Amazon Alexa and Echo FAQ

Hellrazer

Fwiw newstalk is back working again.

You have to ask Alexa to "play newstalk FM on tunein"

Donal112

Hi

Does anyone know if you can use the order by voice purchasing without a UK credit card? I'm trying to do the trial of Amazon Music Unlimited on my Echo (free trial for 30 days and then £3.99 / month - but to get this price you have to order it through Alexa). Alexa just keeps telling me there is a problem with my payment method and to update it, but doesn't tell me what the problem is :mad:

Amazon account is UK, have location set to UK and have tried with both Irish and UK address also.

Thanks

NEDDURC

Hi, just got an Echo for Christmas. Have got the app downloaded but I can't seem to get amazon music to play through it.
Do I need to sign up for Amazon Music unlimited? I tried to download the Amazon music app but it says my account is missing some information and need to update my 1-click settings. Can anyone help?

NEDDURC

Hi, just got an Echo for Christmas. Have got the app downloaded but I can't seem to get amazon music to play through it.
Do I need to sign up for Amazon Music unlimited? I tried to download the Amazon music app but it says my account is missing some information and need to update my 1-click settings. Can anyone help?

garbeth

Hellrazer wrote: »

Fwiw newstalk is back working again.

You have to ask Alexa to "play newstalk FM on tunein"

Doesn't work for me it plays fm newstalk instead

Zascar

I can't get her to play Newstalk, it plays some American radio station. I created a TuneIn account on my computer but how can I link it to Alexa?

garbeth

I think I read somewhere that if you set the station on the app and ask Alexa to resume tunein she plays the last selected station. Not sure if it'll work from a pc.

Try it and report back.

Hellrazer

Zascar wrote: »

I can't get her to play Newstalk, it plays some American radio station. I created a TuneIn account on my computer but how can I link it to Alexa?

Make sure you say newstalk FM.
If you try just newstalk it will play the young turks..Some us station.

campo

NEDDURC wrote: »

Hi, just got an Echo for Christmas. Have got the app downloaded but I can't seem to get amazon music to play through it.
Do I need to sign up for Amazon Music unlimited? I tried to download the Amazon music app but it says my account is missing some information and need to update my 1-click settings. Can anyone help?

You need to subscribe to it and you need to use a UK Credit/Debit card when you register

Better off just using Spotify IMHO

garbeth

Hellrazer wrote: »

Make sure you say newstalk FM.
If you try just newstalk it will play the young turks..Some us station.

Still doesn't work.

daveyjoe

garbeth wrote: »

Still doesn't work.

Worked for me!

crossvilla

I've been trying to set up my wife's dot to her iPhone. When I go to change region the billing option 'none' doesn't appear to allow me to get to get to next step and download app for set up. Anyone have a link to a YouTube video or guide to for this .. very frustrating, like receiving a toy without batteries!

garbeth

You need to create a new account and not change an existing one. There was a post on here around 10 pages back. The whole thread is worth the read.

Here is the post http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=102064023&postcount=277

Irish Gunner

Is there a way of changing the host name from Uk to com so I can then check to see if I can get more flash briefings?

degsie

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Is there a way of changing the host name from Uk to com so I can then check to see if I can get more flash briefings?

Quickest way is online chat with Amazon support.

Irish Gunner

cheers change the account from .co.uk to .com via Amazon login. However have to deregister the item and register it again. This means setting up skills etc again. However hopefully I should have the option of getting more flash briefings

Thibus

Hi guys,
Is there a way to link the Echo to IMDB for ratings?
I thought there was but when I try I get the "I don't know what you mean" response

randombar

Anyone have echo hooked up to the hive?

"Turn on christmas lights" is great, out of the box etc.

Command for hive (using the smart home skill) is "Set my downstairs to 20 degrees" or "increase the downstairs" both work ok but we normally just boost. Also there doesn't seem to be a hot water "device"

Installed the other version of the skill and the following work "tell hive to boost my hot water" and "Tell hive to boost my heating." But the heating one does across all zones.

Any tips or advice?

kennM

Irish Gunner wrote: »

cheers change the account from .co.uk to .com via Amazon login. However have to deregister the item and register it again. This means setting up skills etc again. However hopefully I should have the option of getting more flash briefings

Hey Irish Gunner.... i've just transitioned the other way. My account was US and moved to UK. Why? Great question... i had to say "on Spotify" for all music request despite Spotify being my default music source. You will get the option for more flash briefing content.... not great difference IMO. Prefer not saying On Spotify for everything for the cost of losing an RSS read RTE feed which wasnt great.

8-10

I have a US account and I don't have to specify "on spotify"

I ask for any music and it defaults to spotify, I ask for news and it gives me RTE.

So it is possible....I just don't know why it's different for you

ceegee

For anyone having trouble with having to specify "on spotify" when requesting music try changing the language from English (US) to English (UK).
Seems to have done the job for me

BenAndJerry

ceegee wrote: »

For anyone having trouble with having to specify "on spotify" when requesting music try changing the language from English (US) to English (UK).
Seems to have done the job for me

Thanks a million. The reverse just worked for me.

I switched to English (US) and now don't need to say "on spotify" any more.

Shane732

Just about to set this up... Is there different options when setting it up - I.e U.K. Versus US account? Does it make any difference? I've seen some places suggesting playing music stations is different...

kennM

Shane732 wrote: »

Just about to set this up... Is there different options when setting it up - I.e U.K. Versus US account? Does it make any difference? I've seen some places suggesting playing music stations is different...

Going by my experience

(when my account was US based) I had to say On Spotify for all my music requests.

I could search for additional flash briefing content and order which was played first/second/third etc.... huge amount of local US based content I wasnt bothered with though. Interestingly this is how I could find RTE flash briefing, not great... just an RSS feed read by alexa.


When I switched to UK based.... no more On Spotify for all of my music requests ..... i know others have fixed this in other ways? Cant comment here....

No RTE or search for flash briefing content... decent selection of pre-canned options though.



IMO UK based was better for me.... hope it helps. Theyre the only differences i've spotted

degsie

Spotify still offering 3 mts premium for €0.99 for anyone interested, couple of days left. New users only.

giftgrub

Still playing with it...the kids have it down now as well

Got a pair of TP-Link Smart plugs in Power city yesterday, €25 each. (The HS100 model)

Testing one with a tall floor lamp in the living room...its great. "Alexa, switch on the floor lamp" and boom, on it comes. Very little lag.

Shane732

Just so I am clear - people are setting up itunes UK accounts - is that correct? How are you getting by the payment method? It doesn't give me an option to select no payment method. Can I just buy a £10 voucher?

Thanks.

campo

Shane732 wrote: »

Just about to set this up... Is there different options when setting it up - I.e U.K. Versus US account? Does it make any difference? I've seen some places suggesting playing music stations is different...

I find it much easier just to set up on a browser instead of flapping about trying to download the app

http://alexa.amazon.co.uk/spa/index.html

adox

Shane732 wrote: »

Just so I am clear - people are setting up itunes UK accounts - is that correct? How are you getting by the payment method? It doesn't give me an option to select no payment method. Can I just buy a £10 voucher?

Thanks.

Log out of your Irish account then search for Alexa app. When it shows up you should be in the UK store. Sign up as a new user)if you have a gmail account you can just add a . to any part of your email address) Use any random Uk address and as you are trying to download a free app there will be a choice to add no payment details.

Doodah7

For music trial payment, use a Revolut card. It's UK based so passes Amazon's checks.

Zascar

ceegee wrote: »

For anyone having trouble with having to specify "on spotify" when requesting music try changing the language from English (US) to English (UK).
Seems to have done the job for me

I've just tried both and still not working for me. I changed to a UK address also, no difference. Still always saying it cannot find any music in my Library.

Any other options?

kennM

Zascar wrote: »

I've just tried both and still not working for me. I changed to a UK address also, no difference. Still always saying it cannot find any music in my Library.

Any other options?

Get Amazon to move account from US to UK.... you can do it through website too I think. You'll need to setup smart home bits and pieces again.... quick enough. Should solve issue for you

garbeth

Spotify works for me by saying Alexa play [whatever].

@Zascar. Are you sure you have changed your language. Not your address but your language. I've found that for all skills to work you have to match your language to your country Settings

breeno

Hi has anybody had any luck with location lately? I keep getting weather for Japan! I've tried lots of different Dublin addresses including many in O'Connell Street as suggested earlier but no luck so far!

Any help appreciated.

kennM

breeno wrote: »

Hi has anybody had any luck with location lately? I keep getting weather for Japan! I've tried lots of different Dublin addresses including many in O'Connell Street as suggested earlier but no luck so far!

Any help appreciated.

Nope... same findings. Can get address in but weather for Japan... i'd say we'll just need to wait till its officially released in Ireland. Does anyone have a release date for Ireland?

degsie

kennM wrote: »

Nope... same findings. Can get address in but weather for Japan... i'd say we'll just need to wait till its officially released in Ireland. Does anyone have a release date for Ireland?

Market demographics are incompatible for Amazon's business model so it's unlikely we will see official support here.

kennM

degsie wrote: »

Market demographics are incompatible for Amazon's business model so it's unlikely we will see official support here.

Sounds like a question we can throw to Amazon so agree with the business and markets but stranger things have happened

Zascar

garbeth wrote: »

Spotify works for me by saying Alexa play [whatever].

@Zascar. Are you sure you have changed your language. Not your address but your language. I've found that for all skills to work you have to match your language to your country Settings

Yep. I sent an email to Amazon, I got a reply very quickly - I think its automated but its very convincing. They say to reset it, but I don't really want to as it will take ages to set everything up again.

mossym

Despite the fact that it works with Irish locations the detail in the big sky forecasting is so much better than the inbuilt forecasting it's worth using even if they sorted out Irish support

BenAndJerry

garbeth wrote: »

Spotify works for me by saying Alexa play [whatever].

@Zascar. Are you sure you have changed your language. Not your address but your language. I've found that for all skills to work you have to match your language to your country Settings

Changing language from U.K. To US worked for me. I no longer need to mention spotify. See my settings attached.

garbeth

Got Newstalk to work.

Alexa Play 107.6

If that doesn't work I cycled through 106.0 to 106.9 and then 107.0 to 107.9 and 108.0 to 108.9. 107.6 works for me though.

kennM

degsie wrote: »

Market demographics are incompatible for Amazon's business model so it's unlikely we will see official support here.

Pinged the question to Amazon about release and support in Ireland.... got the following response, good news.

Hello,

Thank you for writing back to us with your concern.

I really appreciate your interest in ECHO.

We're still preparing for the release and not sure exactly when the devise will be released because we are still working on it with the local information so that the devise is completely ready for the launch.

Please be rest assured that the devise will be launched very soon in the Ireland.

mossym

was that copied and pasted? pretty poor if they mis-spelled device every single time, called it "the Ireland", in fact the grammar is all over the place, "please be rest assured"

auto response from an indian based support person i'd say, wouldn't read too much into it

bk

The biggest issue with them releasing in Ireland is that they are using Microsofts Bing Map and Search services, which are pretty horrible for Ireland.

I don't see these services improving quickly any time soon, nor do I see them dropping Bing for Google due to competition with Google Home.

Krusty_Clown

garbeth wrote: »

Got Newstalk to work.

Alexa Play 107.6

If that doesn't work I cycled through 106.0 to 106.9 and then 107.0 to 107.9 and 108.0 to 108.9. 107.6 works for me though.

I've never had an issue with getting Newstalk to play. It used to be:
Alexa - play Newstalk FM, Dublin, Ireland on Tunein
Alexa - play Newstalk FM on Tunein
now...
Alexa - play Newstalk FM

Not sure if this is because Amazon is improving localised services, or the learning functionality of Alexa. I do occasionally go back into the app, and confirm/deny the 'Did Alexa do what you wanted?' cards.

Silverfluffs

Make sure you say "Alexa, good morning" today!

Orion

Zascar wrote: »

I've just tried both and still not working for me. I changed to a UK address also, no difference. Still always saying it cannot find any music in my Library.

Any other options?

This happened to me. My marketplace was set to US. Support sorted it out easily. They will call you so no charge.

Davy

Orion wrote: »

This happened to me. My marketplace was set to US. Support sorted it out easily. They will call you so no charge.

If you login to your amazon account Here you can link it to the amazon UK store yourself.

BenAndJerry

Hi Guys,

Has anyone tried using more than one dot/echo with Spotify? Spotify will only allow you play one track at a time, so switching on a track on a second dot/echo turns off the track playing on the first one.

Can you sign up to Spotify Family and assign a different account to each dot/echo from the six you get with Spotify Family? I have heard someone saying you also need to set up each dot/echo on a different amazon account which would be a complete pain.

Thanks

Orion

No - you set up Spotify on your account not on your device so you're stuck with the one active device. Tunein can play on multiple devices.