Anyone have an Alexa device?

[Gazrok]

I'm thinking about getting one. (especially since learning you can change its name to "computer" and give it an English accent)... Yes, these things are important to me.

Basically, we need a home audio solution anyhow, and it seems like the features would be pretty handy. (especially as we're looking to get a new thermostat).

Yeah, I know all the big brother reasons not to, but seriously, I don't do anything wrong anyhow, so may be worth it for the convenience.

We have a smart TV, so would be nice to use the voice command options. We started doing more video calls too, so that would work well for it.

Just trying to see if any others have used it, what they think, etc.

 

[brandx]

I'm thinking about getting one. (especially since learning you can change its name to "computer" and give it an English accent)... Yes, these things are important to me.

Basically, we need a home audio solution anyhow, and it seems like the features would be pretty handy. (especially as we're looking to get a new thermostat).

Yeah, I know all the big brother reasons not to, but seriously, I don't do anything wrong anyhow, so may be worth it for the convenience.

We have a smart TV, so would be nice to use the voice command options. We started doing more video calls too, so that would work well for it.

Just trying to see if any others have used it, what they think, etc.

I have no need for one. No one to call, tiny house, I have a remote for the TV.

 

[TexasFreedom]

G,

And Trump did nothing wrong with the Russians. It's one more invasion of your privacy. That you pay for!

 

[Gazrok]

Yeah, yeah, I get all that. But, my wife gets frustrated with all the streaming stuff. Bitched at me ever since cutting the cable cord (but doesn't mind saving the $200 each month).

This would make that easier. I like it for music while doing jobs around the house, etc.

And of course, I can always easily turn off the wifi, if privacy is ever an issue. No doubt if a spook agency wanted to listen in, they'd already do it via the TV, a cell phone, the X-Box, etc.

 

[tmttactical]

Why not allow a stranger to stay in your home and record all your activities? Alexa is the same equivalent.

 

[Gazrok]

I'd have to feed the stranger, and give it a room.

 

[Gazrok]

So sue me, I want pancakes!!!

 

[tmttactical]

@Gazrok I don't think you want input of rather it is a good idea, you just want to know if it works. There are many good electronic spies out there, so just look at the reviews.

 

[lonewolf]

nope and I wont have one in the house.

 

[user 6493]

I don't want one ,I don't need one,,,,,what goes on in my house is of no concern to anyone but me

 

[DrPrepper1]

I had one and did away with it due to privacy concerns. One of the disappointments I had is they advertise all these cool things it can do, but a lot them require you to download apps and in some cases pay extra for the feature. Music was one of them. You could request a song, sometimes it would play the whole thing ( sometimes just a sample), but they wanted you to pay for books and music.

 

[Gazrok]

One of the disappointments I had is they advertise all these cool things it can do, but a lot them require you to download apps and in some cases pay extra for the feature. Music was one of them. You could request a song, sometimes it would play the whole thing ( sometimes just a sample), but they wanted you to pay for books and music.

Yeah, that's more of the feedback I was fishing for.

From what I've read, it seems the tech isn't quite there for exactly all I'd want it to do. (or, it is, but not at a price accessible to me, for the way I want it).

 

[DrHenley]

I have devices with Alexa on them, but you have to punch a button to activated it.

 

[tmttactical]

I have devices with Alexa on them, but you have to punch a button to activated it.

OR, so they say. Just because you don't see it is active does not mean it is inactive. Think back to all those nasty little hacks that turned off the light / indicator for your computer camera / microphones but sent the recorded transmission to the outside world. JM2C

 

[user 7704]

She is always listening.

 

[Gazrok]

OR, so they say. Just because you don't see it is active does not mean it is inactive. Think back to all those nasty little hacks that turned off the light / indicator for your computer camera / microphones but sent the recorded transmission to the outside world

Well, if you disable the router, you pretty much ensure nothing is going anywhere.....

 

[tmttactical]

Well, if you disable the router, you pretty much ensure nothing is going anywhere.....

Do you plan to never turn back on the router? Memory chip and transmission is only delayed until you turn back on the router. No electronic spies invited into my home, thank you. My computer camera and microphone are disabled, not just turned off. No smart TV or Cellphones, basic on both. We share enough info with the powers to be, without buying additional spies. JM2C

 

[user 7704]

Question......The Sony tv's that were in the news because they could listen to us didn't have to use routers or wifi.

 

[tmttactical]

Question......The Sony tv's that were in the news because they could listen to us didn't have to use routers or wifi.

The Smart TV need cable or Sat TV. OAT (Over The Air) does not allow them to search the internet for YOUR favorite movies, news , etc.

 

[DrHenley]

Interactive TV only needs cable, not Internet

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interactive_television

 

[tmttactical]

The internet connection is provided by your cable / sat company. You may not have access to the internet but they are connected. Those movies you are streaming are not sitting on your local cable companies server, they are being streamed from the internet. If you have a door to streaming services, they have a door to you device, really just that simple. It is hard enough to protect our computers, without the added trouble from a Smart TV. JM2C

 

[DrHenley]

And now this:
Amazon error allowed Alexa user to eavesdrop on another home
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...er-to-eavesdrop-on-another-home-idUSKCN1OJ15J

 

[user 7704]

Nope. Won't find one in my house.

 

[Brent S]

Seriously, if privacy is everyone’s reason to not want one, just realize that you allready don’t have any secure privacy. Everyone has a phone now, most have smart tv’s and computers. If the govt or even greedy companies want to know what you do there are allready ways for them. I dont think this thing is needed and don’t want one, but our privacy is allready gone so that shouldn’t be a major concern.

 

[KateMTx]

One of my friends has one and we had a lot of fun asking it questions. But I would never have one in my house.

 

[Gazrok]

Got tired of paying $200 a month for cable, so now we just pay $60 a month for Satellite for wi-fi at the house... Between digital channels (when we don't feel like fooling with streaming) and streaming services, we still can watch pretty much anything we want and have internet, but for just $60 a month. I was hoping the Alexa tool may make that even easier for the wife, but I'm not so sure the tech is really there for it yet, between all these different services.

As Brent mentioned above, any expectation of privacy is pretty much gone if you want to take advantage of these high tech solutions. If they want to know, they'll know through a myriad of ways. I'm no fan of making it easy, but I've really got nothing much to hide either, so don't really care that much about it.

 

[DrHenley]

 

[Petoski]

And now this:
Amazon error allowed Alexa user to eavesdrop on another home
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...er-to-eavesdrop-on-another-home-idUSKCN1OJ15J

In the article it says amazon sent the voice recordings. Why are they even storing them?

 

[jimLE]

Amazon’s Alexa told someone to “kill your foster parents”

https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/mbynnx/amazons-alexa-told-someone-to-kill-your-foster-parents

 

[lonewolf]

very basic TV in our house, not smart and quite a few years old, no satellite.
basic land line phone.
laptop computer very basic several years old windows 10.