tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872447660964013545.post5986882829700112070..comments2024-03-18T22:39:50.137-07:00Comments on A Kindle World blog: Alert: Black Friday Amazon device deals include UNlocked GSM Fire Phone including add'l 1 yr of PRIME, for $199 total, not locked into any cellphone services provider ... plus Kindle device deals thru' wkend or Cyber MondayAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05109282436243758435noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872447660964013545.post-20492818566090710672014-11-26T17:51:05.468-08:002014-11-26T17:51:05.468-08:00I asked Alexa if she knew Cortana and Siri -- and ...I asked Alexa if she knew Cortana and Siri -- and she did! -- although she had more to say about Cortana than Siri :grin.<br /><br />I'm using my PW2 almost exclusively now for mass market reading. I use my HDX 8.9 for magazines and technical books -- I'm using most of the other kindles as local offline repositories of one sort or another. I've never been much for text to speech or using a kindle as a music player -- so the lack of a speaker connection on a kindle ebook reader is no big deal for me.<br /><br />The Echo is in my bedroom near a Samsung ultrabook, and a Surface/Pro. I'm using it as a Bluetooth speaker for the Samsung, and just as a stand alone Amazon Music player -- as well as an assistant. It's voice recognition is very good -- I can ask for something in a myriad of ways, and she almost always gets it right.<br /><br />A couple of times I've asked her to play a song that's not free in Amazon Music -- she then plays a sample. I then ask her to buy that song -- she doesn't seem to know how to do that -- so much for all the reviewers dinging Amazon devices for making it easy to buy stuff from Amazon. :D<br /><br />I can see me getting one or two more echos: one for the living room, and one for my office upstairs. It's a lot easier to ask Alexa to set an alarm or put something on your todo list, than using Siri or Cortana where you first have to get your phone, and perhaps start an app before you can ask things -- with Alexa she's always there in the room silently waiting for you to ask for something or to play some music, etc. Since it's also a speaker, it can also play stuff from your iTunes library, or any other mp3's you might have on a paired device.<br /><br />There's no support for Windows phones, and there's no calendar functionality -- so you can't ask Alexa to make an appointment for you (she'll put it in your todo list). But that's all software -- it's bound to get better.<br /><br />One thing: I wish Amazon would let me manage my cloud collections from the Manage your content & devices page (sigh) -- there's not much support for a single person with many devices on a single account. I've been thinking of using profiles and a second account to create a "personal" me, and a "professional" me.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14856691481030828812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872447660964013545.post-20494182499971557672014-11-26T17:15:16.502-08:002014-11-26T17:15:16.502-08:00They're really enjoyed although a few are runn...They're really enjoyed although a few are running out of things to ask it that it would know until further filled with info but they don't know how to do "Using Wikipedia ... what ..." type of questions to have 'her' look things up for her owner :-) <br /> I really like my Paperwhite at night or in dark places, but I still find the Kindle Touch remarkably clear and pleasant -- and it has audio! Do you use your Echo near your computers? Or move it from room to room. The FireTV has been one of my favorite things and now I have the Fire Stick for more portable use but haven't opened it yet.<br /><br /> I recently got JBL LRS305 monitors for my laptop and tablet (alternating) and the sound is just spectacular. It's as if the musicians are right here. Voices are as if the person is in the room. Amazing. So, I'm less likely to use the Echo for my music, except as a novelty for asking it to play something.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05109282436243758435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872447660964013545.post-80572762034136082362014-11-26T16:02:43.318-08:002014-11-26T16:02:43.318-08:00I agree -- I wouldn't buy any of this stuff at...I agree -- I wouldn't buy any of this stuff at a brick and mortar. Amazon's customer service is just so good -- I just feel better shopping there.<br />It's getting ridiculous with kindles and fires (I now have six), a fire TV, a TV stick, and let's not forget my Echo (I think I'm in love :grin).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14856691481030828812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872447660964013545.post-81784574599962423902014-11-26T14:55:43.755-08:002014-11-26T14:55:43.755-08:00Edward, from my unfortunate experience, the 30-day...Edward, from my unfortunate experience, the 30-day full-refund return policies of Amazon are not met easily by the stores. It's 14 days for Staples and there have been hassles making returns at other stores. There are definitely Black Friday and CyberMonday deals just about everywhere. I am now with an extra 7" HDX loaner that I decided not to open yet but it was 17 days out and I couldn't return it. Maybe I'll do a trade-in at Amazon for what should be maximum trade-in pricel Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05109282436243758435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-872447660964013545.post-74415620258513825122014-11-26T14:07:50.027-08:002014-11-26T14:07:50.027-08:00Some of those Kindle and Fire deals are available ...Some of those Kindle and Fire deals are available on Black Friday at Best Buy -- for those who prefer shopping at Brick and Mortar stores.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14856691481030828812noreply@blogger.com