Fellow backer here - although connectivity and sound quality are awesome, I definitely have been experiencing problems with fit. No matter what combination of the included fit jackets an eartips I use, they seem to slowly work their way out of my ears. I’ve had a few instances where they’ve fell out completely…

Fellow backer here - although connectivity and sound quality are awesome, I definitely have been experiencing…

Did anyone discover like I did, that these things are like dog whistles to plenty of young people? I was playing with mine after just giving it a full charge, and each press would elicit a yelp from my 13 year old daughter who was across the room with her back to me. I smiled fiendishly as I continued to press it…

Did anyone discover like I did, that these things are like dog whistles to plenty of young people? I was playing…

That’s a given for speakers, but part of the secret sauce of the mics in these systems is how they work along with their software when separating different noises in the room from the actual person giving the commands.

I think the whole canned air industry has got that covered, though.

They do make material that is meant for speakers, but unsure how that would affect the special mic array inside the Dot. The way I have mine currently recessed appeals to me because it is somewhat consistent with the other fixtures next to it - where if it was completely flush-mount it would actually stand out more.

That’s awesome! Let us know when we can actually buy it.

Not competing, it’s the same mount I used, in fact.

I think that one you linked doesn’t look as nice - they should have made it round!

Ooh, that’s actually one of my to-dos is to mount a ceiling fan in this room. It would get in the light path between my projector and screen, so I’m mulling over switching to a short-throw mounted on the ceiling immediately in front of the screen.

Smartbulbs should be the last resort for when you can’t do a smart switch - as I have those in other parts of my home where the situation worked better for those. With a smart switch the original problem does come back where the Dot would lose power, though. I guess you could have an electrician change that to an…

Wow - thanks for the attention! :) I hope it’s useful info for others.

Wow - thanks for the attention! :) I hope it’s useful info for others.

Yes, but your mounting hardware now needs to be more robust due to the weight it adds.

If you’re using smart bulbs, you kind of have to avoid using your lightswitches again. As when you use the switch, you lose the remote control part to turn the bulbs on. It’s a learning curve, but most of the family now knows not to use the switch for this.

Yup, haven’t had to do it yet - but that’s one way a flaw turned out to be helpful.

We have mostly Android phones in the household, which is why I stayed away from Google Home devices as I was worried about that same thing. We did recently get a Google Home Mini to control our Chromecast, though. Now the problem is getting mixed up between which assistant to invoke to get the desired outcome.
The…

I set up my home automation years ago, before Nest and SmartThings, etc. I fortunately got lucky using Vera and Z-Wave, as everything I put in so far from a wide range of manufacturers has somehow been able to be controlled centrally since Vera has decent 3rd party Dev support and community. Plugins existed to talk to…

Oh wow, thanks guys! I’m flattered that my post has been highlighted like this - but really thought it would help out others who wanted to take a little extra effort for a nice, clean setup rather than the Dot just taking up space on a counter.

One of my initial experiments were with bluetooth LED bulbs that are also part speaker (which I actually set up in my upstairs bathroom for awhile until I went to this same setup in the article). It was then I realized Amazon was missing the opportunity to do exactly what you described. An Echo Dot merged w/ a better…

The light set is grouped as a fixture for smarthome control - lighting changes happen on both bulbs simultaneously. Also, the switches are actually hard to reach so they stay permanently on - we never use the switches as its always easier to use Alexa/Google now.

The light set is grouped as a fixture for smarthome control - lighting changes happen on both bulbs simultaneously.…

Thank you, but the “boss” feeling comes when I’m able to say ONE voice command “Alexa, turn on Movies” and it rolls down my motorized projector screen, turns my projector and receiver on, sends a WOL packet to wake my HTPC, sets the room lights to the lowest setting, turns off my noisy reef tank pumps, sets the…

Thank you, but the “boss” feeling comes when I’m able to say ONE voice command “Alexa, turn on Movies” and it rolls…