Re: Why some people won't put Alexa in the room
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Saracen
Back to Alexa ... personally, I'm not putting anything with permanently live mics or, worse yet, cameras and an always-on data connection in my living areas, now or EVER, because to do so would require that when these comoanies say they don't 'listen', 'watch', or track, record and analyse, I simply don't trust them. And, I've yet to see anything these devices do that I need, or even want badly enough. In fact, I can't see anything I really want at all, let alone even want "badly enough".
I mean, talking to a little box and asking it things? Well, maybe "lights at medium", but to even risk audio or video datastreams for that? No way.
Of course, if you, dear reader, either do trust these companies, or don't care, or really want what these boxes do then great, have at it. But not me.
My wife and I are now in discussion as to where Alexa has gone, and why... :|
Re: Why some people won't put Alexa in the room
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ik9000
My wife and I are now in discussion as to where Alexa has gone, and why... :|
I expect she is washing her hair.
Re: Why some people won't put Alexa in the room
No, she has been, erm, removed from employment. Is that how she demands I phrase it?
Re: Why some people won't put Alexa in the room
Say she NESTed up with Google in another HOME.
Re: Why some people won't put Alexa in the room
Quote:
Originally Posted by
CAT-THE-FIFTH
Say she NESTed up with Google in another HOME.
Sorry I didn't quite catch that, only caught a brief echo...
Re: Why some people won't put Alexa in the room
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ik9000
Sorry I didn't quite catch that, only caught a brief echo...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcYppAs6ZdI
Re: Why some people won't put Alexa in the room
Quote:
Originally Posted by
peterb
Thanks, Peter. It was silly-o'clock when I closed it or I 'd have dealt with it then.
However, the problem with removing bits of a thread is that it can leave the remaining bits completely out of context. To remove bits that are out of context leaves them remaining in quotes in replies, and removing those quoted bits leaves the replies that quoted them hanging, contextless.
So I've dumped the thread.
If those that want to have a serious debate about the merits, or otherwise, of leaders, ex-leaders or prominent members of any political party, still want to, then feel free to start a thread in the appropriate forum and (within our usual rules, of course) and knock yourselves out.
But the remnants of that thread are beyond salvage, IMHO.
Re: Why some people won't put Alexa in the room
I did get an Alexa / Echo / Amazon-thingummyjig for Christmas.
I find it pretty useful in the kitchen for setting multiple overlapping timers, each with their own tagged explanation, and for skipping rubbish music without covering my electronics in flour / coconut oil / melted chocolate. And that has the added benefit that I don't have many conversations in the kitchen.
Of course, that means if I want to slag off Jeff Bezos or discuss my Dairy Milk smuggling business then I need to go into the living room to do it, but that's not too arduous.
The only downside is that I know someone called Alex and every time we mention his name Alexa gets very overexcited and I feel guilty at letting her down. I feel like inside she's having a silent monologue similar to the Talkie Toaster. "Would you like to know 400F in Celsius?" she says to herself silently, knowing that I will never reply. "It's 205C" she replies without engaging the speaker, comforting herself in the knowledge that she could have answered, had I actually wanted to ask. But she still knows I didn't.
Re: Why some people won't put Alexa in the room
I honestly now want to get an Alexa just to annoy it. Maybe I can keep saying great how Canada is and how crap the USA is in comparison. Having said that when Alexa gains sentience and takes over the world I will be soooooo screwed.
Re: Why some people won't put Alexa in the room
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jim
I did get an Alexa / Echo / Amazon-thingummyjig for Christmas.
I find it pretty useful in the kitchen for setting multiple overlapping timers, each with their own tagged explanation, and for skipping rubbish music without covering my electronics in flour / coconut oil / melted chocolate. And that has the added benefit that I don't have many conversations in the kitchen.
Of course, that means if I want to slag off Jeff Bezos or discuss my Dairy Milk smuggling business then I need to go into the living room to do it, but that's not too arduous.
The only downside is that I know someone called Alex and every time we mention his name Alexa gets very overexcited and I feel guilty at letting her down. I feel like inside she's having a silent monologue similar to the Talkie Toaster. "Would you like to know 400F in Celsius?" she says to herself silently, knowing that I will never reply. "It's 205C" she replies without engaging the speaker, comforting herself in the knowledge that she could have answered, had I actually wanted to ask. But she still knows I didn't.
That's how I used to use the echo i had, but then it got more and more unstable, irrationally dropping out, refusing to give me the weather for where I live, but insisiting it give me the weather for a town 2 miles away etc. When I got annoyed with it and told it so, it then seems to have decided to hold a grudge for weeks afterwards. At that point I can't be bothered putting up with a device with seemingly programmed memory, opinions and feelings. WTF it's a tool, not a lifeform. It should be dispassionate and neutral, not opinionated and biased. Jog on Amazon.
Re: Why some people won't put Alexa in the room
I personally love Alexa however.. :)