amazon echos

[Etschell]

who has one?

just got a spot for my wife. enjoying it thus far.

[77T]

I gifted one to my God-daughter last Spring add they like it a lot. The Amazon implementation seems to be smoother, and more open to users than the Apple HomePod.

I tried the HomePod on launch day - for exactly one-half day - suffice it to say you made the right choice with Amazon. Even the Google android speaker takes 2nd place in user utility.

I did break a record with the HomePod according to the manager at the Apple Store. I was the first to return one

[Syed117]

I have one.

Pretty convenient. Use it to:

- Set alarms
- Set reminders
- Weather
- News
- Music

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Syed117

I have one.

Pretty convenient. Use it to:

- Set alarms
- Set reminders
- Weather
- News
- Music

Yeah, but how much a month in subscriptions fees does it cost you? If I have Amazon Prime already are the subscription fees already paid for?

[Syed117]

Originally Posted by dddrees

Yeah, but how much a month in subscriptions fees does it cost you? If I have Amazon Prime already are the subscription fees already paid for?

The echo? I have an echo dot connected to a Bluetooth speaker. It was $50 or less. $30 maybe?

The stuff I use mine for doesn't require any extra subscriptions. I guess maybe Amazon music or whatever it's called. Only the stuff you get with prime.

Oh, I use it for my audiobooks as well. Picks up from where I left off on my phone.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Syed117

The echo? I have an echo dot connected to a Bluetooth speaker. It was $50 or less. $30 maybe?

The stuff I use mine for doesn't require any extra subscriptions. I guess maybe Amazon music or whatever it's called. Only the stuff you get with prime.

Oh, I use it for my audiobooks as well. Picks up from where I left off on my phone.

For some reason I always thought it might entail some sort of monthly fee. I just checked it out online kinda looks interesting. I just might have to give this some more thought. Also need to figure out how many and what type of devices I would need to access this from more than a few rooms.

[Syed117]

Originally Posted by dddrees

For some reason I always thought it might entail some sort of monthly fee. I just checked it out online kinda looks interesting. I just might have to give this some more thought. Also need to figure out how many and what type of devices I would need to access this from more than a few rooms.

I just checked, the echo dot is 40 and I'm pretty sure it goes on sale for 30.

Which even as a novelty to try out isn't bad at all.

It's just another little gadget but you can get a a lot of functionality out of it. Especially for home automation like lighting, thermostats.

I could live without mine, but it's become one of those little conveniences in day to day life.

[tyler1980]

im not a paranoid person, but voice activated + connected to the internet is something im not ok with.

Anything that is voice activated is always listening as its waiting for a voice prompt. I turn off voice activated Siri on my iPhone too so at least i have to engage it if i want to use it and its not passively listening all the time.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Syed117

I just checked, the echo dot is 40 and I'm pretty sure it goes on sale for 30.

Which even as a novelty to try out isn't bad at all.

It's just another little gadget but you can get a a lot of functionality out of it. Especially for home automation like lighting, thermostats.

I could live without mine, but it's become one of those little conveniences in day to day life.

Yeah, that’s kind of what I am wondering whether it isn’t just another novelty or not. Sounds like it might be able to do certain things but i’m not convinced it’s going to be something I can’t do without.

[GerardoG]

Several at home. They love it

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

im not a paranoid person, but voice activated + connected to the internet is something im not ok with.

Anything that is voice activated is always listening as its waiting for a voice prompt. I turn off voice activated Siri on my iPhone too so at least i have to engage it if i want to use it and its not passively listening all the time.

Bingo.

I haven’t seen the use agreement, but there is probably some language that allows them to collect data from you and use it as they wish.

[GradyPhilpott]

I have an Echo in the living room, a Tap in the bedroom, and a Dot in the kitchen.

I think they're convenient for setting timers and listening to music while in the shower, but as far as the Internet of Things (lights and stuff), that just hasn't worked out for me, which is not overly important in my small apartment.

As far as asking questions, I do sometimes ask for the time after I get out of the shower, don't have my glasses on, in a hurry, and need the time.

I think that of the ones I have, the Tap is the most useful for me because it's portable. Like I said, I use it to listen to music while in the shower and I can also take it with me wherever I might go where I might need Bluetooth speaker to pair with my phone.

The Spot wouldn't be of much use to me, personally, but I can see that it might be a good option for others.

[Syed117]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

im not a paranoid person, but voice activated + connected to the internet is something im not ok with.

Anything that is voice activated is always listening as its waiting for a voice prompt. I turn off voice activated Siri on my iPhone too so at least i have to engage it if i want to use it and its not passively listening all the time.

There may be a line somewhere between always listening and engaging that sort of functionality, but it's not well defined.

Most of us carry phones with audio, video, and GPS functionality.

If someone really wants to listen in, they will.

I can understand the logic behind it, as an an individual, there are lot more things to be worried about than the idea of big brother listening in on you. We don't really care, we just think we do.

Like internet based ads. Every damn time I buy something, I get bombarded with ads for it even after I've already bought it! Someone needs to fix that.

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

Bingo.

I haven’t seen the use agreement, but there is probably some language that allows them to collect data from you and use it as they wish.

the us govt can see all your base are belong to us.

[Syed117]

We've surrounded ourselves with microphones and cameras.

The on/off switches are software based.

Used to feel somewhat similar, but not strongly enough that I won't try new technology. My phone which is almost on me has a microphone, my computer has a microphone, and even my TV remote has a mic. My TV doesn't even turn off. Just goes to standby.

Although my computer Webcams do have a piece of black electrical tape on them. They can hear me, but they won't be able to see me!

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by Etschell

the us govt can see all your base are belong to us.

No we can’t-I mean... No they can’t.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by Etschell

the us govt can see all your base are belong to us.

Can you rephrase that in English?

[mjclark32]

Have two, ones unplugged under a desk and the other is still in the box sitting in the mud room...

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Syed117

We've surrounded ourselves with microphones and cameras.

The on/off switches are software based.

Used to feel somewhat similar, but not strongly enough that I won't try new technology. My phone which is almost on me has a microphone, my computer has a microphone, and even my TV remote has a mic. My TV doesn't even turn off. Just goes to standby.

Although my computer Webcams do have a piece of black electrical tape on them. They can hear me, but they won't be able to see me!

there is a lot of info on so called smart devices that these home hubs interact with. Smart dishwashers and other appliances as well as a host of other things. The difference between the internet of things devices and a computer is that there are procedures to update and patch security flaws on a computer. With a connected appliance they often use basic security and are very vulnerable and some have no way to update and patch security flaws. If you have a compromised computer you can find out, you wouldn't even know if your refrigerator was compromised. One of the largest botnet attacks recently involved a bunch of compromised smart refrigerators.

Im all for technology but if i had a smart stove a hacker could burn my house down.

[jrs146]

I have one. Got it when there were by invitation only. Lol. I’ve used it twice. I’m just not a command guy. I tried it again recently when they were integrated with Sonos and the commands were just too difficult.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Toony]

Originally Posted by Etschell

the us govt can see all your base are belong to us.

Love the Zero Wing reference.

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by Toony

Love the Zero Wing reference.

[encarter13]

I love my Echo. Yeah, the Gov't might be listening, but it does not really bother me. However, it kinda freaks my wife out so she unplugs it from time to time. Not a huge deal as well only use it for music and timers while in the kitchen and when having people over.


For those of that are conspiracy people - Amazon never turned a profit until the Echo. Many people think they made a deal with Gov't to gain access through the Echo. You can find several articles through a Google search.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technolo...amazon/374632/

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/norma...b_4824854.html

[TheVTCGuy]

I am a technology Geek, always want to have the latest, but I just can't see me using this. I mean, I walk in to my bedroom and turn on the light. It would take five times as long to say: "Hey Fred, turn on the bedroom light"

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by encarter13

I love my Echo. Yeah, the Gov't might be listening, but it does not really bother me. However, it kinda freaks my wife out so she unplugs it from time to time. Not a huge deal as well only use it for music and timers while in the kitchen and when having people over.


For those of that are conspiracy people - Amazon never turned a profit until the Echo. Many people think they made a deal with Gov't to gain access through the Echo. You can find several articles through a Google search.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technolo...amazon/374632/

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/norma...b_4824854.html

The government has some constraints, whereas companies can do pretty much whatever they want. If they want to sell your life story to criminals who would exploit you, there’s not much you can do about it. If little snot nose Tommy gets bored at work and wants to take your privacy public, not much you can do there either (you can’t unring the bell).

It’s a technology ripe for abuse that is trading on the naivety of users. My $0.02.

[encarter13]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

Bingo.

I haven’t seen the use agreement, but there is probably some language that allows them to collect data from you and use it as they wish.

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

The government has some constraints, whereas companies can do pretty much whatever they want. If they want to sell your life story to criminals who would exploit you, there’s not much you can do about it. If little snot nose Tommy gets bored at work and wants to take your privacy public, not much you can do there either (you can’t unring the bell).

It’s a technology ripe for abuse that is trading on the naivety of users. My $0.02.

I have a friend that works in govt/military tech sector. He never goes into detail but stresses that Bluetooth is the absolute worst thing out there. People constantly leave the Bluetooth enabled on phones, tablets, cars, computers, etc. He stresses that the right tools/people can access anything almost instantly via an enabled Bluetooth device - regardless of you pairing up to something or not.