Anyone got Alexa

I was doubtful when my daughter got me one a couple of years ago but I'd hate to be without it now. I have the cylindrical Echo downstairs and I bought an Echo Dot with time or temperature display for the bedroom, but even on its dimmest setting it it too bright for me to sleep so the display is usually off.

I use mine for alarms (and snoozing!), timer for cooking, for reminders, telling me when an Amazon delivery is due or has been left. It plays any radio channels, including those my little digital radio failed to find. I listen to soundtracks to musicals, complete albums, or if there's nothing I fancy on TV I might tell Alexa to shuffle songs by Simon and Garfunkel, or Motown music, or play classical piano music. General knowledge - perhaps I've woken up trying to remember the capital of a certain country, or a quiz question, or any weird fact or statistic. Sometimes it just doesn't understand and says, "Here's something I found on the web..." and it's hopelessly off the mark, so I rephrase the question and we normally get there.

Also smart plugs and bulbs are absolutely brilliant, I don't have to hobble across the room to switch Sky and the TV off at the wall, and the light is set to come on just as I get home from an evening shift. Jokes, recipes, shopping lists, lots of other features I haven't used.

It is only sensible to carefully read the options in Settings on the Alexa app, and make sure the privacy settings suit you. I don't speak to anyone else at home except the dog and cats, and I'm really not worried about Alexa hearing that, but in any event you can easily delete all its voice recordings either manually or set it to delete after a certain period of time, or just not keep recordings at all.

Karmalady what a nasty post, says more about you than me

I am so happy to realise so many of you are tech savvy. I have a new iPad and somehow forgot to download the Alexa app. Dealing with that now. Great thread.

Gosh, of all the things I'd like to buy an Alexa is at the very bottom of the list. Not even on it really.

I love the term Luddite too!

As a former technophobe, what I really love about so much technology now, is just how simple and accessible it is now, for all.

Jeff Bezos is no saint, but he has definitely improved my life.
I would not be without Amazon, Alexa and Audible.

Accutally unpleasant and unkind Flora and Fanny I m far from a Luddite and don’t see where throwing insults about because you have a different view is very nice I’m not a technophobe like you say you were fanny I embrace most new things but it’s always good to hear the other side of a subject, except sometimes on GN
I ll leave this alone now

I didn’t call you a Luddite BlueBelle! I don’t know where you got that from. And I haven’t ‘thrown insults’ at you or anyone else!
I don’t care what you think about Alexa, or anything else on this thread.
But I did pull you up on your silly and offensive ‘little old lonely ladies’ comment, and I was right to do so.
What is wrong with any of those things?
You need to think more carefully about what you write, and not make stuff up about people.

Today I am going to explore some of the other things I can do with alexa, I have only scratched the surface. Last night a plane went overhead, I was wondering where it was from, where it was going, that is going to be my next addition. I have to read back and find the post for the details. Next I want to start a shopping list. I have hundreds of books on kindle, would love to have kindle read to me while busy making things.

Music is very beautiful via alexa on my bose soundbar, it fills the room with rich sound, there is so much lovely music that I can request eg Beethoven mix or a Wagner mix, or folk or new age or dance or 60s pop, meditation, soothing, lively, whatever I want an she can make suggestions for me

I don`t need a smart home but what a great boon alexa is to the disabled and unwell, ask and she can switch things on and off, including the difficult plugs behind the sofa or bed

I bought my Alexa, on a rechargeable base, so that I could take it anywhere around the house or outside to listen to Audible books. Wouldn't be without it now.

FloraDora 'You can set it so you cannot be recorded'. I have already posted that!

love0c Sun 13-Feb-22 17:52:34
Just googled 'Alexa'. Yes, you can indeed set them to record your conversation. It gives instructions how to record and how to make sure you are not. Useful I would say ! smile

love0c

FloraDora 'You can set it so you cannot be recorded'. I have already posted that!

So?
Marydoll also mentioned that you can stop it recording, and I wouldn’t be surprised if others have said it too.
Things often get repeated on threads.
It’s nothing personal!

Josie I hope you have seen this!! Can't stop laughing. I rest my case.

love0c

Josie I hope you have seen this!! Can't stop laughing. I rest my case.

love0c

FloraDora 'You can set it so you cannot be recorded'. I have already posted that!

I repeated the comment about setting it not to record, because people have posted, but obviously haven't thread the whole thread, *lov0c.

Reposting that information was called overteaching, in my school! It doesn't matter how many times that advice is posted, people still go on about Alexa being a spy!

Mary I think that love0c is playing silly billies

Fanny, it's a pity, what could be an interesting thread has been spoiled a bit.
I believe we can debate civilly, without resorting to personal comments.

As for the term Luddite, I said I like the word, it was not directed at anyone personally.
It conjured up pictures pf people going round smashing up Alexas. I have a strange sense of humour.

I never realised that it was considered an insult!

I noticed this thread had generated 169 posts which piqued my curiosity after I’d posted on it a couple of days back. I thought it was a very popular subject! Goodness, it’s turned quite toxic ~ who’d have thought it?

love0c Mon 14-Feb-22 20:38:23
Please don't argue over Alexa. If you like them, fine. If you don't that's fine too. I am not too bothered. However, My son has one and he loves it. She knows all the cricket scores!! ha ha.

Crossed posts!
Who’d have thought an “innocent” house and home OP could generate such a toxic thread?
Like Bluebelle I found the accusation of being “Luddites” offensive , insulting and unjustified.
I also take exception to the suggestion that those who do not have or want an Alexa should just scroll on by .
Silly me for thinking OP included a question in her thread title and that it was perfectly acceptable to answer it ??
Also foolishly thought GN was about discussion and it takes two sides to make a discussion not a row of nodding heads.
If I have the physical and mental ability to choose to switch a light/TV/radio on manually, to look out of the window to see what the weather is, or at a clock to check the time , that does not make me a Luddite? Nor does my ability and choice to note engagements on the calendar or in my diary, or the ability to remember medication were I to be on any. I can also do straightforward arithmetical calculations in my head - mea culpa .
I am not denying the usefulness of Alexas et al for those who need help, or even decrying those who like investigating their new toy, but please do not denigrate those of us who do not, or compare our attitudes with toasting tea cakes in front of the fire or boiling a kettle in the hearth - or indeed, with
a member of any of the bands of English workers who destroyed machinery, especially in cotton and woollen mills, that they believed was threatening their jobs.

Got an echo show in my bedroom … listen to audible on it ….my music lists….. you can watch Netflix …. prime video….. it’ll wake you ….set reminders for pills and tells you when your Amazon parcels are on there way( via notifications)…. make a shopping list that transfers to my watch or mobile .
Got a Alexa dot in sun room which husband plugs in when he wants to listen to Rick music out of my heating. Please don’t forget that you can receive phone calls on it . Get one…. and ‘play’ with it to see which hits you want to use. When I had my cataract done listening to audible on it was a boon.

‘ rock music out of my hearing’??

Don’t forget to listen to classic fm ….sound quality is great on echo show !

would an echo show display a list of my audible and kindle books?