Since a record number of this was sold for 2018. I assume there are a lot of new users for this device as well as long term users. My family got a 2nd generation echo for Christmas. I hate it since it doesn’t recognize my voice but my kids love it. They have been having a blast with it. My wife has only used it so far to listen to music. What features in using it is helpful? What’s not? I was disappointed that my kids can’t send me a text message from the Echo to my iPhone like it does for Android users. It was something I hoped it could do so that my kids could reach me when I am at work or out since their Mommy won’t let them use her phone at all.
We have 2 in the house. Use them a lot for timers when cooking, sports score updates, and it controls most of the lights in the house as well
RossD
MegaDork
12/30/18 2:53 p.m.
I like the list feature. "Alexa add eggs to the shopping list!"
Music via tune in radio is fun. "Alexa play Razor 94.7 on tune in radio"
If you have small kids ask alexa about sesame street.
We have a couple of them too. You can "drop in" to open up an intercom setup between two devices. We even drop in on my parents to talk.
RossD said:
I like the list feature. "Alexa add eggs to the shopping list!"
Music via tune in radio is fun. "Alexa play Razor 94.7 on tune in radio"
If you have small kids ask alexa about sesame street.
We have a couple of them too. You can "drop in" to open up an intercom setup between two devices. We even drop in on my parents to talk.
How would you know what’s on the shopping list?
RossD
MegaDork
12/30/18 3:03 p.m.
In reply to Sine_Qua_Non :
Open the Alexa app on your phone. The three little lines in the upper left open up the menu with Lists.
My daughter has one, but hasn't explored all of it's capabilities. We just got 3 more for Xmas, so we're just figuring out how to use it.
My wife won one at her Christmas party. Aside form them having an easier way to spy on me I haven't really found anything useful about it so far. I mainly ask it about the weather which I could just as easily look at my phone for.
Wally
MegaDork
12/30/18 4:32 p.m.
So far the useful features on my mother in law’s are that it will fart in command, my 5 year old niece taught me that, and she is still saying “turn on Emilio Estevez” to get her living room lights on. I can’t get it to do anything because it doesn’t understand me.
Wally said:
I can’t get it to do anything because it doesn’t understand me.
Glad to know now that I am not the only one
I won't get one. That thing records all you say. All the time.
Mndsm
MegaDork
12/30/18 6:16 p.m.
Fueled by Caffeine said:
I won't get one. That thing records all you say. All the time.
This right here. Have an amazon tv. Made Alexa go away. Swmbo got an echo dot for xmas. Made her keep it at work. I dont need any help being on a list
Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated one way or another. Smartphones was just the first step. LOL.
In reply to Fueled by Caffeine :
Cruel as it is. It’s an after the fact life saving device?
RossD
MegaDork
12/30/18 7:09 p.m.
I like asking for weird music.
"Alexa! Play calypso music!" And then hear 'Day-o' for 3 out of the 5 songs before it plays something not even close.
Having it set up to tell you the news of your choosing is nice too. Look up "flash briefing" as it can actually do a whole news/weather routine. I think it is the Bloomberg report that actually is real reporters voices rather than Alexa reading newa.
My kids like asking Alexa to fart.
I was also dissapointed that it wouldn't text my iphone. They can initiate calls from it though so it can act as an outbound home phone if they need to call me.
Drop in is great when the boys are in their room and when I'm in the garage. I use my Dot connected to my Apple Hi-Fi for garage tunes. Sounds pretty OK
Boys use them in their rooms for alarm clocks, white noise at bed time, music and weather reports for clothing selection.
Nugi
Reader
12/31/18 9:18 a.m.
Do not use them where you have private conversations. While amazon is not 'always listening', they are quite often, and the devices can be hacked to listen for a 3rd party. I personally find them in bad taste, but if you choose to use them, do so wisely. Nothing that connects to the internet is private, nothing is unhackable. As a former IT guy these things terrify me.
Ah yes, here come the tin foil hats....
I use it all the time for setting timers since it sits in the kitchen. We also use it for timers with the 2 year old when he needs to be reminded to sleep. He likes trying to tell it to add more time. But it's definitely useful, I got a google home for free with Spotify, I'll be putting that one to the test soon.
Klayfish said:
Ah yes, here come the tin foil hats....
It's not paranoia if it's true.
SVreX
MegaDork
12/31/18 1:10 p.m.
Fueled by Caffeine said:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/globalnews.ca/news/4661963/amazon-alexa-homicide-new-hampshire/amp/
I like how Amazon does not say they didn’t record anything. The say they won’t turn over the recordings without a properly served and binding warrant.
In other words, “Sure we record everything. We won’t allow its use to solve a murder, only to sell advertising”
Fueled by Caffeine said:
I won't get one. That thing records all you say. All the time.
I guess you could say that the Echo…
Sucks – sucks – sucks - sucks
Klayfish said:
Ah yes, here come the tin foil hats....
I worked for them. No tin foil hat here
