Echo & Alexa Forums

General Category => Alexa Across the Pond (Europe) => Topic started by: litfoo on August 08, 2015, 10:22:24 am

Title: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: litfoo on August 08, 2015, 10:22:24 am
hi all,

I thought I would create this thread for Echo UK users so we can share some experiences.

Set my Echo up last night and have started to play music I have uploaded to my Amazon Library from my personal library

For those that wanted to know, the Amazon Echo Android App (APK) can be found at http://apkbeast.com/ or www.apkmirror.com

You can put the APK through https://www.virustotal.com for piece of mind.

would be good to hear from fellow Echo users in the UK

litfoo
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: harryfulton on August 12, 2015, 12:27:19 pm
Hello,

I am also an Echo user in the UK. I use the Echo to control wemo devices, play music and set timers. It is very good.

On the downside I do not like the lack of non-US support. I cannot localise it to my region here in the UK - like I can my smartphone. Also, because of this, it gives out all the wrong times for my google calendar - rendering that feature a bit useless.

I read somewhere that Amazon has no intention at all of offering non-US support - which is a big shame.

Harry
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: autocrat on August 13, 2015, 12:46:40 am
Many thanks to litfoo (there has to be a story behind that ID!) for the link to the apk app download. I'm in Cape Town, and I couldn't find a way to circumvent the Play app store block.
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: goblinant on August 15, 2015, 05:18:52 am
Hi @Litfoo,

How did you get it to play your music library?  Mine does not seem to recognise my amazon uploaded music.  I had assumed that this was because I have an amazon UK account?

Thanks,

Antony
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: Maff on August 15, 2015, 06:07:22 pm
I'm also in the UK. I'd love to know how you got the music library to work. I've spent time in the phone with Echo support, and it seems the only way you can do it is migrate your music to the US Amazon music storage. However for them to allow you to do this will require a US bank account and a US contact address. So I've hit a dead end.

Really hopeful they will actually launch it in the UK at some point, maybe then they will change the app to allow a non US home address so you can use the proper time/weather/news.

I have discovered the most recent app does allow a UK start and end point to the traffic updates so that now works.
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: litfoo on August 16, 2015, 12:32:48 pm
@ goblinant @ Maff

I think I must have taken it for granted but I have both a US & UK Amazon account.

So I guess my music must be uploading to the US Amazon Prime Music Library

Have you tried importing music using http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201379250 and signing in with your UK Amazon account?

@ Maff - agree, can't wait for the ability to set a different home address or at least be able to set a time offset or similar.

Really like using the Google Calendar feature but frusrating when the times come back correctly - only current works ok for 'All Day' events which do not reference the exact time.

Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: goblinant on August 19, 2015, 05:36:43 am
Thanks @litfoo,

Yes,  this is what I have done and it doesn't work :(

I thought it must be because you have a US account.

Thanks for the update anyway, confirms that i wasn't missing something.

Antony
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: unstableair on August 20, 2015, 09:52:40 am
Hi Folks,

Currently waiting for my Echo to arrive from the US and was wondering if anyone in the UK had tried using the ZIP code for one of the US Airforce bases here in the UK. For example if I enter 09464 into Google maps it correctly identifies it at the ZIP code for RAF Lanenheath in Suffolk UK where the USAF 48th Fighter Wing are based. This should give the correct time.

Dave
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: jwlv on August 20, 2015, 10:26:47 am
That sounds like a great work-around!

I just tried it and I asked "Alexa, what time is it?" and she reports that it is not a valid Zip code. :(
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: unstableair on August 20, 2015, 10:43:28 am
Thanks for trying  :(
I'll raise a case with amazon support once I have the unit.
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: litfoo on August 20, 2015, 03:48:07 pm
@ unstableair - great thinking, but I tried too and got the same result.

I will raise with Amazon Support too.

Update: Got a very speedy reply from Amazon Echo Suppport:

"Thank you so much for your feedback to add ZIP codes outside the US to the Echo.  This sounds like a fantastic suggestion!  I too would like to see this added.  Hopefully they implement this sooner than later.

I have specifically passed this suggestion along to our development team for the Amazon Echo, as your comments and suggestions will help us improve the Amazon Echo and offer better service to our customers."

Fingers crossed it will be added  :P
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: mark133 on August 22, 2015, 02:45:55 pm
Mine arrived today and Pandora seems to be working, was under the impression it wasn't going to work
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: litfoo on September 02, 2015, 03:25:48 pm
Mine arrived today and Pandora seems to be working, was under the impression it wasn't going to work

Good news - How are you liking the Echo?

So how did you manage to sign up for a Pandora account, being based in UK? Do you set one up when you were in the US or something?

Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: mark133 on September 02, 2015, 03:42:10 pm
Easy down load a browser called "Tor" just use this to sign up and add stations etc.
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: mark133 on September 02, 2015, 03:43:54 pm
Also iheart radio works
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: Maff on September 20, 2015, 07:17:24 am
Anyone else having problems with there Echo today in the UK? I'm wondering if Echo servers are down. Alexa can't answer any question, or even switch my wemo switches. I'm online, have reset alexa, she just says 'I can't answer that'.
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: RKnudsen on September 20, 2015, 08:09:29 am
Yes, it seems to be down:
http://www.amazon.com/forum/kindle?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx1D7SY3BVSESG&cdThread=Tx1LI8F2XZ6JQ5G

We live in Germany and received our Alexa just some days ago. It all works perfectly fine.
I can't enter a German zip code and I think that the verification currently is strictly limited to US zip codes. That's the difference to Google which looks for zip codes available world wide.
I used a VPN to setup Pandora and iHeart accounts. It is interesting that I can't use the iOS apps for both services without VPN but Alexa doesn't seem to have any issue with that :)
We really like it!
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: mark133 on September 20, 2015, 08:34:57 am
Yeah mines down aswell :'(
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: Maff on September 20, 2015, 10:39:24 am
Mine seems to be working again. Given the timing I wonder if they were making changes to accommodate Alexa on the new and older Fire TV and  sticks which they have just announced. I was quite uplifted when they announced they they would do that and update the older fire tvs.. As these are global products rather than US only like Echo.. Gives me hope that a more international focus might be around the corner, so we can end up with correct time & weather on our Echos.
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: Maff on September 20, 2015, 10:41:33 am
Actually not all services have come back on...  Smart things integration seems offline still.
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: Bluefusion on September 26, 2015, 11:52:28 am
Really want to get a Amazon Echo for here in the UK. Just interested in the settings is there an option for UK rather than US - i.e. When asking Alexa to spell a word would it only be a US spelling or can it be set to UK?
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: jwlv on September 26, 2015, 01:14:18 pm
Alexa does not have any language settings. It assumes American English.
For example, if I ask "Alexa, spell color."  She'll say "Color is spelled C-O-L-O-R," instead of C-O-L-O-U-R.
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: leejamesturner on September 27, 2015, 04:07:31 pm
Ok so i seem to have managed to get Prime Music working in the UK for now at least. Here’s what I did:

1. Signed into Amazon.COM with my normal UK credentials (rather than Amazon.co.uk).

2. Clicked on the “Sign-up for Prime” link which was at the top left by the Amazon logo if i remember correctly. (I managed to sign up even though i don’t have a US credit card which was surprising)

3. Navigated to “Your music library” where I was told i needed to switch to a US library. A pop up came up if with something like “Fix Library” which I clicked.

4. Played something from Prime music on Amazon.com to confirm its working and I have access.

5. Opened the Alexa app on my iphone and navigated to Prime music which now shows must browsing options rather than “You must sign up to Prime”.

6. Tested it out on the echo by saying “Play Ho Hey by the Lumineers”. It works!

I guess Amazon will try to charge my UK card in 30 days and i’m not sure what will happen but for now at least it’s working great. If anyone needs more detail let me know and i’ll try to help.
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: harryfulton on October 22, 2015, 08:31:29 am
I don't know if others have done this but I have used the zip code for Pago Pago - which superficially gives you the right time for the UK. It is actually UTC-11 - so alexa thinks the time is 1.20am when it is 1.20pm in the UK - but she will ofcourse simply say 'It's 1.20'.

Still screws up google calendar entries. Will have to wait for a proper fix. If it ever comes.
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: leejamesturner on October 22, 2015, 08:37:19 am
Thanks harryfulton, great advice!
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: andyinCO on January 05, 2016, 05:58:27 pm
I'm a Brit living in the US. and I wish Echo would give me the scores/results from the Premier League. We have all the games on NBC Sports every week and English teams have a big following here so I would think it would be a bit of a no-brainer.
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: Maff on January 10, 2016, 06:55:12 am
Looks like non-echo devices which include Alexa capabilities are starting to come out. The first one is called Triby & is basically a magnetic fridge radio. It's already on sale worldwide, and will get alexa via an update shortly. Unless we end up with a situation where the update is withheld outside of the US, I'm starting to get a little hopeful that Echo might actually start to get updated to work outside of the US. Simply as I would imagine that confining prospective manufacturer customers also to just the US will most likely hamper uptake of their cloud alexa capabilities they are really pushing now. I'm quite exited at the prospect of buying a bedside clock which includes alexa, linked in with my existing account. Also would like that in my car. Getting closer to Jarvis very quickly :-) However I'd settle for just being able to get local news and weather on the device I have owned for ages first!
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: Maff on February 07, 2016, 05:17:41 pm
To the UK users..  In case you have not spotted it, over in the tips & tricks section there is a thread "Using outside the US, where folk have figured out a (fairly) easy way of setting Echo to finally be set to the correct timezone. The same method could potentially sort out the location issues also and be set for your postcode, but we're still working on it (so far not no luck there). But I'm chuffed I can finally ask Alexa the correct time!

One positive thing to note though, is the Alexa Api clearly contains codes for all timezones and country codes, which gives me hope that full international support may just be around the corner.
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: harryfulton on February 14, 2016, 09:47:44 am
A bonus for users in London - a skill has been included to get the status on various tube lines. Hopefully there will be a skill for local buses at some point.

I've read elsewhere that Alexa is coming to the Triby - which is I believe available in the UK. This might be another indication that the UK will be supported soon.
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: Maff on February 21, 2016, 02:19:21 pm
I've been keeping an eye on Triby on Twitter. I think they kind of released a little more info the other day than Amazon have done so far, maybe by mistake. They were asked by someone whether the Alexa update would be withheld in the UK. They replied by stating "Alexa will be available in all countries where Alexa will be supported". When pressed further, they said it should be taken up with Amazon UK. I found it interesting, as Amazon has so far never said anything about countries outside of the US being supported. I guess given how popular Echo is becoming & how much development is going on its a no brainer it will leave the US, but this is the closest I have seen of any quasi official line talking about non US countries being supported.
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: Foggy on March 09, 2016, 06:03:48 pm
I am based in the UK. I am hoping to get an Echo soon. Can I set it up using my Amazon.co.uk account. Or do I have to get / create an Amazon.com account.

Best wishes.
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: celticfan1888 on March 15, 2016, 10:53:02 am
you can change the time here

http://www.echotalk.org/index.php/topic,228.0.html

Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: celticfan1888 on March 15, 2016, 10:56:31 am
if you create an amazon .com account and have a uk prime account

when you try to play prime music it asks you to fix account ... hit fix button and fill any USA address

it will then say music moved to US account

Echo will then work with prime worked with my echo
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: celticfan1888 on March 15, 2016, 11:05:01 am
https://amazonechouk.wordpress.com/

useful website for UK users
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: celticfan1888 on March 15, 2016, 11:25:17 am
spotify on Amazon Echo UK


https://amazonechouk.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/spotify-on-amazon-echo-in-the-uk/


Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: celticfan1888 on March 15, 2016, 11:29:26 am
how to get the Amazon echo app in the UK

https://amazonechouk.wordpress.com/2015/08/26/getting-the-amazon-echo-app-in-the-uk/

or for IOS

http://www.cultofmac.com/43040/get-a-u-s-itunes-account-anywhere-in-the-world-how-to/

Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: celticfan1888 on March 15, 2016, 02:52:20 pm
when I changed the time on my echo to my country the traffic also worked!
so now i can get a local traffic info from home to work  :)
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: Chris1958 on April 15, 2016, 03:11:44 pm
Hi Celticfan,
I thought I was pretty smart, but I can't for the life of me work out how to make that mod to get the right time zone.  I read the linked instructions a dozen times but just don't understand. Any chance you could give me a better understanding? Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: CassarJ on April 16, 2016, 11:10:06 am
I now have an echo and a dot in the UK

The time hack works the same on the dot.
No luck with location services yet
Title: Re: Apple Echo - UK users
Post by: tonye on April 28, 2016, 05:56:49 am
I have been interested in the echo for ages, but have always assumed it would come to the UK sooner rather than later and have given up waiting.

Any recommendations on where to get one. eBay around £220, have looked at an buy and ship company which is around £180 + import taxes. Got a friend going to states in June but don't want to wait.

Any recommendations or a long shot does anyone have one to sell?