Amazon Echo Dot

[User211]

Just got one of these for Xmas.

Playing with it for 2 hours or so and I can see this is one seriously useful device.

Spotify and Tune-In Radio compatible, too.

Seriously impressed. For £50 the capability is amazing. Buy one. Really.

What are you doing with yours?

[British high fidelity]

Trying to locate Russian submarines

Sent from my LG-H961N using Tapatalk

[User211]

Wowser. Does it work?

[British high fidelity]

Nah keeps coming back with yellow submarine (the Beatles) russian version lol

Sent from my LG-H961N using Tapatalk

[The Black Adder]

Ermm... What is it and what does it dooo?

[User211]

It was a crap first post.

I'll post more later off to see AoS member Cyclopse this morning.

One thing it can do is voice control appliances. It will be turning on my 10 minute warm up espresso machine everything morning from the second floor of my house by voice control soon!

Just Google it or watch some YouTube videos if curious now.

[The Black Adder]

That's alright.. here is a taster.

24Hz9qjTDfw

[jandl100]

:popcorn:

Justin is trying to nag me into buying one.
I don't really know what I'd use it for. :scratch:

[jandl100]

That's alright.. here is a taster.

24Hz9qjTDfw

Thanks for that, Josie.

Shit - I do NOT want one of those! :lol:

Would I have to wear a stupid beard like that geezer? :scratch:

[User211]

:popcorn:

Justin is trying to nag me into buying one.
I don't really know what I'd use it for. :scratch:
It only took two years of nagging to get Jerry to use online streaming LOL.

[The Black Adder]

The only thing I don't like about these things is that (I believe) that they collate data to eventually sell to the highest bidder.

It's very cool but not for me 'unless' it's totally unhooked from my router or that there is a policy in place not to send data.

[The Black Adder]

Would I have to wear a stupid beard like that geezer? :scratch:

They seem to cut out thinking so I'm sure it cuts out shaving.. lol

[struth]

They come in different colours :eyebrows:

[The Black Adder]

Ohmibod linkable?

You could have virtual sex with ya washing machine.... LOL :lol::eyebrows:

[User211]

The only thing I don't like about these things is that (I believe) that they collate data to eventually sell to the highest bidder.

It's very cool but not for me 'unless' it's totally unhooked from my router or that there is a policy in place not to send data.
It is 1984 and Big Brother is watching you. Your phone is doing far more spying on you I suspect.

I agree with you I have reservations too.

Phones and devices like this rely on one thing - they are so useful it overrides any such concerns.

[The Black Adder]

Indeed, it's a convenience item so risks are taken.

My phone has everything switched off and I always use my land line when I'm at home. My laptop is obviously linked.

I love tech stuff but I wish it just didn't come with the secretive big brother element. It's our data and therefore should be ours to sell if we choose to.

Anyway, let's not detract from the thread...

It's really cool, let us know how you get on with it. Have you got any of the other switch devices yet?

[walpurgis]

The only thing I don't like about these things is that (I believe) that they collate data to eventually sell to the highest bidder.

It's very cool but not for me 'unless' it's totally unhooked from my router or that there is a policy in place not to send data.

Quite likely. Your 'lifestyle' will be subject to scrutiny!

(and I despise those dozy looking bushy beards on blokes with short hair. They look like WW2 German submariners)

[User211]

I've given Alexa a constant stream of abuse and she stands up well to it.

Most disturbing moment so far - wife and I are arguing about Alexa and she tells us to change the subject. Freaky.

[struth]

data seems to be big business. The legal kind anyways, so they can target you with ads. Quite like sending them on wild goose chases actually.:)
Anyway i considered getting one but ultimately decided an old buffer like me could do without a nagging voice, and can save my cadh for other things

[User211]

I would NOT have bought one. In fact I specifically told my wife NOT to buy me one for Xmas. But my brother did instead.

When you get one, however, and start to play with it... opinions change.

[Pete The Cat]

You get the feeling that we're seeing our future here, whether you like it or not.

Pete

[jandl100]

You get the feeling that we're seeing our future here, whether you like it or not.

Pete

Definitely.
It won't be long at all until new builds of housing have these installed throughout.
Probably already happening.

[walpurgis]

Too much techno wizardry these days. I deliberately avoid it.

It's implied that it simplifies life. It doesn't, it complicates it.

[The Black Adder]

Yes... we are now semi communicating with devices. We are all numbers and it's up to us to opt in or out of certain technology in regards to lifestyle/convenience/risk.

IMO our data is very lucrative and it's free to them. We should be offering it to them for a price, not the other way around.

[jandl100]

Whoops! :D

https://futurism.com/this-is-why-you-shouldnt-speak-to-an-ai-when-youre-on-live-tv/

[struth]

Yes Ive considered this and wondered how you avoid people just ordering things

[jandl100]

Especially if you have kids around - it won't take the little sweeties long to learn what key words are needed! :eyebrows:

Actually, I can think of some friends with 'interesting' senses of humour who might just order me a Ferrari while I am out of the room! :doh:

[User211]

Alexa is freaky. I kid ye not.

So I am just sitting in the lounge with the telly on, and she spits out "Scores - the strip club in Manhattan, New York City".

I Googled it. It is legit! No mention of the trigger word "Alexa" on the telly to make her say anything.

She can be very random. She can also be incredibly stupid a lot of the time. She needs some work, bless her.

[struth]

Think i will pass .... she sounds like a loose cannon :eek:

[jandl100]

I think I'll wait for version 2 :lol:

[User211]

I think I'll wait for version 2 :lol:

Wise. She can do some very useful things, and can be a real laugh. But she hasn't really got her head together.

[jandl100]

Perhaps you've got the DB version?


--- Dizzy Blonde :D

[User211]

Perhaps you've got the DB version?


--- Dizzy Blonde :D

Yup.

She'll get better. Once Amazon start getting significant revenue from it they'll dump a shed load more money into making her better. Diamonds are a girl's best friend, after all.

She's all server side. So there will be no version 2. She'll just magically get cleverer as time goes on.

[jandl100]

Putin's got a team of KGB goons working on the hacks. ;)

[User211]

Alexa's male counterpart is even worse:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTxLkj-6Esg

[jandl100]

With reference to modern devices tracking personal details ...

Grauniad link (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/14/we-vibe-vibrator-tracking-users-sexual-habits)

:lol:

[mikeyb]

But you can put a Pin lock on it same as on Fire Tv etc and until this is entered you can't buy anything, only an ignoramus would leave it open 😉

[mikeyb]

Yes Ive considered this and wondered how you avoid people just ordering things
See my post above 😉

[struth]

But you can put a Pin lock on it same as on Fire Tv etc and until this is entered you can't buy anything, only an ignoramus would leave it open ��

You calling me an ignorma,....ingorra....you calling me thick?;)

[Sherwood]

I was in the USA just before Christmas and saw this as well as the larger version. I was quite impressed until I saw the Google equivalent. This had much better sound quality although was somewhat behind the Echo in terms of compatible apps. I regret not buying one not least because they were on promotion at $99.

I am waiting to see if and when Google catches up with Amazon on the apps front, but I anticipate that there will be a proliferation of such devices once the public catches on to how versatile they can be. A bit like a voice recognising Raspberry Pi!

Geoff