Alexa named timers and reminders

[hum099]

I live in Canada and have a number of echo dots. I have them setup with a US zip code. The only function that I do not have is local weather. (I use Bigsky for this). Has anyone in Canada got the new named timers and reminders to work in Canada. This seems strange because the echo calling was recently released and it works perfectly.

[rahnee]

Yes, I too am in Canada and have 4 Dots, two of the v2 and 2 v1.  Both work fine with named timers.  I say "Alexa, set Egg timer for 3 minutes" and "she" responds "Egg timer set for 3 minutes".  Every once in a while "she" doesn't hear the name of the timer I requested and just sets a standard timer.  

 

Try speaking slowly and annunciate clearly the name of the timer and then the time.  That is the easiest way to see if it is being picked up properly. 

 

My current firmware:

v1: 5822

v2: 578223820

[hum099]

Do you have just a Zip code setup or do you have a compete US address set up in location. I have tried speaking slowly. i have 1 echo and 1 version 1 dot and 5 version 2 dots. Tried on every one of them. Does your reminders also work.

[larryllix]

None of that works with my Echoes or Dots. I thought maybe certain names for timers may be the answer but sadly no.

 

I tried your "set egg timer for three minutes" exact wording but I only get the generic timer with the response "Three minutes. Starting now"

Edited June 7, 2017 by larryllix

[rahnee]

Do you have just a Zip code setup or do you have a compete US address set up in location. I have tried speaking slowly. i have 1 echo and 1 version 1 dot and 5 version 2 dots. Tried on every one of them. Does your reminders also work.

 

I actually have two different setups.  My v1 devices were previously setup, via http updates, to use my Canadian address.  This allowed me to get local information like weather, restaurants, traffic etc.  This functionality no longer works to set the address and when asking for weather informs me that it can not get info for the current location.   V2 devices use a US address.

 

Even though, both v1 and v2 provide named timers without issue.  

 

Do you have the devices associated with a US or Canadian Amazon account?  Mine are US accounts.

 

 

 

None of that works with my Echoes or Dots. I thought maybe certain names for timers may be the answer but sadly no.

 

I tried your "set egg timer for three minutes" exact wording but I only get the generic timer with the response "Three minutes. Starting now"

 

 

Your system sw versions match or are newer then the ones stated above?  Are your devices associated with US or CA amazon accounts?

 

 

Hate to go to basics....have you tried rebooting the device?  You never know....

 

 

Sample attached...

Test Timer.mp3

Reminder.mp3

Edited June 8, 2017 by rahnee

[hum099]

Mine are associated with CA account. But all other features seem to work.

[rahnee]

Mine are associated with CA account. But all other features seem to work.

It doubt it is related to account type, It is a function of the firmware version.   I do notice that if I speak too quickly it sometimes doesn't catch the "Name" of the timer, however I think that is more related to voice training as I recently reset that as I was not being heard properly.

[Outlander]

None of that works with my Echoes or Dots. I thought maybe certain names for timers may be the answer but sadly no.

 

I tried your "set egg timer for three minutes" exact wording but I only get the generic timer with the response "Three minutes. Starting now"

 

I just tried mine this morning on my older Echo with my Canadian address and on the newer Dots with a US address.

Both work with timers and reminders as expected.

[hum099]

still cant get it to work.

Edited June 8, 2017 by hum099

[larryllix]

Mine are associated with CA account. But all other features seem to work.

There is no Canadian accounts. Amazon never approved usage in Canada and very little is supported yet. Alexa doesn't understand provinces yet. Only a few major cities are supported for weather in Canada.

 

Seems to me you came up with a new feature a month, or so, before many others got it.

Amazon has dished out new features on a few-at-a-time basis the last time, so I should expect this later.

 

My Echo and Dot firmware matches the other ones rahnee posted. The internal firmware does not do the voice parsing or phrase interpretations. It should be the cloud software doing the upgrade.

Edited June 8, 2017 by larryllix

[paulbates]

The "Alexa set the <timer name> timer for 5 minute" is a new feature that has appeared very recently for me.. I caught it just a few days ago.

 

All of the other words other than your timer name are known to alexa, you need to be sure she can hear you well for the timer name.

 

I've not had a problem with it using words like "Rice", "Oven", etc. Its better for the whole family this way, if the alarm goes off when you're not right there, someone else knows what the timer is for.

 

Paul

[larryllix]

The "Alexa set the <timer name> timer for 5 minute" is a new feature that has appeared very recently for me.. I caught it just a few days ago.

 

All of the other words other than your timer name are known to alexa, you need to be sure she can hear you well for the timer name.

 

I've not had a problem with it using words like "Rice", "Oven", etc. Its better for the whole family this way, if the alarm goes off when you're not right there, someone else knows what the timer is for.

 

Paul

I am sure Amazon was bombarded for requests for this feature. It will make timers so much more useful.

 

I await my upgrade to their new server bank.

[paulbates]

I am sure Amazon was bombarded for requests for this feature. It will make timers so much more useful.

 

I await my upgrade to their new server bank.

 

I'm liking the "Clean litter box" timer, 20 minutes... right as I leave the house

[gweempose]

I doubt it is related to account type. It is a function of the firmware version. 

 

Dumb question, but how do I check the firmware version on my Echos and Dots?

[larryllix]

Dumb question, but how do I check the firmware version on my Echos and Dots?

It's in a menu under the amazon alaexa app.

All units run the same firmware. The upgrades are automatic but are dished out on a slow list basis.

Edited June 10, 2017 by larryllix

[superjer2000]

I am having the exact same issue as hum099.  I'm in Canada, I have three v2 Echo Dots and none of them are working with named timers or reminders.  It has nothing to do with Alexa understanding me as the Alexa app shows she is properly capturing the request.  In addition, the web-based Alexa app should have a section for Timers and Reminders but mine is still just Timers and Alarms.  My Echo Dots are running the latest software, I am using a US address and I have reset all three of them and still no luck.  A guy I work with also can't get this to work.  I use the same Amazon account in Canada and the US.

 

This doesn't seem to be a very common issue.  Someone else in Australia (also an unsupported country) was having the same problem.

 

I think they may have Geofenced this update to some extent.

 

Hum099, any luck in getting it working?

[rahnee]

I am having the exact same issue as hum099. I'm in Canada, I have three v2 Echo Dots and none of them are working with named timers or reminders. It has nothing to do with Alexa understanding me as the Alexa app shows she is properly capturing the request. In addition, the web-based Alexa app should have a section for Timers and Reminders but mine is still just Timers and Alarms. My Echo Dots are running the latest software, I am using a US address and I have reset all three of them and still no luck. A guy I work with also can't get this to work. I use the same Amazon account in Canada and the US.

 

This doesn't seem to be a very common issue. Someone else in Australia (also an unsupported country) was having the same problem.

 

I think they may have Geofenced this update to some extent.

 

Hum099, any luck in getting it working?

I'm in Canada too and my dots are hit and miss. Sometimes named timers work and sometimes not. I have not figured why. The inconsistency is annoying and clearly not geofenced.

 

As far as the app goes, mine says Alerts and Timers. Then when you select it it has three headers, Reminders, Alarms, Timers.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[superjer2000]

Thanks Rahnee.  One of the screen shots I saw showed Reminders and Alarms.  When I select Alerts and Timers, I just see Alarms and Timers.  That's on the iOS app that has been updated to the newest version and the web version.  I have just tried to reset my Dots again, I created a new US amazon.com account (only linked to .com) and I have the microphone muted to see if it will maybe continue its firmware update. (assuming that broke).  

[larryllix]

Did Amazon actually announce this ugrade?

[superjer2000]

Yes - it came out June 1st.  

[larryllix]

Yes - it came out June 1st.  

Thanks. I was beginning to wonder why it never worked for many of us.

[larryllix]

I just tried my son's Dot and Granddaughters Dot. Neither of them support named timers either.

 

Sent from my SGH-I257M using Tapatalk

[Yoda_One]

Isn't it the same device here in the lower 48 it works great.

 

Laughing at Oneself and with others is Good for the Soul

Edited July 21, 2017 by Yoda_One

[superjer2000]

I sent a note to Amazon and this is what they responded with.  Kind of disappointing and senseless.  

 

Thank you for contacting Alexa Support Team.

I understand that you've residing in Canada and got 3 Echo Dot devices. The functions named timers, reminders and drop-in functions are not working on these devices.

I would like to inform you that as of now most of the Alexa services are available only in United states of America, United Kingdom, Austria and Germany due to the restrictions of functions in other countries.

Alexa drop-in and Alexa to Alexa calling and messaging feature is currently available only for the Alexa users residing in the United States.

Also you're facing issues with the other services because of your country of residence (Canada). I'm sorry, as of now all the Alexa services are not available for Canada due to the restrictions of your residential country.

Please be informed that our Alexa development team is working hard to make Alexa and its services available throughout worrld. In this case, I've forwarded your query to our Alexa development team for review and consideration, so that they will look into this and come up with the possible options in the nearest future.

We have a dedicated team who works on customer's feedback and I'm glad that you have contacted us regarding this. Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention and letting us know what we can be done to improve the Alexa experience.

[mwester]

I can't imagine that Amazon doesn't want Canadians' business.  So, one is forced to conclude that there's some other reason.

 

Most probably the reason is language -- I wonder if Amazon's legal team has determined that for some reason Alexa would need to speak and understand French (at least the French-Canadian dialect)?  (Does Alexa speak/understand German?  I didn't think so... but then Germany doesn't have a requirement similar to the bilingual laws in Canada, either...)

 

Or, it could just be the legal system.  Perhaps there's a liability issue with the Echo that Amazon just doesn't feel it's worth dealing with.

 

Just curious; it makes no difference in the end, I suppose.