Amazon Echo Club

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

This is why you shouldn't watch a TV station that runs Deal-Dash commercials every commercial break if you've set Alexa's wake word to "computer".
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Wow, Alexa really screwed the pooch on that one! No similar sound between computer and that at all. (Unless the word computer was used earlier in the phrase and just not recorded by her.) I know that when I use Echo as the wake word she awakes to most long O sounds in any word or expression. Amazon really needs to improve Alexa's hearing, or give her hearing aids. I have trouble hearing too, but I'm old. Alexa is really young, so no excuse there. Maybe rocking out to all that loud music has brought her early deafness!

[ApK]

Originally Posted by jswinden

Wow, Alexa really screwed the pooch on that one! No similar sound between computer and that at all. (Unless the word computer was used earlier and just not recorded by her.)

Everyone in that commercial says stuff like "I just won this new computer for 12 dollars and 41 cents!" "I won this brand new laptop computer for only $35 and 22 cents...."

Originally Posted by ApK

Everyone in that commercial says stuff like "I just won this new computer for 12 dollars and 41 cents!" "I won this brand new laptop computer for only $35 and 22 cents...."

Yes I know, however Alexa did not record in the text the word computer even once in those three attempts. So did she hear the word computer because it was actually spoken, or did she just hear incorrectly? If she heard the actual word computer than she was correct to start listening. If the word computer was never spoken, then she screwed the pooch. By just reading the text Alexa recorded from those attempts, it is not at all clear what item was actually for sale, and therefore the text leaves us unable to determine whether she heard the word computer.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by jswinden

Yes I know, however Alexa did not record in the text the word computer even once in those three attempts. So did she hear the word computer because it was actually spoken, or did she just hear incorrectly? If she heard the actual word computer than she was correct to start listening. If the word computer was never spoken, then she screwed the pooch. By just reading the text Alexa recorded from those attempts, it is not at all clear what item was actually for sale, and therefore the text leaves us unable to determine whether she heard the word computer.

Dang man, if you "know" then you "know" the word was said. And if you look at the voice feedback in the Alexa app, you'd "know" that she does not routinely show the wake word in the transcription. It's odd if she does.

[CWatkinsNash]

After talking about it for over a year but never actually getting around to it, I just ordered my first smart bulb.

Originally Posted by ApK

Dang man, if you "know" then you "know" the word was said. And if you look at the voice feedback in the Alexa app, you'd "know" that she does not routinely show the wake word in the transcription. It's odd if she does.

Sharpe, the OP, merely stated:

This is why you shouldn't watch a TV station that runs Deal-Dash commercials every commercial break if you've set Alexa's wake word to "computer".

Since the OP never states that the word computer was spoken, how do you therefore KNOW the word computer was used? I hope you are not a lawyer, nor a scientist as far as that goes. Perhaps if the OP stated that word was used, but since this thread is filled with posts stating Alexa heard a word that was never spoken, it would be merely an assumption to think it was. They might have been selling blenders or Instant Pots for all we know.

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

After talking about it for over a year but never actually getting around to it, I just ordered my first smart bulb.

I've got two now. One is multicolor and one is soft white, but both are adjustable as far as brightness level. When Alexa works with them, it is cool. She doesn't always work with them though. I'm not sure if the fault is with Amazon or with TP-Link and the code they created to connect their bulbs to Alexa. Probably the latter. But there are days that Alexa will not be able to control the bulbs, but most days she can. However, the scenes have never worked. Again, I think this is mostly due to TP-Link and not Amazon, but I cannot be certain of that. Mostly I use my iPhone/iPad to control them, especially the multicolored one since I was never able to control the color hue via Alexa.

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by jswinden

I'm not sure if the fault is with Amazon or with TP-Link and the code they created to connect their bulbs to Alexa. Probably the latter.

Based on all the reviews I've read over the past year and again today, I really think the systems just haven't been perfected yet, at least not in the basic consumer-level devices. I see complaints in non-Alexa-connected systems that mirror the complaints of Alexa users. With the Philips system, the bulbs get lost from the hub, or the hub loses its connection with Alexa, etc. The TP-Links need to be reset sometimes. And on it goes.

I'm starting to think that they just haven't figured out how to consistently keep things in "standby but receiving" mode.

I went with the TP-Link dimmable white bulb because I don't want a hub. One less thing to plug in.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by jswinden

Sharpe, the OP, merely stated:



Since the OP never states that the word computer was spoken, how do you therefore KNOW the word computer was used? I hope you are not a lawyer, nor a scientist as far as that goes. Perhaps if the OP stated that word was used, but since this thread is filled with posts stating Alexa heard a word that was never spoken, it would be merely an assumption to think it was. They might have been selling blenders or Instant Pots for all we know.

Assumption being everyone has seen a Deal dash commercial. They are annoying and every one of them says computer.
Computers draw people in, blenders and Instant Pots don't.

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Assumption being everyone has seen a Deal dash commercial. They are annoying and every one of them says computer.
Computers draw people in, blenders and Instant Pots don't.

I had never even heard the term "Deal dash commercial" so there you go. I'm a night owl, so I would think they would be on late at night when I'm watching TV, but yet I've never seen one. However, I NEVER watch any of the home shopping networks, so perhaps that is why I've never even heard of those commercials.

We get a lot of those BS auction site commercials where they claim you can buy a brand new laptop for $15. Those are of course a ripoff because you have to pay for each bid you place, and most of those sites only allow upping a bid by 1 to 2 pennies, so you would potentially have to make a lot of bids to win an auction. The new laptop might only cost $15 if you win the auction, but to claim your item you have to pay for all those bids you made and that generally drives up the total/actual cost above retail value.

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

Based on all the reviews I've read over the past year and again today, I really think the systems just haven't been perfected yet, at least not in the basic consumer-level devices. I see complaints in non-Alexa-connected systems that mirror the complaints of Alexa users. With the Philips system, the bulbs get lost from the hub, or the hub loses its connection with Alexa, etc. The TP-Links need to be reset sometimes. And on it goes.

I'm starting to think that they just haven't figured out how to consistently keep things in "standby but receiving" mode.

I went with the TP-Link dimmable white bulb because I don't want a hub. One less thing to plug in.

I agree, they are in the early days of implementing these smart devices. I picked TP-Link because they have a hub-less design. Each device works on its own without a hub. But with WiFi there are always going to be some glitches as signals don't always get broadcast strongly enough to complete communications. Also we are very much in the beginning stages for systems like Alexa and as you stated they all seem to have some issues. With TP-Link devices you cannot use Scenes with Alexa. You can set up the Scenes, but they won't work via Alexa. Other brands might work better though. Regardless of use/control via Alexa, I like my smart bulbs because I can control then very well via my smartphone from virtually anywhere with a cellular or WiFi connection. The same is true with my home security cameras. I can view and control them from anywhere. Cool stuff.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by jswinden

I had never even heard the term "Deal dash commercial" so there you go. I'm a night owl, so I would think they would be on late at night when I'm watching TV, but yet I've never seen one. However, I NEVER watch any of the home shopping networks, so perhaps that is why I've never even heard of those commercials.

We get a lot of those BS auction site commercials where they claim you can buy a brand new laptop for $15. Those are of course a ripoff because you have to pay for each bid you place, and most of those sites only allow upping a bid by 1 to 2 pennies, so you would potentially have to make a lot of bids to win an auction. The new laptop might only cost $15 if you win the auction, but to claim your item you have to pay for all those bids you made and that generally drives up the total/actual cost above retail value.

Your off topic is a deal-dash commercial. So you have seen the commercial.
Deal-dash is not a home shopping network. It is an "auction" site.

Totally off-topic the Syfy channel seems to be supported by pizza and class action suit lawyers.

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Your off topic is a deal-dash commercial. So you have seen the commercial.
Deal-dash is not a home shopping network. It is an "auction" site.

The ones like that I've seen talk about computers, smartphones, and other items within the commercials. They are not solely about computers by any means. They often say "laptop" rather than "computer", as I recall.

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Totally off-topic the Syfy channel seems to be supported by pizza and class action suit lawyers.

LOL! Yep I hear the commercial for "The Texas Hammer" all the time. "Did that big, bad truck run over you? Just call the Texas Hammer and we will hammer out a settlement for you!" Damn lawyers. Here in Texas, until the 1980s lawyers were forbidden the right to advertise outside of the Yellow Pages in the phone book, and even then they were restricted to a 1" x 2" ad. But since a large number of legislatures are lawyers, they changed that. And they wonder why Americans want to sue everybody all the time!

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by jswinden

With TP-Link devices you cannot use Scenes with Alexa. You can set up the Scenes, but they won't work via Alexa. Other brands might work better though.

I just want to turn off my bedroom light without getting up. I have simple needs.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by jswinden

The ones like that I've seen talk about computers, smartphones, and other items within the commercials. They are not solely about computers by any means. They often say "laptop" rather than "computer", as I recall.



LOL! Yep I hear the commercial for "The Texas Hammer" all the time. "Did that big, bad truck run over you? Just call the Texas Hammer and we will hammer out a settlement for you!" Damn lawyers. Here in Texas, until the 1980s lawyers were forbidden the right to advertise outside of the Yellow Pages in the phone book, and even then they were restricted to a 1" x 2" ad. But since a large number of legislatures are lawyers, they changed that. And they wonder why Americans want to sue everybody all the time!

Not the local channels. These are the did you take (drug to save your life and had known side effects) then call the legal group of (we get 30% if you win) for a free consultation. No charge unless you win.