What did ya get for Christmas?

[Ronnie]

I may try it out just to ask that question.

 

[haknslash]

Ask it about religion or other sensitive topics....

That thing is a total one-sided circus act. Might as well just turn on CNN

I've seen videos of those and there is simply no way in hell that would be in my house. If I want to listen to music I have a wireless JBL Charge for that I'm sure sounds 10x better and if I want to learn about a recipe or something I'll look it up on my iPad or computer. If I want it to tell me lies, forced opinions and propaganda I'd buy one of those things. It is always on listening and gathering info as well.

 

[Bennie]

It is always on listening and gathering info.

Agreed! I don't want or have anything in my house that invades my personal discussions and decisions......
well, other than my child.

 

[Julian]

Ask her how to get rid of a dead body! Good times with Alexa

OK...I tried that..."I'd take the body to the police"

Ask it about religion or other sensitive topics....

I tried that....all boring replies...completely non-partisan.

It is always on listening and gathering info as well.

It is only on listening for the key trigger word, so when you off your Mother In Law called Alexa, just don't yell her name when you do it!

I find this similar to the initial concerns around location services on phones. Many people were worried about them and their privacy, now most people love how it helps you. I think the same will be true of home automation.

Conversation at dinner the other night:

Daughter Caitlin: "The Smiths are going to Iceland next fall...won't that be freezing?"
Me: "Not sure, Alexa, what is the average temperature of Reykjavik in August"
Alexa: "The average temperature in Reykjavik in August is 51 degrees"
Caitlin: "Alexa, how many people live in Iceland?"
Alexa: "The population of Iceland is about 333 thousand"
Me: "Alexa, turn on all the outside lights"
Alexa: "OK"
Me....put the dogs out.
Me "Alexa, take the Christmas lights down"
Alexa "Sorry I don't know how to do that"
Me..."Darn!"

Each to their own "devices" LOL I love mine!

 

[swatski]

Conversation at dinner the other night:

Daughter Caitlin: "The Smiths are going to Iceland next fall...won't that be freezing?"
Me: "Not sure, Alexa, what is the average temperature of Helsinki in August"
Alexa: "The average temperature in Helsinki in August is 56 degrees"
Caitlin: "Alexa, how many people live in Iceland?"
Alexa: "The population of Iceland is about 333 thousand"
Me: "Alexa, turn on all the outside lights"
Alexa: "OK"
Me....put the dogs out.
Me "Alexa, take the Christmas lights down"
Alexa "Sorry I don't know how to do that"
Me..."Darn!"

Each to their own "devices" LOL I love mine!

All good except... Helsinki is in Finland. Fire Alexa's azz.

--

 

[Bluewater272]

Ask it about religion or other sensitive topics....

That thing is a total one-sided circus act. Might as well just turn on CNN

I've seen videos of those and there is simply no way in hell that would be in my house. If I want to listen to music I have a wireless JBL Charge for that I'm sure sounds 10x better and if I want to learn about a recipe or something I'll look it up on my iPad or computer. If I want it to tell me lies, forced opinions and propaganda I'd buy one of those things. It is always on listening and gathering info as well.

Those videos are all staged. I've tried it right alongside, and the responses are all factual. The active listening portion can only recognize a handful of wakewords, it has to power up the rest of the device before it can process anything. It does make things quite easy. Besides, even if it were listing - what's the downside? Relevant advertisements? As long as I'm being advertised at wherever I go, I sort of appreciate when I get stuck watching a pre-video video about something I like.

 

[Julian]

All good except... Helsinki is in Finland. Fire Alexa's azz.

--

Ha funny.....typed the wrong city name! Meant Reykjavik! And I shortened the chat with Alexa as I had to ask what the capital was! LOL

 

[haknslash]

The videos I'm talking about are not staged. Out of the rules on the forum and out of respect I won't post them or delve any further into the topic. As Julian said to each their own with these kinds of devices, they're just not for me.

 

[tim h]

Not had a chance to play with mine much yet....only installed the Timer app so far (and a new watch face). Have you installed many apps?

Can you guys give us an update on your smart watches ??

 

[Julian]

Can you guys give us an update on your smart watches ??

Sure can! I got the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier. I like it. I've always been a watch guy and had a large dive watch (Citizen submariner) before, so a larger watch wasn't a big deal for me. Some might find it big. As for how I use it....well first of all I need a step counter for my work wellness program, and it works great for that. As a watch it works fine. I do wish it was a little more sensitive to the motion of turning on when you look at it. Sometimes I have to tap a button to see the time. Samsung pay is pretty cool and works with every card swip machine I've tried so far. I haven't used it that much though because I typically always go out with a wallet, and pulling out a credit card is really not that hard. I could see some point in the future when I'm more used to it....dropping the wallet and getting a phone case that would carry my license.

I do like how I can take a call on the phone....especially when I've put my phone down somewhere or its charging and I don't have the phone on me, and my watch rings. I can answer the call and start talking while I go get my phone, then switch to the phone for the rest of the call.

The main other things I use it for is the world clock, meeting notices, and reading text messages.

I do not like the pin code on the watch....they need to spread it out more for my fat fingers!