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Introduction
I've been working on a project to incorporate Amazon's Alexa into an Android application as a standalone. It started as an Android TV project, and then got ported over to Android mobile. This weekend I finally got the project to work on Android Wear, so now you can speak to (and listen, if you have speakers or connected Bluetooth speakers) Alexa from your wrist. Because I only have access to an LG G Watch, for the moment, I would love to hear any feedback you all have on issues you find or how you think the project can be made better. The more Wear hardware that it's tested with, the better.
Download
You can get the app here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.willblaschko.android.alexalistens or download the APK from the Android TV link above.
More Details
If you want to read a little more about the code behind the implementation, I've done a write up for the TV/phone app here and will be putting together a piece on the Wear app.
Thanks!
Do I need to have an Alexa unit in order for this to work?
Great app, thanks. Ran into a persistent crash issue quickly though. If I uncheck the "Android Wear Preferences"->"Play on mobile" option and try anything from my Huawei watch it shows a message on the phone saying that Alexa Listens has crashed and it does not work. If I leave the option checked it works fine especially where I can hear the voice response on my phone, it was pointless to hear the response from the mobile also which is why I wanted to disable it.
is there a link for a version of this that will install on KitKat? this app looks exciting and I tried downloading earlier apk versions of this app but just get the "error parsing package" pop-up ... really want to try it out but upgrading from android 4.4 on my note 3 probably isn't gonna happen ... this looks awesome thanks
still really excited to try this. i have a Huawei Watch and my phone is Samsung galaxy note 3 on android 4.4 ... my note 3 hasn't exploded yet so I can't risk an upgrade to a newer android version but still really want to try your app!
Wow, this is great. Good work!
oh man this looks like something I really really want ... does anyone know how to alter the apk so I can install this on a Samsung note 3 with android 4.4.2? (modifying build.prop didn't work)
Enjoying the possibilities with this app. I have it on a oneplus 3 with a Huawei Watch. When it works it is great, but quite often from the watch it will not respond. I can then go into settings on the phone app and deactivate the always on listener then reactivate it. After that it works from my watch again for a while... until it doesn't and I have to do the deactivate/reactivate all over again. Any ideas?
works perfect for me, Voice response and all. But i was wondering could u add the option for the mic to auto listen on launch? as oppose to having to click the mic when u want to talk to it, would make it easier to use without all those screen taps
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also this app literaly breathes NEW LIFE into my huawei watch, this feature alone single handly makes my android watch a must have, " Turn off lights " on the wrist and " request a uber" a is exactly what the google claimed the android watch would be bale to do, but until this app was unable to do
Works well, thanks for this. I did remove it but for some reason it still shows up on the watch even though it is not on the phone. Any idea why?
Hi will,
thanks for the great app, I really love it! I just picked up an Asus Zenwatch 3 and this is a Must-Have
As I'm using it quite often now, I tought I should share my experiences.
The ZW3 comes with two mappable buttons, I put Alexa Listens on one of those, that's really convenient. I'd love if Alexa would listen automatically after starting the App, I think this would be a nicer UX.
Alexa Speech Output has some minor flaws. I did some German Skills, which I used for testing. One replies with SSML - audio and speech afterwards (e.g. on Echo Dot), Alexa Listens only plays the audio (but this could be a flaw in my Skill too).
When Alexa isn't understanding my input, there's no real feedback, it just remains silent (or maybe I'm missing something). Echo Dot usually replies with "I didn't understand that" or similar, that's nicer.
@will.blaschko You aren't open sourcing this, are you? Personally, I'm a huge fan of TuneIn on all devices - I'd love to write the player support for the app, just to get it
Thanks again for the great app!
Working on a new version now, so hopefully that'll be available soon --including support for UK/DE.
If you want to look at the source that powers most of the app: https://github.com/willblaschko/AlexaAndroid
New version is in the Play Store, I can post here as well if you want .
will.blaschko said:
New version is in the Play Store, I can post here as well if you want .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Updating right now, will give feedback asap - thanks a lot
Hello!
(Please Forgive my not so good English!),
I use this awesome Skill/App now for a couple of weeks, and it is exactly what I'm looking for, but I have a little Problem!? - I have a Sony-Smartwatch-3, and after Using the App on it, the App starts/reopens itself again and again!? - I must everytime make a Reboot on the Smartwatch to solve this!
Please take a look at it!
Thanks!
RoseL.
Listener Sensitivity!
Hello!
The App is Awesome, but far to Sensitive!? I have Samsung-Galaxy-Tab-S (LTE) with Stock-Android-6.0.1 rooted, and the App reacts all few Seconds!? When I set "Not Sensitive" in the Sensitivity-Options, I can Yell, but the App don't reacts at all, and when I set "Normal", it reacts all the time all few Seconds!? Can You Please add a Possibility to set the voice-sensitivity in percent!? Or a Option between "Not Sensitive" and "Normal"!? I really want to use this App every Day, and I will Donate to, but how it is now, a cannot use it, because it reacts not at all, or every few seconds!?
Thanks!
Problem installing app
Hi I tried to install this app on my Zenwatch 3, however, if I go to the app-store, it says the app is not compatible. What am I doing wrong?
hello,
i got xgpax S99C from dx.com and i realize this watches have full android 5.1.1 and are not WEAR OS so i was searching on the google something about them and i realize full google always find only wear OS and answers on it but this is not wear OS so when i get some app from play store are not optimized for circle display and i have option change view for square but is smaller and my question is:
exist some app for me to be able for example scroll aplication to middle of my display and then i will be able to use menu or buttons on the edges of application ? i cant find any apps. all i found was clockfaces for some KW88 and this works also on my watches
- another question: im looking for some app to monitor my heart rate and sync with google fit. watches have heart monitor but no other options to link with google fit and i cant find working alternative for watches
if i will be able fix this somehow on this smart device i will be happy but until now ...i realize some expensive wear OS, tyzen or another OS watches are mutch better and i recommend to take them instead of this cheap S99C
I made a standalone navigation app for Wear OS! Here's the link to the app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.onibaku.standalonewearmap
Here's the full description on the app so you can get a glance at the features:
Users can type in a location, or long press on the map to input a destination. They can choose to travel via walking, cycling or car.
The app will navigate the user from their current location to the destination using turn-by-turn navigation. Each step is highlighted on the path, with text to show you what action to take, and how long until you reach that step. The map rotates along with the device, so will follow the forward-facing direction of the watch.
The app only needs an internet connection for the initial retrieval of the directions. After that, it solely relies on GPS until the user arrives at the destination.
This (obviously) only works on watches that have GPS.
If you have any suggestions at all, I'd love to know them.
The next feature I plan to implement is importing a GPX file in from Google Drive, so you can navigate a more unorthodox/scenic route, which would suits cyclists. I initially developed this for when I go cycling, as we don't usually want to take the fastest route somewhere.
Let me know if there any burning features that are needed in this, and I'll do my best to deliver. This is a small side-project, so I don't have too much time to work on it, but I find it quite useful personally, and I hope others will, too.
Someone suggested I release a demo version so people can try it and see if they wish to buy it. I have released one here
It only has the dropped pin functionality, and only allows walking as a navigation mode. The zoom is also locked.
Gentatsu said:
I made a standalone navigation app for Wear OS! Here's the link to the app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.onibaku.standalonewearmap
Here's the full description on the app so you can get a glance at the features:
Users can type in a location, or long press on the map to input a destination. They can choose to travel via walking, cycling or car.
The app will navigate the user from their current location to the destination using turn-by-turn navigation. Each step is highlighted on the path, with text to show you what action to take, and how long until you reach that step. The map rotates along with the device, so will follow the forward-facing direction of the watch.
The app only needs an internet connection for the initial retrieval of the directions. After that, it solely relies on GPS until the user arrives at the destination.
This (obviously) only works on watches that have GPS.
If you have any suggestions at all, I'd love to know them.
The next feature I plan to implement is importing a GPX file in from Google Drive, so you can navigate a more unorthodox/scenic route, which would suits cyclists. I initially developed this for when I go cycling, as we don't usually want to take the fastest route somewhere.
Let me know if there any burning features that are needed in this, and I'll do my best to deliver. This is a small side-project, so I don't have too much time to work on it, but I find it quite useful personally, and I hope others will, too.
Someone suggested I release a demo version so people can try it and see if they wish to buy it. I have released one here
It only has the dropped pin functionality, and only allows walking as a navigation mode. The zoom is also locked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is looking really good. I want true standalone navigation on my Huawei Watch 2 4G. It has a sim so loads the route standalone and seems to be able to do everything expected...i'm trying the demo version now.
One question though...unless i'm missing something..how do you exit the app? I'm currently having to force close it.
(And as a side note have you checked out the Wear OS app Ghostracer? You can import a gpx file and follow your progress on a map on the watch. Maps are downloadable to the watch, although ive never tried that. My watch has a sim so updates the map as im riding using the watches data. Heavy on the battery though.)
ruggs1234 said:
This is looking really good. I want true standalone navigation on my Huawei Watch 2 4G. It has a sim so loads the route standalone and seems to be able to do everything expected...i'm trying the demo version now.
One question though...unless i'm missing something..how do you exit the app? I'm currently having to force close it.
(And as a side note have you checked out the Wear OS app Ghostracer? You can import a gpx file and follow your progress on a map on the watch. Maps are downloadable to the watch, although ive never tried that. My watch has a sim so updates the map as im riding using the watches data. Heavy on the battery though.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had not realised that the app does not cease to use GPS whilst it is in sleep mode, so I have added a button to exit the app properly when you drag down. I've just released it now.
I have had a look at it, but it doesn't seem to work unless you have an android phone. I am currently looking into offline maps and importing GPX files. Do you know if it does that via the android app, and how it imports it? I was looking to use Google drive, as that seems to be the only viable storage solution supported on Wear atm.
Gentatsu said:
I had not realised that the app does not cease to use GPS whilst it is in sleep mode, so I have added a button to exit the app properly when you drag down. I've just released it now.
I have had a look at it, but it doesn't seem to work unless you have an android phone. I am currently looking into offline maps and importing GPX files. Do you know if it does that via the android app, and how it imports it? I was looking to use Google drive, as that seems to be the only viable storage solution supported on Wear atm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thankyou for the exit button, works great. Having tested the demo app i'm happy, and I will purchase. One further comment, the battery drain is heavy, as expected. Any chance of an ambient mode while the map is running to save battery? I may be pushing my luck, but I can only ask!
Ghostracer does indeed need a companion Android app on the phone. The gpx file is loaded into the app on the phone (using a file manager) then passed to the Ghostracer app on the watch. Maps are treated the same, but I just use the data from my sim in the watch to load maps as I ride when needed. You can follow a gpx route standalone on the watch in a similar way to following the route on your app. I am not connected to Ghostracer in any way, I just think its a wonderful app for cyclists and runners (within the watches battery limitations). And the free version allows you to test all its features. It might not be right for you, but it was worth a mention based on what you said earlier. (And the map screen has an ambient mode.... )
ruggs1234 said:
Thankyou for the exit button, works great. Having tested the demo app i'm happy, and I will purchase. One further comment, the battery drain is heavy, as expected. Any chance of an ambient mode while the map is running to save battery? I may be pushing my luck, but I can only ask!
Ghostracer does indeed need a companion Android app on the phone. The gpx file is loaded into the app on the phone (using a file manager) then passed to the Ghostracer app on the watch. Maps are treated the same, but I just use the data from my sim in the watch to load maps as I ride when needed. You can follow a gpx route standalone on the watch in a similar way to following the route on your app. I am not connected to Ghostracer in any way, I just think its a wonderful app for cyclists and runners (within the watches battery limitations). And the free version allows you to test all its features. It might not be right for you, but it was worth a mention based on what you said earlier. (And the map screen has an ambient mode.... )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great . I did play around with the ambient mode, but it was just the same as the standard google maps ambient mode. It takes away the turn-by-turn, location, and path. If I could persist these, and set the GPS to update every 30 secs - 1 minute, I'd probably keep it, but I'm not sure how. I'd like to stick in options to set the GPS update frequency, or have the screen turn back on only for upcoming turns.
That's really cool! That's essentially what I would have liked on my watch but standalone. I really don't like the idea that you HAVE to use a companion app, especially when it's not available for iOS. I know they're competing watches, but I love the price point of android watches compared to Apple's, and their features shouldn't pale in comparison by way of hardware.
How does their ambient map work, if you don't mind me asking? I'd like to look into it. What does their paid version allow you to do? I only had a paid version before someone mentioned to put the free one on, just to give people a flavour of it. I tried to emphasise the main bit, which was the turn-by-turn navigation. The search and other transportation modes were secondary.
Cheers for the feedback and suggestions, though! I really do appreciate it! Let me know if there's anything else you'd like.
Gentatsu said:
Great . I did play around with the ambient mode, but it was just the same as the standard google maps ambient mode. It takes away the turn-by-turn, location, and path. If I could persist these, and set the GPS to update every 30 secs - 1 minute, I'd probably keep it, but I'm not sure how. I'd like to stick in options to set the GPS update frequency, or have the screen turn back on only for upcoming turns.
That's really cool! That's essentially what I would have liked on my watch but standalone. I really don't like the idea that you HAVE to use a companion app, especially when it's not available for iOS. I know they're competing watches, but I love the price point of android watches compared to Apple's, and their features shouldn't pale in comparison by way of hardware.
How does their ambient map work, if you don't mind me asking? I'd like to look into it. What does their paid version allow you to do? I only had a paid version before someone mentioned to put the free one on, just to give people a flavour of it. I tried to emphasise the main bit, which was the turn-by-turn navigation. The search and other transportation modes were secondary.
Cheers for the feedback and suggestions, though! I really do appreciate it! Let me know if there's anything else you'd like.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ghostracers ambient map is black background with white markings until you lift your wrist...but that might not work when using your app while driving (watch off the wrist?).
I've now purchased your app (Google made that hard work!)...all still good. One question...when I zoom the map in the map un-zooms straight back. Any way to make the zoom stick?
ruggs1234 said:
Ghostracers ambient map is black background with white markings until you lift your wrist...but that might not work when using your app while driving (watch off the wrist?).
I've now purchased your app (Google made that hard work!)...all still good. One question...when I zoom the map in the map un-zooms straight back. Any way to make the zoom stick?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do the markings include the path/trail? I've used the black background one before, and the building outlines are (kinda) white. Yeah, I do have my watch affixed to my handlebars on my bicycle.
Great - Thanks! It's much appreciated! How come it was hard work, if you don't mind me asking? Ah, yep. That was one of the first things I forgot to change! I completely forgot about it! I've made it so that if you zoom/pan, it'll stick unless you press the "my location" button again.
Huawei watch 2 built-in GPS not working anymore
ruggs1234 said:
Thankyou for the exit button, works great. Having tested the demo app i'm happy, and I will purchase. One further comment, the battery drain is heavy, as expected. Any chance of an ambient mode while the map is running to save battery? I may be pushing my luck, but I can only ask!
Ghostracer does indeed need a companion Android app on the phone. The gpx file is loaded into the app on the phone (using a file manager) then passed to the Ghostracer app on the watch. Maps are treated the same, but I just use the data from my sim in the watch to load maps as I ride when needed. You can follow a gpx route standalone on the watch in a similar way to following the route on your app. I am not connected to Ghostracer in any way, I just think its a wonderful app for cyclists and runners (within the watches battery limitations). And the free version allows you to test all its features. It might not be right for you, but it was worth a mention based on what you said earlier. (And the map screen has an ambient mode.... )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi ruggs1234, it was a long time since you wrote your experience with this app. I downloaded the demo today and I tested it. Looks like since last Google's update, the huawei watch 2 doesn't use its built-in standalone GPS. Please, would you mind to check whether you are having this problem now? The only way I got it work was by connecting the watch to a phone through Bluetooth.
Kind regards, Angel
angelrc96 said:
Hi ruggs1234, it was a long time since you wrote your experience with this app. I downloaded the demo today and I tested it. Looks like since last Google's update, the huawei watch 2 doesn't use its built-in standalone GPS. Please, would you mind to check whether you are having this problem now? The only way I got it work was by connecting the watch to a phone through Bluetooth.
Kind regards, Angel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello Angel,
The app still works ok on my watch, I tested it yesterday.
With my phone switched OFF I use my watches inbuilt sim to start the route (the app needs data to download the initial route, it can use the connected mobile but mine was switched off). I then switch off the sim in my watch and follow the route using only the gps in the watch. The app worked as it always has.
HOWEVER, my watch isn't running the latest version of Wear OS (it's running Wear OS 2.0, Home app 2.16). I never update anything Google if i'm not forced too, their updates often break more things than they fix. Everything I use on the watch works great and i'd like it to stay that way....
Hi,
well, I gave it a test (full paid version) - TicWatch 3 Pro 4g/LTE (all up to date). It doesn't work. All tested in standalone mode (no phone involved).
- app crashes when there is no GPS fix (GPS is on, but no fix yet)
- when I set an route to navigate (pin or search) it just endlessly shows progress circle and nothing else happens (GPS on with fix, LTE on and working)
So...
BR, Doman.
I installed the Demo version on my ticwatch 3 pro gps (updated everything to current versions and no modifications (yet))
App is starting, map is not showing, just the gps location button on the left and a white/grey screen. I can pin a location on the white screen and its actually getting a location next to me and tries to route there - but without any map showing.
Any app for Gear S3 ?
So the goal here is to have a tablet in our home gym that I can cast music to a nearby receiver and to have a timer displayed. The device in question is an ancient Xelio tablet and I believe the model to be P900BK if that's of any use. It's currently running Android 4.0.4 and doesn't come stock with the Android Google Play App Store although it has Slide Me and I partially side loaded the Play Store but most of the newer apps I'm trying to install fail some form of validation that occurs in the background whenever I try to run them. I found an APK for Google Play Music that was compatible (I think) with Android 4.0.4 and casting wasn't an option then so it wasn't there.
In a perfect world I'd be able to install Google Play Music (Now has to be YouTube Music though I suppose) and this app here: Hero Timer - WOD Timer Crossfit and HIIT Since it's free and easy to see like the timers most gyms use. I could also use Flex Timer or something else but most all I would want to use for ease of viewing from a distance don't appear to be compatible. The Slide Me app store has nothing of any use that I can find.
I guess the easiest solution would be to find 2 apps in the Slide Me app store that stream music via Chromecast and one that's a good timer that allows for intervals and is large enough to see from a distance on a smaller tablet but as of now I can't seem to find anything that fits that bill. My guess is I won't either on the former due to Google locking that streaming feature down and the latter is mostly trash from what I can tell.
So, any thoughts on this? I'd rather not invest a boat load of time into rooting and potentially bricking this device if I can avoid it but if it's the only option I guess I don't mind. I'd just have to wait until I can carve out enough time to do this which may not be right away. If I do explore this option, one of my concerns is hardware. I'm not sure the ancient hardware this device sports can handle much in terms of ROMs or latest whiz-bang apps or features.
I'm not sure it even has the guts to do what I'm asking but I was hoping someone here who knew the answer could offer up some solutions as I've been out of the custom Android device game for a number of years now.
Thoughts?
This low-end tablet was released 2013-07-09. It runs on Android IceCream. You only can install and run apps on it what are compatible with this Android version.
jwoegerbauer said:
This low-end tablet was released 2013-07-09. It runs on Android IceCream. You only can install and run apps on it what are compatible with this Android version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right after you finished typing that and you read it back to yourself did you think "Yeah, he'll find this useful" before you clicked submit?
There are colleagues who have asked me how to deactivate the Google feed window that we have on the left of the home screen, for those who want to deactivate it, they must follow the following steps.
We get into the application drawer, we go to the Google application. Click on the application and a window opens, click on application information and click on disable the application.
Now we will no longer have the Google feed window on the left of the home screen.
Any downsides on this? Just noticed Google assistant doesn't work anymore
jackowy said:
Any downsides on this? Just noticed Google assistant doesn't work anymore
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As you say, the google assistant will not work for you.
Podcasts and Lens won't work either.
Thank you. This is the only reasonable answer, and it appears to be easy in fact. Unfortunately, the regular method is hidden/eliminated by the developers, i.e. there is no item to control it in the Home Screen settings. I have seen so many opinions, from "impossible" to sophisticated ways using Android Debug Bridge.
Good tip, works like a charm. I'm not a fan of Assistant or most other bloatware either, so good riddance. I just wish these products gave more control to the user, or even retained the same options to enable/disable things as the older versions.