Amazon Echo Club

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Speaking of dogs--and cats--what happens when they knock over the robot?

In any case, it looks more like Rosie than Astro.

I can't imagine why anyone would need a personal stalker robot. Wouldn't anyone inclined to buy this thing already have all sorts of smart home devices, so what does this add except something to trip over?

I see how the anthropomorphic or pet-like quality can appeal to some and maybe even provide comfort and support. Even those toy robots and electronic dogs that do nothing useful have had some popularity.

And I can appreciate the idea of a camera/telepresence device that can go from room to room, or look out windows, rather than having multiple cameras installed everywhere.

If this was a lot cheaper and could handle stairs and doors (it can't), I might be interested. Especially if they add a vacuum cleaner for pet hair.....

ApK

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Speaking of dogs--and cats--what happens when they knock over the robot?

In any case, it looks more like Rosie than Astro.

I can't imagine why anyone would need a personal stalker robot. Wouldn't anyone inclined to buy this thing already have all sorts of smart home devices, so what does this add except something to trip over?

Now a $1000 for a Rosie robot would be worth the money! She was much smarter than Alexa, with more attitude also.

I would definitely trip over that bot, like I do with the cats on occasion.

I can definitely imagine dogs chewing the heck out of the screen, that's what they do with their toys after all.

Oh well at least Amazon is being imaginative. Apple has lost its imagination, and some high tech companies never had much imagination to begin with.

Will also be funny, to us anyways, when the robot wonders into the bathroom or bedroom and broadcasts to friends and families what they would not want to see! Ruh Roh, George!

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by ApK

I see how the anthropomorphic or pet-like quality can appeal to some and maybe even provide comfort and support. Even those toy robots and electronic dogs that do nothing useful have had some popularity.

Yeah, but they're cuddly and cute. This thing isn't.

And I can appreciate the idea of a camera/telepresence device that can go from room to room, or look out windows, rather than having multiple cameras installed everywhere.

If this was a lot cheaper and could handle stairs and doors (it can't), I might be interested. Especially if they add a vacuum cleaner for pet hair.....

I can maybe see having this thing patrol through the house when no one's home, I suppose, but if you can afford a thousand bucks for it, you can probably afford a robust security system.

A vacuum would make it a lot more useful, but you can get a robo vacuum for a lot less money, even one that's Alexa-enabled. And it's not like this robot can actually DO anything, like get a beer from the fridge or take out the trash. It's still the same voice controls and apps that the cheap Echo devices can handle.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

• $999.99 -- Amazon Astro

When Amazon creates a robot with mosquito and other household pest killing capabilities let me know.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Yeah, but they're cuddly and cute. This thing isn't.

That was rude and hurtful! Tell Astro you're sorry and you didn't mean it!

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

When Amazon creates a robot with mosquito and other household pest killing capabilities let me know.

Oh geesh, first she insults our robot slaves, now he wants to arm them. Have you guys never WATCHED any science fiction!?

I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords.

[DiapDealer]

Ruh, Roh...

[issybird]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

When Amazon creates a robot with mosquito and other household pest killing capabilities let me know.

Poor Norton! That it should come to this.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by ApK

That was rude and hurtful! Tell Astro you're sorry and you didn't mean it!

Oh geesh, first she insults our robot slaves, now he wants to arm them. Have you guys never WATCHED any science fiction!?

I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords.

I already live in fear of my robot vacuum.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I already live in fear of my robot vacuum.

I'm sure the cats do too!

[OtinG]

BTW, if you notice the robot reading this book, be afraid, be very afraid...

Spoiler:

Hint: From the Twilight Zone episode "To Serve Man". It's a cookbook!

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by OtinG

BTW, if you notice the robot reading this book, be afraid, be very afraid...

Spoiler:

Hint: From the Twilight Zone episode "To Serve Man". It's a cookbook!

I love that episode. It's of the best in the series.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by OtinG

I'm sure the cats do too!

I think the robot vacuum and the cats are in cahoots.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I think the robot vacuum and the cats are in cahoots.

That, they are. They're pilot-navigators

[DiapDealer]

I've often thought a sunbeam-seeking robot could keep both cats and plants happy. Flat like a roomba so cats could sprawl in perpetual sun, and stout enough to support a sun-loving plant.

[John F]

I actually learned something new from the weekly Alexa email. I knew that the echos had bass and treble (through voice control), but there is also an "equalizer" (there is bass, treble, and midrange).

And it is always something with Alexa/Echo. It used to say "OK" when setting these, but now there is no response other than the ring light (which made me think the voice commands weren't working). I have brief mode disabled (I tried both enabled and disabled).