Amazon Alexa 4+

The Alexa app is capable of doing many things, and would benefit from refreshed, more logical interface. For example, the location of the icon needed to delve deeper into other settings or options seems to vary across different screens.

I’ve also noted that you can’t select a paired speaker group as an action when setting a routine. I have a 7am daily alarm which starts playing my favourite radio station, however you can only select a single echo device.

Finally, once a radio stream has started, the app errors when changing to a different speaker or speaker group. You have to try restarting the app a few times for it to work.

Honestly. I have 3 echo dots, 2 echos, and a new echo sub. And it’s great, music is amazing and the price is right! I have 34 LIFX lights, wemo switches, and 3 ring cameras, Logitech harmony hub and more.

The echo system has ALMOST flawlessly tied ALL of these aftermarket devices into one smooth flowing machine. MASSIVE thanks to the developers for what is surely a monumental task. I rarely need to open the app, but when I do, it gets the job done usually without an issue.

Yes, sometimes I give up on Alexa when she doesn’t quite understand me.

Sometimes I change the name of devices because she doesn’t like “Ian’s Lamp” so now it’s “Scott’s” lamp.

There’s a few bugs here and there but a quick reset solves 99% of those issues. The complexity of what’s actually happening here deserves credit. I’m having a beer for the devs as we speak. (Keep up the amazing work)

The new layout took a week to get used too, and I do feel some things are still confusing (I would always hand a new device to my wife and see if she can set up and use it, before releasing to the public).

But honestly. If you have a whole lot of smart devices. This is literally the gateway to making it all work together. Thankyou guys... Now stop listening to my wife and I making babies....

On one level it is a Great thing, but too many problems. Many routine names are not recognized and Alexa starts yepping a lot of irrelevant stuff. Routines running cannot be stoped. If I put multiple devices to be turned on or off, it will not be done, unless I put a delay, and the delay is minimum 5 seconds. The way to get around this partly is to get Alexa to say something in between each command , but if internet is slow then this could take a longer time. A favourite flute album cannot be played as Alexa does not recognize the name and even if put in a routine, cannot find it, ( can only select it on my phone and stream it to the echo devise).
Several things that she is asked, she would say “ I do not know that” but google and Siri, will have an answer.
I will still use it, but one day if not improved I will trow my 3 echo and one echo dot away.
But I am thankful such things exist.