• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 31 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 31st anniversary: Happy 31st Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $23,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $23 Million dollars
  • Wish you could meet up with other TUG members? Well look no further as this annual event has been going on for years in Orlando! How to Attend the TUG January Get-Together!
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    Tens of thousands of subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Amazon Echo Battery Soon!

DavidnRobin

TUG Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
11,895
Reaction score
2,288
Location
San Francisco Bay Area
Resorts Owned
WKORV OFD (Maui)
WPORV (Kauai)
WSJ-VGV (St. John)
WKV (Scottsdale)
Runs Echo on a battery (vs having it plugged in to operate)
 

Sandy VDH

TUG Review Crew: Elite
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
10,197
Reaction score
4,585
Location
Houston, TX
Resorts Owned
Wynd VIP Plat GF, Legacy HGVC Elite, WM, HICV, +
But it does not seem to be made by Amazon, but rather something else aftermarket.

I would like a small charge, when I occasionally move my echo from one room to another, as it has to reboot and log back into the internet. Would be nice to have a small charge to move it around.
 

Phydeaux

TUG Member
Joined
May 20, 2010
Messages
2,760
Reaction score
311
Location
Somewhere, USA
Don't mean to go too far off topic, but...

For those that own the Echo, do you like it? What would you think of this for elderly in-laws that aren't very good with a computer? Seems that if they could break the ice with it, for a non-computer user, this could be handly.

Yes? No?
 

Passepartout

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2007
Messages
29,168
Reaction score
18,458
Location
Twin Falls, Eye-Duh-Hoe
Don't mean to go too far off topic, but...

For those that own the Echo, do you like it? What would you think of this for elderly in-laws that aren't very good with a computer? Seems that if they could break the ice with it, for a non-computer user, this could be handly.

Yes? No?

They would have to have Wi-Fi. Then I don't know what they'd use it for. It might seem novel- or weird- asking questions of a device sitting on a counter or end-table. Do they listen to music or radio? It works well with Pandora Stations or Amazon Prime music playlists, but are these elders people who are at least comfortable enough with digital music to set those things up? Do they have interest in getting the hardware to integrate an Echo into a home automation system. Do they cook or do other things that make having a timer handy? My gut feeling is that they would resist the change, and not see value in it.

I like my Echo, but honestly, it's just a voice controlled internet radio 99% of the time. I have not bought any connected lights, or thermostat, or other automation stuff. If there isn't anything on the radio I want to listen to, I'll ask for a playlist of some favorite music on Prime or Pandora. I occasionally use the timer, or ask it for a news or weather report, but barely often enough to remember that it does those things. It's jokes are great for a 9-10 year old, but hardly sophisticated.

My feeling is that Echo is probably not the best gift to consider for $150 for non computer-savvy seniors.

Jim
 

WinniWoman

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2010
Messages
11,316
Reaction score
7,570
Location
The Weirs, New Hampshire
Resorts Owned
Innseason Pollard Brook
Don't mean to go too far off topic, but...

For those that own the Echo, do you like it? What would you think of this for elderly in-laws that aren't very good with a computer? Seems that if they could break the ice with it, for a non-computer user, this could be handly.

Yes? No?



Well, I like it a lot., but you need to set it up for different things. I have had it for many months now and my husband only is just getting around to setting it up for various functions like the emergency alert, my horoscope, etc. You need to be computer literate for that. You also have to be patient and be conscious of how you ask Alexa the questions or she won't understand you.

Easy to use once set up for things like the weather, or telling a joke, or making a shopping list- though- again- the shopping list has to get set up to go to your computer as either an email, so you can print it, or to your phone app for when you go shopping.

It helps to be a Prime member so you can have her play music in your Prime library, but you can also add your own music- again- via computer first. You can ask her to just play various categories of music, like jazz, for instance and she will just start playing different songs. Then, all you have to do is ask her to play it- but you have to ask in a certain way. I also use her to play a talk radio station I like from I Heart Radio.

She can play bingo and other games and she is already set to look things up on Wikepedia. The latest news also. And she will tell you a joke if you ask her. I also use her to time my cooking.

I guess the set up would be an issue, unless someone could do it for them.
 
Last edited:

Jestjoan

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
2,776
Reaction score
1
Alert

What emergency alert?
 

icydog

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
4,867
Reaction score
335
Location
Central NJ
Don't mean to go too far off topic, but...

For those that own the Echo, do you like it? What would you think of this for elderly in-laws that aren't very good with a computer? Seems that if they could break the ice with it, for a non-computer user, this could be handly.

Yes? No?



Well, I like it a lot., but you need to set it up for different things. I have had it for many months now and my husband only is just getting around to setting it up for various functions like the emergency alert, my horoscope, etc. You need to be computer literate for that. You also have to be patient and be conscious of how you ask Alexa the questions or she won't understand you.

Easy to use once set up for things like the weather, or telling a joke, or making a shopping list- though- again- the shopping list has to get set up to go to your computer as either an email, so you can print it, or to your phone app for when you go shopping.

It helps to be a Prime member so you can have her play music in your Prime library, but you can also add your own music- again- via computer first. You can ask her to just play various categories of music, like jazz, for instance and she will just start playing different songs. Then, all you have to do is ask her to play it- but you have to ask in a certain way. I also use her to play a talk radio station I like from I Heart Radio.

She can play bingo and other games and she is already set to look things up on Wikepedia. The latest news also. And she will tell you a joke if you ask her. I also use her to time my cooking.

I guess the set up would be an issue, unless someone could do it for them.

I am almost 70. Do I qualify as elderly. I have one and I use it all the time to play music. I use an Echo remote which saves me yelling all day. I wouldn't use it if I did not have the remote. I ask Alexa things like what's the weather in my town or in a place I am going. I ask her to Wiki things but her answer are too truncated for me. I think my favorite thing is that I can hook it up to my ipad via bluetooth to hear my Apple Music.

Ok I have to admit I am not a good example. I use computers and iPads and iPhones all the time. I show people in my community how to work them. I am a shill. Sorry.

But I do love Alexa. I think it is cool to ask her the weather before I take my dog out. I ask her who is winning in football and and I use the news synopsis function. I wish it would read me the NY Times rather than articles I am not interested in from NPR! Who cares what they think? All I want is the news as unvarnished as possible. I don't like that they sanitize it or pablumize it for me.

But I digress. I like Echo. Is it perfect, NO. But, as I said before, I enjoy using her everyday for listening to my Apple Music. I have to tell you though, Siri is MUCH smarter than Alexa. I'm just sayin':hi:
 

WinniWoman

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2010
Messages
11,316
Reaction score
7,570
Location
The Weirs, New Hampshire
Resorts Owned
Innseason Pollard Brook
What emergency alert?
''

It's on Ask My Buddy. My husband just started to set it up. If you fall or something and you can't get to a phone, you can tell Alexa to "alert my buddy" and she will send either a text message or an email to whoever you set up for it to go to- either one person or several ("everybody").

So, for example, we will have it set up to alert me, my husband and our adult son, and possibly my brother.
 

Jestjoan

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
2,776
Reaction score
1
Thanks, did not know about that!
 

Sandy VDH

TUG Review Crew: Elite
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
10,197
Reaction score
4,585
Location
Houston, TX
Resorts Owned
Wynd VIP Plat GF, Legacy HGVC Elite, WM, HICV, +
I use it to listen to my audio books most frequently, then music either Amazon Prime Music or IHeartRadio station (Love BobFM in Austin - 70s, 80s, 90s and today).

I check weather, and ask for it questions periodically.

I have purchased light controls, but have yet to set that up yet.
 

Nancy

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
1,407
Reaction score
32
What does Alexa give you that Siri doesn't????
 

WinniWoman

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2010
Messages
11,316
Reaction score
7,570
Location
The Weirs, New Hampshire
Resorts Owned
Innseason Pollard Brook
What does Alexa give you that Siri doesn't????

The sound system for the music is excellent and of course, it is hands free. I think the voice recognition is much better.

I love the shopping list feature. I can be in my kitchen and notice, for example, that I am out of milk and just ask her to put it on my list and then it appears on my phone for when I go to the supermarket.
 

RuralEngineer

TUG Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2008
Messages
447
Reaction score
0
Location
Frederick, MD
askbuddy

thanks. i use Alexa for many things including turning on/off the coffee maker but this really neat.

will show to my mom.

amazing.
 

Glynda

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2005
Messages
3,892
Reaction score
2,715
Location
Charleston, SC
Resorts Owned
Bluegreen Points Lodge Alley Inn.
Brewster Green (two weeks).
Echo

...I love the shopping list feature. I can be in my kitchen and notice, for example, that I am out of milk and just ask her to put it on my list and then it appears on my phone for when I go to the supermarket.

Just got one for Christmas and don't have much figured out other than Prime music and basic questions. Is the shopping list feature on your phone created through an additional app like "Evernote" or is it an Echo feature through its own app? Would like to set this feature up but not sure how to yet.

As to the OP, I thought my mother would use it for a timer in the kitchen at least. She will be 94 next month and is pretty sharp at most things but won't talk to Alexa.
 

Passepartout

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2007
Messages
29,168
Reaction score
18,458
Location
Twin Falls, Eye-Duh-Hoe
Shopping lists and to do lists are in the Alexa app. Nothing to set up. Just say Alexa, put ______ on my shopping list, and it will appear in t h e Alexa app.
 
Last edited:

WinniWoman

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2010
Messages
11,316
Reaction score
7,570
Location
The Weirs, New Hampshire
Resorts Owned
Innseason Pollard Brook
Right. Just put the app on your phone if you are the one shopping for her.It will just appear there, as well as a "to do" list.

Or- if you ask Alex to read back the list through the IFTTT set up, she will send it to your email and you could print it out.
 

Glynda

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2005
Messages
3,892
Reaction score
2,715
Location
Charleston, SC
Resorts Owned
Bluegreen Points Lodge Alley Inn.
Brewster Green (two weeks).
Shopping List/ToDo

Thanks! For some reason I thought I read that I had to do it through Evernote and IF. I'm ready to get started through the Alexa app! :banana:
 

bobpark56

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2008
Messages
1,721
Reaction score
390
Location
Gibsonia, PA (just north of Pittsburgh)
Resorts Owned
Westin Lagunamar, Westin Aventuras, Marriott Grande Vista, Sandos Caracol, Festiva, Diamond Resorts (Hawaii Collection)
Try it on your grandkids

Don't mean to go too far off topic, but...

For those that own the Echo, do you like it? What would you think of this for elderly in-laws that aren't very good with a computer? Seems that if they could break the ice with it, for a non-computer user, this could be handly.

Yes? No?

Yes, we like it. And visiting grandkids just can't get enough of Alexa. Keeps them entertained for hours.
 
Top