Amazon Firestick question.

[Chris Hogg]

I have an Amazon Firestick (Software version Fire OS 5.2.6.9 (632552020)) connected to a Samsung TV model UE42F5000AKXXU, and powered from a mains plug with 5V USB output (powering it from the TV USB port resulted in very intermittent behaviour. Not enough juice, I assume).

The Firestick hasn't had much use. It was bought primarily for my late wife who had Parkinson's disease, didn't go out much and liked watching films. Sadly, she is no longer with me. But I'm beginning to use it for myself, mostly on BBC I-player to watch series that I've missed or that I want to catch up on.

But my hearing isn't what it was, and on some of the programmes I could really do with subtitles, but I can't see how to turn them on, assuming that the programme I'm watching has them, which I imagine they would have. Can anyone help?

Another question: the Firestick is equipped with Alexa, but a lot of the commands I give it aren't recognised. There must be a list of Alexa commands somewhere on the 'net, but I haven't yet found them. Can anyone point me to them?

[Davey]

Don't be so sure. BBC programmes usually do, even if their quality is dubious, ITV ditto; Talking Pictures never has them in my experience. The others are hit and miss, Yesterday, Drama, etc are all in the 'sometimes' category. But if you use BBC1 as the definite confirmation channel, you can trust that. I imagine that it has subtitles on I-Player if it had them when broadcast.

[Jac Brown]

There is no list because they keep doing more all the time.

When I setup my Echo Dot I now regularly get an email from amazon listing what Alexa can do, forget if I asked for that or it was automatic.

I find it does recognise most of what I ask it for, just a few quirks with how it behaves differently to Siri. With Siri I can ask it to tell me the range of temperatures that the Hue movement sensors are recording with just 'hey siri room temperature. With alexa it will tell you what each one is showing but you have to ask for it by name.

If you ask alexa for the current temperature it will also give you the forecast high or low depending on the time of day. With siri you have to ask for the forecast but it includes the current temp and cloudy/sunny etc too.

[Vir Campestris]

I think it might support bluetooth headphones. Would that help?

Andy

[Max Demian]

That's like thinking that you can make foreigners understand by shouting at them.

(There's more to comprehension than volume.)

[Chris Hogg]

Yes, reading through the manual, bluetooth headphones are mentioned. I've already routed the TV sound through my Hi-Fi system which sits underneath the TV. That seems to have improved the sound quality a little, but only a little. I'll investigate bluetooth headphones further, but the problem may be with my ears (I wear aids in both!), when subtitles are the better solution.

[Brian Gaff]

Well, firstly if the software has not been updated in that time its going to be very out of date and maybe not good at some things. I think that live tv via it from the web does have subtitles and ATd but they tend to be different streams so its up to the app to sort this out and allow access to the right stream, and that goes for on demand as well. They are probably up, but if the app cannot get to them you are knackered. All but ITV now have new apps containing this I think. Not used the stick for a long time, don't really need it I do have a stand alone echo dot though, and people have said that the remote control version of alexa on the stick is not so easy to use, as I think you need to use a button.

Most commands are common sense but you do need to put the Alexa app onto something. Is it on the stick itself, or on your mobile? I have it on the mobile and it can then see all your devices and gives loads of help with commands and skills and how much they may cost to subscribe to etc. Brian

[Brian Gaff]

Don't be too sure as I've seen stuff on there apparently with bsl inserts but no AD for example and the same seems to go for subtitles. I guess it depends on how they are put into the stream, ise are they decoded in the stick or is the video sent with them shown already. Brian

[Vir Campestris]

Well, it would probably improve my comprehension if you cut out all the background noise and wound up the volume above 12kHz.

Headphones will do the former, and may allow you to adjust the latter without annoying your dog.

Sadly often the background noise is the music.

Andy