Amazon Echo

[Garnate]

I'd never heard of this thing until it came in the mail yesterday. Anyone have one of these?

Short video by Garnate.

While listening to music I can say "Alexa, skip 5" and she skips 5 songs. This thing is a lot more fun than I thought it would be. My sons were dancing to "Weasel Stomping Day" this morning before school.

We took turns talking to it last night during dinner:

Nate- Alexa, you're the best.
Alexa- Thank you, I appreciate that.
Garrett- Nate has a grrrrrlfriend!
Nate- NO I DON'T! She's just really nice....

I can change profiles back and forth between Smiley and I depending on what playlists I want to listen to or I say "Alexa, play Baby Got Back" and it pulls it from Amazon Prime.

I can say "Alexa, add potatoes to shopping list" and boom! Potatoes are added to our shared shopping list on our phones. Same thing with a to-do list. The speaker is loud and clear, too. I fucking love this thing.

The weird thing about it is that it records every command and response. I open the Amazon echo app on my phone and there's the list of everything we've asked it and it's responses. I hope that's all it records.

Mike Yates would have a field day with this thing.

 

[Spins]

I have a friend who owns one. he got it in the beta several months ago. He enjoys it.

Did they just send it to you, or did you order it?

 

[Garnate]

I have a friend who owns one. he got it in the beta several months ago. He enjoys it.

Did they just send it to you, or did you order it?

Smiley ordered it for beta testing back in January and it just arrived yesterday, ffs. At least he got it for half price.

 

[Spins]

Smiley ordered it for beta testing back in January and it just arrived yesterday, ffs. At least he got it for half price.

I skipped it.

Who needs potatoes anyway?

 

[Garnate]

I skipped it.

Who needs potatoes anyway?

FOOL!

How else are you supposed to know what the temperature is?

Nate asked what the weather would be like the day after tomorrow and it told us there's a 24% chance of rain. I really am loving this thing.

 

[Spins]

FOOL!

How else are you supposed to know what the temperature is?

Nate asked what the weather would be like the day after tomorrow and it told us there's a 24% chance of rain. I really am loving this thing.

Look out my window? Step outside? Reach into my pocket and pull out my super computer?

 

[Garnate]

Look out my window? Step outside? Reach into my pocket and pull out my super computer?

That was sarcasm.

 

[Eyereadtoo]

Aak Alexa what Canky is doing this very second and tell us what she says.

 

[Garnate]

Aak Alexa what Canky is doing this very second and tell us what she says.

"Hmm. I can't find the answer to the question I heard."


haha

 

[Spins]

That was sarcasm.

I don't believe you have a sarcastic bone in your body

 

[Garnate]

Apparently you can really fuck with your kid using the remote. I can take the remote into a separate room and whisper "Alexa, Simon says...." and she repeats everything I tell her to. My sons will think she really is talking to them.

---------------

Me: Alexa, are you skynet?
Alexa: I have nothing to do with skynet. Don't worry.

I'm keeping my eye on her.....

 

[Garnate]

I don't believe you have a sarcastic bone in your body

But I'd like one. *Creepy wink, cymbal crash*

 

[Eyereadtoo]

But I'd like one. *Creepy wink, cymbal crash*

alexia, tell Garnate that was awful...just awful.

 

[Spins]

But I'd like one. *Creepy wink, cymbal crash*

You are a bad liar.

 

[JohnnySavage]

Just wait until that infernal machine starts talking to the dishwasher and microwave! You'll have a mutiny on your hands.

 

[Garnate]

alexia, tell Garnate that was awful...just awful.

She said "Stop trying to stifle Garnate. She's a unique creature and is funnier than Robin Williams, RIP."


She might not have said any of that.

 

[Garnate]

Just wait until that infernal machine starts talking to the dishwasher and microwave! You'll have a mutiny on your hands.

I can't wait until that bitch can do the dishes.

 

[Colonel Hogan]

Why would I want to buy a box that gives me the same answers to all my marriage proposals that I've heard before?

 

[BabblingBrooke]

Will Alexa write this white paper I have been procrastinating?

 

[Mad_Jack_Rabbit]

Watched the vid. The main thing that struck me was the old adage of if you want something done properly, do it your self.

Watching how "amazingly" Alexa turns down the volume when asked (twice) I thought it would be so much easier to use the volume knob.

I can see that voice activated controls could be helpful if you have reduced mobility but for an able bodied person it is easier to do it manually. I know a few people who have voice activated phones (Siri etc.) After the novelty of the first few days they don't bother because it is easier, quicker and quieter to not use voice.

If you like that stuff, enjoy. If you don't, don't bother. I have yet to be convinced that this is actually a benefit and is more a marketing ploy of 'Hey here are a shit load of features that look great and fun so buy this and ignore the fact that you are rarely going to use them!" Features that don't get used are not worth having. My pc came loaded with free aps. The first thing I did was look at them and ask is this of any use? I have 2 apps left, one I can't remove and one I think may come in handy if I want to do some picture editing.

My concern is how does it sound? If sounded pretty shit in the video but that's probably the limitation of the filming equipment. If it's only mp3 then it won't sound good because it is a crap file format.

 

[Garnate]

Why would I want to buy a box that gives me the same answers to all my marriage proposals that I've heard before?

Right? I'm still licking my wounds here.

Will Alexa write this white paper I have been procrastinating?

Me: Alexa, will you write my paper for me?
Alexa: What is your question?
Me: .....
Alexa: Go ahead with your question.
Me: Stop pressuring me, I don't know!

 

[Eyereadtoo]

Alexa, ask Garnate just how many Hitachi magic wands she's gone through.

 

[Garnate]

Watched the vid. The main thing that struck me was the old adage of if you want something done properly, do it your self.

Watching how "amazingly" Alexa turns down the volume when asked (twice) I thought it would be so much easier to use the volume knob.

I can see that voice activated controls could be helpful if you have reduced mobility but for an able bodied person it is easier to do it manually. I know a few people who have voice activated phones (Siri etc.) After the novelty of the first few days they don't bother because it is easier, quicker and quieter to not use voice.

If you like that stuff, enjoy. If you don't, don't bother. I have yet to be convinced that this is actually a benefit and is more a marketing ploy of 'Hey here are a shit load of features that look great and fun so buy this and ignore the fact that you are rarely going to use them!" Features that don't get used are not worth having. My pc came loaded with free aps. The first thing I did was look at them and ask is this of any use? I have 2 apps left, one I can't remove and one I think may come in handy if I want to do some picture editing.

My concern is how does it sound? If sounded pretty shit in the video but that's probably the limitation of the filming equipment. If it's only mp3 then it won't sound good because it is a crap file format.

The sound quality blew me away, actually. I did the best I could recording on my phone. Other than that I totally agree with you. I have a feeling I will literally only use it for music and to occasionally mess with my sons. Actually, the shopping list feature is awesome. Instead of tracking down my phone (many here can tell you that's usually impossible for me) in order to open the app and manually enter in the items I need from the grocery store, I can audibly add as they come to me. I wouldn't have paid the $200 sticker price for what I'll be using it for but I'm sure there are tons of things others with actual lives can use it for.

 

[Garnate]

Alexa, ask Garnate just how many Hitachi magic wands she's gone through.

I've never owned one of those. If we're talking general sex toys....3 in the last few years.

 

[Eyereadtoo]

I've never owned one of those. If we're talking general sex toys....3 in the last few years.

Alexa watch your back...wait, you're round, huh? Where's your back? Anyways, Garnate will trade you for a magic wand in a heartbeat...you best learn how to speak White Russian.

You're welcome.