Is anyone watching out for Black Friday?

[struth]

If your after something anyway then why not use it if it saves money?
It shouldn't be used to just spend money tho, just to grab a bargain.
I never bought anything so far. Well a watc h but it wasn't in the bf.
The boy saved 70 on the thing he got me. He was getting it anyway tho.

[Alex_UK]

As I said above, on the lookout for Amazon Echo Show devices - was hoping to get Echo Show 5 (5" screen) at £50 a pop, (saving £30) and indeed they are - but Echo Show 8 (8"screen - surprise, surprise!) is £60 each - down from £120 (half-price, if you're not good a maths, a 50% saving) so two of those duly ordered - albeit you can only order one per Amazon account (wife has separate account.)

[dave2010]

As I said above, on the lookout for Amazon Echo Show devices - was hoping to get Echo Show 5 (5" screen) at £50 a pop, (saving £30) and indeed they are - but Echo Show 8 (8"screen - surprise, surprise!) is £60 each - down from £120 (half-price, if you're not good a maths, a 50% saving) so two of those duly ordered - albeit you can only order one per Amazon account (wife has separate account.)

What does Echo Show do which the regular Echo devices can't do? OK - it's got a screen, but what can you do with it? It's also got a camera, so like most electronics these days it's capable of invading privacy and spying on you - but then you know that and signed up for it!

[montesquieu]

What does Echo Show do which the regular Echo devices can't do? OK - it's got a screen, but what can you do with it? It's also got a camera, so like most electronics these days it's capable of invading privacy and spying on you - but then you know that and signed up for it!

Absolutely. Fork out cash to install a snooping device in your own home. Madness.

[dave2010]

Absolutely. Fork out cash to install a snooping device in your own home. Madness.

I agree, but there might be benefits for some. The Echo Show might work for people who want to make up a shopping list over a short period of time, or for leaving messages for others. I don't know whether the Echo system will allow similar note taking features to be done via a tablet or a computer - in which case there'd be little point in buying yet another device.

Re the snooping/privacy - I am concerned, but I can concede that for some people the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Just don't make any problematic statements anywhere near an echo device - whether or not the keyword "Alexa" is activated. Don't imagine that these devices will only be capable of action when the keyword is said, or the device is not enabled. The only way to be sure, if they're installed in a house, is to power them off - unplug them.

[montesquieu]

I agree, but there might be benefits for some. The Echo Show might work for people who want to make up a shopping list over a short period of time, or for leaving messages for others. I don't know whether the Echo system will allow similar note taking features to be done via a tablet or a computer - in which case there'd be little point in buying yet another device.

Re the snooping/privacy - I am concerned, but I can concede that for some people the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Just don't make any problematic statements anywhere near an echo device - whether or not the keyword "Alexa" is activated. Don't imagine that these devices will only be capable of action when the keyword is said, or the device is not enabled. The only way to be sure, if they're installed in a house, is to power them off - unplug them.

I can't see the benefit at all, frankly. Except perhaps to Amazon. Only a complete muppet can't make a shopping list on a notepad or even take a note on the phone, most smartphones (which surely anyone in the market for Alexa has already) have voice recording if people can't write or type for some reason. Ditto voicemail. Obviously the vapid early adopters will lap them up but as a mass market device it's purely for the saddos.

I saw some research posted recently - need to try and find it again - which showed massive resistance among people in general at being forced to use voice interfaces when contacting call centres etc. Most people hate voice interfaces. There will always be a few exceptions who take childish delight in the fact that technology works at all but for the masses it's not going to happen.

[struth]

im giving my two alexas for xmas. i dont use them and they have been unplugged for ages..more trouble than worth for me, although i can see their uses as well, especially for background music audiobooks etc

[dave2010]

I can't see the benefit at all, frankly. Except perhaps to Amazon. Only a complete muppet can't make a shopping list on a notepad or even take a note on the phone, most smartphones (which surely anyone in the market for Alexa has already) have voice recording if people can't write or type for some reason. Ditto voicemail. Obviously the vapid early adopters will lap them up but as a mass market device it's purely for the saddos.

There's never a notepad, or working pen or even a pencil when/where one needs one.

I saw some research posted recently - need to try and find it again - which showed massive resistance among people in general at being forced to use voice interfaces when contacting call centres etc. Most people hate voice interfaces. There will always be a few exceptions who take childish delight in the fact that technology works at all but for the masses it's not going to happen.

I was surprised a couple of times very recently to make phone calls to check on problems with accounts, that I was asked to say my account number, rather than punch it in on a keypad. Even more surprised that the technology worked, and it was quicker than trying to push buttons.

Bakers can find voice operated services useful - for example to set timers - without having to stop, wash and dry their hands. So there are uses.

Car mechanics and car and bike DIYers (if there are still any) might find voice operated services useful also, for similar reasons.

What I don't like is the way the voice operated services work by sending information to servers, very possibly on the other side of the Atlantic. Most of the data is very probably not of any interest at all to almost everyone, and doesn't present any privacy problems, but some might.

[walpurgis]

Car mechanics and car and bike DIYers (if there are still any) might find voice operated services useful also, for similar reasons.

I've got one. It's got voice recognition and does all that's required. It's called 'The Wife'.

[struth]

unlucky you