Dot to Dot: A daily 5min Echo demo from Alexa: Recent Episodes
Robin Christopherson
These short top tips and skills for the Amazon Echo are for everyone who’s simply dotty about Alexa.
Today we're looking at the first of two escape skills by Rubix and, as with all these escape room skills, I loooove it. Hope you will too. I feel sorry for the cleaners having to tackle that carpet…
No way! Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) has brought us another brilliant skill demo. It's true. Please send in your demos, or just touch base with Qs on how to do one, to robin.christopherson@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter @USA2DAY.
Apart from an interruption thanks to British Telecom (actually Virgin Media) this was a half-decent demo of a wholly decent skill all about who won which award and for what over the decades. Give it a listen if that sounds like a winner to you.
He's back - Thomas Domville (thomas@themickeyhouse.com) brings us several escape the room games in one and, by the looks of his demo, they're all going to be doozies. Not here in the UK yet, though (sad trombone).
Serving up a delicious dose of 'The Daily Crunch'; the sassiest and snappiest summary of all things tech available through your A-lady - followed up by bargain pizza. Yes, you can save some serious dough on Dominos with today's second skill. So settle down and listen up.
I can't believe it. Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) is once again knee-deep in all sorts of danger in today's demo. The man has no fear.
Is the Emporer penguin really bigger than the King? Where do chinstrap penguins hang out and why aren't they afraid of polar bears? How many calories in a whole pack (not including the wrappers)? Don't know? Well that's ok, because today's skill is nothing to do with the feathered flavour of penguins - it's all about those classic Penguin books.
By asking, “Alexa, read me a free audiobook” we can listen from a selection of four free books each month from Audible. How cool is that?
Today's skill stars Martin Freeman (The Hobbit & Sherlock) in a dramatised recreation of the cult 1960s experimental novel by B.S Johnson, famously published in a box as a collection of loose chapters designed to be shuffled into a new order every time it was read. There's a warning of some sexual content - just so you know.
Phew! Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) made it out of his last demo alive, but only to drive headlong into another dangerous dilemma. Would you open a box marked as 'Do not open' down a dark path, in woods off Route 666? Would you??
Noooooo! Don't worry - I'm not being chased by a T-Rex, but I am dismayed as there's nooooo sound-effects! So we'll finish off with one from another skill and hope that that will fit the bill…
Mentioned on today's A-lady round-up email, I thought I'd include this additional one today as I think it's really quite cute.
Today Thomas Domville (thomas@themickeyhouse.com) joins the distinguished band of listeners to send in a demo. Famous as 'AnonyMouse' and host of many demos and chat shows on the excellent AppleVis podcast, he brings us a reprise of that timeless classic; Timeless Adventure, covered over 500 episodes ago. Not only does he do a better demo than the original, but he gets further too. Nice job.
We covered 'Quick Fire Quiz' many moons ago and, if you like Friends (and who doesn't?), then you'll love this flavour all about the show that's everyone's firm favourite.
I'm saddened to say that friend of the show, Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com), may never be able to submit another demo. He's had a run-in with a mysterious monster from his neighbourhood and may never be seen again…
Opened with "Table Manners", this skill serves up a random selection from 47 separate top table tips - each with its own informative illustration if you have an Echo Show. Apparently, you can also buy the complete book on Amazon.
By a developer called Huaraz2, today's first skill is a nice example of your classic escape the room genre. Ignore the fact that, bizarrely, it says "Open Das Escape" in the skillstore" For whatever reason, German has slipped into the phrase with no justification whatsoever. Part zwei was going to be tomorrow, but I inadvertently completed the first one so we're doing both today.
Found in the skillstore simply as 'Operator', this game will do a nice job of operating on your brain to bring it up a notch or two in the maths department. If you work in an actual Maths Department, why not use a real-life version of Operator on your unsuspecting students to help crank up their brilliant brains a notch or two too?
Once again Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) is back to help us with another great skill; Escape Hunt. Actually, it's not really an escape-type scenario guys - and we're not actually being hunted by anyone either. We are hunting for things, though, but there definitely isn't any investigating and fiddling with items in the hope of escaping involved. Actually, it's more riddly than fiddly I'd say…
Faith is helping out again today. By Amazon, the skill we're taking a swing at here needs two of those cute Echo buttons. Is it a hit or a miss? Well, if you have two fully-functioning buttons you could probably ace it. It's more of a McEnroe moment for us, though…
Today we have a very soothing demo brought to us by the very smooth David Woodbridge (@dwoodbridge). I love a nice relaxing sound skill, that's for sure. If that chimes with you, then definitely give it a go.
Oooooooooh! Do you dare enter this famous (or should I say "Infamous") hotel to experience the horrors within? Do so at yourown virtual peril. And remember, don't ring the bell…
A certain someone (namely Patrick Steggle - lynnstggll@gmail.com) is back to perform further extended escapology in today's slightly dungeony demo.
Your plane goes down in the deep, dark, dinosaur-infested Satpura Forest. Can you escape? It's an Indian twist on a classic genre designed to engender almost definite distress - if not an instant conversion into dino-fodder.
Today I learned that Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) does a mean demo of your random fact generater-type skill. Also, TIL that she knows how to get the A-lady to serve up new skill suggestions too.
If you want to hear all about how big cats are cared for in one rescue centre in the US then this skill's for you. Take a virtual tour, listen to their stories and, if you're moved to donate to their upkeep, you can now do that through the A-lady (account linking required).
David Ward (dward@goodwillvalleys.com) shows us how to set up and use the A-lady's reminders, now with a newly-added location-based twist.
Get ready to learn 100 words worthy of slipping into your daily dialogue and then quiz yourself on how quickly you can bring them to mind based only on their slightly obscure definitions.
Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) has money to invest and a head for business. Will she have the willpower to wave away a decidedly dodgy deal in disguise and also be able to back the next big thing? Whatever her investment accumin, she's an angel for sending in all these skill demos.
Men are able to multi-task - fact or fib? Fib (if I'm a representative example). Listen to today's episode and you'll see why.
After my poor showing with Bulls and Cows the other day, Ashley Colburn (ashleycolburn2018@gmail.com) comes to the rescue with a different and altogether snappier version of the game - only this time it honours the 'ladies first' principle which should quite properly extend to the animal kingdom too.
There's Klingons on the starboard bow, the odds of surviving that asteroid field are 7 million to one against and the bridge's coffee machine is on the blink! Luckily, these are 3 of the many challenges you won't be facing in today's groovy space-based skill.
Today the excellent Randy Rusnak (@TheBigR on the Twitters) demos a skill with a blindness twist. Created by the marvellous @JonathanMosen, this skill is for everyone who remembers (or would like to be initiated into) the wonders of the last 3½ decades of blindness tech.
Also by Voxogenic, today's skill is a bovine twist on that old masterpiece; Mastermind. Chew the cud while you carefully calculate your next coded response. If you do better than my lamentable attempt, please send the recording to me at robin.christopherson@gmail.com.
Today Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) catapults us into the inky void of interstellar space where we're in somewhat of a nasty Nostromo situation here, guys. Where's Ellen Ripley when you need her…
First covered over 500 episodes ago, this one's bigger, better, shinier and official. It's also a complete mystery to me how it works and it's all because of a sneeze. You'll have to listen to find out.
Today the lovely Holly Anderson (@DHSHolly) is back with a frankly breathtaking display of knowledge of both US presidents and general US-related random trivia. It also includes a mention of pom-poms which, for some reason, is what we called the male private part in our family growing up. Just thought I'd throw that in there.
Woops! The chef keeps chopping words in half. How many words can you suggest that start with the three letters 'HEA', for example? The longer the word, the bigger the score and the sixty seconds start now…
Today Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) plunges us into an immersive zombie future with surprisingly upbeat music…
Those juicy built-in routines are just getting better and better. Today we'll revisit what they can do - and at the same time give another cheeky plug for DTD's sister flash briefing skill; The Daily 5 Minute Skill Demo Show.
A new contributor today; Ashley Colburn (ashleycolburn2018@gmail.com) brings us the brilliant Trivia Battle game that pits the wits of people across America in a trivia battle to the death. The very death I tell you. Actually, I think Ashley survives but I don't like the look of the other guy.
WARNING: Today's episode is nothing like Angry Birds and might actually be the most torturous and convoluted explanation of any skill to date. You have been warned…
Join Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) as we battle through an horrific host of traumatic trials from without and within… Oooer!
Third in our series by Trap. Over 1,000 fascinating facts on a wide range of topics. This one surely is the best random fact generating skill in the store.
So the six weeks are up and here's the video I promised. I hope you were doing the challenge along with me. Did I make it to 100? You'll just have to watch it to see.
Also by Trap, today's creepy skill provides all sorts of curious choices to keep you fully fascinated and not a little afraid…
Today we look at the first of 3 skills by the same developer; Trap. This one provides a unique insight into what the A-lady is actually thinking… We then finish off with a terrible joke - you have been warned.
Also available here in the UK - and hopefully wherever you are too - this skill is brought to us by the ever-helpful Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) and seems to serve up several stories in the ever-popular choose-your-own adventure vein.
By Electronic Arts, today's skill is for all you Sims fans out there. Faith helps me demo this groovy skill all about those lovable characters and their adorable virtual world.
Happy Valentine's Day everyone. Today we look at 3 skills which might just help take your relationships to new romantic heights. Wherever you are and whoever you're with, I wish you happiness, health and hope (and plenty of Jaffa Cakes).
She's back! Andrea Barker (abarker15@msn.com) brings us a brilliant blast of the 'Would You Rather Premium' skill, as well as also rather niftily showing us how you can now purchase those premium packaged features purely with the power of your own voice. Ooer!
Two skills by developers named Robin today (to pick a name entirely at random). The first will build us up a little more each day and the second will unleash our inner pirate. What more could we ask for apart from, say, a yard of Jaffa Cakes?
Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) is back today with a quick tour of this nice animal-related riddling skill. The timing's off but the game is on…
Need to create some smooth loops for your audio projects? Today's skill might help - if you've a way of recording them, that is.
"Welcome to most mysterious house in the World that is ready to isolate in its walls anybody who is not able to solve its puzzles." Good - I like puzzles. But will we sufficiently comprehend its stilted grammar to crack each cunning conundrum? I am full of hoping.
How did we end up on Liberty Island after closing time with only a backpack and some sleuthing skills at our disposal? Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) takes us through this mysterious choose-your-own adventure game with a smattering of nice sound-effects.
By Audible, today's skill is a must-try for anyone who either has fond memories of those old choose-your-own story books or simply likes a good, well-written, interactive adventure. Now do you go in search of the Yeti or Atlantis?
Two speed-related skills today. Firstly, David Woodbridge (@DWoodbridge on Twitter) demos how you can change the speed of Audible playback, and then we speed off into space with a nice Star Trek skill.
First test your hearing with today's skill; Hearing Screener. Then test your sanity to the very limit with that infuriating audio clip you probably hoped never to hear again… And lastly, decide to subscribe to the excellent Maccessibility podcast in your favourite podcatching app or via www.maccessibility.net. Today's demo contains clips from the excellent Maccessibility episode; 156 Celebrity-airdrop.
With huge thanks to Nick of Buttonpush Apps/Voice Skills Inc, there is now a newly updated daily flash briefing version of the 'Dot to Dot' podcast. As Amazon won't allow any words relating to the Echo or A-lady in the names of their skills, its new name is 'The Daily 5 Minute Skill Demo Show' and you can find it by searching for it in your local skillstore or, as with all skills, you should just be able to say, "A-lady, enable the daily 5 minute skill demo show."Once enabled, it simply gives you the normal episode each day in your flash briefing along with the news and weather or whatever else you have chosen to be included in your daily news update.For more Echo goodness, you can also check out their own excellent daily flash briefing all about smartspeakers; 'A few minutes in voice' so please do give that a go too.I also mention about a brilliant free service called Zapier which helps take a normal podcast feed and turn it into what Amazon needs for a daily flash briefing - there's a brilliant article on Medium that explains all about how it's done.
Come with us as we navigate the complex command-decisions of a would-be starship captain far out in the uncharted reaches of space. Well actually it's just Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) on his couch and I'm just doing my usual top and tail wafflage. No sound-effects but then we are dealing with the vacuum of space here…
Both of today's demos were recommended in a recent weekly email from Amazon. The first thrusts you into the disturbing world of a safe lunar landing, whilst the second swiftly removes any disturbing aspects from activities undertaken adjacent to your A-lady.
Back after a prolonged absence during which the world seemed a little less shiny, Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) brings us a nice number-related skill that will improve your maths in a flash.
This simple skill provides a handy timer for people with a deadline needing to use the 'Pomodoro' technique; 25mins of study followed by a 5min break X4 and then a 20min break and so on till you fall senseless with fatigue and/or starvation over your work.
Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) is back with another worthy wordy skill; Watch Your Words. If you, or someone near you, is very small and in the habit of saying "Bananas" at inopportune moments then this skill might be just the challenge you're looking for.
First demoed way back in episode 56, Twenty Questions is a king among skills. If you aren't aware of it, or haven't played it for a while, now's the time to well and truly include it in your most favourite things to do with the A-lady.
Similar to the excellent demo of 'My Pet Rock' done by Rob and Juliet Winter, today's virtual pet has more legs and fur - and probably ears and tails too. Did you know you have more than the average number of legs? If you want to know why then drop me a line. Big thanks to Felix Ayee (@DJFelix2020 on Twitter) for another great skill demo.
To be sure you get today's skill, you may want to search for 'BB Labs'. It'll make many a long car journey much more manageable and with a lot less looking down at screens with glassy expressions.
Invoked simply with 'Smarty Pants', Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) is back to bring us a really nice demo of a trivia skill where quick responses are imperative. Do you too aspire to be a Mr. Stylish Trousers?
Opened simply with "True or False", this version of the popular fact or fiction skill is for all the family. Not the same as a skill by the same name covered way back, so its either updated or a different skill altogether - maybe we'll never know…
A brand new contributer this week.; Felix Ayee (@DJFelix2020 on Twitter) brings us a great demo of the KISSTORY skill that provides several great UK radio stations. I love to receive demos, guys, so please send them to robin.christopherson@gmail.com.
There are several 'Would You Rather' skills out there, but this on'es a good'n. It's by Labworks.io - also responsible for several great skills we've covered before, such as Trivia Hero and Star Commander. So would you rather listen to today's demo or be thoroughly dipped in Nutella and slowly nibbled to death by squirrels? Think carefully before answering.
A quick additional episode today that includes bells, a nice song twice sung by the A-lady (with help from Randy Rusnak - @TheBigR on the Twitters) and an update to the 100 pushups challenge. BTW if you are doing the challenge can you let me know? I'd love to hear how others are getting on; robin.christopherson@gmail.com.
Today Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) and I do two quick demos of brilliant Battleship-related skills. In the first; 'Audio Battleship', you try to sink the A-lady's armada, whilst in the second; 'Battleship Classic', you grab paper and pen and pit your wits against her in a high stakes head-to-head. Good luck if you're using the old brainbox alone to keep track of either of these knotty nautical campaigns, guys.
Was there a King Elbow the Short or did I just mis-hear that one? Even though it's sans sound-effects, there's definitely a Queen Headwig so need I say more?
Today's demo is also by Stoked Skills. I would say that Word Wiz is well worth a whizz if you're a worthy wiz with words.
Stoked Skills have no less than 34 skills in the UK store including 'Escape the Room' and 'Escape the Airplane' and, it must be said, no less than 3 separate skills to make the A-lady summon up spectacular sounds of gaseous eruptions. Today's is a classic escape room skill with a tragic (and belated) festive twist.
Join Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) as he guesses a random assortment of animals (although a battery of other categories may be included). Thanks Patrick.
Today's skill is a cut above your average trivia quiz. First link it to your Amazon account (best to both enable and then do this linking via the skill store) and then answer away against a range of awesome adversaries across the world!
Today we're fortunate enough to have a new contributor, Drew Cosgrove, bringing us a demo of his excellent skill; Space Express. Drew currently has no fewer than 26 skills in the UK skillstore - including The Daily Prohet, all the '… Letters' skills (like Harry Potter Letters, Animal Letters etc), as well as all those great '… Feel the Pressure' skills (such as 70s/80s/90s Feel the Pressure, Halloween Feel the Pressure and Hollywood Feel the Pressure etc) many of which we've covered in previous episodes. Phew! Drew welcomes feedback on all his skills, plus suggestions for any future skills you'd like to see, so please get in touch with him via animal.letters@gmail.com or by @DrewCosgrove on the Twitters.
Firstly, we ask the A-lady to serve up some strange scientific titbits and then we follow up with some completely unrelated, but very relaxing, make-over music. Enabled and opened with "Spa Music", fire up this skill and get out the facemask mudpack and slap it on.
Invoked with "First Last", and just like Word Chain, today's skill asks us to string together words in a given category where each starts with the last letter of the previous word. Fiendish. Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) demos what it's all about.
Today's skill is by Voxogenic Technologies PVT who, get this, have no less than 116 skills in the UK store. Opened with "Odd One Out", this skill is a nice workout for the old noggin with some snazzy interstitial sound-effects too.
Both by the same developer, Adarsh Kumar, today's two skil demos are nothing more than a sneaky vehicle by which I can tenuously link to telling you a couple of awful flamingo-related jokes. Apologies.
An extra episode today to clarify one aspect of setting up additional family members' voice profiles. In a nutshell, they need to log out and back in again if they already have the app on their phone and they're logged in to the family Amazon account. On logging back in they would choose 'I'm someone else'.
Today we look at the relatively new feature that enables the A-lady to recognise your voice. If there are multiple users in your household then you may want to go to Settings > Alexa Account > Recognise voices, accept the terms and then simply ask the A-lady to "Learn my voice" (other family members will need to use the Alexa app on their own device, log in with the same Amazon account, follow the same steps but then choose the option 'I'm someone else'). Having a voice profile then gives you a personalised experience for calling and messaging, your flash briefing, for shopping lists and for your music - but only with the Amazon Music Unlimited family plan
Can you pick the false word from three valid ones? Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) has an heroic go at doing just so in today's great skill demo.
Brought to us by Pottermore and Audible, this skill's for absolutely everyone whose even remotely into HP. It's superb from the start until the very end - well, just before the very end, that is.
The third in our Earplay series today; we're finishing off with a festively-themed adventure that's a little out of season, but that's definitely up to the usual high fidelity we've come to expect from those stunning storytellers that brought us Codename Cygnus and a teensy-weensy bit of the doggy-dystopia that is barely Pugmire…
Another Earplay skill today; Office Hours. Dive into this immersive audio adventure and let the story swill around your ear-'oles. Can you solve the mystery of the missing AI?
Today Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) helps us revisit the Earplay skill. It includes a few audio adventures that are either in preview (the first chapter) or a full adventure. These include 'Codename Cygnus' (covered before) and 'Half'. We'll look at other Earplay adventures that, for whatever reason, are released in the skill store as separate adventures not available through the Earplay skill over the next couple of days. For info, the Earplay skil description says that all content that contains material of a restricted nature will be accessible only with a registered and linked Earplay account. You can unlink a registered account at any time by disabling and re-enabling the skill without linking it to your account.
Today we look at a few fantastic features that are built-in to Echoes with a touchscreen. Use 'Tap to Alexa', an accessibility feature available on Echo Show or Echo Spot, to interact with the A-lady. Use the touch screen to choose from a menu of popular pre-set options or input personalised requests through text. You can turn on Alexa Subtitles to add subtitles for weather, Q&A, timers/alarms, calendars, Smart Home, music and traffic. On your device, go to Settings > Accessibility and toggle to turn on Tap to Alexa and Alexa Subtitles. We then finish off with a fantastic demo of the built-in VoiceView screenreader for blind users of the Echo Show by the brilliant David Woodbridge (@dwoodbridge). The demo is a shortened version of a much more comprehensive review taken with kind permission from David's regular blindness tech podcast; 'iSee' - so please search for it wherever great podcasts are aggregated.
Do you dare to boldly split infinitives that scores with a scintilla of literary latitude have carelessly spliced before? Or do you choose prudently to pass over that grammatical asteroid field and give this far-out game a bit of a go instead?
Today a new contributor, Sanjeev Surati of Small Basket Studios/Whetstone Technologies, brings us a brilliant glimpse into the dark and harrowing world of their awesome audio adventure game; The Eye of the Elder Gods. Containing a warning of potentially disturbing content, are you up for listening to this skill with the lights off? I am! Also, please do check out their other excellent choose-your-own audio adventure skill (covered way back in episode 390) that's a whole lot of family fun; Animal Farm PI.
Got a games console as a gift this Christmas? If so then this skill, brought to us by the brilliant Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com), may be right up your street. It provides tips and reviews, along with info on offers and freebies etc across all gaming platforms. Also covered are reviews of movies and TV shows. In the words of the skill description; "A daily update on the world of video games, movies, and television, featuring the latest news, previews, and reviews."
Opened with "100 pushups" this skill will get you pumping those pecks (or whatever body part you substitute) over the next six weeks. Will you join me on the challenge? Seriously. If you want to commit with me then you can tweet to #DTDPod or email me at robin.christopherson@gmail.com (or just promise yourself) but we will be checking in mid-Feb so please do come along with me on the journey.
Happy new year everyone!! Both enabled and opened with "Five minute workout," today's skill is for everyone who wants to trim down in the mid-section, drive up their fitness and start their year off with a bang. It isn't at all for any of those people out there who are weak-willed, lilly-livered, yellow-bellied wimps of the first order who don't want to make any improvements at all in 2019. Is that what they call 'trash talk'? Here's hoping it helps liven up any of you lazy cats that are still on the fence.
First Phillip Chalker shows us how the A-lady Down Under so deftly counts in the new year, then we get a quick insight into what that sweet but mysterious annual song could possibly mean from 'When Harry Met Sally'.
Happy episode 700 guys! It's new year's eve and time to think about starting 2019 with some really stunning resolutions. Bob's back to help us ring in the new with some hot hints for habits that'll make the year to come a real corker.
OK - want to be insulted every which way from now till next Christmas? Yes? Well today's two skills should come in handy. The first is invoked with "Start being mean" and the second simply "Insult Bot". Big thanks to Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) for bringing us such superb slights from the A-lady.
Some built-in top tips today. "What can I say?" gives general tips on useful things to ask. "Teach me something," serves up fact-related skills. "Help me workout," will help burn off those Christmas calories. (actually, saying that will probably only burn off around a thousandth of a calory - you'll have to actually use the skills it suggests to see a marked difference). And finally, " What’s up?" gives you the latest weather, your upcoming calendar entries and a trending story in a single response.
Now you can ask the A-lady anything from "How can I treat a burnt tongue?" to "How can I remove carpet beetles?" (whatever they are) and the new built-in WikiHow cleverness will come to the rescue.
A fab demo from Shaun Williams (shaunteckno@gmail.com) today, showing us the brilliant new built-in features of location-based reminders and email direct to your A-lady. US-only (boo) but hopefully coming to us all at some point before next Christmas…
Bonza Boxing day mates! In this additional episode Phillip Chalker shows us how beautifully backed the A-lady is when she sings her Christmas songs in the land down under, where women glow and men have evidently eaten too many mince pies.
This is a superb skill that's brought to us by the brilliant Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com). It really does sound like Christmas with all the nice Noel noises that this skill first gives us, then grills us on.
Meeeeeerry Christmas!! Randy Rusnak (@TheBigR on the Twitters) brings us a blast of Christmas cheer today with a very special festive Feel the Pressure. Merry Christmas everyone - have a good one guys.
Happy Christmas Eve everyone. Today the lovely Jewel (herekittykat97@gmail.com) brings us lots of Christmas cheer with this quick quiz filled with a feast of festive song snatches.
In today's skill I thought that your Echo buttons flashed along in festive colours to a number of Christmas songs… but perhaps there's only one. Still, there's some thoroughly festive fun to be had with this nice skill.
Today we start with a fab trivia skill that's all about festive films, then follow up with some fascinating facts about the different Christmas traditions around the world.
Both by Hauper Technologies; first is a very straightforward skill that serves up a stunning rendition of Indian flute and drums. It's equal parts energising and exotic. Second, called 'Evening Meditation', is great for any time of the day. It's essentially the first skill taken down around a dozen notches. Both will play for a solid 3hrs.
Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) brings us a sure-fire way to tell if the delightful young people in your family have been nice enough this year to get anything from Santa this Christmas. Conversely, it can conclusively concede that there should be a lump of coal in their stocking instead.
You'll need to link today's skill to either a Facebook or Google account and I'm not quite sure why - but if scary stories by professional voice actors sound like your bag then link away… at your own risk! (Evil echoing laugh.)
Phillip Chalker is back to demo another flavour of the many skills that you can readily create using the built-in Blueprints feature. If you're into Elvis, then you can gain access to this skill by emailing Phillip at latrobemusic@gmail.com.
Today we look at two more festive skills. The first is 'A Christmas Carol' and note that there are several by that name - this one's by Lamplight Station. The second; Happy Christmas Sounds, has a feast of festive sounds - some short and some long - but all will bring almost boundless Christmas cheer.
Today we have two amazing skills brought to us by Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com). The first; West World Maze is shiny and new to DTD, whilst the second; Mind Maze was covered waaaay back in episode 163 but well worth a revisit.
This great skill from the BBC now brings us the ability to listen to any radio programme from every national and local station on demand - augmenting the existing option of streaming live any BBC station or checking out their full compliment of brilliant podcasts. Many apologies to everyone without the blessing of the much beloved Beeb.
Packed with helpful and informative hints and tips to manage (or avoid) diabetes, today's skill may well be of particular benefit around this bountiful, festive season.
Today's first skill brings us a radio station full of good Christmas-related tunes from different decades, whilst the second is a nice playlist of festive songs with a similar feel. Both brilliant.
Will Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) infect you with his enthusiasm for this zombie apocalypse-themed audio adventure skill? Would you want imoortality … … … at any price??
Wally went to a yoga instructor and asked if he could have lessons. "How flexible are you?" asked the instructor. "Well, I can't do Wednesdays or Fridays," replied Wally…
Hear me having an heroic attempt at becoming a maths hero - but just ending up being a bit of a doofus. I guess that me and maths just don't add up. Better luck having a go yourselves, if this skill is available wherever you are.
You may be smarter than me, but are you smarter than Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com)? Are you?? This is the skill to help you find out.
Both of today's skills are brilliant and both are by Button Push Apps. The demos have been sent in by one of its developers; Nick who, BTW, also hosts a podcast called 'Alexa Skills Review' (do search for it in your podcatching app - it's great) and who, BTW2, also kindly created and posted the daily flash briefing version of this very podcast (you can find it by searching for 'D 2 D' in the skillstore).
Incredible as it might be to believe, I haven't actually seen this film. I know. It's totally unlike me to demo a skill that requires some rudiment of knowledge on a subject before making anything other than a completely ham-fisted attempt at demoing it. And it wasn't even an heroic attempt either.
Who's back? Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com), that's who - bringing us two more brilliant word-related skills to scramble our brains.
This brilliant skill has a selection of challenges to train your brain until it's a finely honed fighting machine. Well, better at remembering things and doing quick-fire maths questions anyway. Great sound effects and a lot of fun too.
Jewel's demo yesterday made me stumble upon today's skill of a similar name. Itmight make you want to go back and try 'Animal Letters' or 'Harry Potter Letters' - both covered in earlier episodes.
Brand new contributor Jewel (herekittykat97@gmail.com) brings us today's brilliant skill demo and, as she states in the demo, it really needs to be activated in the skill store or else you'l most likely end up enabling tomorrow's skill instead…
Opened with "Shakespeare's words", this first skill serves up only the most erodite and eloquent insults imaginable; “You scullion! You rampallian! You fustilarian! I’ll tickle your catastrophe!” Henry IV Part 2 (Act 2, Scene 1). We then spot that we can stream the bard's words on Spotify.
Is it too early to start Christmas-related skills? Nooooo! Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) brings us a nice one to kick off the festive season.
Faith dropped in to help on this one. Opened with "Fat calculator", this skill uses the U.S. Navy fitness formula to get an estimated measurement of your body's fat percentage. Use a tape to measure your waist, hip(If your female), neck size and height and the skill provides the dreaded verdict…
You really can never have too many word skills coming into your ears over the ether - and to push that premise to its very limit, let's hear from Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) who once again brings us a very worthy word-based skill.
Today Randy Rusnak (@TheBigR on the Twitters) and I do a double-act demoing Skype calling from the A-lady. We also revisit standard calling Echo to Echo as well as exchanging a voice message or two. Please check out Randy's excellent 'Accessibility Moving Forward' podcast if that sounds like your thing - and send in topic suggestions to reachingamf@gmail.com.
I've decided that you can never have too many word games in your podcast queue. Currently subject to an error here in the UK, this skill can be found by searching for 'Sush Productions' as there are around a million results for 'Word game' - so here we go again with big thanks to Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com).
I really hope Andrea Barker (abarker15@msn.com) doesn't end up getting sucked into the vortex after demoing today's great skill. If you don't mind being paralysed in a stasis chamber, or potentially being burned alive, or coming face to face with an intruding alien that wants to do who-knows-what to you whilst you are in said state, then this skill is for you. Enjoy!
With some great sound effects included, and some great ukulele sounds coming from off-mike, today we take a look at a brilliantly tongue-in-cheek choose your own adventure game about the unfortunate village of Frandon benighted by One-Eyed Willy the pirate - its five stars well deserved. We then finish off with an impronptu bit of Spanish singing from Faith for no particular reason. All booking requests to robin.christopherson@gmail.com (she made me write that bit).
Two more very quick demos from Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) today - the first we've done before, but a veeery long time ago, and the second sounds spookily similar to the Grand Slam Word Game we recently covered, but whithout the funny voice. Here's hoping one or the other is available where you are. Probably not both. A body can only take so many anagrams…
New to the UK, Blueprints brings a bunch of new features to your Echo, and Follow Up Mode keeps the A-lady listening a little longer. We also look at another new feature (to the world?), you can now use your Echo to make Skype calls. Absolutely superb stuff! Big thanks to Rob and Juliet Winter for tipping me the nod on these top tips.
Today Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) asks you guys out there to send in your demos. Email them to robin.christopherson@gmail.com if you're half as brave as I think you are…
With Sam's help, today we have a crack at this sudden-death trivia skill. I wouldn't call it having a blast, though, as we were ejected both times with slightly dubious decisions IMHO.
That Richard Osmand fella is back (I still don't know who he is) and he's helping kids stay safe online with this great skill from the mobile network provider; O2, and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children; the NSPCC. You can open it with the shorter 'Parents vs Kids Quiz'.
Is it a word game or is it just general knowledge? Today's skill ticks both boxes if you ask me. Nice sound effects too. Tick, tick, tickety-tick.
What connects a super skill about words with entertaining audio into your (hopefully) eager earholes? Why Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) of course!
With a mixture of really hard and pretty straightforward questions about this big old world of ours, today's skill is for everyone who likes a combination of geographical trivia and a biiiiiiit of a challenge.
Admirably keeping up the side for the good ol' US of A is Andrea Barker (abarker15@msn.com) in this international general knowledge challenge.
I totally agree with Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) when he says that some of these local laws are pretty laughable - except the one about the cushion. That one seems very sensible to me. Some ladies might have really quite bony behinds…
Hmmm. Today's skill is a little bit wanting, although I know there are loads of avid Countdown fans out there so how can I not include it?
It's a thundery day only a couple of days after Remembrance Sunday and today we listen to an evocative, atmospheric skill which I think would make a suitable backdrop to any such sombre and reflective event.
It's Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) to the rescue once again - hurrah! Like paradoxes? Then you'll love this skill. BTW those two sentences may or may not form a paradox not a million miles from 'The second sentence is false. The first sentence is true.' - I'll leave you to decide!!
Andrea Barker (abarker15@msn.com) is back to show us a bit of Cortana - which is, weirdly enough, Microsoft's virtual assistant speaking through the A-lady. Perhaps Cortana is going for the 'Halo' effect by appearing through the much more amazing Alexa (sorry - that was a really bad pun on the fact that Cortana was originally a character in the video game of that name. You knew? Apologies.)
Hack away at the anagram-laden ore in this great new skill and fill your trusty bag with words. Sell them at the shop and upgrade your gear for more mining goodness.
Opened with "Avengers Trivia", Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) brings us a brilliant demo of this super super-hero skill.
I'm genuinely not sure of the point to this game - which may be where it got it's name. Good luck fathoming it for yourself and feel free to tweet any enlightening comments with #DTDPod.
Braving som belated skill-based spookiness is Andrea Barker (abarker15@msn.com) who brings us another scary skill from the same developers as the fab'Feel the Pressure' series.
There's something about the name 'Boardgames Answers' that really makes me want to drop the first 'S' - really want to. Anyway I digress. Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) is back to make us think more deeply about life and then about boardgames.
By the same developers as 'James Bond Trivia', today's skill lets us test our knowledge of this late-80s American classic TV show. And hey, thanks for being a friend.
Many apologies if you stopped receiving episodes after the end of September. It was totally my fault as I slightly changed the name of the podcast. It's now called 'Dot to Dot: A daily 5min Echo demo from Alexa'. If you search and still get one simply called 'Dot to Dot' then please wait till the end of Monday 5 November before trying again as I'm leaving it as the old name for a while in the hope that everyone who left us has the chance to check for podcasts within a 24hr period before I rename it back. Sorry and please come back to us!
Rob and Juliet Winter are back to bring us a demo of the roomy, boomy sound of the new Echo Dot 3rd generation by way of revisiting the brilliant multi-topic Yak Yak Quiz skill. Love that skill. Love those guys. Oh and BTW - please do consider posting suggested skills or comments of any flavour on Twitter using #DTDPod.
Found in the skillstore as 'Word Reverse Game', today's skill is similar to yesterday's inasmuch as we've got a lot of words on our hands - but this time they're complete, but reversed.
I love wordplay skills. Today's demo is a quick dip into a straightforward skill that does what it says on the t_n.
Open today's worthy wordy skill with 'Grand Slam' and put your anagramatical abilities to the test. Is that a word? Of course it is - and an anagram of it is 'tath'. Please send in your demos to the charity that supports tired and bumbling podcasters via robin.christopherson@gmail.com.
Another nice offering from the Feel The Pressure suite of skills, but today's is distinctly spooooooky. Ooooer.
Two scary skills today thanks to Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) and the awesome A-lady. Oh, and potentially disturbing content in the second demo guys.
We've got a pretty basic choose-your-own-adventure game here guys, but at least it has a Halloween theme. BTW if you want a great spooky adventure with sound effects too then don't forget the 'Haunted Lighthouse' adventure you can choose to play in 'The Magic Door' skill - covered waaaaay back in episode 1.
Randy Rusnak (@TheBigR on the Twitters) is back to demo the new and slightly creepy Whisper Mode on the A-lady, as well as a quick insight into Follow Up Mode - neither of which are available in many parts of the world (including the UK - sob).
Today's skill serves up spooky snacks to liven up the living dead at your Halloween party. We then finish off with some other scary recipes and frighteningly-bad Halloween-related jokes from the A-lady herself.
The first launched with "ASMR Sounds" and the second simply "ASMR", these two skills will either leave you with shivers down your spine or a general feeling of non-plusssedness. Earbuds recommended for the full scalp tingling effect.
We're starting our run-up to Halloween with a couple of spooky skills. They're as scary as a carefully carved pumpkin … … one that's dropped on you as you sleep whilst someone simultaneously issues a blood-curdling scream and drops ice-cubes down your pyjama top, that is. You have been warned!
See if you know your stuff when it comes to Hobbits, Ents and Elves in today's groovy trivia skill. One question that probably won't be answered is whether it would really hurt a Hobbit if he stood on Legolas in bare feet…
Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) brings us a multi-category quiz game today - and does better than I ever could with the randomly chosen topic of 'The Simpsons'.
DTD630 Brain TeaserToday's skill is a mixture of bona fide brain teasers and bizarrely bemusing random questions. It's good, though.
Test your spy trivia talents to the very limit with today's skill. It's out of 7 questions. Will I get double-O?
What really happened during that legendary gunfight at the O.K. Corral (it feels like there should be an emoji there) and what happened next? Separate the facts from the fake historical news with the help of Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com).
Two skills today that're basically the same game with a different name - ok, that should be '…with different names' but that doesn't sound as good.
If you don't want to be dismayed to the nth degree by someone not knowing a single animal starting with 'N' then stop listening around half way through today's demo. You've now been duly notified.
Launched with "Figuring Out Fannee" this'll be a (clue, clue) doddle if you recall that blessed Green Glass Door skill (end of big hairy clue).
He's a star! Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) brings us two basic but brilliant trivia quiz skills today. Want to record a quick skill? Please do and send to robin.christopherson@gmail.com.
If maths really isn't your bag then skip today's demo as it's bound to bring back some scary schooltest-type traumas.
Like puzzles? Like NPR? Like to play along to quizes without personally feeling the heat? Cool.
Try to ignore any derogatory comments I make about American football in this skill and simply see if you know as much as Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) about everyone's favourite ball game apart from, of course, baseball - oh and perhaps marbles (no helmets required). Oh and cricket. Oh and the other football with the round ball and a lot more kicking with your feet.
I've just finished recording today's demo and I'm too drowsy to write a proper… ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz…
Today we look at another great skill by VoxLR8. A mixture of questing (in the modest confines of a mansion, that is) and puzzling out riddles (although I haven't come across one of those yet), this skill's (nevertheless) a keeper.
Warning, warning: Earworm! Major earworm warning! BTW if this is already a well-worn meme then apologies - you know what I'm like with popular culture… Just stumbled upon it today.
Remember those fab skills; Twenty Questions and Akinator? Well now Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) shows us that Akinator have brought out one that's just about animals. See if the A-lady can make a huge guess about your chosen animal from out of the blue. Well that would be a whale, wouldn't it?
Today's skill is a great combination of sound effects and word puzzles brought together in what can only be described as audio Madlibs.
Actually called 'Guess the name : Musical Instruments Quiz' in the skill store, this one's for everyone who wants to know the difference between a balalaika, a bandelé and a banjo.
Launched with simply "Spartan", I've no idea what today's skill is about. Is it a film?? Anyway, Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) is back to bring us this great demo - although I don't think either of us are any the wiser as a result. Your demos please to robin.christopherson@gmail.com
Have you seen 'Solo: A Star Wars Story'? I haven't, and neither has Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) but that's nooooo kind of reason not to demo this groovy skill all about the latest instalment in the biggest ever film franchise the galaxy has ever known.
A new contributor today, David Ward (dward@goodwillvalleys.com), brings us a brilliant break-down of what the A-lady's versatile Blueprints feature is all about. Not yet available in the UK (shame!), I hope it is where you are.
Today Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) brings us a nice spelling game by Magoosh called 'Spelling Game' and I demo its pair; found by searching for 'Magoosh Spelling Game for Kids' in the UK skill store and then invoked with 'Spell the Word'.
Today we have another nice interactive story skill aimed at younger children of all ages. It asks for access to your Amazon account to get your firstname and email address and then doesn't appear to use them - no idea why…
Why this game is so verbose is unclear and not a little dismaying - a bit like seeing a ghost I suppose. Probably best to play it with a friend if you have one to hand that isn't aversed to a little spectral spelling action.
He's back. Today Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) brings us two very worthy wordy skills. Give 'em a listen and both build your vocab and master a larger lexicon with ease/facility/alacrity/adroitness/adeptness.
A firm favourite of very small British children, this skill brings all the fun of CBeebies to the A-lady (well, perhaps not the pictures).
Today's skill will spill the beans about the embarrassing and possibly riské things that people get up to. Submit your own at www.confessedsecrets.com.
Phillip Chalker's back to show us a great new choose-your-own adventure skill; Select a Story. So far there's only one adventure to play concerning the serfdom of Cinderella, but it's a good one. Keep an eye on www.selectastory.com for info on additional up-coming stories.
Today's skill is a bit weird too. If you want to hear a sneaky preview of some more voices that developers may well be using in up-coming skills, then pin back your lug 'oles and listen up as that's what today's skill is all about.
New contributor Patrick Steggle (lynnstggll@gmail.com) rides to the rescue today, bringing us a worthy wordy skill - please, Patrick, keep 'em coming. All demos welcome via robin.christopherson@gmail.com.
This one's a bit weird. It's a game for up to one players - hmmmm. You'll need an Echo Button and more brains than I have to crack these head-scratchers. If you know the answers to the two that defeated me then please drop me an email to robin.christopherson@gmail.com or tweet using #DTDPod.
It all started on the 8th of November 2016 - and of course we all know only too well the events that have occurred in the nearly five years that have elapsed since then… events that finally lead to the second civil war. But now there's a chance to send someone back. A chance to change history. Dum, dum, DUM!!!
Check and respond to your Slack messages with today's superb skill - although the words 'Zipline' and 'Slack' honestly shouldn't go so well together…
It's a fantastic twist on the classic paper, scissor, stone scenario today. Listen in awe as giants dispense with elves without any bloodshed and wizards outwit giants with nothing more than a wand and a big dollop of wisdom. I also mention about how to be reminded of your favourite skills.
I thought I'd ask Bob back today to help demo this American football skill that uses those amazing Amazon Buttons but, let's face it, he's more of a music man. What a pair!
An exhausted Faith steps in to help me out with this groovy skill all about classic Disney movies - and breaking news - you can actually also open this skill with "Cartoon Trivia".
Requiring those groovy Echo Buttons, this skill serves up sections of stories and you, the loquacious button-wielders, provide the bits in-between. Enjoy today's demo, but watch out for those creepy soot-covered mime artists coming down the chimney…
Today's relatively feeble puzzle skill may well not b your cup of tea - or if it is then you like your tea pretty weak and don't mind it having a couple of slightly dodgy bits in it. Perhaps a palid brew with some strange, suspiscious-looking lumps in - almost certainly owing to the milk being more than a bit off…
Stretching's important if you want to avoid such notable injurious episodes as THE GREAT HISTORICAL NERVE TRAUMA OF THE SUMMER OF 2016. You have been warned…
Simply opened with 'Jack Ryan', this intense escape-the-room-style audio adventure has attitude. Will you make it through the initial training exercise, graduate to full gung-ho, gun-toting agent status and find the mole in your CIA organisation? (I'd start under the front lawn myself and, instead of a gun, go for a hoe.)
I'm not going to say anything about the button-toting individual who knows nothing about Star Trek and yet still assumes he can demo a skill about same - I'm too embarrassed.
Put on your workout gear and your dancing shoes and get down with the kids for today's hip and happening space rave, er, party. Whatever it is, it's out of this world.
Was the title character in 'Sleeping Beauty' a bit of a looker? Was 'Frozen' set in the Bahamas? Search me - I'm a real Dumbo when it comes to Disney. Luckily, Phillip Chalker is back to help us out. I'm not even the Sorcerer's Apprentice on this one…
Wow that's a lot of hyphens. I wonder if 'update' should actually have one too? Anyway, I digress. This is a quick update/up-date of the My Pod skill we covered recently, as well as a shout-out for the live Maccessibility stream starting today promptly after the end of the great Apple event of September 2018 (in which we all found out how much money we're going to have to shell out in the coming weeks). You can listen to the stream at maccessibility.net or using the My Pod skill on your Echo. Also feel free to follow @Maccessibility on Twitter and use #VOLive to interact with us - oh and why not follow me (@USA2DAY) while you're at it too?
Is today's skill as sweet as honey with a mere fraction of the calories? Do bears pick flowers in the woods?? Do bees always find their way back to the best podcasts?
From the awesome Amazon Kids series of skills, Squeak in the Night is a must for every child (of any age) lucky enough to have nerves of steel and at least two Echo Buttons. Help Sergeant Sunny, Field Agent Jade and their pals provide for the mouse clan - but watch out for Lucy the cat who lies in ambush.
Unlike a recently covered skill, today's adventure game with a rich and sizeable story-canvas really is on an epic scale - albeit with one teensy-weensy little sound-effect to its name.
The fab Phillip Chalker brings us a version of Day Word from Down Under and I follow up with a slightly different flavour from Blighty. What's yours like where you are in the World, I wonder? And please send in recordings of your favourite skills; robin.christopherson@gmail.com. Pretty please?
Three nice sound-related skills today; 'Tibetan Singing Bowls' (spoon not included), 'Underwater Sounds' (search for 'Sleep Sounds: Underwater Sounds') and the very chatty 'R2D2 Talk'. Sounds like fun!
Invoked with 'Mind Reader', this skill employs a mysterious method of reading the mind of the A-lady whose thinking of a random number between 1 and 10. Good luck getting to the bottom of it.
Even though we really could do with some more sound-effects to build the tension, today's skill is still a bit of a heart-stopper. How many trivia questions can you get right in a minute with the help of some bonus seconds along the way?
Phillip Chalker is back to bring us a groovy skill that will quiz you on your driving theory. Strap yourself in and let's go - brum, brum.
We're doubling up today with some stunning starship sounds as a backdrop to the deep-space skirmish skill; Starship Captain. Prepare photon torpedoes and set phasers to stun!
Use this skill either as a quick querky fact generator about countries around the world, or to augment the playing experience when using the physical boardgame of the same name.
Two for the price of one today, first Phillip Chalker brings us the partially perspicacious Fortune Teller skill, followed by Agent Do Good who swings into decidedly domestic action. If you get promoted to level 2 after 12 solid days of do-goodery, do you get a cape to sew all your badges on?
Today we have two skills - with the first being completely unintended. Let's gloss over that one and give a big thumbs up (and definitely not a stinky pinky, whatever that is) to the second.
This demo is cool and painful in equal measure. Turn your Echo into an authentic-sounding version of the famous London clock with a truly laid-back level of accuracy.
Today's skill is definitely a keeper for anyone who wants to be able to listen to audio (and possibly video) files through the A-lady that they aren't able to otherwise access through TuneIn or Audible etc. Here are the steps - don't worry, they aren't as complicated as they look:First enable 'My Pod' through the skills store as usual, then link it to your Amazon account on that same page. Next go to mypodapp.com and sign in - again using your Amazon account details. Now you'll need to add links to all the things you'd like to play. It could be a podcast feed or streaming radio station. Whatever it is you'll need to locate the url to that file or stream and have it ready on the clipboard. Let's use the example of adding audio files from your Google Drive…Go to the files in your Google Drive you want to play on your Echo and copy a share link by right clicking and choosing 'Share public link' from the menu (this works in the Google Drive desktop app or when viewing your files at drive.google.com).Then go to mypodapp.com, make sure you're still signed in and create a new playlist - such as 'Movies'.You will then see a page that asks you to enter a link to an RSS feed (for podcasts), a live stream (for streaming audio like a radio station) or, in this case, a Google Drive file. First give the link a suitable name in the tag/name box (e.g. 'Crocodile Dundee') and in the corresponding box paste the url to that file/stream etc.You can do this several times and, when you're done adding links to that playlist, hit the 'Save' button.Then voila! Ask My Pod to play your playlist or file by that tag/name - e.g. "Alexa, ask My Pod to play the Movies playlist" or "Alexa, ask My Pod to play Crocodile Dundee." Note: When your audio is playing and you want to skip forward or back, make sure you start with 'Ask My Pod…' - e.g. "Alexa, ask My Pod to skip forward 10 minutes" or "Alexa, ask My Pod to go back to the beginning".Similarly, if you're listening to something using My Pod and you want to switch to something else, say "Alexa, ask My Pod to play X" (where 'X' is a playlist or file you've created and named as above).Finally, if you want to listen to the gang and me on the Maccessibility podcast while it's being recorded live tonight (30 Aug at 10pm BST or 5pm Eastern) then just create a suitably-named playlist and then add the following link to the mypodapp.com website: http://darcyandholly.com:8000/mrtp.m3u. Call it 'The live stream', say, and then you can say "Alexa, ask My Pod to play the live stream" and we'll come through your Echo when we hit the air (and it's probably best not to call it 'Maccessibility live stream' as, in my experience, she has difficulty understanding 'Maccessibility'). Alternatively, just click that link and listen to us in your browser but note that neither will work when we're not live so make sure you only tune in just before the hour at 5pm Eastern tonight.
The less said about today's episode the better. The first demo is a disaster in terms of my 80s knowledge, and the second just a disaster in general. Better demos, please, to robin.christopherson@gmail.com.
Hidden within this seemingly simple and self-contained flight simulator skill is a veritable treasure trove of aural ambient alternatives that are nothing whatsoever to do with planes or flying. Weird but wonderful. Oh and we end with a joke. You have been warned.
If you like Baccarat, or would like to like Baccarat, then today's skill (with the world's most subtle sound-effect) is definitely one to try.
We're in for a treat today as Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) demos this skill with a quick couple of multi-topic quizzes. Think of them as multi-topping pizzas for the mind - and with far fewer calories.
UK-specific (but here's hoping there's a similar skill wherever you are), today's demo is simple, to the point and with some groovy sound effects. In what year was 'Stand and Deliver' by Adam and the Ants number 1? Not having a clue never stops me from showing myself up with a wild stab in the dark that falls far wide of the mark…
Here's a quick additional chat between Phillip Chalker and the Antipodean A-lady. Bonza.
Epic? Maybe not. Good fun? Definitely. Today's choose-your-own adventure is worth a whirl if puzzling skills are your cup of tea.
Hopefully you'll never need to use this skill but, in case you do, here's a quick demo of how it works. Delve into disorders and get answers to your ailments with the in-depth WebMD skill.
Do better than me at this groovy multiple-choice trivia skill all about the Greek Gods. Go on - it won't be hard.
Invoked with 'The Memory Game' but found in the store as above, Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) brings us a groovy skill to see how plastic your young(ish) brain still is. That's 'plastic' as an adjective of course and not as a noun. Anyone who literally has a plastic brain has done well to even get out of bed this morning. And anyone who'd like to send in a demo or two, please do to robin.christopherson@gmail.com. I can also suggest tips on recording and skills to cover too.
If you like movies then today's skill might be for you. If you like seeing someone who knows nothing about movies try wildly to guess them from the audio of their trailers, then today's demo might be for you.----more----
If you're learning a language and want to be served up sentences by the fistful then this skill's for you. Oodles of languages are covered - oodles I say!
Andrea Barker (abarker15@msn.com) brings us two brilliant anti-intruder skills today. Scare off those potential burglars with everything from ferocious dogs to overly-aggressive washing up…
Listen to this famous Roald Dahl story as an audio book. Read by Kate Winslet, it's free on your Echo until the end of Sunday 19 Aug and runs for 4hrs 18mins. Happy squeezing-in!
Launched with "Stream Player", watch a wide range of free-to-view channels on your display devices or simply listen to the audio on your standard Echo or Dot. Definitely worth a look or, er, listen.
Rob and Juliet Winter are back with two brilliant HP-related demos - one to help you discover your patronus (were you to suddenly acquire magical powers and could summon one, of course) and a welcome revisit of the true or false trivia game about all seven books in the HP series. Thanks guys - magic.
Waaaay back in the dim mists of time (well, over a year ago now) we checked out this cool skill that takes spoken phrases and turns them into torturous ditties. Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) isn't one to shy away from a bit of aural torture, though. No way, José!
If you like good food and you also like the BBC then this skill may be for you. Unfortunately the recipes aren't spoken by Stephen Fry or any other beloved BBC person - but the A-lady does a pretty good job. Happy cooking! Even better… happy baking!
After a lot of waffling about how to set a location for this skill, you may then want to rouse yourself for the actual demo about half way through. If you're still asleep towards the end, you'll most likely be rudely yanked awake with a bit of 'It's Raining Men'.
This one's a keeper. Grab a victim or two (in this case I nab Faith) and each try to estimate the nearest number in answer to random questions. You may be able to guestimate well if you haven't spent your whole life watching, say, a popular 80s TV show.
Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) is back with two skills to inform and bemuse. Affirming aphorisms to female siblings are followed by entertaining and educational daily doses of data on random topics. Enjoy!
This really sweet skill simply serves up one joke or riddle after another. That's it. Great for all the family and nice sound-effects too. Here's hoping it knows hundreds of humorous hum-dingers rather than just a handful.
Big thanks to Andrea Barker (abarker15@msn.com) who brings us a quick demo of asking the A-lady for things to try and then compares that to adding the 'Alexa Things to Try' skill to your daily flash briefing. A brilliant way to activate new skills in these days of enforced hard labour - well, in-store skill enabling at least.
Find out whether the tide'll be in or out with this top-notch tidal skill. We then revisit Big Sky because I still think it's the best weather skill out there. After that the Beach Boys add some much-needed pizazz.
The developer of yesterday's skill, Raul Barcos, today brings us a demo of the brilliant Amazon skill; Cleo. Cleo is a clever way that the amazing Amazon has found to crowd-source language learning for the Echo so that, when it hits a country, everyone has an understanding Echo to enjoy. Check out Raul's work at raulbarcos.com or contact him via iam@raulbarcos.com. Thanks Raul.
Today we take a look at a skill which is your average five-question, multiple-choice trivia game, but with far-above-average sound-effects. If you have difficulties finding it in the skill store then search for 'Raul Barcos'. If you don't like the egregious over-use of hyphens in episode show-notes, then please send in your skill demo contributions (robin.christopherson@gmail.com) and I promise not to use a single one in their descriptions - honest!
Showing us a skill of relaxing meditations ranging from 40-60 mins long - and you could always set an A-lady sleep timer if you didn't want them to run that long of course - Andrea Barker (abarker15@msn.com) is back to the rescue. Y'know if it wasn't for Andrea I'd be in serious shtuck right now so three cheers for Andrea and others, please do send in your demos to robin.christopherson@gmail.com.
Today's skill hits a new all-time low - and that's saying something - but I'm still poorly so that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. Which words are real and which not? Kids of all ages, I suspect, will have no problem spotting the alien interlopers here.
Also available in a daily flash briefing flavour, today's first skill brings you a riddle a day with the answer each evening - or whenever you correctly guess it. We then follow it up with a riddling rabbit that, despite an obvious opportunity for some juicy sound-effects, eats his or her carrots without making any sound whatsoever. Come to think of it, that probably makes it more likely to be a her than a him rabbit…
This is the A-lady's take on the classic game in which you mustned be provoked into saying either "Yes" or "No". It's totally fine to say either "Sausages" or "Pencil case", though.
Go for the knees - that's the big take-away from today's skill. Andrea Barker (abarker15@msn.com) pulls no punches bringing us wise and practical pearls in today's useful podcast.
Did you know that Leonardo Da Vinci invented underwater sonar? That's one of the many fascinating facts that you won't get from today's skill. Another is that Spotify doesn't have Miss Piggy's cover of 'My Heart Will Go On'. Sad but true.
Based upon the fascinating (if a little infantile) improv podcast 'Hello from the Magic Tavern', this querky adventure skill is worth a go. And newly out last week, I also mention another great podcast for everyone whose mad about riddles; 'Hey Riddle Riddle'. Note that both podcasts have very ripe language but I'm managing to like them regardless.
Similar to the recent meditation skill, this one's equally as hypnotic and relaxing. Luckily Andrea Barker (abarker15@msn.com) very capably covers this one as for some reason I'm feeling strangely sleepy…
If you like French, Spanish or German and want to get quick-fire questions on basic vocab then this skill's for you. If you aren't covered then what about a joke instead? Did you hear about the Spanish magician? He said "Uno", "Dos" and then disappeared without a tres.
Invoked with 'Yorkshire Quiz', this one's all about the regional accents so abumdant in that part of our fantastically varied country. Each one's amazing and completely unique thah nahs.
Come with me on a retro ride to The 80s Arcade whereeverything's excellently 8-bit. With five games in one - this one's a winner.
Unlike the other day's episode, thanks to Andrea Barker (abarker15@msn.com), today we properly cover the Dominoes Pizza skill. Thank goodness as, when it comes to pizza, who wants to settle for an offering that's half-baked?
I'm too relaxed to write much about today's skill. In fact I can't feel my left leg at all…
Phillip Chalker to the rescue today with a great audio-adventure skill. I say "To the rescue" as he's not only brought us a great demo involving the heroic rescue of a panda, but he's helping the stave off the great episode shortage of summer 2018 as there's currently only two in the queue. Please do send in your demos to robin.christopherson@gmail.com. Also please tweet about the skills you like using #DTDPod and it'll help give me ideas for demos to do.
I've finally sorted out the weirdness that was stopping me from using the new 'Ask Alexa' feature of the A-lady app and so today is a quick demo of that, plus a top tip on how to turn your Fire HD tablet into a fully-fledged Echo Show.
Help! There's been a catastrophe on the Golden Gate bridge and Recycling Robot must fly to the rescue (on a chopper that sounds like it's being piloted by the Mario Bros.) and you're needed too. Can you help the Mayor and save San Fransisco in a race to reclaim recyclable rubbish?
Is Skyrim a thing? Beats me. This is a good choose-your-own-adventure type skill, though, IMHO.
This skill starts by saying "It's not what you say but how you say it that's important" and I'm not sure if it's as cut and dried as that, but nevertheless this skill has a superb selection of pearls of elocution secreted within it and I think it's, er, really good.
Phillip Chalker from Down Under is back and bringing us the excellent (to children's ears I'm sure) Sesame Street skill. Learn your letters and guess where Elmo is hiding in this rich audio-experience for your Echo.
Find out what's going on entertainment-wise out there IRL (that's 'In real life' in case you were wondering - it's waht the 'kids' say apparently) with today's really great, if a little repetitious, skill.
With a new intro and outro, in today's episode we're really turning over a new leaf. No, it's not about a curiosity in botany (I certainly haven't made a new start with regards my terrible puns) but rather promising ourselves to be more active when sitting for long periods.
It's movie night tonight so we'll need to ask the A-lady what to watch, to order us a pizza and then, er, let's go!
Phillip Chalker from Down Under brings us a fascinating insight into Ozzie slang. Great demo but I can't help feeling sorry for Greta Garbo - or should that be Greta Garbage-lady?
Sam to the rescue today. What this guy doesn't know about football could be written on a penalty spot with a crayon the size of a goalpost. OK - so we didn't get through to the final, but don't tell these guys who, at the time of recording, were still blissfully unaware…
Faith to the rescue today. We're looking at the seemingly somewhat buggy family version of this popular skill we've covered in a previous episode - and this time you can choose from standard, Disney or Harry Potter when providing (hopefully popular) answers to bizarre 'either, or' questions.
Today the brilliant Rob and Juliet Winter are back to show us how we can add music to Amazon Unlimited playlists (go unlimited for £3.99 a month for one device or £9.99 on all your devices - £7.99 for Prime members) and then I top things off with a quick look at how you can create and add to playlists in Amazon Prime Music too. And phew is it still hot!
Sorry - this episode promises to be very similar to yesterday's so don't forget the cupboard option if that's looking ever-more appealing. I can confirm, however, that today's round-up is quite definitely the last in the series and that tomorrow a normal service will resume.Travel:• DTD5 Bus Stop Info• DTD17 National Rail skill• DTD90 Driving Directions skill and getting local business info• DTD138 Red Spotted Hanky• DTD291 Train Times and Train Facts• DTD486 Can I Stream and asking the A-lady about traffic to local placesFinding and managing skills:• DTD364 A-lady, help me get started with skills• DTD447 Additional - Asking Amazon to help the A-lady remember your favourite skillsSend in your demos:• DTD279 Additional - An idiot's guide to doing Dot to Dot demos"And why aren't all the above made into links so I can simply tap on each to go to that episode?" I hear you say. It's either down to laziness or the cronic lack of rain has lead to a strict tap ban - please pick your preferred excuse, er, reason.
More of the same today. If you'd prefer to go and shut your head repeatedly in a cupboard door then I'd recommend making sure that your ears aren't involved as tomorrow's offering might be better. You never know - miracles do happen…Reminders and announcements:• DTD139 New reminder notifications• DTD340 Daily Log• DTD385 Additional - A-lady notifications (and Haunted Lighthouse top tip)• DTD467 A-lady announcementsConnected home:• DTD182.5 Additional - IFTTT• DTD276 Find My Phone• DTD458 Find My Phone (revisited)• DTD265 Smart devices• DTD295 New built-in Routines feature• DTD443 Controlling your Fire TV with the A-ladyAccessing Amazon services:• DTD47 Buying from Amazon using your Echo• DTD52 Playing Audible books• DTD69 Built-in Kindle book reading function• DTD104 New built-in voice calling and messaging• DTD274 Built-in voice calling revisited• DTD451 Built-in voice calling with extension numbers"And why aren't all the above made into links so I can simply tap on each to go to that episode?" I hear you say. It's either down to laziness or the cronic lack of rain has lead to a strict tap ban - please pick your preferred excuse, er, reason.
Still with us? OK - today's round-up concerns a multitude of media to meet everyone's needs. Listen on…Playing media:• DTD7 Connecting to phone• DTD11 Radio stations vs podcasts on TuneIn• DTD94 Radio Player• DTD113 Connecting to a Bluetooth speaker• DTD254 AnyPod• DTD300 Multi-room media playback (and Bob's back)• DTD301 Pandora• DTD391 Plex• DTD463 TuneIn Live• DTD520 Spotify"And why aren't all the above made into links so I can simply tap on each to go to that episode?" I hear you say. It's either down to laziness or the cronic lack of rain has lead to a strict tap ban - please pick your preferred excuse, er, reason.
Find that extra bit of stamina you never knew you had and listen to today's round-up of reminders about all that's great about the A-lady in the non-game department. Alternatively you could go and do the washing up.Timers and alarms:• DTD30 Tips on built-in timers and alarms• DTD324 Waking up to music• DTD407 Built-in short stories (revisited) and sleep timers• DTD420 Built-in alarms update and A-lady read about QuidditchNews:• DTD19 Space Station and Flash Briefing• DTD28 The Guardian• DTD129 Curio• DTD379 My Talking Newspaper"And why aren't all the above made into links so I can simply tap on each to go to that episode?" I hear you say. It's either down to laziness or the cronic lack of rain has lead to a strict tap ban - please pick your preferred excuse, er, reason.
Second in the series that reminds us all about the A-lady's expertise in all things that aren't games, today is all about a healthy lifestyle.Health:• DTD12 7 Minute Workout• DTD200 Fitbit• DTD259 My Workouts• DTD323 Virtual Nurse• DTD414 Five Minute Workout• DTD476 Bella My Stop Smoking CoachCooking:• DTD3 Chef• DTD124 Recipedia• DTD413 A-lady give me a recipe and what's on TV tonight"And why aren't all the above made into links so I can simply tap on each to go to that episode?" I hear you say. It's either down to laziness or the cronic lack of rain has lead to a strict tap ban - please pick your preferred excuse, er, reason.
Today we're kicking off a series of episodes that will both remind you of all the cool things that the A-lady can do which aren't game-related (we do cover a lot of games, don't we?) whilst simultaneously testing your puzzling skills (and patience) to the very limit. So the episodes we revisit today are all about getting the info you need:• DTD2 Wikipedia• DTD9 Built-in calendar function• DTD31 Weather tips and skills• DTD83 Big Sky• DTD156 My Thesaurus• DTD210 Crossword Solver• DTD263 Job Finder• DTD377 Interview Me and Job Finder (revisited)• DTD361 New built-in translation"And why aren't all the above made into links so I can simply tap on each to go to that episode?" I hear you say. It's either down to laziness or the cronic lack of rain has lead to a strict tap ban - please pick your preferred excuse, er, reason.
We've covered a few elusive escape room skills before and today's excellent sky-based head-scratcher is certainly no exception to this rule. Let's hope more rooms become available, but for now let's just keep our heads in the hold and wrestle with that baggage…
If you've got a Spotify subscription, at least one Echo, a hankering to have all your fave tunes on tap around the house, a few minutes to listen to this demo and last but by no means least the ability not to be completely put off by stupid shownotes, then today's skill might just be for you.
He's back; Shaun Williams (shaunteckno@gmail.com) is back to bring us a brilliant skill that plunges us deep into dinosaur doings in the time-honoured manner of all Jurassic Park movies. I definitely wouldn't want to be plunged into dinosaur doings…
As you journey down the fabled Ganga river on a sacred quest, your fate will depend upon the path you take. Make your choices wisely - although you'll often have the benefit of inexplicable glimpses into the future… It's a bit of a strange one today.
Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) calls upon the Kid's Court and supreme Judge A-lady to stand in judgement upon my terrible transgressions. What was I thinking of? I must have been quackers…
Coming from the can-do country of Canada, with a skill that provides personalised recommendations from the panoply of Stephen King paperbacks (also available in a range of digital formats in a device near you), is the excellent Darcy Bernard; @DHSDarcy on the Twitters.
Come with us on a fascinating adventure over the rainbow-coloured clouds and out across the snuggly Swooniverse in today's Amazon Kids installment of the podcast that is as sweet as saccharin and even less fattening. Recommended daily dose: 5 minutes.
Scot V (@stvan1969 on the Twitters) updates us on a skill we covered oodles of episodes ago. Guess the most likely word to make a popular phrase and win points. And what do points make? Oh no, sorry - wrong show.
From the land down under, where women glow and men - real men like Phillip Chalker - do demos of Antipedean versions of well-known quiz games, comes today's episode. Well, his bit's are from down there and my bit's are from up here - or reverse that if you're listening to this from the Southern hemisphere. If you're on the equator then my advice is to scream if you want to go faster!
Warning - complete ignoramus at the helm for today's film-themed trivia challenge episode. Save us all from similar debacles in future by sending your demos to robin.christopherson@gmail.com.
Here's the answer to yesterday's really rather ropey riddle. If you want more puzzles like this in future, or if you definitely don't, let me know…
Andrea Barker (abarker15@msn.com) is back with two terrific skills; Show of Hands pits our polling skills against the people, whereas Dungeon Dice really puts the A-lady's rolling skills to the test.
Here's a logic puzzle for all of you out there with a pronounced masochistic streak… I'll provide the answer tomorrow along with the names of everyone who either got it right or had a good go. Send your answers to robin.christopherson@gmail.com.
Today's a really ropey episode, reaching new depths of amateur dodginess. Anyway - it's about the World Cup and all it's various wonders. Actually, speaking of rope and significant depths - that reminds me of a puzzle so I might as well add an additional episode today.
Improve your maths skills with the dynamic duo of Mrs Hooper and Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com). Together they bring us a skill that, I'm hoping/assuming, stands out with the addition of visuals to each quick-fire calculation for those owning an Echo with a screen.
A new contributor today brings us a truly magical first demo. Casey (jescoslilmommy@gmail.com) takes us on a wizarding adventure through the wonderful world of charms and spells, Hogwarts-style.
Rob and Juliet Winter are back to bring us bang up to date with the updates to the great My Pet Rock skill - and their pet rock in particular. Pinky's pretty perky today.
Today Andrea Barker (abarker15@msn.com) gives us a tip about one shortcoming of the Echo Tap, along with a dynamite demo of the Bible App skill. I wish I sounded like this guy.
Which is more powerful; the humble human brain or a super-computer? Is a bottle-nosed dolphin's brain bigger than ours? Who would rather have electric shocks than a bit of quiet time? Who has all the answers? Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com), that's who.
Are you a footie fan? Do you like cups? What about the world? If you're partial to any/all of the above then today's top tip might be for you. If you aren't then here's a joke instead; Did you hear about the explosion at the cheese factory? The owner covered all damages in curd.
The lovely Jane Suh revisits this brilliant skill that dives into the decade of your choice and tests your music trivia to the very limit. Play against friends or friends you haven't made yet across the interwebs - this one's well worth a reprise. Want to send in a demo of your favourite skill? Please do to robin.christopherson@gmail.com.
You're bound to be blown away by the beautifully broad Bible knowledge of Andrea Barker (abarker15@msn.com) as she demos today's skill. Brilliant job!
From funny bones to freckles, today's skill is all about simple explanations for interesting topics. Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) brings us another great skill and you can too - simply send them to me at robin.christopherson@gmail.com or drop me a line for help on how to record them or suggestions on what skills to cover.
Today we cover a simple skill that delivers daily dollops of HP goodness (is HP Sauce a thing where you are? Probably not as the 'HP' of its name stands for 'Houses of Parliament') and follow it up with a half-hearted reprise of Harry Potter Letters. It's all about quality on this podcast… and if not quality then certainly quantity. We have reached episode 500, after all.
Juliet and Rob Winter are back again with a brilliant skill demo; Trivia Hero. Pit your trivia wits against the clock and clock up points in this excellent and sound-effects-stuffed skill.
Today we look at the various ways you can listen to Dot to Dot on your Echo. You can listen using the built-in TuneIn skill, add it to your daily flash briefing or via the excellent AnyPod skill which gives you far more control over your podcast playback. Here's a full list of AnyPod instructions.
Penny's back (pengold2@gmail.com with a great brainteaser of a skill. Think Green Glass Door meets a Magimatician. I just made that word up. It means someone who can only do tricks with numbers … … and perhaps spellings (hint).
Once enabled you can just ask for 'Basketball Million', today's skill is a must for anyone who likes both basketball and 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire'. If you don't mind someone who knows nothing about basketball demoing this skill, then listen on…
Rill's back to bring us the amazing and most wonderful world that is the Wizard of Oz. Well, more of a land than a world. And more the Oz bit rather than the wizard bit. He's more like a man. If the wizard was more like a world than a man, well, then that would be a horse of a very different colour.
If you like basketball and don't mind a stupid English person providing completely random answers just so as he can demonstrate today's skill, then today's episode might be for you. If you like basketball but not stupid English people then this skill, but not today's episode, might be the way to go.
She's back. Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) brings us a nice wildlife fact provider skill - and then I follow up with a similar, but entirely different, skill of the same name.
With probably the richest soundscape of any choose-your-own adventure story, today's skill's a keeper. Join Pac-Man on his quest to rid the world of rubbish - but do we save the duck??
Create a crazy story in no time with this great skill brought to us by the brill Rill. No sound effects but hey-ho - life's still good.
It's like Russian dolls where you've lost all but two of them and then turned them into virtual assistants instead of hollow wooden painted skittles. That's exactly what we're dealing with here folks except much more useful (unless you want to play a game of skittles, that is).
Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) brings us two brilliant flash briefing skills today. The first provides tips of top skills to try, whilst the second simply serves up totally weird stuff...
This is my childhood; Dennis the Menace and Gnasher the dog, Plug, Spotty (was it?) and the other Bash Street Kids. Billy Whizz. Ball Boy. Aaah, those were the days!
With the most minimal of sound effects marring this otherwise magical collection of binary bafflers, today's skill is for everyone who likes being quizzed on Quidditch or harangued on Harry himself. Oh, and Faith to the rescue again.
Today we start with a quick demo of the 'Can I Stream' skill that let's you know which streaming services have what shows. We then ask the A-lady about traffic to local businesses. Don't forget to enter your home address under Settings > Device location.
Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) brings us all the baseball trivia we could want in a skill with sound effects that, quite frankly, are 'hit out of the park'. Did I make any sense there at all or did I strike out? Or should I be talking about touch-downs? I'm so confused.
Today we cover another skill devised for the Echo Dot for kids but available for everyone. A gentle guided story through Duplo Land - made even better if you have some Duplo and even some kids to hand.
Teri Fisher of the Alexa in Canada podcast joins the gang today - bringing us two groovy local skills; the first with the life-saving low-down on wait times at Albaerta hospitals and the second to book a car with BC's popular car-share service. You can get in touch with Teri on Twitter @DrTeriFisher and @AlexaInCanadaCA.
Another fab listener episode again today - Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) brings us voices from the past with momentous messages. Want to drop me a demo? Please do to robin.christopherson@gmail.com.
Andrea Barker (abarker15@msn.com) brings us the A-lady's take on the classic table-toss game; 'Pass the Pigs'. Using virtual dice instead of plastic porkers, I think this skill's a keeper.
Another skill direct from Amazon today. Amazon Storytime brings great short stories to kids of all ages (including 47).
Shaun Williams (shaunteckno@gmail.com) takes us through the seedy streets of Gotham City with this great immersive choose-your-own audio-adventure skill. Can I be Robin?
Practice spying things with your mind's little eye with this great skill brought to us by Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com). If in doubt it's probably 'Bananas'!
Andrea Barker (abarker15@msn.com) is back with a groovy new skill. The Dice Game has a rather archane set of rules that soon make sense once you get rolling.
Need some help, inspiration or information that might just jog you along on your journey towards quitting? If so then Bella may be the boost you need.
Do you dare find out whether you're a real human, or whether you're actually a synthetic approximation of one whose memories are fabricated and family photos faked? Scary. Try this test at your own risk. You have been warned…
Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) provides us with another great skill. Amazing Universe serves up stellar facts on several celestial subjects - and then I top things off with a mention that the A-lady herself really knows what's what when it comes to out-of-this-world info too.
Steve Bauer's back with a great demo all about the Echo Tap - what it is and how you can check its charge. I then follow up with a quick comment to confirm that Echo announcements are now available here in the UK. Charge your Tap, pop it in the garden, hide in the house and broadcast your banter to the world (maniacal laugh).
Taking us on the dusty trail with our creaky wagon and tireless oxen, Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) will help us ford rivers, lassoo wild mustangs and dodge Cherokees. I don't know where all these car references suddenly came from - it's a wheely-big wagon we're in on this Oregon trail... BTW if you think one of the family will get scalped let the world know using #DTDPod
Another one where Faith comes to the rescue to help demo a skill that uses the Amazon Buttons. This one's about slight of hand and swiftness of eye. After much shuffling and switching, can you tell which cute button was the one that had lit up red?
Purely in the interests of completeness, we're further compounding today's tawdry transgressions…
I can't bring myself to tell you about today's skill - Im too ashamed. Let's say Bob made me do it. Surely you guys can do better than this…
A new listener today; Andrea Barker (abarker15@msn.com) brings us a brilliant skill demo of this quiz that's all about the books of the Old Testament. I'm amazingly impressed by her knowledge. I would have got around 1 out of 5 right - and that's only because the probability of random guesses works that way… And then Phillip Chalker's back with a quick tribute to mothers everywhere.
Covered waaay back nearly 200 episodes ago, thanks to Shaun Williams (shaunteckno@gmail.com) today we're revisiting the excellent Scooby Doo skill. It's like a sonic Scooby snack for the ears but with zero calories and hardly any fat.
Dinner's ready! Rill's back to tell us how to tell the house what's what with this (relatively) new capability to publicly broadcast your proclamations across your entire Echo ecosystem.
Faith comes to the rescue, yet again, to help demo a super skill that requires an Echo Button and some eyes. If you have at least one working example of each then why not give this groovy game a go? Oh and BTW I'm putting a call out for "Hi!"s too - robin.christopherson@gmail.com.
With huge thanks to Nick of the Alexa Skills Review podcast, you can now get Dot to Dot as part of your daily flash briefing. It's not that readily activated by voice so it's probably easiest to nip into the skills section of your app or the website and search for 'D 2 D Podcast' or simply tap here and woilá! Happy flashing.
Guess who can gracefully and freely fit through the mysterious Green Glass Door? The marvellous Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com), that's who.
These (in some cases possibly NSFK - 'Not safe for kids') facts about our faces are intriguing and worrying in equal measure. From more justice for models to better bonuses for beards. And we haven't even got to our bodies yet...
Once again Rill brings us a really brilliant skill. Today we hear how TuneIn Live can bring premium sporting commentary right to your Echo. Got an armchair and advanced critical - er… analytical - capabilities? If so then this one's for you.
A new listener joins the gang today. Shaun Williams (shaunteckno@gmail.com) takes us on a salty adventure with superstars that are either seafood or sponge-based. And Shaun will be back soon with another skill that's like, groovy man (that's a subtle clue). Like Shaun, please send in your contributions to robin.christopherson@gmail.com or tweet about your absolutely favourite podcast that's called 'Dot to Dot' (unless of course there are others called 'Dot to Dot' then it's quite possibly not your favourite) using #DTDPod.
Phillip's back bringing us all sorts of aural ambient African goodness. For info, for some reason here in the UK the same skill needs a 'My' on the beginning.
Today we start with a random fact providing skill that's all about Superman and then we lose our way quite a bit and end up at Hong Kong Phooey which I'm gratified to see has its own Wikipedia page.
Penny Golden's back to score five more correct answers in this five-question, multiple-choice quiz about the great composers than I would have done had it been me demoing this one. No sound-effects, though, which is almost criminal considering the topic of today's quiz. You can contact Penny at pengold2@gmail.com.
You'll never lose your phone again with today's useful skill. Or at least you'll never lose your phone so long as it's somewhere around the house and has some charge. So with those two crucial caveats, let's hear from Phillip Chalker who'll demo this fab skill that's had a handy update since we last covered it many moons ago. I also finish off by mentioning the 'Alexa Skills Review' podcast which features a written Q&A with me tomorrow so check it out if that sounds like your cup of tea.
Faith to the rescue to help play another great skill that uses the amazing Amazon Buttons. How well do you know your friends (or in this case daughter)? Not very well, it seems.
I was fortunate to have been on the latest episode of this podcast with Shaun Williams that went out yesterday. Lots of waffling about technology and the A-lady. Check it out at tech-wizard.info.
Two listeners come to the rescue today; Rill drills us on US State Capitals and Phillip from Down Under beats the drum for the A-lady's beatbox chops.
We've an additional dose of funny sounds today thanks to a demo from Holly Anderson (@DHSHolly) and Darcy Bernard (@DHSDarcy) dropping on the mat just in time.
Brought to us by comedian Mike Epps (he sounds famous or, at the very least, funny) today's is another guess-that-sound skill. Play it solo sans accessories or multi-player if you've got those amazing Amazon Buttons and someone like Bob dropping round.
Calvin and Hobbes; one of my all-time favourite things. Shakespeare; if he was still alive today I'm sure he'd agree. He's say something to the effect that "They're grrrreat!" but altogether much more quotable (whilst retaining the cleverish tiger reference of course). Thanks Penny (pengold2@gmail.com) for today's great skill demos.
Darcy Bernard (@DHSDarcy) and Holly Anderson (@DHSHolly) have joined the team and brought us a great demo of the A-lady's take on the classic Trivial Pursuit board game. Do check out their excellent all things tech podcast with a focus on vision; Maccessibility. I may or may not be on that podcast too. Alright, I am.
Today Rill takes us through a rambling dungeon riddled with mysterious creatures making maths riddles. Even taking away the fact that there's a nice sound-effect at the start, this skill still adds up to a real gem - totally.
Brilliant! A new listener joins the gang; Steve Bauer brings us a really useful overview of voice calling using the Echo wherever those pesky additional numbers are needed. Need to reach an extension or enter a conference code? No problemo - Steve's here to help.
It's a double-act today; first Penny's back pengold2@gmail.com) showing us how to blow up a spaceship and then I try to cheer us up, as we float in the vacuum of space facing almost certain death, with a so-so Star Trek joek or two.
Great skill today; Guess My Name gets two thumbs up as, for probably the first time ever, I get 5 out of 5 in a quiz (with lots of help from Judith).
Ever wanted to be able to read, action and curate your emails using your Echo? No? Oh, ok. See you tomorrow. Yes? Cool - Phillip's got the skill for you.
If you'd like to be able to favourite your, er, favourite skills and then ask the A-lady what they are, then please let Amazon know. Give them feedback in the 'Help and feedback' tab in your Amazon A-lady app.
"Of all the bars in all the world..."; er, Toy Story 2? "Do you feel lucky, punk?"; ummmm, er, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?? "We're off to see the wizard"; Wizard of Oz? (I think I may have got that last one right.)
Rill's back bringing us a skill that I would normally say is brilliant. However, today I'm going to say that it's really out of this world!
If you like musicals you might like to test your knowledge with this straightforward multiple-choice quiz. No sound effects so we try to pep it up with a blast of my favourite song from a musical and a feeble joke.
Bringing us a number of nostalgia-inducing nursery rhymes is the lovely Penny Golden. Sound effects and some sage words make this skill suitable for everyone - with the possible exception of a rather suspect slant on Jack and Jill…
A blazingly brilliant episode today. Andy Brown (@AndrewBrown100) is back to demo how to control an Amazon Fire TV from your Echo. The A-lady is just so versatile - I love it.
Rill's back with a fab skill that will simultaneously educate and entertain younger Echoteers. I just made that word up. Luckily this skill is about numbers and not words otherwise I'd be in trouble. So put down your muskets and grab your Echos and let's go.
Find out what issues they're having out there on the roads, as well as those issues the A-lady has had in what can only be described as 'getting her act together'. I love the Echo.
Today the lovely Penny Golden )pengold2@gmail.com) is back with two more delightful skills for younger kids on the topic of beds, so snuggle down and listen up.
Rill's back with a quick run-down of how she records and then sends me her skill demos using the handy Rec Up iOS app. If it's also available on Android please do let people know using #DTDPod
Using those amazing Amazon Buttons, today's skill is a quick-on-the-draw letters game for two or more players - or (in my case) one person rather foolishly clutching a button in each hand.
Can you thrive in the cutthroat (or at least dry throat) roadside lemonade business? Rill furnishes us with some fascinating top fiscal tips when it comes to staying liquid in the sweet drinks stakes.
Are there any delays on the Tube? Who was the last Anglo-Saxon king? How can these two topics be related? With a deep but entirely manufactured link - a bit like Crossrail really.
Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) is back bringing us a skill that you'll want; Dead or Alive. I'm excited to explore who is extant and who is extinct.
Judith helps me out today with some smooth button pressing while we try out the Rush Order smoothy-making skill. Yum.
Rill's back. Today she takes us on a ramble through the animals while we try to guess each critter by their calls. Don't confuse your cocks with your roosters, and I have no idea if 'Critter' means all creatures great and small or just the titchy ones.
Ages ago we covered a skill called Quiz Maker which is very similar to today's skill but, unlike that skill, Yak Yak Quiz also allows you to choose from lots of quizzes that others have already made. Ask for a random quiz or make your own at yakyakquiz.com. If you want to create a quiz and let me know the code (robin.christopherson@gmail.com) I'll give it a blast and add it in as an additional episode.
We've previously covered a skill called 'Star Trek Fan Nerd Facts', but did you know that you can now simply ask the A-lady for a fact about a range of specific topics such as Star Trek, Star Wars or (for the more down-to-Earth types) dogs or cats? She'll give you some intersting facts without your needing to enable a skill.
Yah gotta be fast on the draw to stay alive in this town pardner. Grab an Echo Button and have your trigger-finger, er thumb, poised and ready for action. This 'ere kitchen aint big enough for the both of us...
Journey with us - well, the brilliant Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) - as we travel through various bits of Milton's brain. There's also an unexpected additional guest at the end who sounds a bit like me trying to do a cockney accent - let's call him Dave. Dave (who probably works on a market stall in Covent Garden selling fruit and veg) reminds us that contributions are always welcome. Just send them in to robin.christopherson@gmail.com.
This is just a quick additional episode to plug this great podcast. I'm on today's episode talking all about A-lady goodness. Do check out and consider subscribing to 'Alexa in Canada' which, incidentally, isn't just for Canadians.
We start with a skill that provides quotes from Professor Hawking (they would have been so cool in his own voice - that's the original Dynavox II synthesiser in case you're interested) and follow it up with a recording of his acceptance speech on receiving a UK Tech4Good Special Award. Do check out all the tributes and articles relating to Stephen Hawking on the AbilityNet website.
With the help of a simple Echo skill, the mild-mannered Phillip Chalker turns into Suuuuuupeeeernanny!!!! Quieting children with a single bound (that sounds quite ominous actually), no amount of marauding hyperactive hoards can thwart Suuuuupeeeernanny! (Imagine some pretty significant echo-effect on that last word.)
Today we look at two skills; an Easter version of Would You Rather that explores your preferred passtimes over passover and the second that serves up Easter-related facts - some of which seem egg-stremely suspect to me…
Faith's back to help us defuse an otherwise explosive situation today as we look at another skill that uses both Echo Buttons and eyes. If we're not back tomorrow you'll know that something went horribly wrong…
There are sound-effects galore in today's skill. We've got them coming out of our ears there are so many. Atually no - make that going into your ears. Good luck identifying the oh-so-many mystery sounds - and suggestions re #9 using #DTDPod please.
Can you complete the well-known proverb? Of course you can. But what about the not-so-well-known ones? Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) is back with some wise words about today's skill.
Faith's here to help, as today we look at a skill that uses those oh-so-cute Echo buttons - in this case to decrypt strange messages from aliens with an unhealthy fascination with gaseous eruptions. Maybe they're from Enceladus.
Find out, definitively and once and for all, just how stupid (or amazingly intelligent) you really are with the Stupid Test skill. If you get some questions wrong then just blame this stupid test.
Today we look at another skill that uses the oh-so-cute Echo Buttons to choose whether you go left or right at each stage on your wandering quest through the mysterious Thorium Manor. Really polished sound-effects too.
"Hi, this is Robin from England. We have 3 Echo Dots and two Echo buttons and at the moment my favourite skill is Hanagram. Please check out my message on Twitter." (Listen to the episode to see what I'm on about, then send me your quick recorded message to robin.christopherson@gmail.com)
You probably know already, but you can now ask Alexa to wake you up to your choice of stations, playlists, albums, genres or artists. Also you can ask her to read about Quidditch and get exclusive bonus content from 'Quidditch Through The Ages'. You knew that too? Sorry.
Our friend Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) is back again today with two great skills. Learn Yiddish the Echo way with Yiddish Dictionary and then relax with some funny (or at least I think so) jokes from the mysterious Nancy.
I got me some Echo Buttons here guys. A pair of lovely Echo Buttons. Let's use 'em to play the new Amazon first-party skill; Hanagram.
In this additional episode I crack a corny joke and update you on the Twisted Tales skill which has been giving me some grief. At last I'm able to play Little Red Riding Hood - although in my first attempt I didn't even get to Granny's house…
Apparently, more people get bitten by New Yorkers than sharks so be afraid, be very afraid (when going to NYC).
Wow - I like this skill! With real personality, the Word of the Day Quiz will teach you delicious new words daily and you'll then be gently quizzed to ensure you were paying attention.
If you liked 'Yes Sire' a while ago then you'll like this one too. From the same mould, you simply select to say "Yes" or "No" to requests from various members of your court and your power and wealth go up or down accordingly. Just remember not to make any other noises whatsoever, or your courtiers get very easily confused.
If your aim is to trim your middle then this excellent core and cardio workout will help - and get you a little fitter too. If you've got fifteen minutes (five to workout and 10 to recover) then why not give today's superb skill a go?
I beg forgiveness in advance if I've mentioned this first tip before. But the second one is definitely new. Ask for recipes and then settle down with a full tum to watch TV safe in the knowledge that there'll be something good on.
Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) is back with two nice skills; one about geography and the other roosters. An eclectic and fantastic combo. You'd be hard-placed to find a finer set of skills to crow about than these.
I really should have tried to round up the family to help me with this one, but that's easier said than done. So it's just me showing you how cool this simple true or false trivia game is - and the sound-effects are groovy too.
The brilliant Rill's back and showing us a range of things you can say to the A-lady when you're bored. I have a question; what are crackerjacks? Answers on a postcard please, or using the #DTDPod hashtag if you prefer.
With groovy sound-effects, great game-play and a sassy style, this game's a winner. Play solo or with friends, but definitely give it a go. Big thanks to Sam for volunteering to be a victim - er, volunteer - in helping me demo this one.
Today we look at a trading game with the flavour of a wooden leg about it. Enjoy sailing the seven seas, trading at each port, but watch out for other pirates who'd like to purloin your plunder. Actually, my friend was engaged to a man with a wooden leg once - until she broke it off…
A quick additional episode today as Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) kindly brings us the US versions of the A-lady's short stories.
Today, with the help of Phillip Chalker, we're revisiting the A-lady's ability to tell us nice short stories and then I explain about the new mysterious sleep timer function that almost resulted in a burnt offering in the kitchen department.
I was robbed. More surely than an unwary hoody-wearer with copious pockets would be with a carelessly-stowed mobile phone and when enjoying a distracted saunter down Carnaby Street! Actually I should probably just not have said the answer so quickly…
Penny's back. We first looked at this skill over 200 episodes ago - waaay before most of you started listening. Of course you can go back and listen to as many earlier episodes as you like (if you have a marked masochistic streak), but today it's well worth a classy reworking of this wonderful skill. Thanks Penny (pengold2@gmail.com)
Oh the serendipity! Episode 404 (which just happens to be recorded in a busy office - sorry about that) includes a skill which, amongst other fascinating facts, mentions about an http error code! How perfect is that?
Today it's a bit of me and a bit of Phillip Chalker so we're simultaneously coming at you from opposite ends of the Earth - scary. Phillip is demonstrating a handy flight bargain and booking skill and I give a quick blast of an airborne trading game in a similar vein.
If you've seen this recent blockbuster superhero movie and you'd like to test your trivia powers then today's quiz might be for you. And it has sound-effects which makes it a superbly heroic skill if you ask me. You didn't? Oh.
Jane Suh's back and bringing us the heads-up on a brilliant skill called, er, Heads Up. Great to have so many listener-contributions coming in so please keep 'em coming everyone; robin.christopherson@gmail.com.
Isn't it amazing how Bob Dylan himself keeps dropping round to help out with these demos? Well today Bob purposely pitches us into a pit and prematurely puts an end to the podcast. Oh well - at least his rider is only a packet of Jaffa Cakes and a glass of skimmed milk…
A brand new listener, the brilliant Rill, has sent us a marvellous demo of the MLB skill. Listen to all your favourite teams in play-by-plays at the plate (do I sound like I know what I'm talking about?)
Whether you like maths, like me love maths, or just like me mucking up my maths, today's skill's for you.
Penny Golden (pengold2@gmail.com) has joined the crew and provided us with this excellent revisiting of the Lie Swatter skill. We covered it many moons ago so it's a good time to hear it in action again (and she does much better than I did - needless to say).
You'll go wild with frustration when you hear just how horrendously hopeless I am at playing variations on this classic, kindergarten-level strategy game. For info we call it 'Noughts and crosses' over here in the UK, so why not try and make it catch on wherever in the world you are (just for the sheer reckless abandon rush you'll get as a result)?
Phillip Chalker's back with a new music-tuition skill; Ukulele Teacher. If you're thinking of learning, or simply like listening to, this instantly identifiable instrument then this one's for you - although if I said that I wanted to learn the Ukulele myself I'd likely be a lyre.
This is your basic roulette game with one very modest sound effect. Still, it's better than a poke in the eye with a croupier's little stick thingamebob - y'know, the one they use to scoop up all your lost chips. (For info, I've just looked it up and apparently it's called a 'Rake'.)
Learning a language? If so then Daily Dose will definitely do it for you. Choose from over thirty languages and learn with a fresh word or longer lesson each day. ¡Buena suerte!
Stuff all your old songs into the A-lady with this amazing skill. Plex allows you to play every audio file you ever owned on your Echo - including songs, unprotected audio books or any other digital recording you've got. You'll need to have a machine running somewhere to serve them and a bit of a setup, but after that all your audio will be on the tip of your tongue. Can it do video for Echos with a screen? Not sure - #DTDPod pls.
This aint Old MacDonald as we know it - but luckily it isn't a private eye trying to get to the bottom of the iniquities of an Orwellian dystopian agricultural autocracy either. Help Pertunia the pig obtain the keys to the mystery. BTW I also bemoan the fact that I've covered the AnyPod skill twice without realising it...
The lovely Jane Suh has joined the gang. Recorded on Valentine's Day, Jane brings us a choice selection of songs that the A-lady sings so long as you're in The States - or lucky enough to get some of the same songs as The States, I should say. If you don't, then at least you can now hear them for the first time.
Today we look at a skill that brings us a faithful version of the relatively complex (especially if we adopt the controversial Trumpington's Variations) game that is 'Mornington Crescent' - immortalised in that long-running and hugely popular BBC Radio 4 antidote to panel games; 'I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue' I'm afraid it would be far too long for me to explain the rules here. If you're interested please check out the Mornington Crescent Wikipedia page.
Phillip Chalker has joined the team with a great first demo contribution all the way from Down Under; Music Teacher. Learn the piano, its notes and fingering with this excellent skill. Note: Down Under UK-style is Australia and DTD cannot be held responsible for any confusion this may have caused its many listeners all around the world.
This superb skill has shown me just how little I know about the culturally-critical game that is cricket. Call myself an Englishman? I should be strung up from the scoreboard by the googlies.
In this additional episode I give you some top tips on completing the Magic Door's Haunted Lighthouse adventure (love that skill) plus a mention of what looks to be a new capability of the A-lady to receive notifications from your enabled skills .
Apologies if these jokes are offensive and stereotypical rather than finding the funnybone of your average Canadian - I'm afraid that you might need to be one to know either way. Chances are they're a mixture of both.
Just over a year after looking at this superb skill on the very first DTD episode, we reopen the Magic Door and embark on a recently added adventure; The Haunted Lighthouse. ooer!
Randy's back (@TheBigR on the Twitters) giving us a tour of the excellent (possibly even brilliant) Price It Right skill; play against friends or other players across the internet to guess prices of actual Amazon products. Actually it would qualify as brilliant if you won the products rather than points but hey-ho.
Juliet and Rob Winter are back! Today they're bringing us two skills that serve up wonderful sounds of the world's two favourite pets; hamsters and tortoises. Actually not hamsters and tortoises - although I would like to see the skill that brings us those sounds.
Well, today's episode is pretty thin on good skills, with the possible exception of Valentine's Story which, as I didn't manage to get past the set-up, might totally redeem itself and be the best and most romantic skill ever made. Then again it might be as truly awful as the set-up process promises it to be. We also get some mediocre romantic jokes from the Valentine's Jokes skill, and a better showing from the A-lady herself for both romantic humour and singing. I hope your Valentine's Day is better than this episode - whatever you end up doing.
I really crank the romantic mood up to 11 in this Valentine's Day-related episode by talking about toilets. What an old romantic I must be (with most of the emphasis on 'old'!)
This superb skill was developed for people with a visual impairment in the UK, but really is useful to anyone who just wants their local(ish) newspapers and magazines read out. Just sit back and stay informed.
Today we have Penny Golden, a listener in the good ol' US of A. to thank for recommending this skill. Seven true or false questions each day promise to keep us all thoroughly entertained and educated. Penny isn't on the Twitters, but not sure if I've mentioned recently that I am - please do follow me on @USA2DAY (don't ask - it's a long story - but mentioning that Penny is from the US of A reminded me…) If you'd also like to suggest skills for us to cover, please email robin.christopherson@gmail.com
Andy Brown (@AndrewBrown100) is back with another groovy demo. Interview Me is for everyone who wants to brush up on their responses to common interview questions. We also briefly revisit the fantastic Job Finder skill we covered about a million and a half episodes ago.
Today we revisit this excellent skill. It was good, now it's magical with more sound effects than you could wave a unicorn hair wand at.
Thanks to Mark from London our Alexa habits will now be revolutionised. Revolutionised I tell you! You'll have to listen to today's episode to find out how/why. We also look at the kinda cool Repeat Me skill... that's the kinda cool Repeat Me skill.
The other day I mentioned that you might want to mark my words as indeed, Chris Chaffin is back! He's brought us another brilliant demo of a skill for anyone who loves words wonderfully combined with mind-mangling maths. That's a killer combo in my book.
Did you know that this podcast holds the (unofficial) world record for the most number of Echo skills of varying quality demoed in a year by someone called Robin who used to have freckles but doesn't any more and with a little help from Bob Dylan who sometimes pops round and with a lot of help from his excellent family and friends? Hard to believe I know, but it's true!
Bob's back to help with an explosive episode all about the Bomb Or Not skill. Isn't it great that he keeps popping round? And I've no idea how many roads he has to walk down to get here. Good ol' Bob.
Actually enabled/invoked with "The TARDIS Box", this skill is the bees knees when it comes to sound effect skills. I'd actually go so far as to say its the cats pyjamas. I don't know why I'm using animal analogies for this Dr Who-related skill so I'll stop. I wonder if K9 wears pyjamas…
Double hooray! Today we have two new listeners joining the skill demo gang. The brilliant Juliet and Rob Winter demo a really very good version of Blackjack. The skill's narration, help and sound effects are all fantastic and Rob and Juliet do it proud. Thanks guys and keep 'em coming!
Three Questions is a nicely executed multiple-choice quiz skill that gives you - wait for it - three questions at a time. They're on a random topic each round and our A-lady then goes on to give you a bit more info about the correct answer. This one's a keeper.
Just a quick additional episode to let you know that I was very pleased to be a guest on the brilliant The Blind Side podcast which went out today. For around an hour myself and the excellent Jonathan Mosen discussed all things Alexa-related and, whilst The Blind Side is a vision-impairment focused podcast (as the name might give away), this episode really is for everyone - especially if you live down under where Echos are fresh and, if it's possible, even more exciting.
Hooray! Today we have another listener contributing a fab skill for the very first time. Chris Chaffin takes us on a tour of the wonderful Word Play skill. Keep 'em coming Chris (in fact he does with another brilliant demo in just a few days time - mark my words).
We're still in January (just) and so 2017 hopefully isn't too distant a memory as yet, so let's see how much we remember of that very memorable year that's just bound to go down in history…
Today we look at three randomly-chosen examples of the 'A Moment Of…' skills. There are squillions of them (that's a technical term - it means; 'An exact amount that remains as yet unconfirmed because the person using the term can't be bothered to go and count them all') so do check them out by searching for that phrase in the skill store.
Wow - We've made it through a whole year! Today's episode, which marks 365 days of almost entire audio agony (with brief reprieves when you guys step in), is very fittingly brought to you by a listener. Big R's back with a really lip-smacking juicy one called Twisted Tales. Thanks everso @TheBigR.
Today's quick tip about asking the A-lady for some help getting started with skills, quickly turns into revisiting the excellent 'Question of the Day' quiz. It's worth a reprise, though. Love that skill.
Today Sam's back to show us how, even if you're a fully-fledged football genius, you can still stumble over questions from approximately a million and a half years ago when they were obviously kicking a brontesaurus bladder about. Give him some up-to-date trivia, though, and he's pretty much on-target every time.
If you want to be insulted by a grumpy yet strangely self-satisfied bloke then this skill might be for you. BTW if it isn't to insulting to ask, I'd really love it if you would tell/tweet to your friends about DTD using the hashtag #DTDPod - thanks muchly
Woohoo! We can now ask the A-lady to directly translate words and phrases into dozens of different languages for us. Esto es fantastico!
It's your basic choose-your-own-adventure sort of a skill today. It's tone is terribly taciturn as you take your turns moving through this mysterious manor - but that's a good thing if you ask me. I do enough waffling for the both of us. Good luck with this one guys.
In this additional episode I plug the RNIB's Tech Talk podcast, the excellent hosts of which I blame for being the reason why I started Dot to Dot in the first place. If you have a visual impairment and you love tech then please do subscribe to their excellent show. I also mention about the Echo Spot that's coming on sale here in the UK tomorrow!
If you like the singer Paloma Faith (and you probably need to have kids too) then today's skill is for you. Although even then it might come across as creepy rather than cool. Creepy or cool? Let listeners know with £DTDPod
Andy Brown (@AndrewBrown100) is back! This time it's a doozy of a demo showing us how to play Word Operations; the game for everyone who likes both spelling and maths. Come on - you know who you are.
For anyone with green fingers, we've a triple dollop of garden goodness today. I'm ashamed to say that the closest I get to green fingers are when Jelly Babies of a certain colour get a bit sticky. Eat them quickly to avoid this eventuality.
What's obvious to me about playing today's skill is that your brain will be extensively addled after endeavouring to ascertain the elusive answer. What's also obvious, though, is that you'll probably want to play it again and again. Answers to my failed 2nd go to #DTDPod please.
Come with us to deepest, darkest Africa (well I'm just saying that - the temple, if we finally find it, might end up being on the top of a mountain and basking in the brilliant African sunshine) and together, along with an odd collection of co-explorers, we'll look for that pesky temple until we get bored or bitten by a terantula or something.
Today's skill Meditation Studio will either send you to sleep, pick you up, calm you down or just mellow you out - you choose. Take a few minutes today to unwind and then brace yourself for tomorrow's skill...
Once there was a quiz. It was about music. It was called 'The Music Quiz'. That's it really.
Andy's back again (@AndrewBrown100 on the Twitters) and this time he's serving up all sorts of sweet skill-goodness with this brilliant tennis-themed word game. Good sound effects too! Nice one Andy - you aced it.
Relax. Today's skill is all about becoming less stressed or anxious, and about becoming more confident. So sit back (or lie down - except if you're commuting or operating heavy machinery) and listen to Madeleine's melodic meditations.
If you like kittens and you like cafes (and let's face it, for some people that's an absolutely killer combination) then you'll love this skill. Play with kittens in a cafe with a wide range of diverting toys, and work out which will coax out the shyer ones from their hiding places. Nice sound effects too.
Today's episode involves a mystery concerning this new BBC skill - namely why it exists... Any ideas?
Andy Brown (@AndrewBrown100) is back with an excellent demo of Book Buddy. If you like your books then you'll love this handy companion skill. Big thumbs-up to Andy for another excellent episode. If you'd like to contribute an episode please drop me a line at robin.christopherson@gmail.com.
Today we quickly cover the fact that we can now listen to all the stories that comprise the famous Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling free of charge on the A-lady. Great author and great cakes too - boy was that chap talented! (Probably a British-only joke there...)
This one's pretty cool. It's a truly immersive audio adventure game with real attitude. Shame that not all the synthetic voices used are totally on the money but it's still well worth a go.
Gross alert: today's skill is only for those who'd like to get to know a lot more about poop - from a range of different animals including us humans. You have been warned. The only thing to distract you from today's topic are the numerous little interruptions...
These two skills couldn't be any more different. The first serves up random audio nuggets from Amazon's series; The Grand Tour. The second will then chill us out to the mezmeric sounds of Tibetan meditation bowls. Both bizarre in their own way.
The fantastic Randy Rusnak (@TheBigR) brings us today's excellent episode. He's demoing Match Game which provides us with a daily dose of guess-the-best-blank goodness. It's also absolutely freeeeeeezing in Randy-town so take care out there Big R.
Let's gloss over the fact that most of these facts aren't fun, and that most of these jokes aren't fun-ny, and mostly try to marvel at just how many she must know to be able to serve them up on any topic that tickles you. Good on ya A-lady!
Andy Brown (@AndrewBrown100) is back demonstrating the excellent skill; Daily Log. Dictate short or longform notes, listen back to recent notes or search through older logs and even lock them for privacy if you want to keep them away from prying ears. Nice one Andy.
Uncover the mystery of Jupiter's moon Europa and a fellow scientist's disturbing emergency radio message, with today's Atmospheric sci-fi thriller audio choose-your-own adventure game. If your Alexa has a screen, then you'll also get images to go with each scene. This one really is out of this world!
Get all in a tizzy trying to crack the code words within the shortest possible time, and then unwind to the zen-like tones of a relaxing piano.
Let's kick-off the new year with some (frankly fairly ambitious) resolutions to get 2018 off to a great start. My two faves happen to probably also be the most doable; to think about volunteering and to try to be as positive as possible. Happy new year one and all.
If you like the Monty Hall problem (which door hides the fortune and which doors the goats) then you'll like today's skill which adds a nice explosive element to this classic quiz show scenario.
At last a version of this classic playground game that has some actual playability. We've had our heads mangled by the whacky version that includes reptiles and a pointy-eared character from Star Trek, so now let's just relax into the very familiar version of our childhood where you're pitched against the sassy A-lady.
If you're into cricket then this skill is definitely for you. Today we look at Talkie Cricket which will bowl you over (or at least bowl you an over) and, after that, I'm stumped for any more puns to deliver. I couldn't help seeing the little Dot up there with tiny arms and legs and clutching a cricket bat or ball. Cute-looking for sure, but watch out for your googlies out there!
Do you know who invented Coca-Cola? And who invented jeans? Who on Earth invented this terrible skill (not that I could do any better, of course)? Maybe that'll be one of the questions in this challenging quiz all about the great inventors of our time.
Saying "Alexa, open Beyond the Void" rewards you with a reasonably fantastic audio fantasy adventure with the most understated audio effects I've yet to barely hear - to the current point of play, at least. Actually, replace 'fantastic' with 'feeble'. Want to let me know just how feeble? You know the hashtag.
Just in case you haven't had enough hilarity from yesterday's Christmas Crackers, today's skill serves up some real groaners that are bound to put you off your left-over turkey.
Merry Christmas everyone! On this, the Christmas Day episode, let's take a look at a great festive music trivia skill that'll keep you all amused/bemused around the dinner table. If instead you want to dose off after too much turkey then that's fine too. Hope everyone has a great Christmas full of festive cheer.
Today we look at a couple more built-in treats for the festive season. Until twelth-night (the 5th of January) you can ask the A-lady to "Read a Christmas Carol" which will play the fantastic Audible audio book by Charles Dickens that I briefly played in an earlier episode. It's one of my favourite adaptations of this real Christmas classic. We also look at (a seemingly very limited selection of) random festive facts she can serve us by asking "Alexa, give me a Christmas treat" and revisit those oh-so-corny jokes.
How old is Cameron Diaz? What about Britney Spears? For info I had to look up the spelling of both of those and I couldn't name a song that he's sung or a film that she's been in. And I'm pretty sure I've just got those the wrong way around...
Another excellent listener-contributed demo today; the brilliant Andy Brown (@AndrewBrown) brings us Mixologist. If you've ever wondered how to knock up a New York Slammer or mix a Miss Saigon Sunrise (I've no idea what I'm talking about) then this is the skill for you.
Wow! Prepare to be amazed/underwhelmed by today's awesome random bizarre question generating skill from the UK comic Richard Herring. Unfortunately, we don't hear his voice doing the asking or indeed any sound-effects - but it's a good skill nevertheless.
Today we look at the completely brilliant skill that is Christmas Kindness. Easily find out how you can help others at this special time of year (and then put it into practice all year round!)
Scott's back and he's showing us how we can now ask the A-lady to wake us up by playing the music or radio station of our choice. Excellent. You know what this means guys? We all now need to wake up to Christmas music - although heavy metal is definitley the next best choice...
Hopefully you won't ever need to use this skill but, just in case, it's good to know it's available. From choking on a Brussel sprout to help with a stomach ache after too much turkey, Virtual Nurse will come to the rescue.
Which of Captain Hook's hands did the crocodile get? How many spots are there on 101 dalmations? If you like Disney movies and you're not averse to your standard five-question, multiple-choice, quiz-type skill then today's episode could very well be for you.
Today's skill, which is all about eventually extricating yourself from three precarious predicaments, is certainly somewhat on the creepy side (especially the car one) but captivating nevertheless. Perhaps 'captivating' wasn't the best choice of word...
If you like your Christmas movies, then you'll love this festive feast of Christmas questions. Today's topic will really have you reaching for the remote and a mince pie and settling in for a night of Christmas classics.
Hmmmm - even though today's skill has sound-effects galore it's still a bit of a weird one and perhaps not everyone's cup of tea. See what you think. If you like emoji (and perhaps fighting) you will probably want to give this one a go.
Today's episode is probably, no definitely, the worst and most frustrating skill demo yet - and that's saying something! So with that due warning please check out today's skill that's very similar to the Mastermind one we looked at a few days ago, but here you also get additional info about correct numbers that are in the wrong position. You'll see what I mean - and then wish you hadn't. I know you can record a better skill demo than this so please do so and send it to me at robin.christopherson@gmail.com. Please also don't forget to use #DTDPod to tell everyone how frustrating today's episode was.
Yikes - I get into hot water in this choose-your-own-audio-adventure-game today! Moray eels and sharks galore. But don't worry - extreme attitude in the face of adversity saves the day.
It's your classic Snakes and Ladders game played against the A-lady or else up to three friends. If you fall foul of a snake when landing on square 99 then please be gentle with your Echo.
To random fact generating skills today but with a suitably festive theme. Did you know that Rudolph was an interloper or that Santa would have to visit 822 houses a second to get round to everyone on Christmas Eve? This is quality stuff!
Take careful aim, choose the strength of your kick and any fancy tricks you want to try to incorporate into your shot, and then just give it some welly. See if you can get more than 1 out of 5...
Do you remember this game by the same name from waaaaay back? There was a plastic board, coloured pegs to show your guessed sequence, and white pegs for the other guy to score your attempt to get it right. Oh those were the days...
This is a simple skill that brings a timed dose of ambient relaxation. Set your timer and deep-dive into the lapping ocean surf or just lay back under the rainforest's all-embracing canopy. Mmmmmmmm. All you need is a double dark-chocolate Bounty bar and this would be perfection.
Everything you ever wanted to know about the height, weight, eye-colour, length and maximum velocity etc of characters, vehicles and planets that populate the Star Wars universe are found in today's skill. OK, stricktly speaking it won't give Han Solos maximum velocity or the Millenium Falcon's eye-colour, but, just like Luke when he toppled unconscious from his Tauntaun into the snow, you can't help but get the drift.
Today we revisit the Christmas theme and suffer a few feeble festive jokes followed by a nice soundscape to get us in the mood for mince pies (I won't tell you how many I've already eaten this year).
Now we can ask the A-lady for a question each day and, if we get it right, there's often a bonus question too. Bit waffly but interesting nevertheless so why not give it a go?
It's our fantastic Faith to the rescue. She's providing her expert grooming guidance to compliment the official pearls of wisdom dispensed by today's Beauty Tips skill.
Into science? Want a challenge of the true-false, see-how-many-questions-you-can-get-right-before-losing-three-lives/your-mind kind? If so then today's skill just might be somewhat suitable.
Today's advent calendar skill is feeble in the extreme but, as I've been waiting till this morning (1 Dec) to record it, I had no idea and now we're stuck with it! After that we try to redeem this episode with some A-lady Christmas songs and a quick consultation of Wikipedia, but I don't think we quite manage it. Let's face it - we're way off.
Today special guest host, Holly Anderson, gives us a brilliant insight into the querky audio adventure game that is The Daily 5/9. I'm not familiar with the show Mr Robot (on which it's based) - but that in no way means it isn't on-air over here, although not yet available in the UK skill store. You can follow Holly on @DHSHolly and on the Maccessibility.net podcast. Thanks Holly and hope everyone enjoys todays episode.
Try to ignore the football noise in the background as we check out this groovy skill that harks back to the brilliant TV game of my childhood (so a very long time ago - but not quite in black and white) and, BTW, you enable it by saying "A-lady, enable Say Your Cards Right". Forgot to mention that bit.
Once again, brace yourself to experience yet more of my eye-watering ignorance of anything music-related. Faith's heard of them all but yours-truly couldn't name anyone in the charts - even if a whole packet of chocolate digestives was at stake. So don't listen if you easily get cross at sheer stupidity. You have been warned.
The first of today's skills is all about the news. Get it from circa 70 different sources. After that I completely fail to find a segue into the Sad Trombone skill (Wah, wah, wah, waaaaaah...)
Yay, Eric's back! Today he'll give us all the low-down of how to access your Pandora music subscription through the A-lady. Sorry about the crackles - totally my fault. Eric doesn't normally sound like that... honest. And BTW for anyone whose podcatching app only downloaded one episode yesterday there were actually two. For whatever reason Downcast only grabbed the latest in the queue - i.e. the additional episode.
In this additional episode Bob gets all nostalgic and plays one of his own favourite songs on the A-lady.
Today we're very privileged to have Bob back to help us demonstrate how multi-room music works and the minor niggle associated with having your music playback set up that way. Keep up as we sprint round the house, Bob.
Today we're looking at a classy choose-your-own adventure game from the BBC. Sounds like it's got good sound-effects. However, until about 4mins in, it's a bit disconcerting that DAVE the computer is most definitely not a bloke...
See how many right answers you get in a row with today's superbly simple skill. Guess what my longest chain is. 5? 4? 3? "Lower! Lower!" If you do better than me I'd like to hear about it via #DTDPod pls
Today we're looking at a brilliant daily meditation skill that talks you through an initial relaxation routine and then concentrates on dealing with sadness, gratitude and many other topics that affect our daily lives. Love this skill.. We also remind ourselves that we can ask the A-lady; "What skills do I have?"
True or False is a nice trivia quiz that will pit your wits or possibly wisdom against facts fresh from the A-lady. Play against friends or solo and find out how many other players around the Echo-system (sorry about that pun) also got it right... or wrong. We also find out that we can ask the A-lady; "What are the most popular games skills?"
Though today there's only a very modest number of actions from which to choose, this new built-in ability to chain together tasks and fire them off with a single command (or at a certain time) promises to be a game-changer. Hmmm... I wonder if one day you could use it to change the game you're playing? One thing you can do today is set a scheduled routine to wake you up with the news, say, rather than simply one of the stock sounds. Very cool.
Ask the A-lady to give you a maths quiz and she'll enable this skill. Don't like maths? Then play yesterday's skill again, choosing a character who does like maths, and then it might put you in the mood for this one. Cunning.
Take Twenty Questions, distill it down to concentrate on characters and prioritise personalities, and you'll have the amazing Akinator skill. BTW What colour is Wilma Flintstone's hair? Answers using #DTDPod pls.
Is today's skill at all similar to the famous video game Minecraft? I've no idea but from the little I've gleaned of the game from my kids it probably isn't a million miles off the mark (after you've taken away all the graphics of course). And it has (cheesy) sound-effects.
Woo, woo! (Just adding in some sadly absent sound effects) Two groovy skills to keep you on the right track when it comes to knowing your UK train trivia. We then finish off with some bonus soothing train sounds to send us to sleep. Don't listen to this episode when operating heavy machinery.
Join me at the very nadir of my trivia career. I might as well have my head chopped off by Ned Stark - I'd still do about as well at these skills.
Tweet straight from your Echo with this fab skill. You can also listen to your timeline in all its glorious audio hilarity (tweets just aren't supposed to be spoken out loud). Welcome to my world. Oh and good luck dictating #DTDPod...
Just like Family Fortunes, this skill pits you against the popular answers of polled people on a range of random topics. No sound effects; big red 'X'.
Today we look at two skills; one to avoid all that tedious pressing of the Play/Pause button on your stereo when playing pass the parcel, and the other to publically probe the very furthest extent of your most personal preferences.
In today's episode, the excellent Eric Troup (with a tiny guest appearance from the lovely Manissa) shows us all the Scooby Doo skill. With voices from the current cartoon (actually probably CGI come to think of it) TV series which sound spookily like the original cast from way back, there's no mystery about why this skill's a winner. Eric's @BlindGeek on Twitter and check out his real-time roll-play podcast Monkeys Took My Jetpack - it's really rather good.
Today's episode is brought to us by the brilliant Michael Cassidy. Mike demonstrates three awesome aviation-related skills that can give us flight costs, arrival/departure details and the low-down on what's on high above our heads. I love listener episodes.
Two random fact generating skills today; one to serve up crazy nuggets about the world, and the second to let you know if they're true or not.
It's another good ol' multiple-choice, five-question quiz today guys - although it's about the cool film that is Jurassic Park. We also finish off by revisiting the great sounds produced by the scary skill 'Dinosaur Facts and Sounds'.
Today we look at a really good 15 minute progressive muscle relaxation exercise skill - or at least we would have been if it hadn't been totally sabotaged by a certain person, a text and an oven...
If you want to be a Jedi Master then my advice to you is to never say "I don't know" or all your efforts will be for nought. No idea what I'm talking about? Understandable. Just listen to today's skill.
A quick reprise today of how I record my demos and a request for all you lovely listeners to think about doing one too. Also I just made up the hashtag #DTDPod (#DTD is already busy) so feel free to use that to share your favourite skills too.
With today's top skill you can turn yourself into a train magnate in minutes. Take a listen to these super sound-effects and you'll know you're on the right track.
This fascinating skill lists a daily dose of uniquely British (or perhaps not?) problems sourced from the up-voted submissions to a sub-reddit. Two of today's entries are lost on me - and I'm undeniably British - so don't worry if they aren't all obvious to you too.
Twist your bodies into all sorts of crazy contortions with today's top skill. Whether you're Fluffy McFluffmeister or Sassy Crocky, don't be fooled into thinking that this is some sort of skill for softies - noooo! This is some serious twisting...
Today we look at a fab new facility; Find My Phone. Use this skill to register your mobile with their auto-call service and you'll be able to quickly call your phone with a command to Alexa. It's recommended by Amazon - I call that a ringing endorsement!
Ooooh - it's Halloweeeeen! Be afraid, be very afraid. I'm actually very afraid that today's episode covering some groovy built-in Halloween-related goodness is not scary at all...
Today we take another look at the built-in capabilities of the A-lady to call, drop in or leave voicemails with friends. You can even call other Echos in your house like some sort of futuristic hands-free intercom.
It's a noisy one today - and I'm not talking sound effects (although there is one). Apologies if you can hardly hear me do really badly at this great Great British history trivia quiz.
Today another of the hosts of the Mystic Access podcast, Chris Grabowski, brings us an excellent demo of the TPLink Router skill. Manage most aspects of your router from doing a speedtest to turning off its LEDs using this groovy skill (if you have a supported TPLink router, that is). Now quickly say the following in a British accent (easier if you are actually British); "Router, scooter. Router, scooter. Router, scooter."
Want to be gently grilled in a language you're learning? I like this skill and would recommend it to anyone who is trying to learn Spanish, Italian or ... Australian(???!!!!)
The second in our Halloween series, today's skills are two of a scary pair; Halloween Sounds serves up all sorts of spooky audioscapes, whereas Halloween Music plays tortured twists on some popular tunes. Don't listen to this one alone...
Is there a Halloween party in your future (assuming the zombies don't get you first that is)? Need to know whether you should go as a scary clown or a super-hero? This skill will give you all the gorey/garish tips you'll need .
From discoverynews.com, today's skill is a daily five minute science story that gets added to your flash briefing. I also mention the excellent Scientific American's 60-Second Science podcast which does a similar thing. A double dose of regular scientific goodness.
Three skills today; two to help track when you last fed your furry friend(s) and one to make sure you never inadvertently give your faithful hound something that will disagree with them. Grapes seem to be culprit numero uno.
Today we address an major oversight - namely that, to date, I haven't officially covered the fact that the A-Lady can control smart devices such as plugs and lightbulbs. So, while Sam's out, we're up in his room and messing about with his stuff.Links for today's episode:Empowering people with Alexasmart Wifi Plug by WassersteinSmart Home LED Lightbulb by WassersteinPhilips Hue Personal Wireless Lighting Starter Kit
Today Lisa Salinger of the excellent Mystic Access podcast kindly demos the Earthquakes skill that gives a run-down of all the recent quakes across The States. You might not think that North America experiences quakes very often - in fact there are several every day...
If you don't live in the UK then hopefully you'll have an equivalent skill in your area; Job Finder lists the top matches for types of job posted in the last 24hrs in a city of your choice. Happy hunting.
Today's two skills are all about creating your own random fantasy characters for use in your favourite roll-play game. The first isn't bad, but the second is frankly a load of rubbish so I'm not entirely sure why I have included it at all...
Today we (probably rather disrespectfully) look at how to get each day's horoscope for your star sign from the new built-in A-Lady ability. Sourced from The Astro Twins, she serves you up a detailed daily dose of galactic guidance and please all email me to complain about my flippant attitude to today's topic (robin.christopherson@gmail.com) and, whilst you're at it, pop in a recording of a skill which I'll put up in a future episode.
If you like playing rock, paper, scissors (or 'Paper, scissors, stone' as we say in the UK) then you're probably still not going to be too enamoured with this skill which takes it to a whole new level of sci-fi/reptile strangeness. What was it; Spock tickles lizard, lizard reads paper and paper wraps Spock?? I can't keep up!
Bit of a bitty one today so apologies for that, but we end up with a really good flavour of what this excellent workout skill has to offer. Happy huffing and puffing.
Yes - today's episode is about asking the A-lady for help (which triggers the Translate It skill which we revisit) and we also take a look at a skill called Spanish which tests you on your Español. ¡Divertirse!
A huge thanks to listener Scott Vandewalle for contributing today's skill. Song Quiz will pit you against opponents across the US to test your pop knowledge in a merciless musical head-to-head. Not available in the UK ,as yet. Anyone else who'd like to contribute an episode please just send to me at robin.christopherson@gmail.com.
Today we look at a D&D-style adventure game that is definitely several charisma points above your average. For hardened fantasy roll-players only, this one will keep your virtual character occupied from beginning to sticky end. BTW I neglected to say that you enable it in the normal way; "A-lady enable Dungeon Adventure"
If you're feeling positive and up-beat then this classic British TV series is the perfect antidote. Actually, the infinitely grumpy Victor Meldrew will definitely bring a smile - of the slightly pained variety...
Play almost any podcast with this great skill. AnyPod let's you subscribe to all your favourite podcasts, lines them all up in a handy digital row, and then let's you sit back and listen with the smile of a frude who really knows where his towel is (don't ask me why I went off into H2G2 territory there - absolutely no idea...)
Today's episode is somewhat niche in the same way that a Raisin and Biscuit Yorkie is somewhat tasty. If you're not into, say, humour on the topic of binary numbers or the more hilarious aspects of inheritance in object-oriented languages then you may want to avoid this one like you would an infinitely-long shower and shampoo session with a perpetually pragmatic programmer.
If you love Geordie (I'm a bit biased as I love a Geordie), or if you're ever planning a trip to, say, Durham Castle where they filmed some of the Harry Potter movies and you want to understand the locals then this is the skill for you.
Today we look at a couple of new ways of asking Alexa for new stuff she can do and then finish off with a tasty skill called Meal Ideas which serves up, er, meal ideas. It pretty much does what it says on the tin. There may even be some tins involved - it really depends upon what the mysterious ingredient 'Half and Half' comes in....
We've got nature sounds galore in today's thoroughly relaxing ambient audio skill. Lie back and let the waves of wonder gently wash over you whilst birds sing softly and sweetly straight into your lug 'oles.
Two quizzes that will leave you gasping in disbelief at just how little I know about, well, anything really - but most specifically today about anything to do with films old and new. They're good skills so don't let that put you off too much.
Take your time exploring this chronologically challenging choose-your-own adventure game. Will it end up being a timeless classic? Only time will tell. Done with the puns? About time.
Care in the community? Watch out as Clare is providing it and that's not a good recipe for success. This skill shows us the other side to social work and it'll make you simultaneously smile and squirm.
I bring today's episode to you with a twisted anckle. Actually, not at the beginning of the episode but from around a minute and a half in. Don't ask - just listen to today's instalment which is all about a groovy skill which brings us audio described old time movies for your aural enjoyment.
Repeat; "Trying recitations of tongue-wrangling randomness, Robin routinely Really rather torturously renders them radically irregular."
If you've not read the HP books then you really should. If you've not watched the HP films then you really shouldn't. But that's just a blind guy's opinion who likes good dialog. Now on with the episode...
Today we look at another sorting ceremony skill. See if you can guess which house I best fit in? Yes, that's right. It wasn't really ever in question was it? Which house will you be sorted into?
Two word-related skills today so fire up your sensoria and be sure to duck as here comes a monster spelling bee in reverse!
Today we briefly revisit, with the help of the A-lady and in a not-altogether-uncreepy way, some key episode sthat newer listeners may have misssed. They cover those important built-in functions that every Echo fan should know about. They are episode #2 on Wikipedia, #7 on connecting the A-lady to your phone, #9 on the built-in calendar function, #11 on playing radio stations and podcasts on TuneIn, #27 on adding music to your Echo without going Unlimited, #30 included tips on built-in timers and alarms, #47 was about buying from Amazon using the A-lady, #52 was on playing Audible books, #69 was the built-in Kindle book reading function, #104 was about new built-in voice calling and messaging features, #113 on connecting to a Bluetooth speaker, #139 on the new reminder notifications and last but not least was #216 which included a bunch of updates about asking the A-lady for tips or to play a game, giving your timers a name and setting alarms for specific days). Phew!
Who wants to be a millionaire? If you do then stop wasting time playing highly enjoyable games on your Echo and get out there and get grafting. But don't forget; money doesn't buy happines. That's Jaffa Cakes.
Today we've another transatlantic double. As you'll see, I don't know my European capital cities nearly as well as I should and I know even less about key facts about the American civil war. So sit back and squirm or stand up and pace - whatever gets you through.
It sure is quiet in this forest but, despite the lack of sound effects, let's put on our sturdy adventurers britches and, er, sally forth (To leave a safe place in a brave or confident way in order to do something difficult: Cambridge English Dictionary)
Another in the series of skills that bring classic radio echoing around your house. You can't get more classic than Hancock's Half Hour. Enjoy.
Today's episode is a bit of a catastrophe all-round really. It starts strong with the opening jingle and then kinda goes downhill from there... Actually I've just thought of something vaguely funny to pep up this episode; fend off cat burglars with your own virtual guard dog! (3 out of 10)
Two skills today; National Grid provides a real-time break-down of power supply across the UK from a range of sources, and Number 10 gives you the latest tweet from our esteemed Prime Minister's office. If you need perking up after this one then why not go back and listen to the 4ABurp episode? :)
Today we look at a few built-in Star Trek-related abilities of the A-Lady, and then follow it up with a go at the Star Trek TOS Fan Trivia skill that quizzes you on the original series (hence 'TOS') that's now 51 years young. It's podcasting Jim, but not as we know it.
Today's episode is all about mental health and includes a few reminders about earlier episodes that touch on this topic, an update on Reminders and how they can now also notify you on your phone, and lastly we look at the Depression Tracker skill which can advise on whether you may be experiencing depression. Look after yourselves out there.
Today we look at another Dr Who-related skill, topped and tailed with what is probably the best theme tune of all time...
With some slightly suspicious distances dished out in this demo, we take a look at how far a weary crow would have to wing it to get from A to B around the world. As you'll see for yourself, someone should really point these crazy corvids in the right direction before they set off...
Two food-related skills today; some (I think) groovy jokes about consumables in general, followed by some fascinating facts about everyone's favourite curved yellow fruit. BTW if you don't like bananas please do show your displeasure by recording a podcast (of around 5mins or so) on your favourite echo skill and send it to me at robin.christopherson@gmail.com
We've looked at Earplay in a previous episode in which we covered the demo and I mentioned that there was one story available; Cygnus. Now there's a second called 'Half' so let's take a quick look, or listen, to see what's what.
If you're into The Hobbit and you like comedy then you'll love this skill. Hilariously funny, it's a spoof of all things fantasy and well worth a lengthy listen. Definitely a case of one skill to rule them all.
Two completely unrelated skills today, except that they cater to the interests of both sides of the li'l old pond that separates us from our American cousins. If either advertising jingles or avoiding falling between tube train and platform are your thing then there may be something in today's episode for you. I also put out a plea for suggestions and/or contributions to either @usa2day or robin.christopherson@gmail.com - and of course for reviews on iTunes. Ta.
Two more skills from the Jeopardy stable aimed at teens and sports fans. Unfortunately, I don't qualify as the first and only as a completely inept example of the latter, so enjoy just how bad I am at both. My reputation as a total doofus is not at all in jeopardy here.
The sadly missed British comedy trasure that is Ronnie Barker features in this hugely popular 70s and 80s TV show about inmates of a British prison. I also encourage you to check out other classic British comedies from that era such as 'Open All Hours', 'The Two Ronnies' and 'Last of the Summer Wine' on Youtube or wherever time-honoured comedies live these days... Still no fish.
In today's episode we roam around this faithful reproduction of the hugely-popular text adventure game that's been Alexified for our listening pleasure. Make sure you take a sandwich ... or several. Didn't find any fish, though.
It's raining. There's some thunder too. It feels like a good time to remind ourselves about the Big Sky skill.
You may well know the card game Go Fish (I'd heard of it) and this skill does a pretty good job in bringing it to the A-lady. Fish for the right cards from your competitor and you could have the upper hand - just don't expect any sound effects along the way. Hmmm... fish have been mentioned in 3 shownotes in a row now.
Two totally unrelated skills today - the second making up for the fact that the first is UK-specific because everyone loves pizza, right? If wrong then let me know post haste so I can mention you in a future episode to correct the sweeping generalisation (@USA2DAY or robin.christopherson@gmail.com). Oh and please also use those methods to more generally let me/the world know about DTD... pretty please with anchoves. Make that rhyme and you'll like it so much that you'll be using it in everyday conversation even if you hate the particular fish in question - but then again getting hit in the face with one wouldn't be as bad as, say, a tuna (for everyone who recalls yesterday's shownotes). On closing, I'd just like to point out that these are the longest shownotes of any episode to date. By quite a long way. Really quite a long way. Loooooong way. Looooooooong. Borderline unecessarily long.
Neither this jokey elf nor random Dad we've collared for this episode entirely deliver in the comedic department. Still, it's better than a slap in the face with a wet fish as the saying goes. Oh, and Bob's back.
In today's super skill I'll be grilled on my superhero knowledge and reveal my thinly-disguised alter-ego; Stupid Man. Please don't stop listening just because I'm so terrible at anything to do with popular culture.
Today we look at two super skills; Radio Best Superman is another old-time-radio-must-listen-skill and Super Me is a super-hero-yourself-assistant-skill (and my super power for the day BTW is saving the world through the gratuitous use of hyphens)
Briefly introduced by a suspiciously unconvincing Frenchman called Bernard, today's skill is all about your ability to observe a spoken scene and correctly respond to random questions about its contents. Best of luck Superbrains!
Similar to the skill we recently covered in episode #209, today we feel the pressure associated with correctly (or in my case incorrectly) answering 80s-music-related trivia.
Today we remind ourselves of some groovy built-in functionality; asking Alexa for tips and to play a game. We then look at the updated functions; timer (give your timers a name) and alarms (now set them for specific days). We then finish off with the new ability to ask Alexa for jokes on a specific topic - they're still bad but at least they're now bad on a subject of your choosing.
Hopefully the sayings provided by these sage (if rather spiteful) parental-advice skills won't ring any bells with you whatsoever.
Ask Alexa what's up and she'll now give you a nice potted summary of the news and weather. We also take a look at a skill about getting set up in podcasting. Apologies as I know this one is niche which, here in the UK at least, rhymes with 'leash'. Ironically 'leash' is an American word but I don't think we here in the UK have one that rhymes so it'll have to do. And, in case your wondering, we say "Lead" for the thing that has a dog on one end.
Neatly packaged presentations of anywhere between 6 and 18mins (in my experience) on topics as broad as Norwegian train journeys to the ultimate TED talk itself. This skill should have something for everyone.
A real classic and universally accepted as the forerunner of Monty Python, The Goon Show will have you transfixed; either with enjoyment or bemusement.
Some simple, some not so - this skill is a combination of multiple choice and open questions all about that wonderful topic that rules our breathtaking and majestic Universe.
If you're clueless about a clue, or wondering about a word, then let this skill of blanks and letters help you complete that crossword. BTW I met the inventor of crosswords the other day. Now what was his name? It was P something T something R...
Ooooh the pressure! It's all in the sound-effects. Actually there isn't much suspense building up in today's skill as I almost entirely fail to get a run of correct answers, each starting with a random letter of the alphabet.
I really hope you don't end up with your knickers in a twist if you don't find today's two skills to your liking. Twist? Find? hmmm...
Blackjack, 21, Pontoon - whatever you like to call it, if you'd like to have a crack at Blackjack and try your hand against the digital dealer then this skill might just be for you.
Today we're looking at a skill that serves up dollops of Apple-flavoured inspiration to order. The much-missed master of the corporate turnaround often had some truly motivational moments - but I can't help thinking they'd be better spoken by him and not the A-lady, and with some groovy background music too. A bit like the 'Inspire Me' skill, in fact.
A gentle yet hilarious satirical political sitcom (try saying that three times quickly out loud and people will give you a funny look) and well worth a listen.
Pick a category, pick a letter and pitch your wits against Alexa. Actually she does the picking. Good luck!
My daughter, Faith, has taken a few minutes to create a mystery quiz for me using today's skill; Quiz Maker. After enabling it, simply go to myquiz.space, create a quick multiple-choice quiz , and then amuse/amaze your family and friends. Warning - for whatever reason this skill seems to object to your choosing Option 3!!
Either you'll be like the 73% of people who love this skill (Yaaaay! Clap, clap) or you'll be among the 27% who'd rather poke themself with a barbeque skewer - surprisingly, there is no middle ground here. That's %age of listeners to this podcast of course. 99.99999999999999% of the world's population have never heard of this podcast, have an Echo or probably have even seen a barbeque skewer.
You probably know all about this show. Just call me an idiot while I waffle on about what this skill entails. Grandmothers. Eggs. Gums.
Another star host for another milestone episode. David Woodbridge is Vision Australia's Senior Adaptive Technology Consultant and you can get regular doses of tech-related goodness by subscribing to his 'Talking Tech' and 'iSee' podcasts in your podcatcher of choice. Thanks for contributing today's episode, David.
You can catch this skill, like a theif in a web, simply by downloading it and pressing Play. If your Spidey-sense is tingling and you detect yet another contrived description to today's skill then give yourself a pat on your big, hairy cephalothorax (I feel a bit queezy now - I wish I hadn't written that...) Oh, and by the way we have a special guest for tomorrow's episode.
You're on a train, hurtling towards London when you wake from a dose and suddenly find yourself deputised by a detective. Tickety-tum, tickety-tum, tickety-tum. I'm putting in these sound effects as this skill is sadly lacking in that department - but otherwise it's on the right track...
Today's first skill covers what happened that is in any way Star Wars-related on a given date going back over the lifetime of this global sci-fi phenomenon, followed by that classic line issued by HAL 9000 in that other legendary space movie (y'know the one with the apes, the black monolith and the baby).
Do you like words? Do you also like trying to remember things? If the answer is 'Yes' to both of these then this skill is for you. Actually, I should probably also add the condition that you like playing games on your Echo too...
Blaaaaack Adder, Blaaaack Adder (sing along)... Another groovy addition to the series of skills that bring classic TV shows to the Echo. You may know him best as Mr Bean, but before being Bean he was a Mr B of a very different kind.
Can you track down your clients' elusive acquaintances? You've only got a few slim clues about the country they've chosen to flee to, and two strikes before you're out of luck.
From the Orient to the Occident there is no better Echo skill that happens to be called Lyrics Idol than this one - and I think to myself, what a wonderfl "Beep"..
Easily turn any spoken phrase into a truly painful listening experience with this simple songification skill.
It's a punishing episode full of terrible jokes today. My advice with regards the best approach to take when listening to today's episode is to resign yourself to not finding any of them remotely funny and then, if one does tickle you just a little bit, it's a net win.
Whether you're a dog person or a cat person, we've got you covered with today's skills. If you're both then it's a double dose of pet pronouncements for you.
This skill probably needs no introduction to UK listeners - and for everyone else, I do enough waffling about it in the actual episode to make typing anything else here simply borderline gratuitous. BTW as a touch-typist I think the word 'Dwarf' is possibly the most awkward word I've ever had to type.
Yes, I know that you can already play podcasts on the Echo from TuneIn, but AnyPod has a few additional bits of cleverness that makes it stand out. And I can't wait to pitch AnyPod against Apple's HomePod later in the year...
This is one of my all-time fave skills to date - it's a simple 'Get yourself out of this room if you can' scenario so feel free to just fiddle with things and you'll do fine.
Pit yourself against the A-Lady to find out how many easy, moderately difficult or hard maths questions you can successfully answer in a minute. Or repeatedly bang yourself on the head with your favourite mug. Whichever you'd prefer.
Today's four skills are all about bands and artists from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s and, like all other '... Letters' skills, you need to be a quick thinker when finding answers that all start with the same letter in each round. I'm sure you'll do better than I did. Oh and I also throw out another plea for your contributions. Send your demos to me at robin.christopherson@gmail.com.
We're half way through a year of episodes and, in this extra one to mark the moment, we look at connecting your Echo to the IFTTT service and some of the groovy additional capabilities that will then be at your fingertips... Well, er, larynx.
Eclectic I know, but today we look at two random fat generators about popular bands from wildly different eras. Both groovy in their own unique way.
This trivia game is about the popular epic fantasy saga Game of Thrones (see what they did there?) and - surprise, surprise - I'm hopeless at it. At least I'm consistent.
Today's skill is your classic multiple choice trivia game and it's about music, bands and artists. You'll do better than me - I guarantee it.
Remember The Colour Game and Caves Under Thornhill? If so, and with fondness, then these skills are for you. If not, and your game for a new game or two, then these skills are for you too.
If you can get past the slightly scary voice with which this skill gives you quotes from movies through the decades, then you'll like this skill where you guess the missing word. Even I got a couple right so it can't be that hard.
We've had scary tales in the past, now let's hear some very maoralistic fables that will impart life-changing lessons for us to bear in mind whenever, for example, we need to break a bunch of sticks.
No idea why it's called Sporcle Trivia - maybe that'll be one of its questions. This skill is a cut above your average multiple-choice trivia game as it allows you to answer questions in a category of your choosing. Enjoy!
Yet another one of these Radio ... skills but this one's a doozy. Eves-drop on the crazy crew of this aeroplane and their (very) high-jinx.
Two completely unrelated skills brought together with the most tenuous link yet; Tic Tac Toe - we call it Noughts and Crosses - won't always end in a draw (surprisingly) and Rover Buggy which tells us the actual direction of travel of the Mars Rover at the time of asking.
Learn Chinese the easy way with this awesome oriental skill - or simply learn how to properly pronounce 'Hello' (they say that at the beginning of each lesson)!
OK - I warn you to listen to this episode only - and I stress only - if you don't easily vomit at how little someone knows about cultural phenomena such as the Simpsons. You have been warned.
I'm on familiar territory here in as much as I have no idea what I'm doing with this groovy slot machine emulator skill.
What does your name mean and how popular was it last year? Find out with this groovy skill - so long as it isn't Robin, Peter or Jo/Joe that is.
In the first of these two True or False trivia-based games you are pitched head-to-head against similarly-skilled opponents from around the world. Then we look at a version that is a sudden-death against your family or friends. There's also a surprise appearance from an earlier superstar guest host. Hold on tight!
I'm imagining that Dad's Army needs no introduction - and hence this skill likewise needs no explanation. If you're not familiar with the popular radio and television sensation then give it a listen. It's a classic.
Can you guess the movie from the notable quote? Test your metal with this movie-related multiple-choice quiz skill. And we'll also get some random (and sometimes repeated) bits of movie trivia too.
What's Joey's favourite food? Why is Chandler named after a search engine? Who got their teeth whitened and had a smile to blind even someone wearing sunglasses? I've no idea if we'll find out the answers to these questions using this skill but we'll definitely discover similar stuff related to everyone's favourite TV show. Oh and BTW, if you're friends of this podcast please think about rating it on iTunes - thanks oodles.
He's pugnacious, he's slightly more than half-senile, but he's really funny (or at least I think he is). He's Count Arthur Strong and I'd recommend you give his radio series a go.
Just about to step out of the door for that well-earned and long-yearned-for holiday (that's a vacation for people across the pond) when you're suddenly riddled with doubt. Did you possibly forget some vital item? Let this skill take the strain.
Brace yourselves for a mental exploration of a mind maze in five dimensions. You've stuck with me this far so don't give up on me now guys. Also a nice quickie skill related to that most excellent of cult films; Labyrinth.
Like Twenty Questions or the Animal Game, this skill invites you to think of something - in this case a person either real or imaginary - and Alexa will guess it after a few questions (and possibly a few detours too as this skill seems to go off on tangents from time to time but get's there in the end).
Consider adding this excellent daily tech roundup from the TWiT network to your news briefing. Go to twit.tv for a wide range of daily and weekly podcast that are about all things tech - each is available in HD and SD video as well as MP3 only. I subscribe to several and couldn't do without them.
Not your average 'choose your own adventure' game - more a case of medieval estate management with the added spice that the King might, at any moment, chop your jolly old head off.
In today's episode we look at two skills that will help ensure that you and your chosen partner enjoy a long-lasting and fulfilling relationship. The first called Naughty Dice is a bit saucy, whilst Before the Knot encourages you to discuss all those important subjects you need to cover off before a big commitment.
This skill brings this classic radio (and TV) series to the Echo. Enjoy every minute of every episode of this funny and often very touching timeless radio show.
Come with me through countless colourful doors while we explore a maze of halls full of amazing objects. I've no idea what I'm doing with this one...
This skill provides us with more alternative words than, towards which, one is able to oscillate a hirsute staff. Oh and BTW, I'm still after your contributions in order to give everyone a very refreshing change. Please send to robin.christopherson@gmail.com - as well as any other comments or feedback you have.
Are you game to set yourself against today's trivia skill and see if you can match its tennis knowledge? Also find out the rankings of all the world's most popular players.
Today we're serving up tennis info like a pro - or at least like someone who has two skills and a radio station to tell you about before Wimbledon starts tomorrow...
Suspiciously devoid of actual tennis-related information, this Wimbledon Facts skill will nevertheless help you learn all about the native environs of the humble Womble.
There are some seriously interesting facts about twins, and this skill has got them all.
Another in this excellent series of skills that bring old-time radio to the Echo, this one brings lovable characters from Dad's Army to a rural railway setting... or siding.
I've got a Golden Ticket (skill), I've got a Golden Ticket (skill) iiiiin my Echo... This skill is all about identifying the actor that plays in two different films. I was completely hopeless at this skill. Not even Kevin Bacon came to my rescue. Oh and I also mention how you can now easily discover groovy skills by asking Alexa to play a game.
For some vaguely-fitness-related tips and a quick look at how to look up calory values on the A-lady check out today's skill.
Today we're looking at another in the excellent series of skills where you're pitched against the A-lady to see who can name the most items starting with a certain letter - in this case on the topic of the boy who lived. And don't forget that you-know-who' starts with a 'V'.
Probably the most sophisticated D&D-style skill to date, Six Swords leads you through a complex landscape with complicated gameplay. This one takes interactive fiction games to a new level.
Two more skills in the '... Letters' series. Can you pull boys and girls names out of the air quickly enough to beat the A-lady? Can you be similarly swift with US states, state capitals and national parks? Will this be a red letter day for mental dexterity?
What connects the Himalayas, Bladerunner and Hazel O'Connor? Er... probably just today's episode.
Learn strange and obscure facts about NYC with today's first skill - and then let's get even more bizarre by turning your Echo into a voice-enabled (if a little feeble) flashlight.
Today we look at a skill that serves up quality quotes from the master of black humour himself, as well as a useful skill to help banish boredom whenever it rears, adder-like, its hypnotic head.
Today's skills are spookily similar to the Animal Letters skill we've already covered, but with different topics and groovy sound effects. Enjoy.
Anagrams, hangman and more according to the description, but as yet only anagrams have revealed themselves to me in this good word-based skill which also includes the ability to battle your friends.
We're still without voice calling or messaging here in the UK (sob) but at least we now get reminder notifications on our beloved Echos. I also finish off this episode with a quick reminder (see what I did there?) that you can download all 139 episodes to date and also very cheekily and brazenly ask for you to take 2mins to put up a review on iTunes.
Great name for a travel-related skill. This one's just for UK bods I'm afraid, and even then only those who want to know either the cheapest or quickest rail journey between any two stations.
This is a must-hear skill that brings the classic 80s TV show 'Only Fools and Horses' to the Echo. I need say no more - except perhaps that if you don't give this one a go then you're a real plonker, as Del Boy would say.
How well do you know your periodic table? This multiple-choice quiz will help you know your Pb from your Pu - which, quite frankly, could be a lifesaver.
The classic playground/dinner party game Alexafied for our equal parts delectation and distress.
In this skil we're taken to a busy restaurant where a mysterious woman appears at your table, asks you to kiss her and then flees for her life (nothing to do with your smooching abilities), pausing only to give you a small vile of green liquid - not for washing up. Of course your choices might end up with a very different story...
What's even more awe-inspiring than Milton Keynes? The universve of course. Come with me on a journey of discovery with this groovy space-related random fact generating skill.
Not exactly timely but today we look at ways of getting useful election-related info from Alexa - including how each party is doing, as well as the UK Parliament Facts skill.
I know - you don't have to tell me; yam, yam, yam, yam, yam, yam, yam, yam, yam, yam, yam, yam, yam, yam, yam, yam, yam, yam, yam, yam, yam.
Today we first look at a nice skill called Tricky Gini. Hear a short story and then choose one of the gini's three sacks to help solve our protagonists problem. I then confuse everyone trying to explain the Monty Hall car, goat, goat conundrum.
Today's skill serves us a daily curated playlist of well-read articles that are positively crying out to be enjoyed. This one's definitely on my daily go-to list of skills.
This skill certainly won't be everyone's cup of tea, but if you have a knack for remembering a random array of colourful cards then Memory Match might be for you.
If you like a good burp you'll love this skill. Warning - you know exactly what you're in for...
Warning, warning, thrice times a warning; this episode contains a dangerous number of my own jokes intermingled with the Corny Dad jokes supplied by this groovy skill.
Test your multiplication, division, addition and subtraction abilities to the very limit with this excellent skill. If multiplication, division, addition and subtraction really aren't your thing, you never know but you may still find this episode intersting. Just don't blame me if you don't.
There's real value in hypnotherapy (or so someone with a strangely compelling voice once explained to me) so this skill may well help you overcome a fear or habit. There are a number of sessions spoken by trained hypnotherapist, Barry Thane, so sit back, relax and take it all in.
This skill has oodles of dishes from noodles to fishes. Whatever your fancy there's bound to be a recipe that meats your kneads. This really is the most comprehensive cooking skill we've looked at yet.
From drapes to drains, from cars to covers, from sinks to sofas, this skill will tell you how to clean them all of any unsightly stain, belligerennt blockage or malingering mark. This is by far the most clever cleaning skill yet.
I can't remember if I've done this one already. It's called erm... ummm... Memory Thingy.
If you've got a guitar knocking around the house that you've always meant to learn how to play then this skill's for you. It'll even help you tune it first. When you're done just write a song about how good this skill is.
Magic Dice is a skill that will predict a number you omit after pecking around on your calculator's keypad, multiplying as many single digits as you care to, and finally speaking out the answer to Alexa (missing out one random digit). Confused? Listen on, Macduff.
A messy episode today covering the newly remastered Sergeant Pepper album, renaming songs to make them easier to invoke and the UK Met Office regional skills.
In today's episode my son, Sam, shows us just how much knowledge about the prenier league is crammed into his brain - even obscure facts dating back to last season which is the rather dated domain of this skill. The league finished last Sunday so perhaps an updated version will be coming out soon.
In this second episode dedicated to Star Wars we look at two skills; Unofficial Star Wars Quotes which will give you lots of juicy quotes, and Unofficial Star Wars Trivia which is a nice multiple choice game. Both, you'll be pleased to know, only cover the original three films.
Today we're commemorating the fact that on this day forty years ago the first Star Wars film was released. We'll look at two skills; Trivia Game for Star Wars which is a great multiple choice quiz and the random fact generator; Star Wars Unofficial. The odds of tomorrow bringing part 2 are significantly better than 3720 to 1.
Test your knowledge about all things Apple with this quick multiple-choice quiz. Whilst I do obviously love Apple products, rest assured A-lady that Amazon's products will always have a uniquely special place in my heart.
A bit of a departure today as we're just looking at a playlist of 70s and 80s TV show theme tunes available in Prime Music - but it's so cool that we just had to include it. If you're ancient like me then please do put on some comfortable shoes and let's take a stroll down memory lane. If you're younger than that then just shake your head at how corny theme tunes were back then.
Sorry it's taken me so long to get around to covering this extremely useful feature of the humble Dot. Connecting to a Bluetooth speaker can significantly boost your audio, if you really want to annoy the neighbours further down your street.
Put a message in a bottle and see who picks it up. Pick up others' bottles and send them a reply. Sounds good? It is (except for the dodgy grammar that abounds in this skill).
Three skills; Minecraft Fan Did You Know, Crafting Coach and Crafter Quiz. You'll have to listen to today's episode to find out what they do - my health rating is too low to explain.
It's here. An unofficial but nevertheless pretty faithful version of the classic multiple-choice adventure game. Open the mailbox and let the fun begin.
What is black and blue and red all over? A boxer whose really embarrassed about how badly he lost. Actually that's more like a joke than a riddle - and a bad one at that but I did just make it up. In this episode we look at Alexa's built-in riddling functionality and two riddle skills; Riddle Me and Riddle Me This.
Something strange has moved into the caves under Thornhill. Are you brave enough to sit in the safety of your own home and explore this virtual and entirely imaginary menacing maze? For the sake of humanity (or at least Thornhill) I sincerely hope so...
Can you capture the correct meaning of an obscure word from a number of abstruse decoy definitions designed to obfuscate? Me neither - most of the time.
Try not to think about lice floating in a cup of water as you listen to this really groovy and nicely produced audio truth or lie multiple choice skill.
My very sanity is in jeopardy playing this skill which, as you will only too readily see, is totally beyond my meagre abilities. Good luck playing this excellent skill which seems very faithful to the US TV show.
For our visually-impaired listeners, in this additional episode Randy and Jason give us a brief demo of the updated Alexa app with new calling features using the built-in screen-reader; VoiceOver.
In this episode, the first contributed by you fab listeners to Dot to Dot, Randy Rusnak (@Thebigr on Twitter) and Jason Castonguay (@Jcast) take us through the new built-in capabilities of the Echo to do voice calls, voice messaging and texts. Please send them a tweet to tell them what stars they are.
Love it or hate it you just can't ignore it (not if you live in Europe anyway). Personally I love it. Only a few short days to go before the spectacle begins and the UK inevitably comes last. 12 points go to this skill!
After mentioning in todays episode my favourite line of author Douglas Adams, I went and dug out the first ever (and only) recording I made with the iOS app Songify. I spoke the phrase just once into the app and pressed play and this is what I got back. I never used the app again as, well, how can you top that??
On this day in 2001 the much loved author of the Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, Douglas Adams, died aged only 49. In this episode we pay tribute to his works with no fewer than four skills; Radio Hitch-Hiker's Guide, Marvin the Depressed Android, Unofficial Douglas and My Ching. Apologies for the audio quality in part of the episode - no idea what went on there.
This fascinating skill convinced me beyond a shadow of a doubt that I'm not worthy to be a UK citizen. I wouldn't even pass the entrance exam.
In this additional episode I repeat the invitation for anyone to contribute a demo - even Alexa's getting sick of my voice. Please just send your suggestions or contributions to robin.christopherson@gmail.com. I also repeat my shameless request for reviews on iTunes and shares on social media. The threat still dangles...
This skill guarantees to improve your likelihood of surviving a zombie apocalypse by a minimum of 12%. Thus I would strongly recommend that nobody pass up the opportunity of learning everything that this skill has to offer before it's too late.
If you want to know how to clean various dirty things around your home then today's skill is for you. Finally invite friends round after putting into practice this virtual old lady's sage suggestions.
Today we look at a skill which will serve as a handy reference guide whenever you watch something that includes a Londoner speaking the vernacular. And you're wrong if you think that Cockney rhyming slang is well and truly brown bread - it aint mate.
Learn how to defeat any number of foes both real or fantastic with a variety of household objects (or more conventional weapons if you prefer) with today's skill; Combat. No actual creatures were harmed in the making of this episode.
Thith epithode ith all about Thtar Warth. Ahem. We'll look at how Alexa can now play Star Wars music, tell Star Wars jokes and which is better; Star Wars or Star Trek?
This is a groovy skill to compliment the radio stations provided by TuneIn. Supposing to have a more local leaning, I'll let you decide for yourself.
Today we look at a skill that can provide valuable advice in the event of everyday accidents such as sprains, burns, broken bones and nosebleeds. It doesn't cover CPR and I'm still looking for a good skill that does, but the ones I've found all have slightly different advice so I'm still a bit confused. This is normal.
We're all supposed to breathe from our bellies, so listen very carefully to today's skill and learn how it's done.
I apologise in advance for today's Driving Directions skill which only applies to the UK, and then probably only to people who live in small villages. After that we look at how much Alexa knows about nearby businesses, their contact info and opening times.
Are you a Star Trek fan? Do you like hearing facts from nerds on topics you're interested in? If so then stop wriggling for a second and I'll beam you up.
Today's skill is a doozy. It's another choose-your-own adventure story but with considerable attitude. Can you find Nora Langford before the bad guys do? BTW still not enough reviews to go through with my threat to post two-a-day for a week so if you have a mo please go to iTunes and give DTD a rating.
If you like James Bond films then you'll love this quiz. And if, like me, you don't know the first thing about half the films then you'll still like it because it has summaries of each movie too. Licensed to entertain.
In this episode we look at another skill that gives you an insight into what happened on a given day going back deeper and deeper over the years. Phew - what a lot's gone on!
In today's episode we take a look at a skill that will give you all sorts of wholesome advice about living a healthier life. Prepare to be inspired and informed to achieve even greater heights of healthiness.
Today we're taking a look at the skill that turns your Echo into an irascible cat (guaranteed to drive all dogs within earshot totally up the wall) as well as the soothing sound of a crackling fire brought to you by another ambient noise-generating skill.
There's a lot of sky up there and a lot of stuff going on in it (especially if you live in England) and the Big Sky skill will help you make the most of it with to-the-minute, hyperlocalised, weather info. BTW still no stars on iTunes but the threat of double-posting for a week still looms...
If you would like hair that positively tops the rest then this skill is for you. Thanks to these tips my hair is never unruly, flyaway or out of control. It just sits there on my head behaving itself.
Like maths (note the 's') yes or no? Yes? Good, let's go. No? Feel free to reclaim 7mins and 3secs of your life by skipping this one.
In this additional episode I mention a couple of new tips for built-in A-lady functionality and unashamedly plug the excellent Maccessibility podcast. Subscribe through any podcatching app, iTunes or by going to Maccessibility.net.
In this episode we get an update on the 7 Minute Workout skill, look at Train Me and also a secret bonus skill that is also completely and entirely training related... honest.
Did you know that the first person fined for speeding in the UK was Walter Arnold in 1896 who was travelling at 8mph in a 2mph area? Me niether - until I used the History Hit skill that is. BTW still intend to carry out my threat to put up two episodes a day if people rate DTD on iTunes - thanks.
Today we look at the Guessing Game skill - probably one of the most stupid skills yet (and that's saying something). Pit your general knowledge wits against this trivia multiple choice game with mostly random/bonkers answers.
In this episode we look at some new features including the ability to unlock Easter eggs by solving a small puzzle or two and how to get a quick sports update of your favourite teams. Apologies if you already spotted the Easter egg mention in your weekly Echo email - this episode was recorded before Friday. BTW we still need more reviews on iTunes for me to carry out my threat to publish two episodes a day for a week so please do rate DTD when you have a mo.
Come with me to the foggy and everso-slightly-American version of Baker Street where we begin another intriguing adventure with the famous detective and his faithful partner. Pipe not provided.
In this episode we look at a second Dr. Who skill which tests our knowledge of the well-known television series. Hope you do better than I do in another spectacular general knowledge catastrophe.
In this episode we look at two skills to help you be a bit more active every day. Walk More will provide useful tips to help you, well, walk more whilst Running Guru may even inspire you to break into a run. Then reward yourself with doughnuts.
Want to know whether today is the right day to make a major decision or try a double backflip? If so then the Biorhythm skill will tell you just how rash a choice that might be. We also look at the Health Nut skill which will tell you exactly how many bones you'll break in your foot if you land badly.
Let's go waaaay back through the mists of time to see what happened on any given day with this groovy History Wizard skill. I miss nostalgia.
Today I'll show you how you can now play this podcast on your Echo - although Alexa will be triggered left, right and centre without taking precautions. I also come cap-in-hand and ask that you rate Dot to Dot on iTunes pretty please with red Jelly Babies stuck on top.
In this episode we look at the new Grand Tour features now available on your Echo - there's a lovely new alarm sound to shout you out of bed and the Grand Tour skill to quiz you on the series and unlock bonus content.
A feature that's new this week is the ability for Alexa to read your Kindle books. You can now pick a book from your library and listen, knowing that your place will be saved even when you switch between books. Say hello to really affordable reading on your Echo.
In this episode we look at a cool geography-related skill. See if your talents in this area are as lamentable as mine - or are you a geography quiz whizz?
Today we look at two skills; the first will undoubtedly help you become at least twice as beautiful (unless that's not practically possible as you're too close to perfection already) and the second will help whiten those teeth after yesterday's coffee.
If you're like me and don't know your macchiato from your mochaccino then this episode's for you. We'll look at the excellent Coffee Chef skill, topping it off with a lovely creamy dollop that is the recommendation for the quick, easy and cheap coffee maker; the Aerobie Aeropress.
In this slightly sunny, slightly creepy, episode we check out the built-in singing skills of Alexa and then a humming skill which sounds spookily like the A-lady herself.
Come along for the ride as you explore the mysterious house and its subterranean environs. Ignore Barry - he's just grouchy.
In this episode we look at the skill called One Liners which does pretty much what it says on the tin; if it's a tin labeled 'One Liners' containing a mixture of pretty good jokes that each include only one full-stop, that is.
In this episode (the last now until Christmas I'm afraid) we look at the April-fool-related features of Alexa and also touch upon tomorrow's almost-certainly-ill-fated Oxford-Cambridge boatrace. What a lot of hyphens! Bye for now and "Merry Christmas!"
With no political agenda whatsoever I bring you Crazy Trump Facts. if anyone can find me an equivalent for other presidents I'd be happy to feature it. In the meantime enjoy or endure this skill.
Need a nap? Seeking some sounds to soothe you to sleep? If so then this skill should provide everything you need - so long as you're able to snooze within range of your Echo that is.
This episode's skill is all about times tables. Like 'em or loath 'em you can't live without 'em. See if you can get past level 1 (out of 10!!)
In this episode we look at two skills that, if you're anything like me, will show you how little you know about music. In the first we have to guess the band from the title of the song, and the second gives us some lyrics from which we guess the song. Simple - if you know your stuff that is.
In today's episode we look at a word-related skill that will test your vocabulary, or guessing skills, to the very limit. Feeling erudite? If not are you feeling very brainy? Good - let's go.
Let's dip into the rich archives of these old-time radio mysteries immortalised in this skill. Sit back and prepare to be entertained.
In this episode we look at a skill called On My Way which is very similar to the National Rail skill reviewed previously - if a little more sophisticated. In fact I'd say it was just the ticket if you're planning on travelling by train in the UK any time soon.
Two skills today based on guessing. Guess My Age will amaze and astound (small children who don't know any better)and Guess My Number is your basic higher-lower but still a bit of fun.
Prepare to be scared half out of your wits - but only if you are already 49/50 out of them already. Grab a cocoa and settle down for another mildly disturbing episode.
If you have an Audible account then you can play your books through the Echo. You can skip forward and back by various amounts including chapter. Enjoy.
If you've recently tried to play Twenty Questions and found it gone then take heart - it's back. Sort of.
In this episode we take a look at a truly frightening skill called Dinosaur Facts and Sounds - ooer. This is episode 50 so please tell your friends with a tiny little tweet. Birds are, after all, the dinosaurs still among us. If you use the hashtag #Echomagic I'll be sure to spot it and give a tiny little hoot like a Consognathus.
In this episode we look at a really nice skill where you have to guess animals starting with a certain letter against the clock and against Alexa. If you're liking these demos or have any suggestions please tweet me at USA2DAY
In case you want a little more St. Patrick goodness, this episode looks at the tips provided by Amazon to 'help you get your green on'.
Unsurprisingly you can buy things from Amazon using your Amazon Echo. In fact it's awesomely easy - perhaps too easy - but you do have 30mins to cancel...
Steve Jobs could be pretty inspiring, and this skill is brimming over with choice excerpts from key motivational speaches by a number of such people. Stir your heart into action each day with a bit of inspiration.
OK, undoubtedly the most stupid skill yet (and that's saying something), Elf Name Generator will bestow upon you your new name which anyone overhearing will probably then use from now on - so be warned.
In this episode we look at a great skill called Beat the Intro. Containing two separate games; Six Pack and Triple Play, your song-spotting skills will be stretched to the limit.
Do you dare try to find a way out of the dangerous field? Ooooh, it's scary. Actually it's just stupid - but I like it.
If you've ever wanted to know what those mumbled lyrics to your favourite songs were then this skill is for you.
In this episode we look at three groovy animal-related skills; Animal Quiz, Baby Animals and Fun Animal Facts.
If you're into Dr Who then this is the skill for you. If you're not then you can still enjoy me being hopeless at it as I'm certainly not very familiar with this cult series as I should be myself.
In this episode we look at the built-in capability of Alexa to give you match times and scores in the UK and across Europe, and then we look at the Football on TV skill which will help you find out where to watch them.
We could all do with slowing down from time to time - even if it's just for one minute. In this episode we look at a skill that offers a number of relaxing minute-long meditations that might help.
This time we look at a truly fantastic skill called Translate It. Not only can you ask for translations into one of several dozen languages, but Alexa magically changes her accent to give you the best pronunciation.
In this episode we cover four extremely simple skilss that give you nice, soothing sounds to help you work, rest or play; a thunderstorm, ocean, babbling brook and birdsong.
In this episode we look at the skill called Animal Game - it's like the Twenty Questions skill but just for animals. Which of the two skils is able to put their digital finger on a virtual hippo?
In this episode we look at two skills; the first is Crown Quiz in which I show how little I know about our countries monarchs and the second is Queen Facts which might not be exactly what you think...
In this episode we look at another fantasy adventure game called Shadow Realm. Not as rich as RuneScape perhaps, but still lots of fun.
This episode is for everyone interested in looking up at the night sky. The Astronomy Guide skill tells you what to look out for on a given night, or just whether the sky will be clear for a star-gazing party.
In this episode we look at using the built-in weather function, as well as the Wind Report, Couch Potato and Weather Facts skills.
In this episode we look at some handy tips on working with the timers and alarms features built in to your Echo.
In this episode we look at two skills that should appeal to HP fans everywhere. The first is a quiz to test your knowledge of all seven books plus the recent Cursed Child, and the second is a sorting ceremony skill that will put you in yor place.
This excellent skill allows you to peruse your favourite stories from The Guardian and have them read to you. Easily find and listen to news, film reviews, sport stories and podcasts in areas that interest you.
In this episode I demonstrate how you can fill in the gaps in Alexa's Prime music library by adding your own tunes. By the way, if you like my little podcast I'd really appreciate a mention on Twitter so I know you're out there - I'm @USA2DAY and thanks muchly.
Do you know a cuckoo from a Canada Goose or a pigeon from a puffin? I certainly don't but might do one day with the help of this excellent Birdsong skill.
This time we look at getting Alexa to roll dice and toss coins to help with games we may be playing with friends, and then at the topic-choosing skill to help us play the popular long-running Radio 4 game Just a Minute.
In this episode we look at the handy UK TV Guide skill that'll provide info on what's on now as well as up-coming shows on all the freeview channels including, bizarrely enough, radio.
In this episode we get two for the price of one. First is a verbal version of Simon Says and the second a trip down memory lane, featuring a single clip from each year that captures the zeitgeist.
In this episode we take a look at the Mini Chef skill that provides ingredients and cooking instructions for oodles of dishes - happy cooking!
In this episode we look at two great skills to do with wordplay - Word Associations for the quick thinker and Palindromes to twist your thoughts backwards.
In this episode we look at how we can enhance the calendar capabilities of our Echo with this handy scheduling skill that's free to use for individuals.
In this episode we look at the out of this world Space Station skill and then finish off with my suggestion for the best flash briefing.
Whether it will make you weep, laugh or gird your loins for war it might be that you are interested in hearing the latest tweet from the US' 45th president...
This UK-only skill quickly gives you details of times and delays for your daily commute, or specify another departure and destination to get info on other up-coming services.
In this episode we look at the compelling audio adventure game RuneScape. Based upon the popular graphical online roll-play of the same name, this version is definitely not for younger children.
In this episode we look at a completely daft skill that tells bizarre bedtime stories to a named person.
In this episode we cover a quick tip about setting up a commute by car and asking Alexa to let us know how long it should take based on current levels of traffic.
In this episode we look at the (possibly obvious) fact that you can play music or other media whilst at the same time using skills.
This episode includes a tip about how to make sure you can access the media you're after. Sometimes it's a bit tricky until you've tuned in to the way it's done.
In this episode we explore how asking Alexa for interesting facts can give a better class of trivia. Just be sure not to ask for another one unless you're in a funny mood.
Did you know that you can add and review your appointments with Alexa's built-in calendar? In this episode we look at the uses, and limitations, of this handy feature.
In this episode we take a look at the amazing skill that is Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. See if you can beat me by finding an actor that's separated by more than 3 degrees from the prolific Kevin.
Did you know that you can connect your phone to your Echo and use it as a Bluetooth speaker? In this episode we look at how you can use voice commands to play media from another device.
In this episode we play a quick and easy trivia game that will help you to learn your capital cities. Easy that is unless you're a complete dullard like me.
In this episode we look at the skill that gives you real-time data about all UK bus stops. Fiddly to set up but once it is you're good to go.
In this episode we look at a game called Twenty Questions which is a breathtakingly insightful skill created by Amazon. Amaze yourself and your friends when she reads your mind.
In this episode we put the Chef skill through its paces. It can suggest substitute ingredients when we don't have the right one and can also convert cups measures to grams or ounces.
In this episode we'll look at a sneaky tip for how to use Wikipedia to get more information than Alexa would usually provide.
In this first episode we look at the interactive adventure game skill The Magic Door. With great sound effects and querky gameplay it's a good place to get this new shiny podcast-ball rolling.