At the beginning of Feb this year 2018, the Amazon Echo Smart Speaker range became available in Australia. Stephen and I interview Robin Christopherson from the UK about the Amazon Echo as he is well known for his podcast series Dot To Dot - all about skills for the Amazon echo.

For those of us in Australia, here is the link to the Amazon Alexa app in both the Google and iOs stores

iOS link to the AmazonAlexa App

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/amazon-alexa/id944011620?mt=8

Google Play Store

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.amazon.dee.app&hl=en

The New Voice for the Amazon Echo - Sounds Quite Good for the English Australia voice for getting quick info.  However, for listening to Kindle books, the voice is slow and pauses significantly between paragraphs.

A demo of what the English Australia voice sounds like for the echo

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/e/demo-of-the-new-english-australia-voice-for-the-amazon-echo/

Demo of setting up the Amazon Echo in Australia via the Amazon Alexa app

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/e/demo-of-setting-up-the-amazon-echo-dot-with-the-ios-amazon-alexa-app-now-that-the-echo-is-officially-supported-in-australia/

At the beginning of Feb this year 2018, the Amazon Echo Smart Speaker range became available in Australia. Stephen and I interview Robin Christopherson from the UK about the Amazon Echo as he is well known for his podcast series Dot To Dot - all about skills for the Amazon echo.

For those of us in Australia, here is the link to the Amazon Alexa app in both the Google and iOs stores

iOS link to the AmazonAlexa App

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/amazon-alexa/id944011620?mt=8

Google Play Store

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.amazon.dee.app&hl=en

The New Voice for the Amazon Echo - Sounds Quite Good for the English Australia voice for getting quick info.  However, for listening to Kindle books, the voice is slow and pauses significantly between paragraphs.

A demo of what the English Australia voice sounds like for the echo

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/e/demo-of-the-new-english-australia-voice-for-the-amazon-echo/

Demo of setting up the Amazon Echo in Australia via the Amazon Alexa app

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/e/demo-of-setting-up-the-amazon-echo-dot-with-the-ios-amazon-alexa-app-now-that-the-echo-is-officially-supported-in-australia/

If you would like to give us feedback about the program concerning topics we cover or topics you would like us to cover, please feel free to email David at [email protected].

Did You Know

You can add up to 15 items on the dock on the iPad: just move the apps you wish or a folder of apps in the usual way to the Dock - rather than just the default 6.

Some Added Touch Controls to the Google Home Mini

Google has been slowly adding back in more touch controls on the Google Mini.  For us in Australia:

Long press on either side - stop/play music or

Long press on either side: stop a timer or alarm.

Some More Google Home Tips

Restarting your Google Home at least once a week seems to clear things so for example you can get the latest episode of your favourite podcast.

If you have a Google Home and its not responding to your voice, try and blow in to the mic holes to clear the dust out of them: this worked for me (David).

There seems to be a bug in the Google Home Mini, if you set a reminder, whilst the mini says it has done it, it hasn’t.

Screen Protecters for the Apple Watch

I finally have a solid plastic screen protecter for my Apple Watch which clips on underneath each side.  The only issue is that I can not do a 2 finger double tap to answer a call, but flicking left or right and 1 finger double tapping is fine.  The screen protecters that I have used where the protecter gets stuck on to the actual glass of the watch, never seem to stick and fall off.

Google Home and Chromecast  May be affecting your wifi network

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-keep-google-home-chromecast-from-killing-your-wi-fi/

VA Connect app for iOs and Android has Now been Updated

Links follow for the Play and iOS Stores.

Android

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.visionaustralia.connect&hl=en

iOS

https://itunes.apple.com/kw/app/vision-australia-connect/id1051618020?mt=8

Bluetooth Device to change a Speaker in to a BT Speaker

https://www.wired.com/2014/08/bluetooth-audio-adapters/

If you would like to give us feedback about the program concerning topics we cover or topics you would like us to cover, please feel free to email David at [email protected].

Did You Know

You can add up to 15 items on the dock on the iPad: just move the apps you wish or a folder of apps in the usual way to the Dock - rather than just the default 6.

Some Added Touch Controls to the Google Home Mini

Google has been slowly adding back in more touch controls on the Google Mini.  For us in Australia:

Long press on either side - stop/play music or

Long press on either side: stop a timer or alarm.

Some More Google Home Tips

Restarting your Google Home at least once a week seems to clear things so for example you can get the latest episode of your favourite podcast.

If you have a Google Home and its not responding to your voice, try and blow in to the mic holes to clear the dust out of them: this worked for me (David).

There seems to be a bug in the Google Home Mini, if you set a reminder, whilst the mini says it has done it, it hasn’t.

Screen Protecters for the Apple Watch

I finally have a solid plastic screen protecter for my Apple Watch which clips on underneath each side.  The only issue is that I can not do a 2 finger double tap to answer a call, but flicking left or right and 1 finger double tapping is fine.  The screen protecters that I have used where the protecter gets stuck on to the actual glass of the watch, never seem to stick and fall off.

Google Home and Chromecast  May be affecting your wifi network

https://www.cn

Online Voice Dictation

This online voice dictation via Google Chrome on Windows or Mac looks very interesting, particularly as you don’t have to installed anything.

https://www.labnol.org/internet/speech-recognition/30967/

Podcasts I Completed over the 2017/2018 Holiday Period

Demo of Changing the Bass and Treble on Google Home

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/e/demo-of-changing-the-bass-and-treble-on-google-home/

Demo of a Handy Amazon Skill (Remember This) That I Use to Organise my Weekly Shopping

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/e/demo-of-a-handy-amazon-echo-skill-remember-this-that-i-use-to-organise-my-weekly-grocery-shopping/

Demo of the Sensibo Sky Device for Controlling my Air Conditioner

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/e/demo-of-the-sensibo-sky-remote-device-for-your-air-conditioner-system/

Updated demo of using the Sensibo Sky via its web interface giving access to the Mode (dry, cold etc), Fan (high, low etc), and Temperature settings which are not accessible in the iOS version of the Sensibo iOs app.

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/e/an-update-demo-of-using-the-sensibo-sky-device-via-its-web-interface-offering-better-accessible-controls/

Amazon Echo (Drum Roll) Available in Australia Feb 1 2018

Finally its arriving, and I can use the Alexa app on my iOS or android device officially with my 3 Amazon Echo Dots.  Available Feb 1 2018.

Up to Feb 1 you can pre-order an Amazon Echo for a markedly reduced price: for example the Amazon Echo Dot pre-order is only $48.

https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2018/01/amazon-echo-australian-price-and-release-date-finally/

A Tip for Mac Users updating to Mac OS High Sierra and the voiceOver Speech Rotor

In Mac OS High Sierra the speech rotor which was VO+Command+Arrow keys now requires that you use the Shift key as well.  VO+Command+Arrow keys itself is now the VoiceOver rotor that you find with VoiceOver on the iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.

A Handy tip - Use the Apple Support app on iOS to check your Hardware Coverage on your Devices

Go to the Accounts tab within the app after signing in with your Apple ID and select one of your devices to check hardware coverage.

Simply search for Apple Support App on the iOS App Store.

Sharing Your Wi-Fi Password with Guests from iOS 11 or Mac High Sierra

Great article from iMore explaining on how you go about sharing your Wi-Fi password with guests that are in your contact list.

https://www.imore.com/wi-fi-password-sharing-ios-11

Security document from Apple explains on how this works (page 34).

https://www.apple.com/business/docs/iOS_Security_Guide.pdf

Online Voice Dictation

This online voice dictation via Google Chrome on Windows or Mac looks very interesting, particularly as you don’t have to installed anything.

https://www.labnol.org/internet/speech-recognition/30967/

Podcasts I Completed over the 2017/2018 Holiday Period

Demo of Changing the Bass and Treble on Google Home

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/e/demo-of-changing-the-bass-and-treble-on-google-home/

Demo of a Handy Amazon Skill (Remember This) That I Use to Organise my Weekly Shopping

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/e/demo-of-a-handy-amazon-echo-skill-remember-this-that-i-use-to-organise-my-weekly-grocery-shopping/

Demo of the Sensibo Sky Device for Controlling my Air Conditioner

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/e/demo-of-the-sensibo-sky-remote-device-for-your-air-conditioner-system/

Updated demo of using the Sensibo Sky via its web interface giving access to the Mode (dry, cold etc), Fan (high, low etc), and Temperature settings which are not accessible in the iOS version of the Sensibo iOs app.

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/e/an-update-demo-of-using-the-sensibo-sky-device-via-its-web-interface-offering-better-accessible-controls/

Some Tech to Expect in 2018

Amazon Echo officially supported in Australia.

Google Max becomes available in Australia.

Love to see Vision Australia I-Access being accessed via Google Home or the Amazon echo.

Improvements to indoor navigation.

Apple’s smart speaker Home Pod arrives.

Along with the Home Pod, I really do want to see an improvement with Siri across all devices.  My number wish for Siri at the very least is to do multiple timers.

Apple Music becomes a subscribe service on Google Home.

Samsung produces its own Smart Speaker powered by Bixby.

Apple’s AirPower wireless charger to charge iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods.

New iPhones, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Macs, and iPads: be interesting to see if we get a new iPad mini as like the Mac mini its not been updated in a whil.e

Continued development of the Seeing AI app from Microsoft adding more channels, and possibly an Android version.  I’d like to see Australian currency added to currency channel, an Acoustic Ruler, QR code reader like the Bar Code (product) reader.

Cheaper daisy players coming to the market.

More smart home gadgets becoming available in Australia: especially alarm systems, accessible washing machines etc.

According to Tech Crunch, we’ll see smart home devices, Smart Speakers, AR/VR, wearables health, and cars., 

https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/02/what-to-expect-at-ces-2018/

Podcasts I Completed over the 2017/2018 Holiday Period

Demo of Changing the Bass and Treble on Google Home

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/e/demo-of-changing-the-bass-and-treble-on-google-home/

Demo of a Handy Amazon Skill (Remember This) That I Use to Organise my Weekly Shopping

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/e/demo-of-a-handy-amazon-echo-skill-remember-this-that-i-use-to-organise-my-weekly-grocery-shopping/

Demo of the Sensibo Sky Device for Controlling my Air Conditioner

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/e/demo-of-the-sensibo-sky-remote-device-for-your-air-conditioner-system/

Some Tech to Expect in 2018

Amazon Echo officially supported in Australia.

Google Max becomes available in Australia.

Love to see Vision Australia I-Access being accessed via Google Home or the Amazon echo.

Improvements to indoor navigation.

Apple’s smart speaker Home Pod arrives.

Along with the Home Pod, I really do want to see an improvement with Siri across all devices.  My number wish for Siri at the very least is to do multiple timers.

Apple Music becomes a subscribe service on Google Home.

Samsung produces its own Smart Speaker powered by Bixby.

Apple’s AirPower wireless charger to charge iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods.

New iPhones, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Macs, and iPads: be interesting to see if we get a new iPad mini as like the Mac mini its not been updated in a whil.e

Continued development of the Seeing AI app from Microsoft adding more channels, and possibly an Android version.  I’d like to see Australian currency added to currency channel, an Acoustic Ruler, QR code reader like the Bar Code (product) reader.

Cheaper daisy players coming to the market.

More smart home gadgets becoming available in Australia: especially alarm systems, accessible washing machines etc.

According to Tech Crunch, we’ll see smart home devices, Smart Speakers, AR/VR, wearables health, and cars., 

CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2018 from Jan 9 to Jan 12 2018 Kicks Off in the US

This is a preview show where manufacturers and developers show off what they may bring to the market place this year in 2018.

According to Tech Crunch, we’ll see smart home devices, Smart Speakers, AR/VR, wearables health, and cars., 

https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/02/what-to-expect-at-ces-2018/

Finishing Off What Caught My Attention in 2017

O6 Bluetooth controller for iPhone.

Kapsys Smart Vision 2 mobile phone

Talking Typer App for iOS

Tile Tag Tracking System (app became accessible this year 2017)

Xbox

Zoom US Web Conferencing System

Apple Watch series 3

Stability update for the Vision Australia Connect app for iOs and Android.

CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2018 from Jan 9 to Jan 12 2018 Kicks Off in the US

This is a preview show where manufacturers and developers show off what they may bring to the market place this year in 2018.

According to Tech Crunch, we’ll see smart home devices, Smart Speakers, AR/VR, wearables health, and cars., 

https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/02/what-to-expect-at-ces-2018/

Finishing Off What Caught My Attention in 2017

O6 Bluetooth controller for iPhone.

Kapsys Smart Vision 2 mobile phone

Talking Typer App for iOS

Tile Tag Tracking System (app became accessible this year 2017)

Xbox

Zoom US Web Conferencing System

Apple Watch series 3

Stability update for the Vision Australia Connect app for iOs and Android.