Amazon Echo Club

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by John F

Although Hulu is nice, I don't see it as a replacement for Prime, so I have both.

For me, it is. Since there is always enough for me to watch on any of these services, I consider them equal (Hulu, Netflix, Prime).

[tubemonkey]

Alexa gets even smarter, thanks to you

Now customers can help make Alexa even smarter- introducing Alexa Answers.

Now, in addition to advanced technology—such as machine learning and natural language understanding—and our many trustworthy information sources, we’re involving the Alexa customer community to help us answer questions Alexa can’t quite answer yet.

Beginning today, via invitation-only, customers can add answers and information to Alexa through a new feature we call Alexa Answers. Those who receive an invite via email can start contributing answers to Alexa today. We're excited to get Alexa customers involved. In the last month, through our internal Alexa Answers beta program, we've added more than 100,000 responses which have been given to customers millions of times.

[John F]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

For me, it is. Since there is always enough for me to watch on any of these services, I consider them equal (Hulu, Netflix, Prime).

I like the Prime shipping, Prime original content, Prime music, prime reading, ... Things that Hulu lack.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by John F

I like the Prime shipping, Prime original content, Prime music, prime reading, ... Things that Hulu lack.

Of late, Prime shipping for me was usually longer than the promised two-days and sometimes much longer. As a result, the shipping aspect lost all value and could no longer be included in the $119 yearly fee. As to musc, I prefer the premium services so the included free services were of no value. That left the video component. Was Prime Video worth $10/mo? Sure, but Hulu offered me $0.99/mo, so Prime membership now lost all value to me and wasn't worth renewing.

[ApK]

Hey there. Quick update
We got our Dot 3, and it performs MUCH better in my son's room than the Dot 2, both in sound quality, and mic performance for 2 way comms.
We've moved the Dot 2 to the living room, where it's paired to our Bluetooth stereo system....in case we ever have a party....

Also, I did a full remove and reset of my Wemo miniplug, and I'm relieved that it is back working properly with Alexa on both our profiles. I hope Catlady's is as well.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by John F

Although Hulu is nice, I don't see it as a replacement for Prime, so I have both.

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

For me, it is. Since there is always enough for me to watch on any of these services, I consider them equal (Hulu, Netflix, Prime).

I have both Hulu and Prime, but Prime mostly for the shipping and its BritBox add-on. Prime Video by itself has always sucked as they want to charge for nearly everything. Their free video stuff mostly isn't worth watching except for an original series like the Grand Tour. Netflix never seems to have the streaming version of video I want to watch and it says I have to pay another $12/mo for the DVD version of Netflix--bleep that. They have almost no original shows I care for. Hulu has a ton of stuff to watch, and at $8/mo is very reasonably priced.

Personally I stay as far away from Google products and services as I can because Google is well known for selling your data to the highest bidder. They are one of the scuzziest companies in existence. I could care less if their hardware, Android, or services are good alternatives because I simply don't trust them with my data, or anywheres near my data. Apple and Amazon can get breeched, but neither is going to openly market my data to other companies (or possibly even to other countries). I'm not a naive hen house owner who will invite the Google fox in to do what it wants to do. I prefer to put out large, painful traps to catch the fox!

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by ApK

Hey there. Quick update
We got our Dot 3, and it performs MUCH better in my son's room than the Dot 2, both in sound quality, and mic performance for 2 way comms.
We've moved the Dot 2 to the living room, where it's paired to our Bluetooth stereo system....in case we ever have a party....

Also, I did a full remove and reset of my Wemo miniplug, and I'm relieved that it is back working properly with Alexa on both our profiles. I hope Catlady's is as well.

I'm a procrastinator, Wemo's still not set up--nor is the Christmas tree I want to use it with.

I like the Dot3 so far as well--for one thing, it seems better at responding to actual commands rather than to TV commercials for the Echo. I've noticed a blue ring sometimes when it hears the TV, but it's not talking back. I am probably going to keep the second Dot3, but am still holding it in reserve as a potential Christmas gift just in case.

Re Hulu--right now I like it better than Prime Video, but that's because it's new and shiny. I have my doubts about whether it will be worth it after it goes up to regular price. I don't subscribe to any music service; the free Prime music is more than enough for me.

I am about to cut the cable cord--with Hulu, Prime Video, and Sling TV (which I just added to Roku because of a special offer), plus an antenna, I think I have more than enough choices of what to watch. I just have to get an antenna that picks up enough stations--the first one I ordered is going back; a second one is on the way.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by Catlady

...for one thing, it seems better at responding to actual commands rather than to TV commercials for the Echo....

My new Dot 3 and Echo Plus 2 are both doing the same thing--they hear "Alexa" on TV commercials, the blue ring momentarily lights up, Alexa thinks about the source for a few moments, then apparently decides it is not a human in her house uttering commands but just the TV and she ignores it! I love this improvement. I guess given enough time and enough competition, Bezos Bozos finally get it right...

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by OtinG

My new Dot 3 and Echo Plus 2 are both doing the same thing--they hear "Alexa" on TV commercials, the blue ring momentarily lights up, Alexa thinks about the source for a few moments, then apparently decides it is not a human in her house uttering commands but just the TV and she ignores it! I love this improvement. I guess given enough time and enough competition, Bezos Bozos finally get it right...

Yeah, there's definitely been a reduction in false positives, not just from the TV but from things I've uttered as well. I occasionally go into the Alexa web interface and examine the history of commands. You can listen to the recordings there, too, to see what was actually said that she picked up on, even those that she initially keyed into but then disregarded.

That was an entertaining trip. It seems I said, "I like Salisbury Steak" three times in as many weeks. She noted it, considered it, and then ignored it.

(For the record, I've been playing Fallout 76, and Salisbury Steak is a food item in the game. I don't normally talk about Salisbury Steak all the time. Cheese? Yes. Bacon? Definitely. But not Salisbury Steak.)

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by OtinG

My new Dot 3 and Echo Plus 2 are both doing the same thing--they hear "Alexa" on TV commercials, the blue ring momentarily lights up, Alexa thinks about the source for a few moments, then apparently decides it is not a human in her house uttering commands but just the TV and she ignores it! I love this improvement. I guess given enough time and enough competition, Bezos Bozos finally get it right...

One of the reasons I eventually unplugged my Dot2 was that it kept responding to "Alexis," a character on a soap I watch. It seemed like every time the name was mentioned, Dot2 would say it was sorry, it didn't understand. I don't think Dot3 is even lighting up at "Alexis"; it certainly isn't talking back.

[darryl]

Originally Posted by OtinG

I have both Hulu and Prime, but Prime mostly for the shipping and its BritBox add-on. Prime Video by itself has always sucked as they want to charge for nearly everything. Their free video stuff mostly isn't worth watching except for an original series like the Grand Tour. Netflix never seems to have the streaming version of video I want to watch and it says I have to pay another $12/mo for the DVD version of Netflix--bleep that. They have almost no original shows I care for. Hulu has a ton of stuff to watch, and at $8/mo is very reasonably priced.

Personally I stay as far away from Google products and services as I can because Google is well known for selling your data to the highest bidder. They are one of the scuzziest companies in existence. I could care less if their hardware, Android, or services are good alternatives because I simply don't trust them with my data, or anywheres near my data. Apple and Amazon can get breeched, but neither is going to openly market my data to other companies (or possibly even to other countries). I'm not a naive hen house owner who will invite the Google fox in to do what it wants to do. I prefer to put out large, painful traps to catch the fox!

Interesting post. Two things I would like to comment on.

My problem with Hulu comes down to one word. Advertisments. The last time I tried it there were simply too many of them for my liking.

Secondly, I don't see a lot of difference between the Google Fox and the Apple Fox or the Amazon Fox. They are all foxes and like to do the same thing when admitted to the hen house. Privacy, despite the ever increasing regulation paying lip service to it, is largely dead. If you want to use these services to their full potential you must effectively accept this. Yes, Google is "evil" in this regard, but they are not the only ones. Just the biggest hypocrites given their former slogan.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by darryl

My problem with Hulu comes down to one word. Advertisments. The last time I tried it there were simply too many of them for my liking.

They do have a plan without commercials, but it's 50% more per month.

[John F]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

They do have a plan without commercials, but it's 50% more per month.

I have the no-commercial plan. I'm not sure I would keep it otherwise, as there doesn't appear to be much unique content that I want on it.

[darryl]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

They do have a plan without commercials, but it's 50% more per month.

Thanks for that. I probably did know it at one stage. It does make it somewhat less attractive. I think I'll stick with Netflix.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

They do have a plan without commercials, but it's 50% more per month.

I don't think I've ever seen a free trial or a reduced price promo for no commercials. There's no way I would even try the service if I can't try commercial free.