Amazon Echo

[JD159]

Originally Posted by aigel

Here you go guys, was only a question of time:

Police Requests Amazon Echo Data To Help Solve A Murder: Alexa, Who Did It? : TECH : Tech Times

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Just out of curiosity....

Someone at a gas station backs into your Porsche and smashes the rear end. Police ask the gas station for their surveillance tapes. What should they do? Or what would you want them to do? What about home security cameras? Wire taps?

The time has come and gone for privacy, long ago. This is hardly any more Orwellian than anything we do not already have.

[Schrup]

I got a Dot a month back. I find it can't answer 90% of the trivia questions we ask, Google is way better. I have it paired with my AVR in my living room. I am trying the Amazon Unlimited Music that I play through the Dot. The music selection is decent unless you want to listen to Queen or Prince. I will continue with the Echo only subscription for $4 a month, my son uses it for saxophone practice.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Schrup

I got a Dot a month back. I find it can't answer 90% of the trivia questions we ask, Google is way better. I have it paired with my AVR in my living room. I am trying the Amazon Unlimited Music that I play through the Dot. The music selection is decent unless you want to listen to Queen or Prince. I will continue with the Echo only subscription for $4 a month, my son uses it for saxophone practice.

I have the Echo and am surprised with the sound quality that it has. I just tried asking it to play Queen and it went deep into their catalog. Played at least 5 diff songs that I was not familiar with. I am a prime member...maybe that's the diff??

[Nickshu]

Ask Alexa to tell you a Chuck Norris joke....LOL.

[stevej37]

^^^ Lol ...true!

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by Schrup

I got a Dot a month back. I find it can't answer 90% of the trivia questions we ask, Google is way better. I have it paired with my AVR in my living room. I am trying the Amazon Unlimited Music that I play through the Dot. The music selection is decent unless you want to listen to Queen or Prince. I will continue with the Echo only subscription for $4 a month, my son uses it for saxophone practice.

Have to agree Paul. Alexa is not very smart, usually doesn't have an answer. Great for music though. Especially if Amazon Prime member. Or Tunein Radio also.

[Schrup]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I have the Echo and am surprised with the sound quality that it has. I just tried asking it to play Queen and it went deep into their catalog. Played at least 5 diff songs that I was not familiar with. I am a prime member...maybe that's the diff??

I was just using Prime before, I just checked Unlimited Music & I see they have a good selection of Queen now. They don't have Prince though. I have been using the Unlimited Music service to find music I want. I ordered 6 CDs from ebay yesterday for under $30, cheaper than buying ITunes.

[motion]

I picked up a Google Home and found that the sound quality is 5x better than the Echo. Also, if I ask it to play 'Hawaiian music', it will play it forever from my Google music account. With the Echo, it would play maybe 5 Hawaiian songs, then start playing other 'similar' music. Same for all music... I'm just using Hawaiian music as an example. I prefer the Google Home much more.

[bleucamaro]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

but what is Phillips Hue?

anyone?

I have a few friends with Philips Hue. It works really great and is on my list for home improvements.

I just got a Samsung Smartthings starter kit and am excited to start playing with it.

Smartthings is samsungs brand of home automation devices, essentially a PLC for home use, with wireless inputs / outputs. Smartthings is compatable with Hue and just about every other wireless input/output device. Works with cameras, motion detectors, door sensors, light switches, smart bulbs, Alexa/Echo, Androis, iOS, yadayadayada.

Example of some programs I'd like it to do
Morning alarm - fade bedroom lights on from 0-100% over 5min interval.
Away at night - cycle indoor lights on/off in randomish intervals.
Movie setting - turn off most lights, dim others.
Party setting - sync lights to music (philips hue does this)
Intrusion alarm - when door sensor or motion sensor triggered & phone is not connected to wifi, flash all lights, trigger klaxon alarm, text alert my phone.

[pitargue]

On a humorous note...