Amazon Echo Club

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

When you stopped your Echo, was it mid-song of that selection?

I had it on shuffle; I had stopped it just as a new song was starting but I didn't register what it was. It's possible it was the same song but it wasn't right at the beginning, I don't think.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I had it on shuffle; I had stopped it just as a new song was starting but I didn't register what it was. It's possible it was the same song but it wasn't right at the beginning, I don't think.

K - we can chalk it up to things that go bump in the night. A crowd Alexa feels well at home with

[Catlady]

Do any of you by chance use Alexa with a wi-fi connected Neato robot vacuum? I am looking for a new Neato--I had an earlier model before they incorporated wi-fi--and am looking for opinions. Thanks.

[copyrite]

There's an Echo offer right now (ends today) to purchase a $25 gift card and get $5 promo card. I did this yesterday, and was slightly mystified when it wasn't delivered promptly. Then I got an email saying it would be delivered today in a 'Gift Box Reveal'... huh? The dang thing was mailed to me. Really, Amazon? Yesterday was Earth Day, why the extra gas (for delivery), cardboard, plastic wrapping?

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/browse.h...e=15497504011&

[tubemonkey]

Amazon’s new Alexa developer policy now bans all ads except in music and flash briefings

Amazon has quietly introduced a change to its Alexa Skills Developer agreement aimed at further restricting advertisements within Alexa’s voice apps, which it calls “skills.”

Previously, the developer agreement stated that it would ban apps that used the Alexa app home cards – the cards that appear in the Alexa companion app – that can describe the skill in question or enhance the voice interaction with details provided as text-based content. Now the agreement simply bans skills that contain “any advertising for third-party products or services,” according to the updated documentation.

Amazon carves out an exception for streaming music, radio and flash briefing apps (news briefings) where advertisements are not the core functionality of the skill. But other than that, ads are now largely banned on the Alexa platform.

The change has irked some Alexa developers who already feel that it’s too difficult to make money from their Alexa skills, as is. Others, however, are confident that Amazon will eventually introduce its own monetization platform – perhaps through in-app purchases, paid skills, or ways to leverage Amazon Pay (its payments platform) in their skills.

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Amazon’s new Alexa developer policy now bans all ads except in music and flash briefings

I hope they keep it relatively ad free. Knowing Google their Home Advertiser thingie will be mostly ads, just like everything else that is Google. But I bet Amazon is merely going to introduce a method where they can get a cut out of the ads. I had to call Amazon CS over the weekend because of a item I bought that was total garbage when I received it. While I was on hold with them they played Amazon music and made sure I knew which song it was and that it was being played via Amazon music. A not so subtle ad while waiting on hold. My guess is there was no reason to put me on hold for two minutes other than to push Amazon music. Meh. Thankfully they quickly resolved the faulty product issue and refunded my money.

[shalym]

Introducing Echo Look

About the product

• Introducing Echo Look—everything you love about Alexa, and now she can help you look your best
• Using just your voice, easily take full-length photos and short videos with a hands-free camera that includes built-in LED lighting, depth-sensing camera, and computer vision-based background blur
• See yourself from every angle with the companion app. Build a personal lookbook and share your photos.
• Get a second opinion on which outfit looks best with Style Check, a new service that combines machine learning algorithms with advice from fashion specialists
• Echo Look helps you discover new brands and styles inspired by your lookbook
• Ask Alexa to read the news and audiobooks, set alarms, get traffic and weather updates, control smart home devices, play music, and more
• Always getting smarter and adding new features, plus thousands of skills like Starbucks, Fitbit, NPR, and more

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0186JAEWK...ableAutoPlay=1

Shari

[Conan46]

The Echo Look sounds like an "April Fool's Joke" but I predict it will be a best seller in this Facebook narcissistic generation. Great idea for Amazon, sad comment on society.

[Catlady]

OMG. I can't even comment coherently, I'm so flabbergasted.

[tubemonkey]

Now the NSA can get live video feeds on Americans whenever they want

[shalym]

Originally Posted by Conan46

The Echo Look sounds like an "April Fool's Joke" but I predict it will be a best seller in this Facebook narcissistic generation. Great idea for Amazon, sad comment on society.

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Now the NSA can get live video feeds on Americans whenever they want

My thoughts exactly.

Originally Posted by Catlady

OMG. I can't even comment coherently, I'm so flabbergasted.

...with a little bit of this thrown in as well.

Shari

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by shalym

Introducing Echo Look

Wow, like the rest of you I thought this was a joke. Good grief! I too have no words of comment other than, WTF!

[Bilbo1967]

It's it really not a joke?

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

It's it really not a joke?

Nope, they're taking orders "by invitation only" in the US for $199.99