topic Re: Do you have Alexa? in Electronics

Do you have Alexa?

Zhills — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 15:16:10 GMT

How do you use Alexa?

I use mine for turning on/off lights. What tasks does she do for you?

Re: Do you have Alexa?

OKPrincess — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 15:18:14 GMT

I use Alexa to ask a question, play a song but mainly a timer.

Re: Do you have Alexa?

Mz iMac — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 15:18:39 GMT

Alexa is the "command voice" NOT the product.

I have the 2nd gen DOT. I use mine for everything except for those "smart" thingies like you have & I don't.

For the record, my "command voice" is NOT named Alexa. The DOT comes w/several "command voices."

Re: Do you have Alexa?

Nightowlz — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 15:32:51 GMT

We use Alexa to control lights, set heat or air temp, weather, play music.

I like being able to turn the heat up to warm up the house before I crawl out of bed since I put the heat on 63-65 at night depending on our lows. Plus I can turn on the air when I get hot.

My sister just sent me an article yesterday about how Amazon employees can watch what you are doing in your house if you have a Nest doorbell plus security system in your house.

I know they are listening. Firgured they were probably watching via computer of tv.

Re: Do you have Alexa?

Krimpette — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 15:43:03 GMT

I use her as a timer, alarm and reminder. Also for sports scores. Sometimes night sounds to help me sleep. She also notifies me when Amazon packages are being shipped and delivered.

Re: Do you have Alexa?

x Hedge — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 16:00:17 GMT

Hi @Zhills .

Don't have the DOT, but Alexa is part of my Amazon tablet. However, I don't want it and never activated it.

When I check my tablet's apps I always find the Alexa app running (plus all the little Alexa app-friends it activates). I've stopped the app many times but it re-starts itself.

Amazon doesn't provide a way to uninstall it from their tablet.

So what Alexa does for me is waste space I'd rather use for other apps.

Re: Do you have Alexa?

LoveMeSomeQVC — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 16:02:16 GMT

Shopping List

Reminders

White noise all night

Timer when coloring my hair

Conversion on measurements when I am elbow deep in flour

Checking the weather and yes, sometimes what day it is before I roll out of bed lol!

Checking on my Amazon orders (Alexa, where's my stuff)

Re: Do you have Alexa?

TeezNu — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 16:40:01 GMT

I use my Echo in the bedroom, and my 3rd generation Dot in the den to ask Alexa:

the current time,

the weather forecast for the day,

to set a wake up alarm,

to set a timer

to play music or radio; also for xx minutes as I fall asleep,

what's on my calendar for the day,

automatic notifications of package deliveries from Amazon,

automaric notifications from Washington Post of breaking news,

automatic notifications from my Ring doorbell/camera system of movement around my front door

to add items to the shopping list on my phone

to call contacts in my iPhone,

to play games with me,

to read Audible books to me - no Audible subscription needed if read through Dot (verified with Amazon customer service today)

i don't have it linked to any other Smarthome devices yet.

Re: Do you have Alexa?

ValuSkr — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 16:57:25 GMT

I use the Dot, aka Alexa, for weather (both here and at where close relatives live), jokes, sports scores, measurement conversions, podcasts, and radio. I know she can do more, but I don't mind turning lights on and off manually.

Re: Do you have Alexa?

Carmie — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 17:21:34 GMT

My IPad has Alexia installed on it, but I have it deactivated.

I occasionally receive a message to reactivate it which I find to be creepy.

Re: Do you have Alexa?

anin — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 17:26:05 GMT

used it for my analysis

Re: Do you have Alexa?

Mz iMac — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 18:22:05 GMT

@Carmie wrote:
My IPad has Alexia installed on it, but I have it deactivated.

Siri is on Apple products not Alexia. I have Siri disconnected on my iMac because I use Speakable Items now called Dictation which works better than Siri.

Re: Do you have Alexa?

Carmie — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 18:26:49 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
@Carmie wrote:
My IPad has Alexia installed on it, but I have it deactivated.
Siri is on Apple products not Alexia. I have Siri disconnected on my iMac because I use Speakable Items now called Dictation which works better than Siri.

Oops, you are correct. My mistake. Thanks for catching that.

Re: Do you have Alexa?

hckynut — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 19:06:47 GMT

@@@@Zhills

(thread title)

My wife tried it some time back, but returned it. I personally had nor have any interest in these kind of devices.

hckynut

Re: Do you have Alexa?

MalteseMomma — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 19:40:22 GMT

can it be used like google? to ask questions or find people?

Re: Do you have Alexa?

Zhills — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 19:51:40 GMT

@hckynut wrote:

@@@@Zhills

(thread title)

My wife tried it some time back, but returned it. I personally had nor have any interest in these kind of devices.

hckynut

I wasn't interested either until I was given one for Christmas. Decided to experiment with it and I really do enjoy it. I like being able to get in bed and then turn off the light the best. I use the timers and reminders often. It is something you just have to learn to do.

Since I am alone, it is nice when she tells me "Good Night...talk to you tomorrow"

Re: Do you have Alexa?

Mz iMac — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 20:17:22 GMT

@MalteseMomma wrote:
can it be used like google? to ask questions or find people?

If you are fonting about the Google Speaker(s), yup!

Re: Do you have Alexa?

Zhills — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 21:00:45 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
@Carmie wrote:
My IPad has Alexia installed on it, but I have it deactivated.
Siri is on Apple products not Alexia. I have Siri disconnected on my iMac because I use Speakable Items now called Dictation which works better than Siri.

How do I use Alexa app on iPad?

To get started using Alexa within the app, tap the Alexa icon at the bottom. Tap Allow to bring up the prompt to grant the Alexa app access to your iOS device's microphone and location data. The app will then give you some example commands. Tap Done to complete setup.Jul 3, 2018

Re: Do you have Alexa?

Snoopp — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 21:42:24 GMT

You can turn the microphone off manually on the device, supposedly it won't record your conversations but who knows.

Re: Do you have Alexa?

knittykitty — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 22:28:31 GMT

wake many times during the night; can't read clock without glasses. 'Alexa, what time is it?' is my most-used feature.

train, ocean or rain sounds at night.

play crackling fireplace sounds while running my Duraflame.

not much else but worth it for me.