Echo Tips

In this episode we have a listen to two voices for Amazon Kids Plus, subscribers, I'd never heard before. The Tiger and Panda voices. We also, learn Kids can't listen to Podcast, unless their part of the Amazon Kids Plus package. That, an more on this episoe.

In this riveting episode, we delve into the intricate world of Alexa’s AI Beta. Buckle up as we revisit key discussions from previous episodes (286 and 262) and uncover the truth: blocking this elusive Beta is akin to chasing shadows. Blueprints, tools, and even routines stumble in their attempts to shield us from the AI Beta. Why the fuss? Because Alexa’s Beta isn’t your run-of-the-mill digital assistant. It’s a Pandora’s box that can conjure anything—from innocent queries to downright eyebrow-raising content. Imagine your curious kiddo innocently asking about dinosaurs, only to be presented with fake information or worse presented with inappropriate content, for his age. But fear not! We’ve got a glimmer of hope: Amazon Kids, the trusty sidekick. It wields the power to thwart Alexa’s Beta, but—brace yourselves—there’s a catch. The Parental Dashboard, designed with all the grace of a hippo on on roller skates, leaves much to be desired. And don’t get us started on Amazon Music’s Explicit Filter—it’s like a

In this episode we discuss the newly released Echo Hub. We'll compare it to the Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) and the Echo Show 15. Additional Resources and Reviews https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/devices/amazon-echo-hub-best-features https://www.thurrott.com/smart-home/298199/amazons-echo-hub-is-now-available-at-179-99

Amazon's September 2023 announcement mentioned a new high quality voice coming to Alexa. Where is it? When will it get here? More importantly, what can we expect, based on other movers and shakers in the field of voice technology. That and more discussed in this episode of the Echo Tips Podcast.

In the 286th episode of the Echo Tips Podcast, hosted by David Ward, we delve into a crucial topic: how to block the new Alexa AI Beta on your Amazon Echo. If you’re concerned about preventing youths or others from encountering explicit language or content, this episode is a must-listen. We explore whether it’s possible to block this beta feature and whether Amazon Kids’ parental filters can provide a safeguard. Tune in to discover practical solutions and insights!

In this episode of the Echo Tips Podcast, we look at one of the very first games to demo Amazon's AI Large Language Models. We'll be playing a round of 20 Questions with Volley Inc.'s Amazon Skill called Volley games.

Are you playing with the Alexa Beta, but getting mixed results? If so, we'll show you how to figure out which Beta your on, at any given moment. We will discuss the notion of paying for a smarter AI enhanced Alexa and revisit some of the practical things you could use Character AI for. This an more on this episode of the Echo Tips Podcast.

In this episode we take a look at the all-new Character.AI Skill that was announced at CES 2024.

PopGun Labs announced during CES 2024 their Splash Music Skill on Alexa. Now using only your voice you can generate a song, lyrics, genre, and more simply via a voice command, using cutting edge AI! Have a listen as we go back down the AI rabbit hole!

As announced in September 2023, Character AI's characters are now available in the Alexa AI Beta. Imagine talking to Abraham Lincoln about a thorny political topic or asking Socrates a philosophical or moral question. Or imagine talking to Wonder Woman or Batman?! That's right, that's available and a whole lot more, check it out on this episode of the Echo Tips Podcast.

In recent news it was suggested that some advertising firms were selling info based on recordings acquired from 3rd parties. What's the real story about Amazon Echo's Alexa and her privacy controls? How does the technology work? Does she really listen to everything going on and record it? We'll tackle these items one by one and demonstrate some powerful privacy controls that are a single voice command away or a tap of your finger in the Alexa App.

What can the new Alexa AI Chat-Bot really do! Can it pull live content, can it pull website data, can it write a poem, and most importantly does it hallucinate? This an more, in this episode.

We heard back in September about new AI Large Language Model smarts coming to Alexa, an now we have a demo of these new Beta features to share with you! And as best as I can tell, we're the first to discuss and demo these new features.

In this episode we actually setup a Echo Dot that has been factory reset, to give you the feel for the setup process.The trick is making sure bluetooth is turned on, on your tablet or smartphone. This greatly speeds up and simplifies the process.

In this episode we cover how to setup a brand new Echo or Echo Show. The process has changed over time, and we'll mention some handy tips for various situations such as home automation setups & if your buying another Echo to augment your home.

In this episode we take a look at FireTV Stick Deals! And what you need to know, what's a good deal and what's not. FireTV Sticks of coarse have Alexa, with voice commands, which are super useful. We look at a starting price of $24.99 and discuss even why you should look at buying a FireTV stick even if you've already got a smart TV.

In this episode we give a simple run-down or buying guide for the Alexa line of products known as the Amazon Echo & Echo Show. We cover what's old and new, what a good price would be and what is a horrible price! Happy shopping!

We haven't visited this topic in a long time, but there is a wealth of high production choose your own adventure games on the Amazon Echo. In this weeks episdoe we discuss Batman, Superman, Star Finder, and more, as examples of truly amazing choose your own adventure games.

We revisit Notifications, especially with an eye on a new category that was annoying some folks called 'Interesting Stories". We'll discuss how to turn that off and do a high-level review of how Notifications can be useful.

In this episode we take a look at a wake routine bundled with Amazon Kids Plus, that's pretty cute. Alternatively, you could probably roll your own as a parent. We also discuss, a bug, I've seen lately where layered Alexa commands don't seem to work.