topic Re: Alexa in Community Chat

Alexa

gloriajean — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 15:37:54 GMT

Anyone have Alexa? I got her for my birthday and we really her. She tells me what the weather is etc, and I have her play my favorite music and radio station, which I couldn't get clear on the portable radio I had. Lots of people seem to be afraid to own her, that she sees everything? What? I could care less what she hears or sees, as we have nothing to hide. My niece, has her too, and says the same thing. Both my daughters have her too.

Anyone here?

Re: Alexa

Krimpette — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 15:40:50 GMT

I've had an Echo (plus a couple of Dots) for a few years. I use them mostly for timers, alarms, and reminders. I also sometimes ask Alexa to "help me sleep". I don't much care what Alexa sees in my life.

Re: Alexa

fthunt — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 15:41:45 GMT

Nope - no interest here - Enjoy

Re: Alexa

OKPrincess — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 15:46:53 GMT

We use her all the time. We ask questions, songs, use as a timer, weather, several things. Glad we made the purchase. I don’t know how Alexa can see or hear anything. You have to say her name first.

Re: Alexa

Lorik62 — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 15:46:15 GMT

I’ve had my Alexa for a year. Love her!

Re: Alexa

gloriajean — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 15:49:22 GMT

@Krimpettewrote:
I've had an Echo (plus a couple of Dots) for a few years. I use them mostly for timers, alarms, and reminders. I also sometimes ask Alexa to "help me sleep". I don't much care what Alexa sees in my life.

Oh yes, I use it for timers and reminders too. Love it for putting things on the shopping list, and when my husband is grocery shopping, everything is right there on his phone. When I babysit my darling 20 mo. old twin granddaughtes, their Alexa plays their children's songs and they love it!

Whatever Alexa would see in my life would be boring.

Re: Alexa

Annabellethecat66 — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 15:51:14 GMT

I have an Alexa. Mainly she helps me with spelling. I also have several DOTs.

I've given away lots of DOTs to family and friends. My son in law has his on a separate router...he said it's better for security reasons.

Re: Alexa

beckyb1012 — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 15:54:07 GMT

I will have to google because I have no ideal what an Alexa is. I thought this was going to be about Billy Joel and Christy Brinkley's daughter. I am so out of the loop on gadgets and such.

Re: Alexa

OKPrincess — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 15:57:31 GMT

@gloriajeanwrote:
@Krimpettewrote:
I've had an Echo (plus a couple of Dots) for a few years. I use them mostly for timers, alarms, and reminders. I also sometimes ask Alexa to "help me sleep". I don't much care what Alexa sees in my life.

Oh yes, I use it for timers and reminders too. Love it for putting things on the shopping list, and when my husband is grocery shopping, everything is right there on his phone. When I babysit my darling 20 mo. old twin granddaughtes, their Alexa plays their children's songs and they love it!
Whatever Alexa would see in my life would be boring.

Yes, we use it for children’s songs too and the grocery list. That’s great too. I forgot these things until I read your post.

Re: Alexa

OKPrincess — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 15:59:39 GMT

also I might add when DH and I are watching movies I ask Alexa how old so and so is. Instant answers but very rarely doesn’t have an answer.

Re: Alexa

wishmoon — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 16:03:49 GMT

I have her in my bedroom, kitchen and the bath. When they're demostrating the Echo on QVC, it'll drive you nuts because whenever they say, "Alexa," she turns on asking what she can do for you. (Or is that Suri?) Anyhow, she turns on!

I use it for weather, playing songs when taking a bath and just asking general q's.

Re: Alexa

Alison Wonderland — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 16:12:46 GMT

I have three Amazon Echos and love them. I used to have a really big 'boom box' radio on my bathroom counter that I used to listen to the radio when I was showering or getting ready for bed. Now I have a full size Echo that has the footprint of a drink coaster, so I have a lot more counter space. I use the Echo to listen to NPR and my Audible auddio books, as well as tell me the weather and the humidity level.

I have several smart bulbs around the house and use the Echos to control them, so I can turn lights on in other rooms before I even get out of bed. The smart bulbs are also geofenced to my mobile phone, so I can set it to turn the lights on when I pull into the driveway after dark. I also picked up a Nest thermostat during a Black Friday sale and now that it's connected to my Echo, I can also set the thermostat from anywhere in the apartment with a command to Alexa. Between the sale price of the Nest and a rebate from my city's electric company, I paid $130 (including sales tax) for the Nest and I'm hoping it will save me even more than that in my electic bill over the summer. Now if I go out to eat or go to a movie after work, the thermostat won't be trying to cool the apartment down when no one is home and knows to shut the AC off when I leave home on a Saturday afternoon, even if I forget to turn it off myself.

Re: Alexa

Snowpuppy — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 16:22:03 GMT

No Alexa, no Siri, no Ask Google to do it, either.

Trying to live more simply.

Re: Alexa

patbz — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 16:35:05 GMT

We were early adaptors of Alexa (Amazon offered a great deal on them went they first were introduced-- didn't even know what it was but ordered anyway). My entire family loves these except when we are watching Schitts Creek ( one of the primary characters is named Alexa, so you can imagine). We use timers, alarms, smart bulbs and grands love "tell me a story" and "tell me a joke". Our family has two Echos, a Tap, 6 Dots (we don't all live in one home). I'm so sorry I sold my Amazon stock 11yrs ago!

Re: Alexa

Mary Bailey — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 16:52:38 GMT

I have 2 Alexa (dot) I love it. I set timers, ask weather & news, play specific music (by artist, year or genre)

I say Alexa: Play music (I get a nice surprise of music)

Good Morning (I get a little fact of the day in history)

Tell me a joke (or story)

Re: Alexa

x Hedge — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 16:54:00 GMT

@beckyb1012wrote:
I will have to google because I have no ideal what an Alexa is. I thought this was going to be about Billy Joel and Christy Brinkley's daughter. I am so out of the loop on gadgets and such.

Lol!! Took me by surprise too, as I would've expected this Alexa to be posted in the electronics forum.

I DO know what this Alexa is, as 'she' is installed on my tablet. I know she comes in other forms as well. However, its appeal is lost on me. I've never activated it.

It interests me to read what people use Alexa for.

Re: Alexa

Mz iMac — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 16:54:07 GMT

@gloriajeanet al.

You folks are confusing the "wake word/voice" w/the "devices."

I have the DOT 2nd generation. I use the name "Echo" as my "wake word."

Re: Alexa

beckyb1012 — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 17:00:54 GMT

@x Hedgewrote:
@beckyb1012wrote:
I will have to google because I have no ideal what an Alexa is. I thought this was going to be about Billy Joel and Christy Brinkley's daughter. I am so out of the loop on gadgets and such.

Lol!! Took me by surprise too, as I would've expected this Alexa to be posted in the electronics forum.
I DO know what this Alexa is, as 'she' is installed on my tablet. I know she comes in other forms as well. However, its appeal is lost on me. I've never activated it.
It interests me to read what people use Alexa for.

I did go look it up and it did look vaguely familiar @x Hedge. Since I am cheaper than dirt and sock all money away to retirement accounts I rarely pay attention to retail or new gadgets on the market. As soon as I saw what it does and read some of the posts it made me think of an article I read awhile back that this new fangle refrigerator helped solve a murder in someone's home. The fridge has a camera or something, anyway the wife killed her husband in the kitchen and the fridge captured the whole thing. Alexa just may start "talking" about some things you do not want people to know.

Re: Alexa

gloriajean — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 17:04:36 GMT

Another thing, I asked her to sing me a song and she sings a few songs. When I mention she has a nice voice, she says that she's been told her voice is concidered one of her best features. I like her song "Technogogy".

Telling jokes, yes, but stories? I haven't tried that.

She answers to Alexa, not Echo.

Re: Alexa

songbird — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 17:16:35 GMT

We have "her" I always ask her math problems. I don't what else to ask her. My husband deals wtih her then me.