I have been given an Alexa. The FPO is delighted that my various box-sets of progressive rock and jazz-fusion are now available at a request in the kitchen. it is, however, useful for timing and spelling so family Scrabble games have a more objective arbiter. Can ther massive recommend other skills / tricks/ hacks to optimise functionality and undermine voice-activated purchases?
Good ways to use Alexa
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I was given one too a few months ago. I like telling it to play songs off Spotify – makes me feel like I’m in the future – and the reminders are good, particularly at, say, 8am on a school day so that you remember to sign a form or return a trumpet etc.
I think we have all met the old man in a pub or an elderly relative who rambles on and on and on and it becomes clear that they are not at all bothered about you or who you are. They just like to chunter on.
I will probably be like that in a decade or two so Alexa and Siri will be things I can talk at. They can interject with “really? That’s interesting!’ Or “hmmmm” or “yes…yes”. I probably won’t care that they are not real people.
We’ve got a Sonos Beam with Alexa built in so I can ask for the tv to be turned on or off as well as the volume raised or lowered. This also works from the Dot in the kitchen. I also put a smart plug in an inaccessible socket which can be turned on or off by Alexa, saving me from getting on my hands and knees under a desk.
We got our first Dot a couple of years ago with the main intention of switching lights on and off. It does it very well.
We’ve had a tablet on a show mode dock in the kitchen for a month now and I use that much more for asking questions like what the weather will be and I do like the “fact of the day” by saying “Alexa, Good Morning”.
One thing I do know is that in a few weeks time there will be a lot of disappointed people when they find they need some kind of subscription to play music through it…. unless someone can put me straight.
I’m sure you know this, but there are loads of “Easter eggs” for Alexa. Try saying “Alexa, open the pod bay doors.” 🙂
https://www.the-ambient.com/guides/best-alexa-easter-eggs-167
for example
I tried saying “Alexa, never ever bloody anything ever”.
I do not own an Alexa, so in a sense I got what I wanted.
Me either. It impresses people no end when I’m round their house, I can tell you.
Just went to see some friends and he is keen on tech toys – his is set up with smart light bulbs so in the morning he walks in and says Good Morning and it switches the right lights on and the radio too. Not a requirement I will ever have but he seems happy with it.
Going to be a naysayer.
It’s listening to you all the time. Does anyone sincerely believe that there isn’t huge security risk to something like Alexa?
My two friends who have strong IT security backgrounds – one of whom worked security at the NSA – absolutely refuse to get one. The risk far outweigh the perceived benefits.
Too right. Friend of mine was in the mood to hear his favourite song from Diamond Dogs.
“Alexa, We Are the Dead”
“YOU ARE THE DEAD!”
I do accept there’s risk involved but I think it’s probably very small so I’m willing to accept any minor consequences. I’m not sure what data anyone would be able to usefully use though. I’ve heard people suggesting that it’s sending everything you say back to Amazon but I’m not convinced that Amazon would want to be processing and storing such huge amounts of context free data. Their servers went a bit loopy in the UK on christmas day with legitimate traffic!
Me too. Why have a live microphone in your house connected to the internet? I’d feel really uncomfortable about it.
I just cant see a reason to give me more of a reason to get up off my fat arse and turn stuff on/off.
Surely another thing requiring programming, synching, updating, rebooting etc.Now pass me my quill and ink.
“Alexa, when will the rise of the machines happen?”
“Piss off, human scum.”
Whe n I first got it, I said goodnight to Alexa before bed. “Goodnight!” she’d say “don’t let the bed bugs bite!” and stuff like that. And then she stopped. Her blue/white light spins around (so I know she’s heard me) but nothing comes back. Goes to show – after a while you start being taken for granted. I have stopped saying goodnight to her now. I bet she’s regretting the day she tried to cross me.