Echo Tips

In our Rapid Fire Round Up, we have news, buying suggestions, jokes, podcasts for kids, books suggestions, and more!

In this episode we demo 10 rapid fire commands in less than 10 minutes.

In this week's omnibus episode of the Echo Tips Podcast, host David Ward provides an in-depth, yet constructively critical, review of the Library of Congress's "My Talking Books" Alexa skill for individuals with print disabilities. While praising the skill's responsive setup and book listing capabilities, David highlights several key areas for improvement, particularly in playback control and navigation. He contrasts the "My Talking Books" interface with the more intuitive designs of similar skills from RNIB and Vision Australia, demonstrating issues with pausing requirements for commands and a cumbersome multi-step exit process. David proposes innovative solutions such as the implementation of distinct voices and auditory cues to enhance user feedback and differentiate the skill's environment. He also touches upon the potential of AI to revolutionize accessibility interfaces and points out inconsistencies in content availability compared to other NLS platforms. This episode serves as a passionate call for a more user-friendly and efficient experience for accessing talking books via Alexa.## AttributionGalloway's Demohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4Hk6J71PTEDot to Dot Podcast Episode 1650https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dot-to-dot-the-daily-5min-alexa-demo-show/id1205291265

In this episode we take a look at a few more demo videos of what Alexa Plus is suppose to be capable of, here in the near future!

In this episode we share a promotional video and a live demo conducted by ⁠Panos Panay, showing off several powerful audio features in Alexa Plus.

In This episode we cover a Recap of the Amazon Event about Alexa Plus. We also take a look at recent coverage from the Washington Post and the Verge about the Alexa Plus Rollout.

We'll be tackling 10 commands again, in under 10 minutes! We have soem updates about Alexa Plus as well.

We tackle 10 commands in less than 10 minutes! We're talking like Pirates, learning new recipes, checking the pollen count, and a whole lot more!

We've got a simple one for you this week, but its honestly my favorite upgrade!

In this episode we revisit one of our most popular episodes of all-time dealing with the NFB Newsline Skill.

The internet is a buzz, with Amazon announcing the deprecation of a defunct little used feature on a few modern devices. This feature enabled your voice commands be to be transcribed locally and then sent as a text request to Amazon Servers, verse the default historical method of sending a voice clip of your command. ## AttributionsDaily Tech News Show - Briefing 4977https://dailytechnewsshow.com/2025/03/17/3d-print-any-rc-robot-toy-you-want-dtnsb-4977/DTNS is Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode we delve back into our archives, to revisit how to adjust the playback speed of an Audible audiobook!

In this exciting episode, wee're diving deep into a review of the recent Amazon event that took place on February 26th. The star of the show? Alexa Plus, a newer, smarter AI version of Alexa that's set to become a big part of our lives very soon. We have a brief synopsis put together by the great folks over at DTNS which we are thrilled to share with you. We've also spent some time reflecting on how this new Alexa Plus might fit into our lives - imagine it as the friendly AI that everyone in the family can appreciate, kind of like a happy meal for AI services. Now, how cool does that sound? We even have a recently released ad from Amazon focusing on the wonderful new Alexa Plus. This episode is packed with tons of insights, so stay tuned!## AttributionsDaily Tech News Show - Briefing 4964https://dailytechnewsshow.com/2025/02/26/alexa-plus-may-actually-be-a-plus-dtnsb-4964/DTNS is Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/YouTube Ad for Alexa Plushttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeHX99wycug

In this episode we break down the news from Amazon's Alexa Event on February 26th 2025. And a closer look at the documentation after the event revealed a lot of hidden nuggets.SIGN UP+ Go To www.amazon.com/newalexa.PRESS RELEASE+ https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/devices/new-alexa-generative-artificial-intelligence

In this episode we cover the three core advances AI should bring to Alexa; namely better processing of our speech, improved natural responses, and agentic capabilities.

In this episode we review a recent press release about an event dealing with devices for the Amazon Echo line-up, here late in February.# AttributionsDTNS Briefing 4950https://dailytechnewsshow.com/2025/02/05/why-dtns-doesnt-cover-the-doge-dtnsb-4950/DTNS- Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/PC Worldhttps://www.pcworld.com/article/2599695/is-the-new-ai-powered-alexa-almost-here-6-things-to-know.htmlThurrott.com -Panos Panay ⁠https://www.thurrott.com/microsoft/289310/panos

In this episode, we take a look at hand gestures that can control your Amazon Echo, and we take a look at how Conversation Mode has been adjusted and integrated into Follow-Up Mode. Both of which use a scan of your face to figure out whether you're looking at the Amazon Echo to help aid it in conversations.

We take a look at Themes on the Amazon Echo and think about what the future might hold if this feature got a little more TLC!

We take a look back to privacy options and controls highlighted in episode 181 and 183.

We take a look at a recent Financial Times Article and DTNS's take on Alexa's AI future. We also compare these to our AI Beta tests last year with Alexa's AI Beta. # References Echo Tips 297 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-297-alexa-ai-omnibus-catch-up-on-all-you-missed/id1396874548?i=1000654216801 Financial Times https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/01/amazon-must-solve-hallucination-problem-before-launching-ai-enabled-alexa/ # Attributions Daily Tech News Show Breifing Episode 4935 https://shows.acast.com/dtns/episodes/hope-remains-for-tiktok-in-us-dtns-3935 Daily Tech News Show Creative Commons ⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠

We take a look at recent Google Announcements made at CES 2025, about home automation and smart home devices using the Matter standard. Show Notes Daily Tech News Show Episode 4931 https://dailytechnewsshow.com/2025/01/08/are-you-compliant-do-you-matter-dtns-live-4931/ Daily Tech News Show Creative Commons ⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠ The Verge Article https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/8/24338969/google-home-hubs-local-control-matter

Ever wish you could have your own personal Wiki on Alexa? Or that she could just shoot you an email with something you needed to take note of? Well, guess what you can do that with Notes and the Voice Pad Skill. Have a listen as we dust off these oldies but goodies, an take a look at some of the new features that have been added.

In this episode we revisit the Lists Feature. We discuss adding, deleting, creating, archiving, and sharing lists.

If your new to Alexa Devices, you might not know they can make purchases using your Amazon account and associated credit card. How, do you disable that feature or set a PIN code lock-out. We tacle that question and topic in today's episode!

In this episode we take a look at the NLS's My Talking Books skill, in beta. So join us as we kick the tires of this Skill. Sign-Up for the Beta ⁠Welcome to My Talking Books on Smart Speaker - National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) | Library of Congress⁠

In this episode we take a look at various Fire TV's and larger Echo Shows designed to serve as smart wall panels. In this episode we discuss the implications of Claude Agents for our rumored AI Alexa of the future!   ## References and Attributions Daily Tech News Show Episode 4900 https://shows.acast.com/dtns/episodes/using-pokemon-to-train-ai-dtns-4900  Daily Tech News Show Shared Under Creative Commons ⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠

In this episode we take a look at the current Black Friday deals on Amazon Echos and see what's a good deal and what's not!

On this episode we take a fresh look at the Drop-In Feature, offered by Alexa Devices. This is a powerful intercom like feature that not only allows you to easily connect and monitor your own home but also perhaps to offer assistance to a senior family member. With the demise of Alexa Together for Seniors, we've got to roll our own solutions, an Dave, helps you to do just that in this episode.

In this episode we take a little dive into home automation with our favorite A-Lady! We discuss a set of smart bulbs I purchased for the bathroom and a Driveway Motion Sensor Kit that was gifted to me!

In this episode we take a look at Amazon's failed products and accessories connected to our favorite Alexa Devices. ## The Verge Article https://www.theverge.com/24271840/amazon-alexa-echo-discontinued-smart-home-assistant

We're trying a new segment today, the Alexa's Rapid Fire Roundup, where we try 10 commands out, in 10 minutes. Most of these commadns come from our monthly New Vision newsletter. To sign up see the link below and check the box for New Vision's Newsletter. # Newsletter Sign Up https://bit.ly/newvisionemail

In this episode we discuss the implications of Claude Agents for our rumored AI Alexa of the future! ## Show Notes TechCrunch Article ⁠https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/22/anthropics-new-ai-can-control-your-pc/⁠ Daily Tech News Show Episode ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/claude-is-your-new-virtual-ai-ssistant-dtns-4880/id802485319?i=1000674068249⁠  Daily Tech News Show Creative Commons ⁠http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠

We delve into our Archives, to find a goodie about listening to various Bible Translations and passages on your Amazon Echo.

In this episode we talk about podcasts, networks, and radio reading services that serve those who are Blind, having Low-Vision, and/or otherwise Print-Impaired. These include podcasts like Double Tap, Dot to Dot, Maccessibility, AT-FAQ, and Unmute Presents shows.

In this episode we take a look at a Skill, that allows us to prompt Claude AI, the rumored new back-end for the new, yet to be released, Alexa upgrade. We also share a sad announcement and demo the cloning feature on iOS, and find out how well it clones my voice.

In this episode we blow your mind with a sample of Notebook LM, from Google, and ask the question, "How can this inform the AI Alexa of the future?". Imagine a AI Alexa that can data mine your books; so you can ask questions or create audio instructional materials.

Based on five sources Reuters interviewed, Amazon's Alexa AI had problems in development. The result, Amazon plans to move forward with the Alexa revamp this October, by using Anthropic's Claude AI. In this episode we highlight a YouTuber who demonstrates talking to Claude, and we speculate on the implications of these rumors. Chris's YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVab674FGLI Reuters' Article https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVab674FGLI New Vision's September Newsletter https://campaignlp.constantcontact.com/em/1102549354893/403a5d8c-dc4b-47cf-9e48-3c442066aa4c.

We revisit some super popular topics from season 1 and 2 for you wordsmiths out there.

In this Super Omnibus episode, we pour tons of our past experiences with Alexa's Beta, into one episode. You'll hear, our host's first experience, conversation features, hallucinations, the new natural voice, and more!

In this Omnibus episode we take six seasons of information about Amazon Music and distill it down into one episode. You'll learn about waking up to music, playing music by genre, billboard hits, date, or lyrics; you'll learn about sharing music with friends, filtering out explicit songs, and a whole lot more!

We take our second look at the Made by Google Event, in August 2024, where they demonstrated Gemini Live on various platforms. In this episode we take a look at the live demo, where Gemini Live was demonstrated on the Pixel Buds. We also talk a bit about the cost, of these AI improved assistants going forward; and what the fine-print revealed on the Pixel Buds.

This is part 1 of our coverage of the recent Made By Google 2024 Event. We'll take a look at how Gemini can supercharge the Google Voice Assistant; and ask are we seeing anything new here?

In episode 280, we briefly touched on Privacy options, such as verbal commands. But, now we take a deep dive, into options you'll find only in the Alexa App.

We revisit how to listen to old time radio via the Appbly.com skills.

In this episode we demo how to listen via NBC and the BBC.

In this episode we talk about an additional volume control, you never knew you had. But, if you didn't know it was there, you could really mess yourself up with Bluetooth speakers and headphones. We also, talk about the state of Podcast playback on Amazon Echos; have the bugs been fixed? We'll discuss some of the historic problems and ask you for your feedback.

In this episode we talk about the all-new Echo Spot. Its a hobgoblin mix of features between an Echo Dot and Echo Show. We'll discuss why I'm not impressed and due to Prime Day deals there's much better options for almost the same price!

Thought you knew everything there was to know about "Reminders" on the Amazon Echo, well think again! We cover it all. Regular Reminder, Repeating Reminders, Follow-Up Reminders, and more!

In this episode we tackle when will the new Alexa, AI empowered, edition roll-out? Will it cost money? What have we not seen in the beta, yet? And is Amazon really behind, when it comes to implementing AI into Alexa?

In this episode we look at a common need, and that is for a super simple stopwatch, and Alexa can help! We also take a look, at our mailbag with a great reminder from a listener about reminders.

In this episode we take a look at Apple's recent Siri announcements.