A new software update for the Amazon Echo and the Echo Dot seems to be rolling out that adds the option to select “Computer” as the device’s wake word. Instead of using “Alexa,” or one of the alternatives like “Echo” and “Amazon”, you’ll be able to get a little closer to the ultimate dream of having the Star Trek computer in your home. The new option was first spotted by Reddit users as a new feature for software version 4812 on the German Amazon page for Echo software updates. Amazon’s page has since removed the new feature listing, but other redditors are reporting that the option is starting to appear in the wild.
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Can you make it say “unable to comply”?
Or, I’m sorry Dave but I’m afraid I can’t do that.
Alexa open the pod bay doors
“Working”
Screenshot od settings:
http://imgur.com/a/m5c3n
I don’t have it yet but I will be so happy when it goes live!
GASP!
I…had no idea I wanted this so much.
It was the first comment I ever made in the original Echo topic on the Amazon message boards before it had even been released. Many people agreed. They must have been getting a lot of requests.
Same here first day I got it I posted to the board and sent feedback asking for it.
we’re in that club as well.
Adam. That’s funny you said that because I gave 4 for Christmas gifts. 1 wanted it and the others have all said they didn’t know they’d like it so much. It was a great gift for friends and family.
Yep. I gave it to my son and family. The 5 yr old keeps changing the music lol. I guess as long as he doesn’t order anything $500 he will be ok
Lmao!
Make it so Number 1
Majel Barrett-Roddenberry’s voice has been digitized, so it would be possible to have her voice respond too.
That would be the ultimate in geek chic, but I imagine the licensing expense would be prohibitive to Amazon.
Perhaps they could negotiate individual licenses that Echo user’s them selves buy.
It wouldn’t surprise me if we eventually start seeing voices to buy, similar to sat navs.
I doubt it. Arguments between Paramount and CBS have driven Star Trek into the ground. They have gone so far as to sue a crowd funded fan film and severely limit others. Netflix already owns the international rights to the new series. I wouldn’t be surprised if they buy the US rights when CBS All Access goes under. I can see them licensing The Voice to Google though.
Adam. That’s funny you said that because I gave 4 for Christmas gifts. 1 wanted it and the others have all said they didn’t know they’d like it so much. It was a great gift for friends and family.
SERIOUSLY!!!???
All I want is a “JARVIS” wake word :)
Right!
My brother, who has an Echo, has said the same thing. I’m afraid the voice would have to be different, though – Paul Bettany may have an exclusive on that (for those that don’t know, he was the voice behind Jarvis and Vision). However, we have a step in the right direction in the Google play store, viz..
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.itsmylab.jarvis&hl=en
It’s a start…
I need a GLaDOS wake word
Wonder how far down the list the UK is for the update. I contacted Amazon customer services who replied to me that indeed the update was rolling out. I was even given instructions on how to try to force the update. Nothing as yet. Be patient, should get it in the new year
I used it today and realized too used to saying Alexa now to change.
Can you let us know how Amazon suggest to try a forced update?
Amazon’s next project: a holodeck
In UK and received the update on one of my Echo’s last night.
Cannot work out how to force update on my others!
Problem is “computer” is way to common a word. My Echo has already been tripping like crazy when the TV is on or just from people saying that word at random.
To be honest I’m selling my dot and echo because the simply don’t work half the time and the echo in the kitchen gets confused with the one in the living room.
I’m fine with Alexa being the wake word but they should expand the choices. What I definitely want is Scarlett Johansson’s voice on the Echo like the movie Her.
Or Bud Cort from Electric Dreams (the original). If you haven’t seen the movie, it is hard to find, but you can always get a bootleg online somewhere.
I guess what I don’t understand is 17 yrs ago I started in this automation game and used computer software from Home Automated Living or HALF. With it you could establish and wake up you wanted as well as reply. We had a blended family so ours was Alice from Brady Bunch and when asked to do something would confirm with yes sir. Seems they still have a lot of work to do.
Who wants an Amazon eavesdropper in your home listening and sending everything it hears to Amazons servers to see if you just happen to say the wake word. Believe me it will be listening 24/7, and people object if the Government looks at your emails, how soon will it be before GCHQ can hack these no counting tomorrow.
Believe me. They would find it very tedious listening in on my house.
Technically the wake word identification takes place ON the echo and not at Amazon. Same if you build one with AVS, you have to catch the wake word and THEN send the stream to Amazon. The echo isn’t piping everything it hears to Amazon, but it does have a local buffer. When it hears the wake word it send from the start of the rolling buffer on to Amazon for processing.
You can build your own so.ilat system using Lex and Parrot on AWS.
My Alexa recently disconnected from the internet after a power outage.
When I said “Alexa” she waked and said – “I can’t seem to connect to the internet”.
The wake word functionality resides in the device.
Imagine your data usage if it was streaming audio 24/7. Your ISP would certainly notice and you’d probably get billed for a data overage.
Your logic isn’t sound. The software checks for network connectivity WHEN you use the wake word, and then announces that no connectivity is present. The local I’D of the wake word recognition holds true.
I was trying to respond to Barry above.
It needs to make the old processing sound effect. If it is busy searching, it should say “working” in Majel Barrett’s voice.
abey kya chutiyapa h y?? sagar k words m…”mtlb kuch bhi na..??”
I have to agree if we have to go down this path of SF Voice enabled assistance then have the decency to give us one al-la HAL9k that can sence you, and greet you with a Good Morning / Afternoon / Evening / Night, and a cheary “I’m sorry , but I can’t do that! When you tell it to sideload Kodi onto the Fire TV2.
Very cool! Looking forward to this! I still wish I could set my own wake word though.
OK I found a problem with this already. It does not likey UK accent when saying computer. I have to put on an American accent just to get it to respond.
Can you PLEASE make it where WE – the user- can choose a name for it during set up?
It would be better for all.
We are not finding very useful anyway so we may end up giving it away. We ask questions and usually get – sorry – I cannot help you with that at this time or whatever your standard retort is.
already been done ,but amazon put the kibosh on it so we won’t be seeing that again i don’t think anyways,
i honestly do not see what the big deal is though anyways
not sure why they felll the need to keep control over something so trivial
it’s like you already bought the damn thing how important is the branding at that point
Please consider letting the customer who (Bought) the product decide is worth the extra cost off a cheap app and the machine the customer is always right and that is what they want and it is no longer your machine except for updates.