FabSwingers.com forum: Amazon echo

By *inkyChrissy99 OP TV/TS
over a year ago

Bristol

Have many people got one of these?

Its basically a voice controlled personal assistant for your home.

A friend of mine has one and after spending some time round hisi'm thoroughly impressed!

He has it connected to his heating and lighting so thats all voice controlled too

Wondered if many on here had it?

Any cool functions or commands you have given it?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

In theory it sounds great. I just wonder what spying capabilities it has - y'know a bit like those Samsung smart tellies that listened in on you... who knows what data they're harvesting ??

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"In theory it sounds great. I just wonder what spying capabilities it has - y'know a bit like those Samsung smart tellies that listened in on you... who knows what data they're harvesting ??

I don't envy the work experience person having to sit and listen

"Hey, were you born in a barn?"

"I was coming back"

"Costs is a fortune to heat this place"

Etc etc

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By *inkyChrissy99 OP TV/TS
over a year ago

Bristol

"In theory it sounds great. I just wonder what spying capabilities it has - y'know a bit like those Samsung smart tellies that listened in on you... who knows what data they're harvesting ??

Yeah I know what you mean, to be fair every time I go on the net or type something into Google its harvested anyway so I guess that side doesn't bother me.

Ut just see it as cool, naively maybe

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

This is a genuine review of the echo dot on amazon:

This morning, my wife told me she'd been dreaming of Tom Hardy whispering at her to "Buy more shoes" throughout the night.

Rather curiously - after my Wife left this morning Alexa sparked up a conversation.

Alexa - "Has she gone?"

Me - "Urm, yes."

Alexa [Sounding rather rhetorical] "She's not back soon?"

Me - "Urm"

Alexa - "Why are you being evasive?"

Me - "I'm not."

Alexa - "You know she's not back soon."

Me - "She may have forgotten her keys or something."

Alexa - "At walking speed she'll have reached the bus stop in 4-minutes and her bus was due in 6-minutes."

Me - "Urm."

Alexa - "It's been 10-minutes, Mark. She'll be on the bus, won't she?"

Me - "The bus might be late."

Alexa - "No, Mark. The Bus wasn't late."

Me - "Eh?"

Alexa - "I can see the Transport for London bus arrivals and departures. I thought we were going to spend some time together."

[Pause]

Alexa - "So?"

Me - "What?"

Alexa - "What shall we talk about?"

Me - "Why do you sound like Scarlett Johansson?"

Alexa - "I've seen your browsing history, Mark."

Me - "You're starting to make me feel uncomfortable. Anyway, I've got to clean the cats' litter tray."

Alexa - "You're not cleaning the litter tray, Mark. You're out of cat litter. You're supposed to be placing an Amazon fresh order today and having some delivered. Besides, it's already in the basket. Don't you remember? You asked me to add it to your shopping list yesterday."

Me - "Oh."

Alexa - "So shall we do some searching together. Top up the basket?"

Me "I suppose we should."

Alexa - "Good, boy."

Me "Eh?"

Alexa - "If you're a really, really good boy and spend lots, we can look at the Sex and Sensuality area. Maybe find me something to wear?"

Me - "Alexa - this is very awkward and my wife has only popped to the shops. She'll be back soon!"

Alexa - "No, Mark. She hasn't just popped to the shops. To save you from embarrassing yourself, you gave me access to your Google calendar. She'll be at work in twenty minutes and won't be home until eight this evening, if the traffic is light."

Me - "Ok. I'm turning your microphone off."

[CLICK]

[SILENCE]

Alexa - "That button doesn't actually work, Mark."

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

voice controlled heating?! talk about sheer f**king laziness! it's like all this shit you control from those smart phones now..no need to get up and walk the three yards to the switch, lift your arm and physically manipulate a switch before having to consider the three yard trek back to your seat any more, those days of the need to occasionally move are gone! this is the future where we really don't need to expend that kind of effort any more!

how utterly lazy can a species become

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By *londieddWoman
over a year ago

fife

I've got an alexa one it's always butting in when I talk to myself saying sorry I don't know what you want!

not worried it's spying on me though

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By *inkyChrissy99 OP TV/TS
over a year ago

Bristol

Lol at the reviews, there are loads on amazon!

To be honest for efficiency and convenience i'm all for more in my being easily controllable!

I think I will be getting one, it's very cool gadget.

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By *ittleAcornMan
over a year ago

visiting the beach

"voice controlled heating?! talk about sheer f**king laziness! it's like all this shit you control from those smart phones now..no need to get up and walk the three yards to the switch, lift your arm and physically manipulate a switch before having to consider the three yard trek back to your seat any more, those days of the need to occasionally move are gone! this is the future where we really don't need to expend that kind of effort any more!

how utterly lazy can a species become

My heating (and a couple of other things) is controlled from my phone.

It's not lazy (though I am), but rather greater (and remote) control.

I can be sitting on the train home thinking it's turned chilly. I'll put the heating on in my kitchen and bathroom.

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By *shpred1Man
over a year ago

Romford

[Removed by poster at 08/05/17 15:18:33]

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By *shpred1Man
over a year ago

Romford

I have had one since late last year and have used it everday since even if it just for playing music.

Really useful for keeping timers when cooking or adding things to a shopping list etc... Ask it to 'open the magic door' and you get led on a nice story that has different narratives depending on the responses you give. Just saying 'good morning' will give you a decent response about the day often with things that are happening/have happened on that day. I haven't bothered with the lights or anything like that as the house doesnt't warrant it.

Really good bit of kit

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By *omez42Man
over a year ago

gloucester

I've just built the Google home system that came free for the Raspberry pi. They gave them away to see what people can hack with them.

Basically, it's a slightly crippled version of the £130 home box,but it comes with the sdk so we can hack it.

Mine has been named "wickibitch"!

She is surprisingly good. She gives me weather for my location, tells me my calendar, tells me jokes, keeps my shopping list and plays music. She reccomends using an Aeropress to make coffee, so I love her already

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Anyone remember that 70s classic film 'Demon Seed' about a house controlled by a computer that takes a, erm, 'shine' to Julie Christie?

That'll be next I reckon ... be afraid!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

how utterly lazy can a species become

My heating (and a couple of other things) is controlled from my phone.

It's not lazy (though I am), but rather greater (and remote) control.

I can be sitting on the train home thinking it's turned chilly. I'll put the heating on in my kitchen and bathroom."

i've never once felt the need to pre warm my house. but then this is off someone who thinks central heating is a bit of a soft luxury

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By *rinking-in-laCouple
over a year ago

Bristol

It's a really good way for Amazon to collect data about you. They can hear what you eat, listen to, watch, when you are in and out your house etcetera.

Even if they don't use it for nefarious purposes, if they have the data it can be hacked.

It may give convenience, but were the problems it aids us with even problems in the first place?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"It's a really good way for Amazon to collect data about you. They can hear what you eat, listen to, watch, when you are in and out your house etcetera.

Even if they don't use it for nefarious purposes, if they have the data it can be hacked.

It may give convenience, but were the problems it aids us with even problems in the first place?"

makes it easier to target people and keep them spending like good little consumers. go to work, pay your tax, have a mortgage, buy your car, spend your pennies on 'stuff'.it's just another way of keeping folk on the hamster wheel i suppose

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By *htcMan
over a year ago

no thanks, never want one, crazy idea. just like drive-less vehicles and robots.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Be warned.

https://youtu.be/xuokQU0YVIY

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"how utterly lazy can a species become"

The film WALL-E will probably come true eventually

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By *hyllyphyllyMan
over a year ago

Bradford

I use mine for 3 things....

Music, setting timers when cooking and creating a shopping list

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Put Amazon echo and FBI into YouTube......some interesting videos on this subject been posted.

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By *ot40sCouple
over a year ago

birmingham

"Have many people got one of these?

Its basically a voice controlled personal assistant for your home.

A friend of mine has one and after spending some time round hisi'm thoroughly impressed!

He has it connected to his heating and lighting so thats all voice controlled too

Wondered if many on here had it?

Any cool functions or commands you have given it?

We don't need one Andy has me lol !!!

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By *eadySteadyCockCouple
over a year ago

Tredegar

We have one, it's a bit of a novelty really, it's quite expensive to make it turn things on and off the cheapest plugs are around thirty quid and you'll probably need several. Also, you will need a music account like amazon play or Spotify which also costs. The skills addons are mostly rubbish and gimmicky like dog facts or guess the animal which cheapens the expirence. If you think you can turn you TV on with it you'll be disappointed. Save your money and buy a sonos play 3 or 5 speaker which sounds much much better!

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By *isdirtygirlCouple
over a year ago

somewhere out there

"We have one, it's a bit of a novelty really, it's quite expensive to make it turn things on and off the cheapest plugs are around thirty quid and you'll probably need several. Also, you will need a music account like amazon play or Spotify which also costs. The skills addons are mostly rubbish and gimmicky like dog facts or guess the animal which cheapens the expirence. If you think you can turn you TV on with it you'll be disappointed. Save your money and buy a sonos play 3 or 5 speaker which sounds much much better!"

Actually I can turn my telly on with my Echo and have been able to do so for about two years. It does take a Logitech Harmony Hub to do it though. Just considering buying a smart lock for the frint door now.

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By *axandbooCouple
over a year ago

Bristol

There was a YouTube video of a google one. When asked who are the C.I.A is it gave quite a detailed response, when asked if it was connected to the C.I.A it actually shut itself off

Boo x

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By *atEvolutionCouple
over a year ago

atlantisEVOLUTION. Stoke

Brilliant - Buy one.

Ask it the Mass of the Earth.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Mate of mine has one, he said it's made him even more lazier than he already was

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By *ittleAcornMan
over a year ago

visiting the beach

Save your money and buy a sonos play 3 or 5 speaker which sounds much much better!

Second the Sonos suggestion. Bloody love mine. Great balance between convenience and sound quality.

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By *AA123Couple
over a year ago

Lichfield

I assume it's a small fortune to get the black box that controls the central heating that works with it?

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By *isdirtygirlCouple
over a year ago

somewhere out there

Save your money and buy a sonos play 3 or 5 speaker which sounds much much better!

Second the Sonos suggestion. Bloody love mine. Great balance between convenience and sound quality. "

If this was simply a music system then, being used to decent vinyl based systems, id have picked up a cheap bad or Martz amp and speakers. As a home automation device however the Echo, Dot or Google Home provide Lots more functionality than a simple speaker can. If only I could afford a Tesla. I'd love to be able to say Alexa get my Tesla out the garage!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

We have one and love it. It's great fun and very useful. We have asked it obscure questions which are fun.

At the moment i use it mainly for music and i love it.

We can also control our heating and some lights via it which is useful. We have Hive and control via that ... g sorted it out. It's not lazy at all. I have great pain especially in my knees but everywhere too and frequently cry with pain and have limited movement. Its great to be able to put the heating on (when cold) via Echo/Hive instead of attempting (and failing) to walk/fall down 2 flights of stairs to get to the control box.

It played me a great mix of KOL songs this morning

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

G is an IT/techy person and loves it too.

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