WOT -- Amazon Echo: Thoughts?

[tig]

I still fail to see how this is actually useful.

You like staying in bed, right?

http://time.com/3813648/amazon-echo-lights-switches

[Karl Grau]

You like staying in bed, right?
http://time.com/3813648/amazon-echo-lights-switches

I want my click back, I thought it was going to say it now gives blow jobs. I might wait 2-3 months for that. I would be willing to call it Alexa instead of shithead too.

[davintosh]

Note, the device does not record or transmit anything until the wake word is heard.

And up until a short while ago we all thought our cell phones were safe from prying eyes and ears.

You don't think your Xbox One's mic is always listening? Or the mic on your Linksys wireless video camera? Or your iPhone when it's plugged in with Siri turned on?

FWIW, I'm not saying you shouldn't be paranoid about this. I'm just saying that it's not going to do you any good.

I'm thinking Charlie might just be a plant to lull us all into complacency with these new Orwellian steps toward Big Brother. Is that how it is, "Charlie"? Time to 'fess up; we're on to you.

[wkohler]

I still fail to see how this is actually useful.

You like staying in bed, right?

http://time.com/3813648/amazon-echo-lights-switches

Who gets in bed and leaves their lights on? I rarely use lights in my house unless I'm performing a task. I'm already certain I'm not their target market just like I told someone from the BMW Performance Center today that I'm obviously not the target market for the F30 M3.

[MicahO]

You like staying in bed, right?

http://time.com/3813648/amazon-echo-lights-switches

I like where this is going. I don't need someone to turn off my lights, but having a point of integration with the 'smart-house' world seems a reasonable way to eventually use the device.

That said, I'm a long way from using it for that purpose. My concerns right now are not with the Echo but the myriad security issues with so many of the wifi-enabled house-management devices out there today, from power management to the thermostats. It's not like I've got the gateway to NORAD on my home networks, but I also have zero interest in adding a bunch of potential loopholes for exploitation.

(Come to think of it, I do have a bunch of the switches in the garages on remotely controlled Zenith switches, with one of these panels in the house. This allows me to turn on and off the lights in the garage and around the driveway when it's cold and snowy, or I'm just lazy. So maybe I *do* need someone to turn off my lights..... )

[tig]

As of today Amazon Echo can be ordered without an invite.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X4W ... _i=desktop

[davintosh]

As of today Amazon Echo can be ordered without an invite.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X4W ... _i=desktop

$179? Really? Weren't they $99 at first?

[Karl Grau]

$179? Really? Weren't they $99 at first?

Yes and apparently, there is STILL a shipping delay.

[wkohler]

It's the price you have to pay for not being invited to the party no one showed up to.

Phyver Industries sends out invitations to buy stuff too at introductory prices. I'm just not dumb enough to fall for them.

[MicahO]

Question for Charlie - our own Echo Insider!

Is there any indication that the Echo may become a streaming wifi speaker for one's own content? I use it now for the Amazon Prime and Music Library stuff, and I have also used it as a bluetooth speaker to stream stuff that's coming from your phone or other device.

What about streaming directly from a local device (in my case a big Synology NAS) like a Sonos speaker?

Thanks!

[tig]

Question for Charlie - our own Echo Insider!

Is there any indication that the Echo may become a streaming wifi speaker for one's own content? I use it now for the Amazon Prime and Music Library stuff, and I have also used it as a bluetooth speaker to stream stuff that's coming from your phone or other device.

What about streaming directly from a local device (in my case a big Synology NAS) like a Sonos speaker?

Thanks!

May I ask what's wrong with importing your music into the Amazon Music Library? Alexa runs in the cloud, and can't 'know' about your music on a device like a NAS.

[MicahO]

May I ask what's wrong with importing your music into the Amazon Music Library? Alexa runs in the cloud, and can't 'know' about your music on a device like a NAS.

Nothing wrong with that, in fact I've loaded a lot of it up there already.

Alexa does run in the could, but the device is most definitely part of the local network. One would think it could find local sources if it was so programmed - I was just wondering if that sort of programming was on the horizon. Being in the cloud, it still cannot access other cloud resources for audio, only its own. That's a matter of choice on Amazon's part.

[tig]

May I ask what's wrong with importing your music into the Amazon Music Library? Alexa runs in the cloud, and can't 'know' about your music on a device like a NAS.

Nothing wrong with that, in fact I've loaded a lot of it up there already.

Alexa does run in the could, but the device is most definitely part of the local network. One would think it could find local sources if it was so programmed - I was just wondering if that sort of programming was on the horizon. Being in the cloud, it still cannot access other cloud resources for audio, only its own. That's a matter of choice on Amazon's part.

I can't comment on the future. Sorry.

[Patrick McHugh]

My bud got one, I asked what it was and he was like "watch this... Echo, play some Jazz" It didn't work.

Then He was like "wait wait, watch this... Echo, how warm will it be tomorrow" It didn't hear him

Then he yelled a few more things at it and I concluded that it works just about as well as every voice controlled device i've ever seen, terribly and useless.

[wkohler]

I thought he was supposed to say Amazon or Kendra or Alexa or Cassandra or whatever.

[Patrick McHugh]

Maybe he did, after a few tries he got it to tell him some useless tidbit of info.

[tig]

Buy an Amazon Echo for $130 today ($50 off). Add to cart, use your Amazon Store Card, and enter ECHODEAL when checking out. http://amazon.com/echo

http://9to5toys.com/2015/11/03/amazon-echo-review-deal/

[geordi]

Buy an Amazon Echo for $130 today ($50 off). Add to cart, use your Amazon Store Card, and enter ECHODEAL when checking out. http://amazon.com/echo

http://9to5toys.com/2015/11/03/amazon-echo-review-deal/

Was this a one day deal only??? Bummer if it is. I put code in and it didn't apply

[wkohler]

It only applies if you use an Amazon Visa Card at checkout.

[geordi]

It only applies if you use an Amazon Visa Card at checkout.

Yeah, i saw that after re-reading the checkout page. I guess I'll have find something else to put in your PEB this Christmas

[wkohler]

Ha!

I thought it was an odd promotion as it doesn't really read fluidly. You actually read the limitations when you read the terms but they don't seem to stick with you. Hell, I'm sure Jeff's people have it all figured out how to sell stuff except for phones and tablets.

[davintosh]

I'm starting to wonder if Charlie is getting commission on Echo sales. He ought to. How about a mye28.com discount code?

[tig]

"The only thing this content is sponsored by is my heart, which has grown three sizes since the Amazon Echo came into my life."
(On sale now for $149)

http://www.wired.com/2015/11/amazon-echo-gift/

[geordi]

Is there a link to a mye28.com pricing?

[tig]

Is there a link to a mye28.com pricing?

Just click here: http://www.amazon.com/echo and you can get it for the same incredible price as anyone else you cheap bastard

[Karl Grau]

Price isn't what has been holding me back, it's the fact that I can't change its name to 'Shithead'.

[wkohler]

I just don't see what something like that would do for me. I still don't have an iPad for that same reason.

[EventuallyAyrton]

2001 A Space Odyssey is a great movie and shows why this may possibly be a terrible, horrible, no good idea

[davintosh]

2001 A Space Odyssey is a great movie and shows why this may possibly be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad idea

There. FIFY.

[tig]

"Alexa, make me a Dark and Stormy. Stat."

http://youtu.be/ky-9az7xluA