The future is now.

Ya know...

 

[Henry Ford]

Been considering getting the wife an Echo for Christmas. Is it worth it? We're already Prime, use Fire stick in our TVs, etc....

 

[glvsav37]

any Sonos support for this thing yet? if not, I still gotta pass

 

[Otis]

Been considering getting the wife an Echo for Christmas. Is it worth it? We're already Prime, use Fire stick in our TVs, etc....

Love ours. Only have one in the kitchen, but use it all the time, mostly for music, and also for a quick weather check as I'm leaving the house each morning.

 

[Henry Ford]

Been considering getting the wife an Echo for Christmas. Is it worth it? We're already Prime, use Fire stick in our TVs, etc....

Love ours. Only have one in the kitchen, but use it all the time, mostly for music, and also for a quick weather check as I'm leaving the house each morning.

Thanks. Think I'm pulling the trigger.

 

[VA703]

so tempting.. that thing looks badass

 

[jhib]

Been considering getting the wife an Echo for Christmas. Is it worth it? We're already Prime, use Fire stick in our TVs, etc....

Love ours. Only have one in the kitchen, but use it all the time, mostly for music, and also for a quick weather check as I'm leaving the house each morning.

Same here. Have mine in the kitchen as well. So easy to get it to start playing music from Prime music stations or the local ESPN station and almost as easy to connect my phone by bluetooth for podcasts through my podcast app. I keep the remote in the family room in case I want to ask it a question or play some music while we're in their, since it's loud enough to hear from there.

Oh, and it's great when I want to be a dorky dad when my son has a friend or two over. I can take the remote in another room where I can still hear them and freak them out by having it start talking to them (the "Simon Says" functionality).

 

[James Daulton]

Been considering getting the wife an Echo for Christmas. Is it worth it? We're already Prime, use Fire stick in our TVs, etc....

Love ours. Only have one in the kitchen, but use it all the time, mostly for music, and also for a quick weather check as I'm leaving the house each morning.

Obviously it's not audiophile quality, but does the speaker suck hard with music or is it better than one might expect?

 

[jwb]

Been considering getting the wife an Echo for Christmas. Is it worth it? We're already Prime, use Fire stick in our TVs, etc....

Love ours. Only have one in the kitchen, but use it all the time, mostly for music, and also for a quick weather check as I'm leaving the house each morning.

Obviously it's not audiophile quality, but does the speaker suck hard with music or is it better than one might expect?

It is better than you expect. The cool part is, it can "hear" you even when the music is loud.

We're getting the kitchen done over, and never really had a decent music solution for that room. My wife tried various radios, under-cabinet CD player, etc - nothing really worked out well. So after reading about this, I bought it as an early "house" xmas gift. This thing is really amazing, and has solved the "kitchen radio" dilemma. Plus, it's cool that you can get news / weather / sports just by asking. If all we ever use it for is music and news, it's worth it.

 

[Bogart]

Been considering getting the wife an Echo for Christmas. Is it worth it? We're already Prime, use Fire stick in our TVs, etc....

Love ours. Only have one in the kitchen, but use it all the time, mostly for music, and also for a quick weather check as I'm leaving the house each morning.

Obviously it's not audiophile quality, but does the speaker suck hard with music or is it better than one might expect?

I think for the price point, it sounds great. Better than most Bluetooth speakers I have heard. And it gets plenty loud if you want to play it outside.

 

[squidrope]

One in the kitchen and one in my work shop. I want a third for the master bath.

 

[Cjw_55106]

Glad people like it. I have one for my 15 year old for Christmas.

 

[Bogart]

One in the kitchen and one in my work shop. I want a third for the master bath.

I have been craving a second one. Mine is in my bedroom, would really like one in my kitchen.

 

[James Daulton]

One in the kitchen and one in my work shop. I want a third for the master bath.

I have been craving a second one. Mine is in my bedroom, would really like one in my kitchen.

Seriously, what do you do with more than one? Just listen to music? Can you play Pandora and Spotify using voice commands on the thing?

 

[jwb]

One in the kitchen and one in my work shop. I want a third for the master bath.

I have been craving a second one. Mine is in my bedroom, would really like one in my kitchen.

Seriously, what do you do with more than one? Just listen to music? Can you play Pandora and Spotify using voice commands on the thing?

Pandora, yes. Spotify, no (not with voice, anyway).

That said, if you are a Prime member, all prime music can be played through it via voice.

 

[Otis]

Been considering getting the wife an Echo for Christmas. Is it worth it? We're already Prime, use Fire stick in our TVs, etc....

Love ours. Only have one in the kitchen, but use it all the time, mostly for music, and also for a quick weather check as I'm leaving the house each morning.

Obviously it's not audiophile quality, but does the speaker suck hard with music or is it better than one might expect?

I'm not an audio nerd, but I think it sounds great.

 

[Otis]

One in the kitchen and one in my work shop. I want a third for the master bath.

Ohhhhh master bath, great idea. I've been thinking about some lousy shower radio for a long time, this idea is way better.

 

[Henry Ford]

One in the kitchen and one in my work shop. I want a third for the master bath.

Ohhhhh master bath, great idea. I've been thinking about some lousy shower radio for a long time, this idea is way better.

Yeah, it seems like overkill, but for $179 it's not that much more expensive than a good radio... One if these in the master bed/bath, one in the living room/kitchen area seems awesome.Gave it to my wife for Christmas, she's already in love with it. Might be leaving me for Alexa.

 

[James Daulton]

Alright, got one for Christmas. Now what do I do with it?

 

[Henry Ford]

Alright, got one for Christmas. Now what do I do with it?

Do you have Amazon Prime?

 

[James Daulton]

Alright, got one for Christmas. Now what do I do with it?

Do you have Amazon Prime?

Yep. I mean I know I should put the thing on my counter and listen to music, but what else should I do with it?

 

[Buddy Ball 2K3]

Alright, got one for Christmas. Now what do I do with it?

Do you have Amazon Prime?

Yep. I mean I know I should put the thing on my counter and listen to music, but what else should I do with it?

I have a few of these now and have most of my house hooked up to smart lights/switches/bulbs etc. Newest edition was setting up all of our Christmas decorations with smart switches.

Alexa turn on Christmas Tree Lights

Alexa turn on Christmas Lights

We also use her (yes I said her) for timing during cooking, the shopping list features, all music and I am just starting to try out different IFTTT triggers

Here is a list of most of the Echo commands LINK

 

[James Daulton]

Alright, got one for Christmas. Now what do I do with it?

Do you have Amazon Prime?

Yep. I mean I know I should put the thing on my counter and listen to music, but what else should I do with it?

I have a few of these now and have most of my house hooked up to smart lights/switches/bulbs etc. Newest edition was setting up all of our Christmas decorations with smart switches.

Alexa turn on Christmas Tree Lights

Alexa turn on Christmas Lights

We also use her (yes I said her) for timing during cooking, the shopping list features, all music and I am just starting to try out different IFTTT triggers

Here is a list of most of the Echo commands LINK

Let's assume I live in an older house that doesn't have smart stuff. What do I need to accomplish this?

Thanks for the ideas.

 

[Buddy Ball 2K3]

Alright, got one for Christmas. Now what do I do with it?

Do you have Amazon Prime?

Yep. I mean I know I should put the thing on my counter and listen to music, but what else should I do with it?

I have a few of these now and have most of my house hooked up to smart lights/switches/bulbs etc. Newest edition was setting up all of our Christmas decorations with smart switches.

Alexa turn on Christmas Tree Lights

Alexa turn on Christmas Lights

We also use her (yes I said her) for timing during cooking, the shopping list features, all music and I am just starting to try out different IFTTT triggers

Here is a list of most of the Echo commands LINK

Let's assume I live in an older house that doesn't have smart stuff. What do I need to accomplish this?

Thanks for the ideas.

As long as you have wifi you can do it all. I purchase the "smart" light bulbs / switches when they go on sale and then add/install them as I go. Everything runs off the wifi and either a wink hub or some brands that do not need a hub at all. It takes a little bit to get use to, but once you do, its absolutely fantastic.

I am also in the process of putting in all smart flood lights, porch lights, deck lights around the house. I will set them up individually and then also group them as front, back etc so that I can turn on everything at once or in sections/individually. I have two echo's up stairs and one down stairs. They all work together as far as commands go and each one can play different music at the same time.

 

[Guest]

Bought a Big Blue Party system from Brookstone. Sound quality is vastly superior to Echo. Portable, and blue tooth. Using it with Siri/Apple Music, but the reason I chose it is because the innovation will occur within the mobile devices and the music services, and I want to be open to any choice.

Very happy with the choice. Sound is incredible and it was roughly the same price.

 

[Buddy Ball 2K3]

Bought a Big Blue Party system from Brookstone. Sound quality is vastly superior to Echo. Portable, and blue tooth. Using it with Siri/Apple Music, but the reason I chose it is because the innovation will occur within the mobile devices and the music services, and I want to be open to any choice.

Very happy with the choice. Sound is incredible and it was roughly the same price.

But its just a speaker. If you are going to spend $199 on a bluetooth speaker there are plenty of options to go with.

 

[leftcoastguy7]

Can I get this thing to only respond to my own voice?

I don't want the kids asking for knock knock jokes when I'm listening to sports scores.

 

[Guest]

Bought a Big Blue Party system from Brookstone. Sound quality is vastly superior to Echo. Portable, and blue tooth. Using it with Siri/Apple Music, but the reason I chose it is because the innovation will occur within the mobile devices and the music services, and I want to be open to any choice.

Very happy with the choice. Sound is incredible and it was roughly the same price.

But its just a speaker. If you are going to spend $199 on a bluetooth speaker there are plenty of options to go with.

The important thing is that the innovation will happen fastest at the device and application layers, so go with the best sound quality. I can use Siri to control my iPhone and Apple Music. If a Galaxy with Spotify evolves to have benefits, then I can switch to it. My speaker will last for several years without needing an upgrade.

 

[Buddy Ball 2K3]

Bought a Big Blue Party system from Brookstone. Sound quality is vastly superior to Echo. Portable, and blue tooth. Using it with Siri/Apple Music, but the reason I chose it is because the innovation will occur within the mobile devices and the music services, and I want to be open to any choice.

Very happy with the choice. Sound is incredible and it was roughly the same price.

But its just a speaker. If you are going to spend $199 on a bluetooth speaker there are plenty of options to go with.

The important thing is that the innovation will happen fastest at the device and application layers, so go with the best sound quality. I can use Siri to control my iPhone and Apple Music. If a Galaxy with Spotify evolves to have benefits, then I can switch to it. My speaker will last for several years without needing an upgrade.

The Echo is constantly having the software upgraded and works with Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Music etc. Trying to compare an Echo to a standard Bluetooth speaker is a bit silly.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I'm no audiophile, but the Echo sounds really good to me

 

[Otis]

Bought a Big Blue Party system from Brookstone. Sound quality is vastly superior to Echo. Portable, and blue tooth. Using it with Siri/Apple Music, but the reason I chose it is because the innovation will occur within the mobile devices and the music services, and I want to be open to any choice.

Very happy with the choice. Sound is incredible and it was roughly the same price.

But its just a speaker. If you are going to spend $199 on a bluetooth speaker there are plenty of options to go with.

The important thing is that the innovation will happen fastest at the device and application layers, so go with the best sound quality. I can use Siri to control my iPhone and Apple Music. If a Galaxy with Spotify evolves to have benefits, then I can switch to it. My speaker will last for several years without needing an upgrade.

The Echo is constantly having the software upgraded and works with Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Music etc. Trying to compare an Echo to a standard Bluetooth speaker is a bit silly.

Yeah I'm not getting the comparison. Echo is awesome.

 

[Otis]

Alright, got one for Christmas. Now what do I do with it?

Do you have Amazon Prime?

Yep. I mean I know I should put the thing on my counter and listen to music, but what else should I do with it?

I have a few of these now and have most of my house hooked up to smart lights/switches/bulbs etc. Newest edition was setting up all of our Christmas decorations with smart switches.

Alexa turn on Christmas Tree Lights

Alexa turn on Christmas Lights

We also use her (yes I said her) for timing during cooking, the shopping list features, all music and I am just starting to try out different IFTTT triggers

Here is a list of most of the Echo commands LINK

Let's assume I live in an older house that doesn't have smart stuff. What do I need to accomplish this?

Thanks for the ideas.

As long as you have wifi you can do it all. I purchase the "smart" light bulbs / switches when they go on sale and then add/install them as I go. Everything runs off the wifi and either a wink hub or some brands that do not need a hub at all. It takes a little bit to get use to, but once you do, its absolutely fantastic.

I am also in the process of putting in all smart flood lights, porch lights, deck lights around the house. I will set them up individually and then also group them as front, back etc so that I can turn on everything at once or in sections/individually. I have two echo's up stairs and one down stairs. They all work together as far as commands go and each one can play different music at the same time.

Curious to know which items you've purchased and like. Can you link them?

Also any good guides online for doing this with Echo? Seems pretty cool. May start working on it.

 

[Guest]

Bought a Big Blue Party system from Brookstone. Sound quality is vastly superior to Echo. Portable, and blue tooth. Using it with Siri/Apple Music, but the reason I chose it is because the innovation will occur within the mobile devices and the music services, and I want to be open to any choice.

Very happy with the choice. Sound is incredible and it was roughly the same price.

But its just a speaker. If you are going to spend $199 on a bluetooth speaker there are plenty of options to go with.

The important thing is that the innovation will happen fastest at the device and application layers, so go with the best sound quality. I can use Siri to control my iPhone and Apple Music. If a Galaxy with Spotify evolves to have benefits, then I can switch to it. My speaker will last for several years without needing an upgrade.

The Echo is constantly having the software upgraded and works with Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Music etc. Trying to compare an Echo to a standard Bluetooth speaker is a bit silly.

Innovation will happen faster and better at the device. Anything you can do with Echo, I will be able to do better talking to my phone. I like to remain agnostic to platform.So the comparison is investing in a purpose built device with modest sound quality, versus one that works with a standard protocol and has much better sound quality.

 

[Hawks64]

Bought a Big Blue Party system from Brookstone. Sound quality is vastly superior to Echo. Portable, and blue tooth. Using it with Siri/Apple Music, but the reason I chose it is because the innovation will occur within the mobile devices and the music services, and I want to be open to any choice.

Very happy with the choice. Sound is incredible and it was roughly the same price.

But its just a speaker. If you are going to spend $199 on a bluetooth speaker there are plenty of options to go with.

The important thing is that the innovation will happen fastest at the device and application layers, so go with the best sound quality. I can use Siri to control my iPhone and Apple Music. If a Galaxy with Spotify evolves to have benefits, then I can switch to it. My speaker will last for several years without needing an upgrade.

The Echo is constantly having the software upgraded and works with Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Music etc. Trying to compare an Echo to a standard Bluetooth speaker is a bit silly.

And Citrix is leveraging the Echo as an automation piece for conference rooms. Combined with something like OctoBlu the Echo becomes very powerful from an automation standpoint. No bluetooth speaker can do that.

 

[Hawks64]

Bought a Big Blue Party system from Brookstone. Sound quality is vastly superior to Echo. Portable, and blue tooth. Using it with Siri/Apple Music, but the reason I chose it is because the innovation will occur within the mobile devices and the music services, and I want to be open to any choice.

Very happy with the choice. Sound is incredible and it was roughly the same price.

But its just a speaker. If you are going to spend $199 on a bluetooth speaker there are plenty of options to go with.

The important thing is that the innovation will happen fastest at the device and application layers, so go with the best sound quality. I can use Siri to control my iPhone and Apple Music. If a Galaxy with Spotify evolves to have benefits, then I can switch to it. My speaker will last for several years without needing an upgrade.

The Echo is constantly having the software upgraded and works with Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Music etc. Trying to compare an Echo to a standard Bluetooth speaker is a bit silly.

Innovation will happen faster and better at the device. Anything you can do with Echo, I will be able to do better talking to my phone. I like to remain agnostic to platform.So the comparison is investing in a purpose built device with modest sound quality, versus one that works with a standard protocol and has much better sound quality.

No, no you won't. You're phone isn't and can't be in an always listening mode or battery life will suck even worse than it is today. Echo is plugged in and always on and always listening. And unless you've personally heard the Echo you can't compare it to some portable bluetooth POS speaker. Wireless audio right now is owned by Sonos, there isn't a portable speaker on the market right now that can compare. B&W has some good wireless speakers as does Denon.

 

[Henry Ford]

Bought a Big Blue Party system from Brookstone. Sound quality is vastly superior to Echo. Portable, and blue tooth. Using it with Siri/Apple Music, but the reason I chose it is because the innovation will occur within the mobile devices and the music services, and I want to be open to any choice.

Very happy with the choice. Sound is incredible and it was roughly the same price.

But its just a speaker. If you are going to spend $199 on a bluetooth speaker there are plenty of options to go with.

The important thing is that the innovation will happen fastest at the device and application layers, so go with the best sound quality. I can use Siri to control my iPhone and Apple Music. If a Galaxy with Spotify evolves to have benefits, then I can switch to it. My speaker will last for several years without needing an upgrade.

The Echo is constantly having the software upgraded and works with Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Music etc. Trying to compare an Echo to a standard Bluetooth speaker is a bit silly.

Innovation will happen faster and better at the device. Anything you can do with Echo, I will be able to do better talking to my phone. I like to remain agnostic to platform.So the comparison is investing in a purpose built device with modest sound quality, versus one that works with a standard protocol and has much better sound quality.

You're wildly underestimating the potential of Echo.

 

[3C's]

Bought a Big Blue Party system from Brookstone. Sound quality is vastly superior to Echo. Portable, and blue tooth. Using it with Siri/Apple Music, but the reason I chose it is because the innovation will occur within the mobile devices and the music services, and I want to be open to any choice.

Very happy with the choice. Sound is incredible and it was roughly the same price.

But its just a speaker. If you are going to spend $199 on a bluetooth speaker there are plenty of options to go with.

The important thing is that the innovation will happen fastest at the device and application layers, so go with the best sound quality. I can use Siri to control my iPhone and Apple Music. If a Galaxy with Spotify evolves to have benefits, then I can switch to it. My speaker will last for several years without needing an upgrade.

The Echo is constantly having the software upgraded and works with Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Music etc. Trying to compare an Echo to a standard Bluetooth speaker is a bit silly.

Innovation will happen faster and better at the device. Anything you can do with Echo, I will be able to do better talking to my phone. I like to remain agnostic to platform.So the comparison is investing in a purpose built device with modest sound quality, versus one that works with a standard protocol and has much better sound quality.

Open your own thread on the Brookstone whatever POS you bought and stop ####ting on this one.

 

[Das Boot]

Bought a Big Blue Party system from Brookstone. Sound quality is vastly superior to Echo. Portable, and blue tooth. Using it with Siri/Apple Music, but the reason I chose it is because the innovation will occur within the mobile devices and the music services, and I want to be open to any choice.

Very happy with the choice. Sound is incredible and it was roughly the same price.

But its just a speaker. If you are going to spend $199 on a bluetooth speaker there are plenty of options to go with.

The important thing is that the innovation will happen fastest at the device and application layers, so go with the best sound quality. I can use Siri to control my iPhone and Apple Music. If a Galaxy with Spotify evolves to have benefits, then I can switch to it. My speaker will last for several years without needing an upgrade.

The Echo is constantly having the software upgraded and works with Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Music etc. Trying to compare an Echo to a standard Bluetooth speaker is a bit silly.

Innovation will happen faster and better at the device. Anything you can do with Echo, I will be able to do better talking to my phone. I like to remain agnostic to platform.So the comparison is investing in a purpose built device with modest sound quality, versus one that works with a standard protocol and has much better sound quality.

Open your own thread on the Brookstone whatever POS you bought and stop ####ting on this one.

He's hardly ####ting on this thread, he's just presenting his viewpoint, which I appreciate reading.

The resulting discussion is highlighting some of the capabilities and advantages of echo.

I don't begrudge anyone that just wants a high quality Bluetooth speaker, there are a lot of good choices for that.

Echo is for different purposes, but is more than adequate for music as well.

 

[3C's]

Bought a Big Blue Party system from Brookstone. Sound quality is vastly superior to Echo. Portable, and blue tooth. Using it with Siri/Apple Music, but the reason I chose it is because the innovation will occur within the mobile devices and the music services, and I want to be open to any choice.

Very happy with the choice. Sound is incredible and it was roughly the same price.

But its just a speaker. If you are going to spend $199 on a bluetooth speaker there are plenty of options to go with.

The important thing is that the innovation will happen fastest at the device and application layers, so go with the best sound quality. I can use Siri to control my iPhone and Apple Music. If a Galaxy with Spotify evolves to have benefits, then I can switch to it. My speaker will last for several years without needing an upgrade.

The Echo is constantly having the software upgraded and works with Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Music etc. Trying to compare an Echo to a standard Bluetooth speaker is a bit silly.

Innovation will happen faster and better at the device. Anything you can do with Echo, I will be able to do better talking to my phone. I like to remain agnostic to platform.So the comparison is investing in a purpose built device with modest sound quality, versus one that works with a standard protocol and has much better sound quality.

Open your own thread on the Brookstone whatever POS you bought and stop ####ting on this one.

He's hardly ####ting on this thread, he's just presenting his viewpoint, which I appreciate reading.

The resulting discussion is highlighting some of the capabilities and advantages of echo.

I don't begrudge anyone that just wants a high quality Bluetooth speaker, there are a lot of good choices for that.

Echo is for different purposes, but is more than adequate for music as well.

This is a thread about the Echo, not a thread about BT speakers in general.

 

[Henry Ford]

Bought a Big Blue Party system from Brookstone. Sound quality is vastly superior to Echo. Portable, and blue tooth. Using it with Siri/Apple Music, but the reason I chose it is because the innovation will occur within the mobile devices and the music services, and I want to be open to any choice.

Very happy with the choice. Sound is incredible and it was roughly the same price.

But its just a speaker. If you are going to spend $199 on a bluetooth speaker there are plenty of options to go with.

The important thing is that the innovation will happen fastest at the device and application layers, so go with the best sound quality. I can use Siri to control my iPhone and Apple Music. If a Galaxy with Spotify evolves to have benefits, then I can switch to it. My speaker will last for several years without needing an upgrade.

The Echo is constantly having the software upgraded and works with Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Music etc. Trying to compare an Echo to a standard Bluetooth speaker is a bit silly.

Innovation will happen faster and better at the device. Anything you can do with Echo, I will be able to do better talking to my phone. I like to remain agnostic to platform.So the comparison is investing in a purpose built device with modest sound quality, versus one that works with a standard protocol and has much better sound quality.

No, no you won't. You're phone isn't and can't be in an always listening mode or battery life will suck even worse than it is today. Echo is plugged in and always on and always listening. And unless you've personally heard the Echo you can't compare it to some portable bluetooth POS speaker. Wireless audio right now is owned by Sonos, there isn't a portable speaker on the market right now that can compare. B&W has some good wireless speakers as does Denon.

There are also issues of stability, safety, device durability, and multi-user issues. Echo is significantly more useful as an in-home device than a phone or a group of phones, if only because it isn't going to lose battery, get its screen broken, get dropped, get frozen mid-update, lose functionality post-update because of application conflicts with new operating systems, and you don't have to pass it around to your family to allow them to use it. You can also let people visiting your home access its features without handing over your entire life. I'd imagine if I lived alone, a phone would be fine, but not as useful with multiple users.

 

[Henry Ford]

"Hey, guys, while you're in town you can set the thermostat wherever you want. Just ask to borrow my phone."

 

[Buddy Ball 2K3]

As I said, comparing any standard bluetooth speaker to an Echo is absolutely silly. Either you are not familiar with everything you can do with an Echo or you are just

With the help of a $25-$50 wink Hub or = you can make your entire house operate via voice commands and its not very complicated to do. From adjusting thermostats to locking your doors, and starting your coffee maker, you can accomplish these things with an Echo. Good luck doing all of that with your Big Blue Party machine. While you are carrying around your phone and speaking into it, Echo owners are using a hands free device that has extremely good sound quality and is really only in its infancy.

 

[Das Boot]

Bought a Big Blue Party system from Brookstone. Sound quality is vastly superior to Echo. Portable, and blue tooth. Using it with Siri/Apple Music, but the reason I chose it is because the innovation will occur within the mobile devices and the music services, and I want to be open to any choice.

Very happy with the choice. Sound is incredible and it was roughly the same price.

But its just a speaker. If you are going to spend $199 on a bluetooth speaker there are plenty of options to go with.

The important thing is that the innovation will happen fastest at the device and application layers, so go with the best sound quality. I can use Siri to control my iPhone and Apple Music. If a Galaxy with Spotify evolves to have benefits, then I can switch to it. My speaker will last for several years without needing an upgrade.

The Echo is constantly having the software upgraded and works with Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Music etc. Trying to compare an Echo to a standard Bluetooth speaker is a bit silly.

Innovation will happen faster and better at the device. Anything you can do with Echo, I will be able to do better talking to my phone. I like to remain agnostic to platform.So the comparison is investing in a purpose built device with modest sound quality, versus one that works with a standard protocol and has much better sound quality.

Open your own thread on the Brookstone whatever POS you bought and stop ####ting on this one.

He's hardly ####ting on this thread, he's just presenting his viewpoint, which I appreciate reading.

The resulting discussion is highlighting some of the capabilities and advantages of echo.

I don't begrudge anyone that just wants a high quality Bluetooth speaker, there are a lot of good choices for that.

Echo is for different purposes, but is more than adequate for music as well.

This is a thread about the Echo, not a thread about BT speakers in general.

He was providing the rationale of why he chose a BT speaker over the Echo, and also adding his viewpoint regarding how smart phone apps will almost certainly eventually provide much of the same functionality that the Echo provides now.

I really enjoy using my Echo and keeping up with the every growing functionality it has and I already find it to be a useful device.

But I still appreciate alternative opinions, I usually learn from them.

 

[Otis]

Bought a Big Blue Party system from Brookstone. Sound quality is vastly superior to Echo. Portable, and blue tooth. Using it with Siri/Apple Music, but the reason I chose it is because the innovation will occur within the mobile devices and the music services, and I want to be open to any choice.

Very happy with the choice. Sound is incredible and it was roughly the same price.

But its just a speaker. If you are going to spend $199 on a bluetooth speaker there are plenty of options to go with.

The important thing is that the innovation will happen fastest at the device and application layers, so go with the best sound quality. I can use Siri to control my iPhone and Apple Music. If a Galaxy with Spotify evolves to have benefits, then I can switch to it. My speaker will last for several years without needing an upgrade.

The Echo is constantly having the software upgraded and works with Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Music etc. Trying to compare an Echo to a standard Bluetooth speaker is a bit silly.

Innovation will happen faster and better at the device. Anything you can do with Echo, I will be able to do better talking to my phone. I like to remain agnostic to platform.So the comparison is investing in a purpose built device with modest sound quality, versus one that works with a standard protocol and has much better sound quality.

Except you need your phone to do anything with your Bluetooth speaker. And to shut off the lights. Etc.

Hopefully it's charged. Hopefully someone doesn't call you. Hopefully you don't want to watch a video, or do something else that will interrupt the music steaming to your speaker.

I've owned a bunch of Bluetooth speakers. Those annoyances are exactly why I got the Echo. And I find I use it a lot more often, because I don't have to go pairing things or hooking things up or taking extra steps. I just ask for music and suddenly there is music.

Likely will purchase a second one for the master bathroom and considering a third for the living room. That will cover most places that matter. I can then start doing some of the home automation stuff.

 

[Guest]

Bought a Big Blue Party system from Brookstone. Sound quality is vastly superior to Echo. Portable, and blue tooth. Using it with Siri/Apple Music, but the reason I chose it is because the innovation will occur within the mobile devices and the music services, and I want to be open to any choice.

Very happy with the choice. Sound is incredible and it was roughly the same price.

But its just a speaker. If you are going to spend $199 on a bluetooth speaker there are plenty of options to go with.

The important thing is that the innovation will happen fastest at the device and application layers, so go with the best sound quality. I can use Siri to control my iPhone and Apple Music. If a Galaxy with Spotify evolves to have benefits, then I can switch to it. My speaker will last for several years without needing an upgrade.

The Echo is constantly having the software upgraded and works with Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Music etc. Trying to compare an Echo to a standard Bluetooth speaker is a bit silly.

Innovation will happen faster and better at the device. Anything you can do with Echo, I will be able to do better talking to my phone. I like to remain agnostic to platform.So the comparison is investing in a purpose built device with modest sound quality, versus one that works with a standard protocol and has much better sound quality.

Except you need your phone to do anything with your Bluetooth speaker. And to shut off the lights. Etc.

Hopefully it's charged. Hopefully someone doesn't call you. Hopefully you don't want to watch a video, or do something else that will interrupt the music steaming to your speaker.

I've owned a bunch of Bluetooth speakers. Those annoyances are exactly why I got the Echo. And I find I use it a lot more often, because I don't have to go pairing things or hooking things up or taking extra steps. I just ask for music and suddenly there is music.

Likely will purchase a second one for the master bathroom and considering a third for the living room. That will cover most places that matter. I can then start doing some of the home automation stuff.

3 iPads, 3 iPhones, 2 Kindles. Have devices out the yang. Paring is instant. Plus Apple Music with Siri on the Apple TV.

By the time I'm ready to wire the house for Internet of things, I'll take the mobile phone apps. They will be superior.

 

[Otis]

Bought a Big Blue Party system from Brookstone. Sound quality is vastly superior to Echo. Portable, and blue tooth. Using it with Siri/Apple Music, but the reason I chose it is because the innovation will occur within the mobile devices and the music services, and I want to be open to any choice.

Very happy with the choice. Sound is incredible and it was roughly the same price.

But its just a speaker. If you are going to spend $199 on a bluetooth speaker there are plenty of options to go with.

The important thing is that the innovation will happen fastest at the device and application layers, so go with the best sound quality. I can use Siri to control my iPhone and Apple Music. If a Galaxy with Spotify evolves to have benefits, then I can switch to it. My speaker will last for several years without needing an upgrade.

The Echo is constantly having the software upgraded and works with Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Music etc. Trying to compare an Echo to a standard Bluetooth speaker is a bit silly.

Innovation will happen faster and better at the device. Anything you can do with Echo, I will be able to do better talking to my phone. I like to remain agnostic to platform.So the comparison is investing in a purpose built device with modest sound quality, versus one that works with a standard protocol and has much better sound quality.

Except you need your phone to do anything with your Bluetooth speaker. And to shut off the lights. Etc. Hopefully it's charged. Hopefully someone doesn't call you. Hopefully you don't want to watch a video, or do something else that will interrupt the music steaming to your speaker.

I've owned a bunch of Bluetooth speakers. Those annoyances are exactly why I got the Echo. And I find I use it a lot more often, because I don't have to go pairing things or hooking things up or taking extra steps. I just ask for music and suddenly there is music.

Likely will purchase a second one for the master bathroom and considering a third for the living room. That will cover most places that matter. I can then start doing some of the home automation stuff.

3 iPads, 3 iPhones, 2 Kindles. Have devices out the yang. Paring is instant. Plus Apple Music with Siri on the Apple TV. By the time I'm ready to wire the house for Internet of things, I'll take the mobile phone apps. They will be superior.

You keep saying that. I'm not sure where you're getting it from. Amazon isn't a crappy company, and they are rolling out new software for this thing all the time. I'm not sure why you assume the interface on your phones will necessarily be better. They certainly aren't now for these purposes.

 

[Rohn Jambo]

I hate it when companies force me to upgrade. I cannot install or upgrade too may apps on my old iPad1 anymore but it is GD indestructible. I dropped it into a pot of boiling pasta while trying a new recipe and it's back up and running after one day.

 

[AcerFC]

This sounds cool and buddyball doing his best to sell it, but it also seems kind of creepy. Like in a skynet kind of way. Not saying its not cool, but.....