I have a question. 

I do....I actually have 2. 

is it only for Techies? I'm tech illiterate- 

No, it's really easy to install and use. You do need wifi in your house, I use ours every single day. 

I'm struggling with why I would need such a thing. 

Yes, but I am more formal with mine. Amazon Echo Dorothy.




Or Ms. Jackson, if I'm nasty. 

It's pretty darn cool. It was a very nice Christmas surprise. I just sit here and think of thins for Alexa to do for me.

Froggie. Wanted to exchange thoughts with you on the use of Dot. There is not a lot out there to read on so I have just been experimenting. DD has one and she is in the same boat of learning as we are. We also share Amazon accounts so we have had to learn how to share. We tell Alexa to "switch acconts" a lot.

Is there are list of commands somewhere?
Does Dot have limited memory? How much?
How to I use and set up the outlet??

So far, I have synced Alexa to my soundbar for music, Nest, calendar, and she makes my shopping list for me and sends it to my phone, tells me the weather, the time and what movies are playing. I find there are other Bluetooth items in the house but not necessary for Alexa to control as for the most part they are working fine on their own without control even from my phone. Our house is open concept and for the most part Alexa can hear anything I request from anywhere downstairs. Even from the bedroom if I yell loud enough. I have a switch and an outlet and need to learn how to set those up and where. Alexa ROCKS!

Voice control is the wave of the future. First there was the remote, now there is voice control. If you are already using it on your phone ("Call mom")Echo Dot, Google, Seri et al will come second nature to you. Dot is very affordable and goes on sale from $50. Down from Echo which is $179 but twice the capacity. (Tap is $129) Amazon is on it with live chat and relay to learn how Dot is working and how to improve her.

Right now, I am contemplating buying Garagio so that Alexa can open the detached garage door for me when I need to, which is like 1000 times per day! Can you imagine how many times I won't have to pick up that remote to open the damn thing?? Alexa will open it for me before I get there!

I also want to learn Amazon shopping via Alexa. 

I'm still a bit confused on how I would use such a thing. 

Emp, almost everything you push a button for now oor peruse on your laptop you can now control by your voice. Things can be transferred to your phone by voice instead of clicking. This is a Voice Control mechanism that has access to the 'net. It's The Future. "Turn on/off the lights"
"Turn the thermostat down/up to 72" "Turn on music"
"Play a song by El Divo"
"Volume up/down"
"Tell me the news"
" What's on the calendar today?"
"Who won the Texans game?"
"Wheres the closest frozen yogurt shop?"
"Set the timer for 35 mins"
"What will be the weather for Friday?" "Add eggs on the shopping list"
"Buy toilet paper from amazon"
"Open/close the garage door"
and much more. 

Tink...you've about summed it up. I don't have my Dot connected to my household lamps, etc just yet but I love it! I have one in my kitchen and another in my bathroom to get news, music and weather while I'm getting ready in the morning. I've named one Echo and the other Alexa, no cross responses. 

Thanks Tink, sounds like I might have to have one of those things. 

Amazon Alexa/Echo is neat and all but do realize that once you turn it on every conversation and every sound within the microphone range is recorded, stored and analyzed by Amazon. 

Just ordered it. 

Recorded commands only and only if you preface it with "Alexa". You can view / listen to the recordings via settings> history as well as erase them. 

Open pod bay doors, HAL 

Good morning, Dave. 

Recorded commands only and only if you preface it with "Alexa". You can view / listen to the recordings via settings> history as well as erase them.?




That's not entirely accurate. Have a conversation in front of Alexa about a product your wouldn't typically purchase -- baby diapers, motor oil or whatever -- then it will appear in your Amazon recommendations. 

What are you doing Dave? This is highly irregular. 

Bentonville Arkansas cop have subpoenaed Alexa in a murder investigation. Turns out recordings sre sent to a amazon cloud 

Okay. I'll test that and talk about diapers. We don't have a baby so that would be obvious if it shows up on Amazon.

ETA Okay. I just had a conversation with myself right in front of Alexa about getting "more diapers, diapers, and more diapers so I won't ever have to go to the store again. Oh, and formula and refills for the Genie." The recommendations on my Amazon account are only from what I have looked at in the past. We'll see if any of that changes. 

This could be a problem. Some of the things I might want that I verbalize aloud, I definitely don't want from an electronic device. 

LOL!!! 

Electronics are your friend. 

Have the echo, love it. I have nothing to hide so if Alexa hears, so what? 

I swear like a sailor- I think I'll pass!! 

I'm getting VERY interested......Alex, rub my background!! Lol 

I swear like a sailor- I think I'll pass!!

That's my fear. I might say something like "F" something and I'm worried about what it might do. 

Lol Emp!! 

If it hears you fart a lot will it recommend Beano?

If it hears sex with different partners will it recommend condoms.

If it hears me call Trump an idiot will the DNC beg me for money? 

You have to say Alexa first to get any response... 

It sounds like a nice gadget, but do you have to buy some sort of adapter / software to make it turn the lights on and off? 

For lamps etc you have to buy the outlet. There is also a switch thingy that you can replace for light switches. Accessories are shown on Amazon including travel caes, and decorative covers for the Dot. IDK why though? It is small and the size of a hockey puck.

I have to buy $200 Garagio that makes my garage opener Smart/bluetooth capable in order for Alexis to open the door for me. Virtually anything that you can control with your phone Alexa can do. 

You would have to change the name from Alexa to F-me, to get a lot of action, Emp. She only responds by the name she is assigned.

We came to the conclusion "Alexa" is an unusual name not used in every day language. And yet, we have to whisper her name just so she doesn't hear us when we are talking about her as she and her duties come up a lot in conversation. 

I'm surprised they gave it a female name and still expected it to do what it told. 

Sometimes she doesn't do everything we ask or answer all the questions. SOmetimes she is just plain wrong! It's fun. Once I asked "Alexa, where's my phone?" She answered, "Have your tried looking under the couch?" ha She was wrong. 

I'm getting old- I think I'll pass. To me it's just another device to save time- BUT what are you saving time for? What are you doing WITH that extra time- spending time with family? Exercising? Volunteering? People say they're saving time because they are busy but I see it as time management issue not time saving. I am very busy but not busy enough that I can't do those things myself. Looks like we are rapidly headed to be like those people in the movie Wall E. way too much like Big Brother.
Not a criticism to those that use it - just a statement about me and a curiosity about it. Happy for those who enjoy it tho 

^^I have a friend who said the very same thing about computers. 

I bought one for my 14 year old special needs nephew. He talks to Alexa all t he time. It forces him to speak clearly ( he mumbles sometimes). It also creates timers that his parents use to get him to finish tasks. There are interactive games and word games that keep him entertained as well as help with his ability to remember what he hears. I thought it was a cute little novelty but it has turned out to be much more. 

So great for your nephew, ce1722! This technology has been around forever, It is finally coming for home use and quite affordable.

DH and I are no spring chickens. But we vowed to stay on top of technology so we won't be left behind.

That same friend who refused to get a computer also kept his rotary phone for the longest time until "Press 1" made him upgrade. They have computers now as well. Sometimes you just can't fight it.

I do my best but technology often gets the better of me. But I am faster at it than DH who is 5 years older than me. My kids see that I am trying so they keep me up to date. I don't want to be elderly and not understand how the world works.

Yes, it does sound like a movie: Hover boards, Smart/Phone Watches, and space travel. All of which was invented by Man's imagination. We have imagination. We dream big. It happens. 

Update: So far there are no baby items or diaper recommendations on my AMazon Account. When I had the conversation in front of Alexa I did not say her name. You MUST say "Alexa" or given name to activate the Dot.

I think in the murder case they are wanting Amazon records for clues which belong to Amazon not the victim. His Echo would only have a recording if he said the command. Alexa would only send help if he had the app synced to do so. And yes, they have one. "Alexa send help" would come in very handy around here!