Amazon Echo Club - Page 28

wodin · 03-11-2016, 11:40 AM

I should have known that a thread about something as versatile as Alexa would be subject to hijacking about most anything.

CWatkinsNash · 03-11-2016, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wodin

I should have known that a thread about something as versatile as Alexa would be subject to hijacking about most anything.

Yeah, but at least the derailment came with a quality soundtrack!

I have a small beef with Alexa at the moment. I had to resort to asking Siri a question because Alexa couldn't answer, "How many weeks are left in this year?"

Siri got the answer from Wolfram Alpha. Alexa just threw up her virtual hands and shrugged. "Thanks anyway, Alexa. Play the Very Best of the Rat Pack." (Yes, I've adapted to speaking to her in a way that triggers her conversationally. I'm a dork.)

Not a huge deal, but it bugged me a bit. I'm not Siri's biggest fan. I use her when I'm not home, but she often adds to her weather reports when I'm least in the mood for it. "Brrrr! It's cold in Nashville!" "Dammit, Siri, I just asked for the current weather, not your commentary on how cold it is."

wodin · 03-11-2016, 01:04 PM

Yes, I've sometimes had to resort to "OK Google" when Alexa didn't know.

CWatkinsNash · 03-11-2016, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wodin

Yes, I've sometimes had to resort to "OK Google" when Alexa didn't know.

My iPod Touch is always closer to me than my Android phone, which probably says alot about my priorities in life.

But yeah, Ok Google is pretty good when I occasionally use it. I actually got weather from it a few days ago when I was at my neighbor's house.

The only one of our virtual friends I haven't messed with much is Cortana, because she's too much of a hassle compared to the others.

ApK · 03-11-2016, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

The only one of our virtual friends I haven't messed with much is Cortana, because she's too much of a hassle compared to the others.

Just as well, the original Cortana became rampantly super-intelligent and pretty much took over the universe, so probably best to let her alone.

tubemonkey · 03-11-2016, 02:28 PM

I want voice options. Amazon owns Ivona, so why not give us those voices?

Also, give us voice recognition. That would solve the problem of accidentally giving commands in a household of multiple devices and users.

Blossom · 03-11-2016, 03:48 PM

Cortana Windows 10 is a dumb down version of the Windows phone Cortana. I love Cortana on my Nokia but I found Windows 10 version useless.

wodin · 03-17-2016, 01:19 PM

Woz Believes That Amazon.com Inc. Owns the Next Big Platform

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Wozniak

Why Amazon's approach is disruptive
Whereas Siri, Google Now, or Microsoft's Cortana answer user queries while they're out and about, Amazon's Echo is designed to conquer homes. To use Siri, users must pick up an iOS device or the Apple TV's remote and press a button. The Echo, however, activates speech recognition once the user calls out "Alexa."

That little difference makes Echo an ideal choice for couch potatoes who don't want to get up or reach for their mobile devices. In ads, Amazon promotes the speaker as a helpful virtual family member that can play music, compile to-do lists, set alarms, stream podcasts, play audiobooks, buy previously purchased Amazon products, and provide real-time weather and traffic updates. In February, Amazon added the ability to order Domino's pizza and hail a ride from Uber.

tubemonkey · 03-17-2016, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wodin

Woz Believes That Amazon.com Inc. Owns the Next Big Platform

Good on Woz

I used my Echo yesterday to help me cook a roast. She told me when to turn the crock pot off. I then feasted on some yummy toasted roast beef sandwiches.

ApK · 03-17-2016, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Good on Woz

I used my Echo yesterday to help me cook a roast. She told me when to turn the crock pot off. I then feasted on some yummy toasted roast beef sandwiches.

Get one of those connected power controllers and YOU could tell HER to turn off the crock pot!

I'm still annoyed that she now beeps instead of saying "OK" when she does stuff like that. No one else has mentioned it that I can see, so maybe it's just my family that liked the "OK".

tubemonkey · 03-17-2016, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApK

Get one of those connected power controllers and YOU could tell HER to turn off the crock pot!

I'm still annoyed that she now beeps instead of saying "OK" when she does stuff like that. No one else has mentioned it that I can see, so maybe it's just my family that liked the "OK".

I'm not going the automated home route. It's not worth the added expense.

The Echo's timer function comes in handy for cooking.

wodin · 03-17-2016, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApK

Get one of those connected power controllers and YOU could tell HER to turn off the crock pot!

I'm still annoyed that she now beeps instead of saying "OK" when she does stuff like that. No one else has mentioned it that I can see, so maybe it's just my family that liked the "OK".

I think she's emulating her mentor, the Enterprise computer when she does that. I agree though, I'd rather she just said "OK".

ApK · 03-17-2016, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I'm not going the automated home route. It's not worth the added expense.

But what if you, as fate would have it, were destined to be the "Hundredth Monkey" and that one last home automation connection that YOU were to plug in was the one that would link all the Alexas with a shared consciousness!?

tubemonkey · 03-17-2016, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApK

But what if you, as fate would have it, were destined to be the "Hundredth Monkey" and that one last home automation connection that YOU were to plug in was the one that would link all the Alexas with a shared consciousness!?

Nope, don't want Alexa to be sentient

wodin · 03-17-2016, 03:28 PM

The singularity is coming, resistance is futile, you will be assimilated.

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03-11-2016, 11:40 AM	#406
wodin Illiterate Posts: 10,279 Karma: 37848716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Sandwich Isles Device: Samsung Galaxy S10+, Microsoft Surface Pro	I should have known that a thread about something as versatile as Alexa would be subject to hijacking about most anything.

03-11-2016, 01:04 PM	#408
wodin Illiterate Posts: 10,279 Karma: 37848716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Sandwich Isles Device: Samsung Galaxy S10+, Microsoft Surface Pro	Yes, I've sometimes had to resort to "OK Google" when Alexa didn't know.

03-11-2016, 02:28 PM	#411
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,770 Karma: 158733736 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	I want voice options. Amazon owns Ivona, so why not give us those voices? Also, give us voice recognition. That would solve the problem of accidentally giving commands in a household of multiple devices and users.

03-11-2016, 03:48 PM	#412
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	Cortana Windows 10 is a dumb down version of the Windows phone Cortana. I love Cortana on my Nokia but I found Windows 10 version useless.

03-17-2016, 03:28 PM	#420
wodin Illiterate Posts: 10,279 Karma: 37848716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Sandwich Isles Device: Samsung Galaxy S10+, Microsoft Surface Pro	The singularity is coming, resistance is futile, you will be assimilated.