Echo & Alexa Forums
General Category => Amazon Echo Discussion => Topic started by: Bhavin on December 08, 2017, 04:57:02 pm
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Hi,
We are working on bringing Alexa to the car. If you are interested there more details here.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/muse-alexa-voice-assistant-for-cars-car/reft/17676316/e?utm_source=social&utm_campaign=e
Disclaimer: I work for the company that is building this product. I don't intend to spam this, or other forums, but I felt this was pertinent information for an active Alexa community.
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Sorry to disappoint you but I won't pay however cheap you sell your device coz I don't need it. I will just use GA on my phone and it's freeeeeeee. 8)
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As you should :). If you are happy with GA on the phone, no reason to change that. The problem we are trying to address is for folks who like Alexa and want it, along with wake-word detection (and integration with their car stereo) in the car.
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Bahvin, I almost ordered a couple of these, but then I read posts of people who put an echo dot in their car and the issues with it not automatically connecting to the iPhone’s hotspot. Users had to manually open the hotspot to get it to connect every time. Is that the case with Muse? I like the idea, but wonder how automatic it is when you get into your vehicle.
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Hi Drwoodr,
This is one of the key problems we solve with Muse. Muse does not require a hot spot at all. It does require a data plan that is used by the Muse companion app. Hope that helps.
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Bahvin, I almost ordered a couple of these, but then I read posts of people who put an echo dot in their car and the issues with it not automatically connecting to the iPhone’s hotspot. Users had to manually open the hotspot to get it to connect every time. Is that the case with Muse? I like the idea, but wonder how automatic it is when you get into your vehicle.
I have an Echo Dot in the car. The WiFi hotspot I have is the ZTE Mobley with AT&T. Unfortunately AT&T stopped selling the Mobley any more and I think they also discontinued the Connected Car data plans.
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Bahvin, I almost ordered a couple of these, but then I read posts of people who put an echo dot in their car and the issues with it not automatically connecting to the iPhone’s hotspot. Users had to manually open the hotspot to get it to connect every time. Is that the case with Muse? I like the idea, but wonder how automatic it is when you get into your vehicle.
I have an Echo Dot in the car. The WiFi hotspot I have is the ZTE Mobley with AT&T. Unfortunately AT&T stopped selling the Mobley any more and I think they also discontinued the Connected Car data plans.
I don't think you need a Connected Car data plan to use this. It works like how your GPS uses your data plan, I guess.
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Hi Drwoodr,
This is one of the key problems we solve with Muse. Muse does not require a hot spot at all. It does require a data plan that is used by the Muse companion app. Hope that helps.
So how does this work, muse connects to your phone using Bluetooth rather than the hot spot?
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Well I am not the OP, but no, BT has nothing to do with data plan. And BT do not connect you to wifi. Like I said if you use GPS on your phone, like for navigation, it uses your data plan. I believe that's how this device works too.
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Well I am not the OP, but no, BT has nothing to do with data plan. And BT do not connect you to wifi. Like I said if you use GPS on your phone, like for navigation, it uses your data plan. I believe that's how this device works too.
I know BT won’t conect to WiFi, but how does the Muse connect to a data plan? If you need a stand-alone data plan for the Muse, it’s a non-starter. So if you don’t have a built-in WiFi hotspot in your car, it has to connect to your phone for the data. And it’s not like gps at all. Alexa requires a connection to the internet, everything is in the cloud. So it’s either a BT connection to the phone or a wire. And if BT, then it would most likely interfere with your BT connection to your car’s audio.
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Well I am not the OP, but no, BT has nothing to do with data plan. And BT do not connect you to wifi. Like I said if you use GPS on your phone, like for navigation, it uses your data plan. I believe that's how this device works too.
I know BT won’t conect to WiFi, but how does the Muse connect to a data plan? If you need a stand-alone data plan for the Muse, it’s a non-starter. So if you don’t have a built-in WiFi hotspot in your car, it has to connect to your phone for the data. And it’s not like gps at all. Alexa requires a connection to the internet, everything is in the cloud. So it’s either a BT connection to the phone or a wire. And if BT, then it would most likely interfere with your BT connection to your car’s audio.
It doesn't say you need a stand-alone data plan... it says you need a data plan that will be used through your companion App (ie cell phone or tablet)... so nothing new to buy as far as data plans unless you are using a data plan that barely gets you by per month already... I am on the Grandfathered-in Apple Unlimited data plan... so no new stuff needed hereat all... but my understanding is that you HAVE to download and install a companion app on your "other" device, which will access your already subscribed Data plan, whatever that plan is. So A Smart phone is needed, just like with a lot of the Echo stuff...
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Original question was how does the Muse connect to the phone, BT or wired?
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I click the OP's link, it says just connect via BT. I presume you can connect it wired too if they have aux in muse. And yes according to linked site video, you actually hear it on your car speaker even if you connect it on BT. You should click the OP's link, LOL.
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Hi,
We are working on bringing Alexa to the car. If you are interested there more details here.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/muse-alexa-voice-assistant-for-cars-car/reft/17676316/e?utm_source=social&utm_campaign=e
Disclaimer: I work for the company that is building this product. I don't intend to spam this, or other forums, but I felt this was pertinent information for an active Alexa community.
I have ordered four of these and am hoping that you'll deliver in time for Christmas. My biggest concern is whether or not you can discriminate voice commands with all of the background noise in a car.
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I am a Google Girl but started with Alexa and still have a couple. Any chance you'll expand to include a Google Home device?
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Hi Drwoodr: At a high level, our companion app. that resides on your phone will connect to AVS (Amazon Voice Services i.e. Alexa servers) using your phone's data plan. This is why you do not need a Wi-Fi. It will not interfere with your car's BT connection - in fact, we recommend that you use it (or Aux or USB) to leverage your car's stereo system. We have tested this extensively internally with all 3 types of connection to car stereo (BT, Aux, USB) and all work seamlessly. Hope that helps.
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i have been planning to do the car thing for some time and with this round of discounted e dots, i got an extra one to play around with. here are my observations:
-the echo does take a long time to start up but this could be a boon (see last item).
-the new ability to configure with one device only (hotspot) works for only one power-up, the next time you power up, it won't work anymore and you have to setup all over again. this has been mentioned in other threads and other sites.
-if you configure using two phones/devices (i used an ipad), you can configure the echo to connect to the phone hotspot just like any other wifi connection. the echo will reconnect to the hotspot again when it powers up.
-the problem i encountered was that when i started in the driveway, it connected to the wifi in the house. apparently the connections/passwords are stored at amazon for all your devices. no practical way to disable it unless you create a different amazon account(?). so actually if you drive away while the e dot is powering up, eventually it will connect to your hotspot. in my case, i just powered it off and on after i drove off.
-i am on a T-Mobile unlimited data plan. on their basic plan which allows lower res video, the e dot could not stream continuously. i had to go for their "plus" plan that allows for HD video for $10 more a month. still pretty cheap considering it's unlimited data.
for car use i think, amazon should improve the boot time and also have a way to set a "preferred" connection.
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@malliekm - great question! What is your phone platform iOS or Android?
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Android
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I have an Echo Dot installed in my car that uses a ZTE Mobley WiFi Hotspot.
It's actually a good thing that the Dot takes a bit of time to start up because my Hotspot also takes some time to connect to the nearby cell tower. This works out great because it'll connect to the car WiFi instead of the home WiFi. I don't want the Dot to connect to my home WiFi because it will be out of range as soon as I drive away.
In my past experiences, the Dot can store several WiFi access points in its memory. How many it can store and how to find out what access points are stored is unknown to me. I know this because the Dot in my car can connect to my home WiFi if my car WiFi is off. And it automatically connects to my car WiFi when I start the car because it has the stronger signal. These are separate networks with different SSIDs and passwords so the Dot does store this information in memory somewhere. My car WiFi is not a phone and does not run any apps. It's a dedicated mobile Hotspot only.
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Hi Drwoodr: At a high level, our companion app. that resides on your phone will connect to AVS (Amazon Voice Services i.e. Alexa servers) using your phone's data plan. This is why you do not need a Wi-Fi. It will not interfere with your car's BT connection - in fact, we recommend that you use it (or Aux or USB) to leverage your car's stereo system. We have tested this extensively internally with all 3 types of connection to car stereo (BT, Aux, USB) and all work seamlessly. Hope that helps.
Yes, I was concerned about it not allowing a BT connection from my phone to my car while muse was also connected to my phone. I just placed an order.
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Would love to get one but am a little apprehensive. Is the product complete and actually in production? Is the Muse shipping at this time?
Went to order one and saw this ..................."By clicking 'Submit Payment', you acknowledge you are contributing to a work-in-progress and not making a direct purchase."
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Is the product complete and actually in production?
I received an email yesterday saying that they are in production and expect to start shipping in a week or so. But that they don't expect to get units into supporters hands before Christmas and will be sending out gift cards for supporters to give to people.
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Thanks for the info, jockstrap..............(sorry, couldn't resist myself. Had a couple beers.)
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How does it compare to this... aside from the price?
https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=garmin+alexa&tag=mh0b-20&index=aps&hvadid=77996648660289&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=t&ref=pd_sl_11p0zdqb2u_e
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Received a note from Muse yesterday saying that their first product shipments have cleared customs and that shipping to customers starts today. I don't expect to see mine for Christmas, but I'm hoping for next week.
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How does it compare to this... aside from the price?
https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=garmin+alexa&tag=mh0b-20&index=aps&hvadid=77996648660289&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=t&ref=pd_sl_11p0zdqb2u_e
In my opinion, the Garmin Speak is being sold as a simple Navigation device that also includes Alexa. The photos included in their advertising remind me of the first generation GM OnStar navigation instructions from 10 years ago. Turn arrows, verbal instructions and a high price.
Muse is being pitched as a simple way to get Alexa into your car. And that doesn't include any kind of GPS functionality. A very different market. We'll see how good the execution is in a week or so.
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Android
Sorry, wasn't able to come back to this thread for a while since we are in the middle of shipping.
@malliekm with Android - wouldn't the Google Assistant be very close to a Google Home experience? I am curious to know why you are not currently using your phone (connected via BT or Aux to your car stereo) and using 'Ok Google' on the phone.
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Hi,
We are working on bringing Alexa to the car. If you are interested there more details here.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/muse-alexa-voice-assistant-for-cars-car/reft/17676316/e?utm_source=social&utm_campaign=e
Disclaimer: I work for the company that is building this product. I don't intend to spam this, or other forums, but I felt this was pertinent information for an active Alexa community.
I have ordered four of these and am hoping that you'll deliver in time for Christmas. My biggest concern is whether or not you can discriminate voice commands with all of the background noise in a car.
Hi t2jock, Thanks for backing us! I couldn't get to this earlier - as you know now, we are still scheduled to ship in December but won't arrive before Christmas. We have tested it with background noise, including highway noise, radio, etc. and it pretty much just works :)