Echo Tips

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.