# Got an Echo For Xmas...Now What? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 26, 2017, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-an-echo-for-xmas-now-what/805299 "2017-12-26T04:51:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-an-echo-for-xmas-now-what/805299/41 "2017-12-27T16:56:47Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > **Mod Note** > > On the one hand, this is IMHO, the place for all things opinionated. OTOH, the OP is requesting input from people who find the Echo useful, not people who don’t own it and think it’s stupid. In light of the OP’s request, your posts here are coming off as one extensive threadshit. This is not the best thread for airing your grievances with Echo. Please stick to the topic at hand. > > No warning issued. Umm. You sure you have the right poster? Pulykmell was just answering a sincere question from me. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-an-echo-for-xmas-now-what/805299/42 "2017-12-27T16:58:48Z")
Crap! I modded the wrong person. Apologies, **pulykamell.** :smack: > [@Pabitel](#): > > I’m glad these are finding an audience. I just was wondering if I was missing anything. Turns out I wasn’t and there simply isn’t any way I could benefit from the technology. I simply cannot imagine a case where this would be more useful than the technology I already own. I also am very dubious about the annoyance factor from people around me spending all day shouting at a device. To reiterate: On the one hand, this is IMHO, the place for all things opinionated. OTOH, the OP is requesting input from people who find the Echo useful, not people who don’t own it and think it’s stupid. In light of the OP’s request, your posts here are coming off as one extensive threadshit. This is not the best thread for airing your grievances with Echo. Please stick to the topic at hand. No warning issued. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-an-echo-for-xmas-now-what/805299/43 "2017-12-27T17:14:16Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > As pointed out, you can’t do it at least yet. Google has the ability to do this, but it requires a Chromecast Audio (which has a 3.5mm cord), as the Google Home (or Mini or Max) doesn’t have bluetooth out, which adds additional cost. However, if it’s something you really want to do, it may be worth the extra $35 of a Chromecast Audio (and then you can say “Hey Google, play X on [whatever you named your Chromecast Audio]”). Thank you. I’ve taken a look at the Chromecast Audio and that may be an option for me to consider. Like many people, I have a nice media center with a stereo receiver, but my receiver does not have BT capability. It’s turned off the majority of the time, but I do like to use Amazon Music to stream playlists, etc. It would be very nice if I could tell my Echo Dot to turn off the BT or disconnect from a BT receiver. (Since the BT receiver would be external to the the media system, it would remain on all the time, maintaining a connection with the Dot.) Anybody at Amazon listening? To get back to the OP’s question, the music streaming is pretty much 90% of what I use the Dot for. It does a surprisingly good job of finding and selecting music given voice commands. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-an-echo-for-xmas-now-what/805299/44 "2017-12-27T17:17:03Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > Like many people, I have a nice media center with a stereo receiver, but my receiver does not have BT capability. It’s turned off the majority of the time, but I do like to use Amazon Music to stream playlists, etc. It would be very nice if I could tell my Echo Dot to turn off the BT or disconnect from a BT receiver. (Since the BT receiver would be external to the the media system, it would remain on all the time.) Anybody at Amazon listening? Actually, I think you can tell the Echo to “Turn off bluetooth” (though I’m not sure if that’s only for bluetooth in or also for bluetooth out); if that was the only thing you were using bluetooth for, it may work. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-an-echo-for-xmas-now-what/805299/45 "2017-12-27T17:22:52Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Crap! I modded the wrong person. Apologies, **pulykamell.** :smack: No worries. 🙂 At least you didn’t IP ban half the Straight Dope. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-an-echo-for-xmas-now-what/805299/46 "2017-12-27T17:24:30Z")
I bought a Dot due to this thread and was wondering if everyone in the household uses the same account, so to speak. If I add something to my shopping list will it go on my phone’s shopping app or on everyone’s? Will it be able to find and play our individual spotify playlists? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-an-echo-for-xmas-now-what/805299/47 "2017-12-27T18:16:28Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > I bought a Dot due to this thread and was wondering if everyone in the household uses the same account, so to speak. If I add something to my shopping list will it go on my phone’s shopping app or on everyone’s? Will it be able to find and play our individual spotify playlists? This just came up in GQ! Linking to thread so you can see the full questions. ETA: but supposedly the answer is yes. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=845612](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=845612) ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-an-echo-for-xmas-now-what/805299/48 "2017-12-27T18:23:30Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > Actually, I think you can tell the Echo to “Turn off bluetooth” (though I’m not sure if that’s only for bluetooth in or also for bluetooth out); if that was the only thing you were using bluetooth for, it may work. This is exactly what I was trying to ascertain. Surprisingly, I can’t find any information about this on their website. I don’t have a BT unit yet to try it out. But that’s EXACTLY the type of information I need. (“Alexa, turn on the bluetooth speaker. Play ‘You’re Having My Baby.’ Alexa, turn off the bluetooth speaker…quickly.”) ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-an-echo-for-xmas-now-what/805299/49 "2017-12-27T18:37:59Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > This just came up in GQ! Linking to thread so you can see the full questions. > > ETA: but supposedly the answer is yes. > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=845612](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=845612) Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-an-echo-for-xmas-now-what/805299/50 "2017-12-27T21:07:42Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > I bought a Dot due to this thread and was wondering if everyone in the household uses the same account, so to speak. If I add something to my shopping list will it go on my phone’s shopping app or on everyone’s? Will it be able to find and play our individual spotify playlists? This is what I’ve been struggling with. I started a [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=845612) that has received just one reply. Here is what I’ve discovered after much poking around: Each member of the household can set up their own Alexa ‘account’, but they must have their own Amazon account to do so. Once set up, you switch between accounts by saying “Alexa, switch to (name)”. When in my account, Alexa can access my Spotify; it cannot do so when it is in the wife’s account. This goes for lists, too. Still learning. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-an-echo-for-xmas-now-what/805299/51 "2017-12-28T16:15:52Z")
Do like we did and set up a [household](https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201628040) account. You can then switch from profile to profile simply by asking. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-an-echo-for-xmas-now-what/805299.md?page=2)