Alexa, what do you do?

jay moe

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2006
3,672
836
113
55
southern iowa
I use it for a morning alarm clock, to play trivia or jeopardy, for any kind of news/weather, and to listen to music.
 

Cy94

Well-Known Member
Nov 11, 2011
549
315
63
HomePod has great sound for a countertop speaker and I trust Apple more so than Amazon or Google with privacy concerns.
 
  • Funny
Reactions: huntt26

AgronAlum

Well-Known Member
Jul 12, 2014
6,537
9,135
113
HomePod has great sound for a countertop speaker and I trust Apple more so than Amazon or Google with privacy concerns.

Yeah we've got a dot and an echo (the bigger one through Amazon). The dot isn't really something worth listening to music on. The echo is a great little speaker.
 

Cy$

Well-Known Member
Sep 1, 2011
24,064
5,633
113
Ames
My daughter got me an Echo Dot for Christmas. She works for Amazon and has one and thought I'd enjoy it. I have it connected to my Sonos system, which is pretty cool. But other than that... wtf does Alexa do and why do I want it?

Anybody here using it for anything good/creative?
I’ve got an echo plus. The only difference is the speaker is better.

Skills - these are games/apps to use with friends.
Alarm clock/timer
Radio
Music
Routines that play at different times of the day
Shopping lists
 

EnhancedFujita

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Jan 28, 2013
2,205
2,158
113
Johnston
I have my theater setup tied to an Echo Plus in the basement with several Echo Dots throughout the house. The theater AV equipment is controlled through Logitech Harmony Hub which interfaces with the Echo Plus. I also have smart light switches in the basement that control the lights through the Echo Plus. So I can voice control everything on the TV/Stereo if I want. It was really cool with Direct TV because I could voice command a specific channel, however, now that we just do Netflix, Hulu, etc, it doesn't work a slick.

I also recently added an Echo Spot for an alarm clock with smart plugs for the lamps on our nightstand. That is then able to connect to a waterproof speaker in the shower. We've got a morning routine set up that gives a weather and news update and then plays a playlist in the shower for a set period of time.

Also, have several Dots throughout the house gives us a sort of intercom system where you can drop in on rooms. Excellent for yelling at the kids to do stuff on the 2nd floor from the basement.
 

ArgentCy

Well-Known Member
Jan 13, 2010
20,403
11,146
113
My daughter got me an Echo Dot for Christmas. She works for Amazon and has one and thought I'd enjoy it. I have it connected to my Sonos system, which is pretty cool. But other than that... wtf does Alexa do and why do I want it?

Anybody here using it for anything good/creative?

It's great for Amazon to spy on you and help them know everything about you. Other than that I would just F*$# with it. Here is a start. Alexa, what are you good for?
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Cydkar

Skidoosh

Well-Known Member
May 27, 2012
2,699
769
113
I'll never understand why people get concerned about Alexa "listening in on them", yet have seemingly no issue with the mic on their cellphone being carried literally everywhere at all time and the multitude of phone apps that have permission to use it.
 

ArgentCy

Well-Known Member
Jan 13, 2010
20,403
11,146
113
I'll never understand why people get concerned about Alexa "listening in on them", yet have seemingly no issue with the mic on their cellphone being carried literally everywhere at all time and the multitude of phone apps that have permission to use it.

A lot of those people will root their phones, not give permission to any old apps that want everything they could possibly have on your phone, and perhaps just leave it at home. However, you do have a bit of a point. We live in a Big Brother world whether we like it or not now.
 

bclewis05

Active Member
Feb 6, 2013
352
75
28
We got ours last year and use it a lot more than I thought.

Here's some ideas:

1. Lists - This is probably our number one thing. Run out of milk? "Alexa add Milk to hy-vee list"
2. Music - Play radio stations or specific songs, playlists, etc
3. Sleep sounds - Lots of different white noise, waterfall, rain, etc
4. Timers - Great for cooking
5. Games
6. Random Questions - How many oz are in a cup? What time does ISU play?
 
  • Agree
Reactions: 1100011CS

Cydkar

Well-Known Member
Apr 12, 2006
26,871
12,632
113
My daughter got me an Echo Dot for Christmas. She works for Amazon and has one and thought I'd enjoy it. I have it connected to my Sonos system, which is pretty cool. But other than that... wtf does Alexa do and why do I want it?

Anybody here using it for anything good/creative?
I will probably be the last person on earth to have one of these. I don't need help being lazy and i don't need more people watching/listening to me .
 
  • Agree
Reactions: CTTB78 and flycy

Cydkar

Well-Known Member
Apr 12, 2006
26,871
12,632
113
I'll never understand why people get concerned about Alexa "listening in on them", yet have seemingly no issue with the mic on their cellphone being carried literally everywhere at all time and the multitude of phone apps that have permission to use it.
I put my phone in a safe when I get home. My home life is pretty crazy though.
 

ruxCYtable

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Aug 29, 2007
7,349
4,342
113
Colorado
I check news, weather, sports, play music, control my home security system, view my security cameras, control all the lights in my house, control my thermostat, use as an intercom within the house, use as an alarm clock, control ceiling fans...And I'm sure I'm forgetting some.

I guess I'm just a nerd.
 

Cydar

Well-Known Member
Apr 2, 2006
5,839
6,504
113
I'm spending more time in Florida so I find my Echo useful for listening to games on the Iowa State Cyclones Sports Network.
 

JP4CY

Lord, beer me strength.
Staff member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Dec 19, 2008
73,320
93,703
113
Testifying
What do I do with it? Get pissed when an Alexa commercial comes on and then dings mine.
 

1100011CS

Well-Known Member
Oct 5, 2007
16,064
5,777
113
Marshalltown
I bought one last Christmas and it lasted all of about two weeks before we unplugged it and threw it in the junk drawer. It might just be that I'm not much a techie, but I didn't see much benefit from it. Just another thing on the kitchen counter that I have to remember to charge every night.
I doubt you really have one then
 

Latest posts

Help Support Us

Become a patron