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+--- Thread: ECHO reviews from the Verge (/showthread.php?tid=180960)
ECHO reviews from the Verge - sekker - 07-09-2015
http://www.theverge.com/2015/7/8/8913739/amazon-echo-re-review-in-the-real-world
Re: ECHO reviews from the Verge - freeradical - 07-09-2015
My fiancée has various nicknames for the Echo, none of them flattering: The Listener, Spy Tube, and That Damned Speaker. Yes, in theory it’s not listening all the time, only activating its connection to the cloud when it hears its command word. But I’m placing a remarkable amount of trust in the Echo’s security model, Amazon’s beneficence, and that the developers who make apps for it won’t be able to abuse it. I should be troubled by all the disturbing possibilities raised by having a listening device constantly connected to a giant retail empire in my home.
This is how I feel about it.
It also seems like it's the classic solution looking for a problem.
Re: ECHO reviews from the Verge - C(-)ris - 07-09-2015
I'm undecided about mine. I really don't care about the listening thing, I'll unplug it if I want to say something I don't want anyone else to hear I suppose.
The integration features are where it is going to shine. If I had Hue bulbs I'd never touch a light switch in my house again. I think it is more of a wait and see thing for now. I'd like to see more voice control, FireTV control for sure.
Re: ECHO reviews from the Verge - space-time - 07-09-2015
C(-)ris wrote:
...
The integration features are where it is going to shine. If I had Hue bulbs I'd never touch a light switch in my house again. I think it is more of a wait and see thing for now. I'd like to see more voice control, FireTV control for sure.
Would you have to put one in every room including bathrooms, garage, etc?
Re: ECHO reviews from the Verge - sekker - 07-09-2015
I think it's great. Sorry if people feel overly worried about an always-on device - this is how a voice-activated system works.
Re: ECHO reviews from the Verge - Bill in NC - 07-09-2015
"Alexa, disco mode!"
C(-)ris wrote:
The integration features are where it is going to shine. If I had Hue bulbs I'd never touch a light switch in my house again.
Re: ECHO reviews from the Verge - sekker - 07-09-2015
Bill in NC wrote:
"Alexa, disco mode!"
[quote=C(-)ris]
The integration features are where it is going to shine. If I had Hue bulbs I'd never touch a light switch in my house again.
Exactly.
Seriously, tho - we now sorely miss being able to control the TV volume using voice control.
Re: ECHO reviews from the Verge - OWC Jamie - 07-09-2015
I'm in the "I think it's great" camp, even to the point I have TWO of them now. Kitchen and bedroom, and they are incredibly handy for a few things.
1) Shopping list. It's AWESOME. Just tell Alexa "Add whatever" to your shopping list and she does it. It's available in the app that you have in the store with you then. Simple, easy, and fast.
2) Timer. SO nice and handy to set a timer while your hands are full. No punching buttons on the timer or microwave, no fumbling for your iPhone to tell Siri to do it. Just say it and it's done.
3) Music. Works perfect- "Alexa, Play Pandora" (she tunes to the last used station automatically)"
4) News. Every morning I ask Alexa for my flash news briefing. NPR news and then top news stories. Keeps me up to date while I do other things - it's very handy.
5) Alarm. Easy to do of course, and used daily.
6) - a biggie - "Alexa, turn off the xxx lights". I put in WEMO switches for $30 on a couple of key places and it's awesome
Forget the outside lights always? Get this. It's perfect. HUE Bulbs work too but I do not have any of those.7) Sports scores - Just easy to ask who won what without having to pick up the phone to look.
Things to do - program the NEST to work with it - there's a 3rd party developer site for that.
I think it's awesome. I am really curious what they expand it to do. Would be nice to pair it with better sound - I can connect it as a bluetooth speaker from my phone of course but would rather have it connect to another item such as bluetooth separate speakers for it's music.
Money well spent in my opinion
Re: ECHO reviews from the Verge - hal - 07-09-2015
"Hey Siri.... tell Alexa to shut up!"
that would be fun...