Securifi Community Forum

Sensors and Home Automation => Home automation => Topic started by: jpfk on June 01, 2016, 01:10:00 pm

Title: Almond's Amazon Echo features without the Amazon hardware (Using a phone)
Post by: jpfk on June 01, 2016, 01:10:00 pm

I was looking for a way to control almond through voice commands from my phone and after some research i found out it was actually possible to use the Amazon Echo features without having the actual hardware (Amazon Echo, tap, dot or FireTV)

What you need:

- Amazon account
- if on Android phone - "Alexa listen" app  ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.willblaschko.android.alexalistens&hl=en)
- Untested -> if on  iPhone - "Lexi" app (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lexi-for-alexa-voice-services/id1092933088?mt=8) - I did not try it as I dont have an iPhone

Note: You can also use this web app if you prefer but its a little less convenient as you need to open the page and press a button to talk instead of your device being always listening for the Keyword
https://echosim.io/

1. Setup and launch a search on Alexa Listen app so that it asks to pair app with your account.
2. Go to the Alexa web app and add the Almond skill to your account (http://alexa.amazon.com/spa/index.html)
3. You should now be able to use the echo voice commands as described on the website (https://www.securifi.com/workswithecho)

examples

"your chosen keyword" ("Hey Alexa" is default in Alexa listen app but you can change it to whatever you want) ->

tell Almond I’m Home,
tell Almond to activate XXXX scene
tell Almond I’m Going away

Have Fun!  ;D



edit: There is also this app that can talk to Alexa

Roger - Talk more often
iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/roger-talk-more-often/id943662312?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rogertalk.roger&hl=en

Title: Re: Almond's Amazon Echo features without the Amazon hardware (Using a phone)
Post by: mparadis on September 21, 2016, 10:21:16 pm

This is very interesting. I might try it on my wall mounted tablet for voice control in places without my echo. Wonder how this will work with Alexa's pending software updates for location detection.

Title: Re: Almond's Amazon Echo features without the Amazon hardware (Using a phone)
Post by: mparadis on September 21, 2016, 10:27:14 pm

And I can confirm it is working on my phone which opens up a world of possibilities.

Title: Re: Almond's Amazon Echo features without the Amazon hardware (Using a phone)
Post by: Shazster on September 22, 2016, 10:02:14 pm

I did the DIYAlexaPi build without the Pi (running on the same HP mini as my HomeAssistant server). So far I can tell Alexa to lock & unlock my door - had to set up an Almond scene of course, but it works. Have to play with lighting scenes to see if Alexa can deal with them, but Almond seems pretty iffy in terms of setting up groupings of lights within rooms (maybe I just need to play with it more).

Title: Re: Almond's Amazon Echo features without the Amazon hardware (Using a phone)
Post by: GreyGuac on October 12, 2016, 03:46:42 pm

This is awesome, thank you for sharing. I'm going to try this after work  :D

Just got an Amazon tap but thinking about returning it...