ALEXA - do I want one ??

rach_k

We use Alexa on our Sonos speakers, mostly to play music from Spotify but she's also an easy way to set timers when cooking, listen to the radio, check the weather, do quick calculations, find a recipe etc and the kids play games with her.

If you're might use it much for music, see if you can listen to somebody else's Amazon device. I'm not sure the sound quality is that great (which is why we have Sonos instead, but then Alexa is a little limited e.g. you can't make phone calls from it).

I do think Alexa will become useful for people as they start getting older and possibly lonelier... I know that sometimes when I've been alone all day, the cat's conversation starts getting a little repetitive. I know Alexa isn't real but I find talking to someone/something helps nearly as much as somebody talking to me.

peachyprice

We use have ours connected to the hive lighting in the sitting room, bedroom and porch and we can tell her to set the heating temperature, which is quite handy.

Our main use if for our reef tanks, we have a lot of wifi devices that we can tell her to turn on or off for feeding, cleaning etc., and have managed to get quite complicated commands set up with just one word to Alexa.

peachyprice

G_M wrote: »

Alexa will listen to you. All the time. She'll record what you say, every syllable and fart.

According to some reports she'll even send recordings to housewives in Eastern Europe who will write out transcripts of your conversations.

Personally I prefer to know who's in the room listening to me...... but then I'm paranoid!

And yes, I've taped over the camera on my laptop.What's good enough for Mark Zuckerberg is good enough for me!

Not according to the article Gers linked to. It only records once it hears the command.

Gers wrote: »

https://www.komando.com/columns/397201/how-to-listen-to-what-amazon-echo-has-ever-recorded-you-saying

How to listen to what is recorded and how to delete the recordings.


I use my Echos and Dots for music - my own library and the 'free' Prime music - and for turning on and off lights / power sockets. It's great when I want to know the time in the middle of the night, I don't have to open my eyes.

It's particularly useful for when there has been a power cut at my home, especially if I'm away. After a power cut the smart plugs default to 'on' so I can see that and turn them off.

During dark mornings and evenings the ability to turn on the lights on from outside is brilliant. Where I live there aren't any street lights (not even a street) so I can find my way from the car.

Whether or not you 'want' one is subjective. Some people start out not wanting a washing machine / dish washer or any number of other modern gadgets. Once one is bought and used it can swiftly become an essential. It has a huge number of benefits for me.

dipsomaniac

Gers wrote: »

https://www.komando.com/columns/397201/how-to-listen-to-what-amazon-echo-has-ever-recorded-you-saying

It's particularly useful for when there has been a power cut at my home, especially if I'm away. After a power cut the smart plugs default to 'on' so I can see that and turn them off.

Where do you live - Beirut? The last power cut we had was 2007

ballyblack

If anybody lives in your house with the name 'Alexa' buy a Google Home! :T

Takmon

ballyblack wrote: »

If anybody lives in your house with the name 'Alexa' buy a Google Home! :T

I know this isn't a serious comment but you can change the wake word to either "echo" , "amazon" or "computer".

Gers

dipsomaniac wrote: »

Where do you live - Beirut? The last power cut we had was 2007

Last one was two weeks ago when I wasn't home.- I live in deepest rural Scotland. It may well have only lasted a few seconds, the previous one when I was at home was five hours when a tree brought down a line in high winds. Not a common occurence though not unusual either.

peachyprice

dipsomaniac wrote: »

Where do you live - Beirut? The last power cut we had was 2007

You were lucky enough to miss the major power outtage in August then?

capital0ne

Of course Alexa listens to everything you say, it's all monitored, Amazon have admitted this - it's to help improve the product.

If you're happy with that then fine, but if Amazon can listen so can anyone else.

It doesn't really matter because your smart phone is doing this as well.

And your smart tv - it listens to everything as well as watching you, even if you think your tv doesn't have a video camera it probably does but it's not on the feature list.

These companies and governments just love all these 'smart' devices, it just a mass surveillance program far surpassing what ever East Germany had.

justaquestion

As Alexa is hands free on the fire tablet, I feel I am getting it for nothing, no need to waste any more money.