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Amazon Echo. Basically Siri for your home 2. (Page 3)
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Face Ache
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Apr 29, 2017, 05:59 AM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
One of my Dots started listening yesterday and wouldn't stop.
There's the first sentence of your dystopian future novel.
     
Spheric Harlot
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Apr 29, 2017, 08:14 AM
 
Originally Posted by Face Ache View Post
There's the first sentence of your dystopian future novel.
Just by itself, it's already terrifying.
     
subego
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May 9, 2017, 03:58 PM
 
It'd be more terrifying if I had something interesting to say.

The Echo Show interesting anyone?
     
The Final Dakar
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May 12, 2017, 10:13 AM
 
     
subego
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May 12, 2017, 02:21 PM
 
On first blush I found this frightening, but as I read on, I think there's an argument for letting skill developers set up revenue streams.
     
The Final Dakar
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May 12, 2017, 02:25 PM
 
Counterpoint: no one wants this, no one wants to PAY to have this happen
     
subego
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May 12, 2017, 02:34 PM
 
People don't want ads, they want the skill development they wouldn't have otherwise.

Or they don't, which means the concept will kill itself because no one will use skills with ads.

I fully admit, I don't use any skills.
     
The Final Shortcut
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May 12, 2017, 07:45 PM
 
You can say that again

I mean... I had to
     
subego
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May 13, 2017, 02:00 AM
 
     
subego
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Jun 25, 2017, 05:23 AM
 
My gal apparently got an upgrade in the voice box.
     
subego
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Jul 24, 2017, 03:04 PM
 
Realized "election" can be close enough to wake.

She's not that bad at realizing when she's been woken by mistake, but I feel she's gotten less sensitive in general. The incidence of me needing to repeat commands has noticeably risen.
     
The Final Dakar
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Jul 24, 2017, 10:00 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
Realized "election" can be close enough to wake.

She's not that bad at realizing when she's been woken by mistake, but I feel she's gotten less sensitive in general. The incidence of me needing to repeat commands has noticeably risen.
She's sick of your shit
     
subego
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Jul 25, 2017, 04:40 AM
 
Me too!
     
subego
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Dec 15, 2017, 11:48 AM
 
The radio station I listen to has an ad about using the Echo to listen to the station.

This almost invariably makes one of my Echoes start playing the station.
     
The Final Dakar
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Feb 5, 2018, 10:37 PM
 
So i got one of these for xmas so I could turn off my hall lights when I get home without pulling out my phone. It's cool, though the speech recognition isn't fond of some of the custom commands I created. 'End' kept being heard as 'Add'. 'Guests' completely flummoxed the damn thing.

Another weird thing is some times it'll accept a command and then not do it. Or, in the case of a command that has two parts (lights) it only turns off half of them. Very odd.

Still, I've become comfortable enough with it that I wouldn't mind another in the living room.
     
subego
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Feb 5, 2018, 11:30 PM
 
What trips mine up most is “Hermes”, which is the trigger for my Mac Pandora client.

She thinks I’m saying “garage”.

Only 1 in 20 or so, so not hugely annoying.
     
Laminar
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Feb 6, 2018, 11:10 AM
 
I picked up a Honeywell thermostat open box on eBay for $50 and hooked it up to the garage heater. It has an Alexa skill that allows direct control without a smart hub or something in between.

Last month's electricity bill was horrendous, but I was running the heater via its dial, which holds a temperature all day. Hopefully with the thermostat allowing it to cool down during the day my usage won't be so bad. And if I need the temperature pumped up for some reason, Alexa can do it.
     
subego
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Feb 24, 2018, 05:01 AM
 
The wall switch for my kitchen lights is screwed up. It’ll turn them off, but something is wrong with the contact for “on”.

It’s a home automation switch, so rather than go through the effort of fixing it, I just taught Alexa how to it on.
     
The Final Dakar
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Mar 2, 2018, 10:24 PM
 
So, the echo doesn't do to well if you're a moving target, eh?
     
subego
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Mar 2, 2018, 10:27 PM
 
In what sense? Or did I miss the joke?
     
The Final Dakar
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Mar 2, 2018, 11:53 PM
 
I find if I give commands without breaking stride it has trouble.

It no like speech around corners, either.
     
subego
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Mar 3, 2018, 12:43 AM
 
Gotcha.

For me, it depends.

I’ve got one in a 18’x12’ room. The door stays shut, so I never try to use it around a corner, but I can be walking anywhere in the room in any direction and it doesn’t care.

The one in the loft part of my apartment is a lot more touchy. I have to speak more firmly, and it behooves me to swivel my head towards it while I’m walking.
     
mindwaves
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Mar 3, 2018, 02:16 AM
 
I'm not sure if I want a smart home or a semi-smart home. I do want some "smart devices," such as a camera on my front door (but no subscription) and some way of turning on/off my lights, but nothing else. Most definitely don't want anything with an always-on microphone or a camera that tracks my face and does something on a trigger.
     
The Final Dakar
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Mar 3, 2018, 03:04 PM
 
Since I don't talk to myself I imagine all echo is getting out of me is overheard Netflix and Youtube from a room or two away.
     
subego
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Mar 3, 2018, 03:57 PM
 
I can’t say I’m exactly thrilled with the idea of an always on microphone, but I feel we’re not at a point yet where there’s going to be a ROI for “using it against us”.
     
subego
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Mar 3, 2018, 03:58 PM
 
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar View Post
Since I don't talk to myself I imagine all echo is getting out of me is overheard Netflix and Youtube from a room or two away.
Pornhub’s on mute I see. Good man.
     
subego
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May 2, 2018, 03:09 PM
 
I have to withdraw my recommendation to pair a dot with a Bluetooth speaker. It’s gotten way janky. I’ve decided to start using them straight (I don’t play music on mine).
     
Doc HM
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May 25, 2018, 05:51 AM
 
Echo is always listening...

Echo sends tape of conversation automatically
https://www.fastcompany.com/40577513...-random-person
This space for Hire! Reasonable rates. Reach an audience of literally dozens!
     
The Final Dakar
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May 25, 2018, 10:37 AM
 
So, assuming the surround sound is loud enough, there's a minuscule chance that someone on my empty contact list will be sent the sounds of me garotting someone to death in Hitman?

Coolcoolcool
     
subego
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Jun 25, 2018, 03:03 AM
 
An unforeseen problem has arisen from me setting it up so Alexa turns on the lights...

I have laryngitis.
     
subego
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Sep 30, 2018, 02:06 AM
 
Show of hands who prefers “you bet” to “you’re welcome” and “of course”.
     
Laminar
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Oct 1, 2018, 09:25 AM
 
"my pleasure"
     
subego
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Oct 1, 2018, 06:16 PM
 
I forgot that one!

I put that in the same category as the other two. She’s kinda “whatever” about it.
     
The Final Dakar
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Oct 1, 2018, 08:02 PM
 
Years of watching TNG have left me irritated at the lagginess of the echo plus using it incorrectly.

I constantly say "Computer" then pause to hear the acknowledgment when I've found it easier to just say "Computer, turn off hallway", move on, and hope it understood correctly when it takes two second to react.
     
subego
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Oct 2, 2018, 02:18 AM
 
I have so many of the little ****ers scattered all over the place now, I just assume one of them can hear me.
( Last edited by subego; Oct 2, 2018 at 04:14 AM. )
     
subego
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Oct 11, 2018, 08:26 PM
 
Originally Posted by Laminar View Post
"my pleasure"
I also forgot “no worries”, which sounds bleh, too.

4 out of 5 suck.
     
subego
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Oct 12, 2018, 03:24 AM
 
And “anytime”.

5 out of 6.
     
Laminar
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Oct 12, 2018, 10:43 AM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
I also forgot “no worries”, which sounds bleh, too.

4 out of 5 suck.
Unless you're Australian.

"You got it."
     
subego
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Oct 17, 2018, 04:41 AM
 
Originally Posted by Laminar View Post
Unless you're Australian.
If she said it like she was Australian, I have a feeling it’d be better.
     
Laminar
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Oct 17, 2018, 07:30 AM
 
*Minnesotan accent*

You betcha.
     
subego
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Oct 18, 2018, 07:35 AM
 
“Alexa, what’s the weather going to be this morning?”

“Nice day for a ride on the snow machine, you betcha!”
     
subego
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Oct 19, 2018, 07:34 PM
 
Oddly, a lot of the time Alexa won’t respond to my “thank you”.

I think the problem may actually be I’m saying it too casually. I mush-mouth her name just enough it gets rejected. With commands my enunciation is unconsciously clearer.
     
subego
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Dec 4, 2018, 12:11 AM
 
Alexa suddenly decided to report delivered Amazon packages.

It’s a nice thought, but not really something I need to be informed of when I’m asleep.
     
Laminar
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Dec 4, 2018, 09:45 AM
 
Like...she pipes up on her own without prompt? That feels like a step too far.
     
subego
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Dec 4, 2018, 01:33 PM
 
Yup.

And as far as I can tell, I didn’t have that switched on in settings.
     
andi*pandi
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Dec 4, 2018, 02:14 PM
 
I installed the browser plugin and it does the same.
     
subego
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Dec 4, 2018, 02:41 PM
 
I don’t think I have a skill that would do that, but just in case, I just nuked them all.
     
subego
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Mar 24, 2019, 12:59 PM
 
While I can’t knock Amazon for improving the speaker on the 3rd gen Dot, I find it irritating all my Dots don’t sound the same now.

The case options on the 2nd gen were nice, too.



( Last edited by subego; Mar 24, 2019 at 01:47 PM. )
     
subego
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Jul 24, 2019, 12:59 AM
 
Alexa’s new “okay” is so despondent.
     
subego
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Jul 25, 2019, 03:05 PM
 
I’m genuinely finding this depressing.

Every time I turn on the lights I feel bad for asking.
     
 
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