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Post by crazy4scraps on Jan 19, 2024 16:01:54 GMT
Same. Our phones listen to us and that's bad enough! I do love my bluetooth speakers though. Listen to it constantly on the weekends. I just don't understand the need for a device to listen to you. How hard is it to "manually" google something, turn on the radio, change the channel, etc. That's the epitome of lazy. We utilize it in part for security and convenience when we’re not home. If the lights are going on and off at different times, it still LOOKS like someone is home even when we’re not. We also use them to change the temperature at home or at the lake before we get there. We can have the thermostat set to a more energy efficient temperature when we’re not at one place or the other, and turn up the heat or the A/C at one place and down at the other place with our phones when we’re on the way so it’s a more comfortable temperature when we get where we’re going. It’s pretty hard to do those things manually when you’re not even there. Sometimes it’s purely an access thing, like the Christmas tree lights or a particular lamp or fan that has a hard to reach switch. It’s much easier to just tell Google to turn those lights on and off vs crawling around on the floor looking for the plug because there is no switch.
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Post by peano on Jan 19, 2024 16:04:11 GMT
A lot of us do see a "point" though. Personally I use Alexa because it's fun. I enjoy making playlists on Spotify and asking Alexa to play them. And I enjoy being able to ask Alexa to play whatever song comes into my head. I'm old enough to remember the days of LPs (only) and how we had a couple particular favorite songs and we'd sit there lifting up the arm of the record player and setting it back down in the groove for song, over and over. haha Now I can just say "Alexa play xyz" and then "Alexa repeat that song" and she'll just play it forever until I tell her to stop. And Siri is very helpful in the car for directions. Again, remember the days when we'd have to find somewhere to pull over so we could look at a paper map? Does that help you understand a few reasons why many of us like this technology? It's okay of course if it's not for you, but maybe think a minute about why other people might find it helpful and/or enjoyable. I find it so helpful in the kitchen if my hands are covered in gunk and I use the last of whatever. I am just low enough on the ADD scale and of a certain age, if I have a thought, I need to get it down. So I yell out to Alexa to add whatever to the grocery list. Or set a timer, or ask a question on what I was just asked about by DH. Or pull up a recipe. So.many.things. The bathroom google mini is my speaker. I say good morning and it gives me a quick rundown of the day's events, news headlines and plays my music while I get ready. I use the one in the bedroom to play brown noise when I go to sleep, on a timer. The Echo Show has a running picture show sometimes, like a digital frame. A lot of people have those. It also keeps me up on when an item in my cart drops in price. Or tells a dirty joke. Or tells us funny bedtime stories when we are bored. I have porch lights set to come on and go off at certain times. So when I come home it is not in the dark. I don't live in the best little town on earth and I like it light at the door. Other lights in the house come on and go off. It makes it homey without me having to go around and click them all off and on. Also a couple have really hard to get to on/off switches. It just makes it easier. My Ring doorbell lets me see the front door drop-offs. To know they were dropped off where/when they said. I can alert DH, at home, to bring something in when they just do a drop off with no doorbell so it doesn't sit on the porch all day. It is motion sensored. I can see who is at my door when I am at work and talk to them, tell them I am not interested or to come back. How the weather looks to the south of me. Did I just hear a noise out front, I don't have to run up there, I can open my Ring app. So, @peano, I can see where some people don't want to understand/embrace technology that have been developed and given to them. That's fine. But to say you don't understand why OTHERS use it is just well...hard-headed. I don't want to be mean and use other words. But you yourself, said "don't take away my BT speakers". Isn't that just another form of technology that you use. I mean, why don't you just use the device itself to hear things? Or earbuds, headphones? See?So, I am not anti-technology at all. I do love my BT speakers, I love the fact that one of my bathroom fan/lights has a BT speaker built in so I can listen to music when I'm getting ready to go out and I don't have to have an actual speaker taking up counter space. I think Alexa and the Dot are fine if you want to cue up a modern pop song, but I use Spotify as a tool to expose myself to new music and sometimes that involves a bit of more complex searching. I use AirTags in my bags when I travel. I was thinking about this today so I bothered my DS in the lab. I was interested in hearing what someone other than a Boomer thought about this issue. I asked him if he would want an Alexa or a Dot or a Ring camera and he wouldn't want one either. He said he doesn't know what he'd use it for because Google. And he doesn't like the idea of a box recording him at all times. He would consider cameras outside his house which aren't connected to the internet. So I'm guessing it's not a generational thing but a personality type thing. I think we are being marketed to death by things and they are cluttering up our lives. I really don't give two shits if I get a little flour on my phone or if I have to go wash the raw meat off my hands before I switch songs. It's not that much of an inconvenience to me. I think we have moved into a really paranoid age, fed by the media. I can't tell you the number of people on my Facebook feed who apparently spend hours monitoring their home cameras and constantly send out alarmed warnings about trucks turning around on their street, etc. They're like Gladys Kravitz on steroids. And don't get me started on the people who track their kids. Full disclosure: I realize I have a privileged life and live in a boring town where the main crimes (except for Sandy Hook, the Woodchopper Killer etc.) are burglaries related to drug use (heroin). So maybe to say I "don't understand" their use is not completely correct. Maybe more correct to say for me, I don't see the value vs cost benefit. They don't/wouldn't improve my life enough.
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anniebeth24
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,550
Jun 26, 2014 14:12:17 GMT
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Post by anniebeth24 on Jan 19, 2024 16:07:04 GMT
We have several Alexas throughout the house. Mostly they’re used for timers and alarms, but we also use them to turn on lamps in the main room. And we can ask Alexa to play music through our Sonos speaker for better sound. I just got Sonos speakers for DH for Christmas. Need to figure out how to connect our Google Home to them. Thanks for the idea.
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pantsonfire
Pearl Clutcher
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 4,762
Jun 19, 2022 16:48:04 GMT
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Post by pantsonfire on Jan 19, 2024 16:08:08 GMT
If you think they're listening then your phone is too. A friend works at a bank and says people would come in to pay their bills because they don't want their banking online. How do you think the bank is doing it, by carrier pigeon? pantsonfire did the signatures come back for all packages or just medical ones? I'm in Canada and haven't signed for anything since 2020. I'm like naby64 I use Alexa mainly in the kitchen. When my hands are dirty I ask her what is 14 fl oz in ml? Or tell her to add something to my list so I don't forget later and I get her to control Spotify, the volume or skip a song. I haven't gotten anything more than a speaker, I had remotes for my Christmas lights already, and have a programmable thermostat, I personally don't have a need for the doorbell camera. I would get other things if and when I had the need. Just for the IgG kits. It comes directly from the home health pharmacy via one of their drivers. Dd or I sign off on it that we received the item. I did have to sign for a letter about 2 months ago from the state dept of Pharmacy that had the results of the investigation that was opened against ds' previous home health pharmacy and what the case discovered. USPS came to the door.
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pantsonfire
Pearl Clutcher
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 4,762
Jun 19, 2022 16:48:04 GMT
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Post by pantsonfire on Jan 19, 2024 16:10:12 GMT
IgG is a blood product and the kits are super costly so because of that we have to sign off. Then we cant say we didn't get it and insurance be out that money. And since it's a bio hazard it has to be directly handed to us.
During the pandemic we would acknowledge them through ring and they would drop it down, take a pic, walk away and wait for us to open the door then check off we got the delivery.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jan 19, 2024 16:10:45 GMT
If you think they're listening then your phone is too. A friend works at a bank and says people would come in to pay their bills because they don't want their banking online. How do you think the bank is doing it, by carrier pigeon? pantsonfire did the signatures come back for all packages or just medical ones? I'm in Canada and haven't signed for anything since 2020. I'm like naby64 I use Alexa mainly in the kitchen. When my hands are dirty I ask her what is 14 fl oz in ml? Or tell her to add something to my list so I don't forget later and I get her to control Spotify, the volume or skip a song. I haven't gotten anything more than a speaker, I had remotes for my Christmas lights already, and have a programmable thermostat, I personally don't have a need for the doorbell camera. I would get other things if and when I had the need. With the doorbell cameras it’s nice because you can see who it is and talk through it remotely to whoever is at the door without having to actually go to the door. Sometimes I’m busy with something down in my basement or in my kitchen and I really don’t want to come up and talk to whoever is there but I also don’t want them to think no one is home in case it’s someone sketchy. We have regular security cameras with speakers too but someone standing on the porch can’t really hear them. The doorbell speaker is much louder.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Jan 19, 2024 16:17:24 GMT
I'm surprised at how many people listen to music through them. My mom has an Alexa and when I'm there for dinner she often has it playing music. The sound quality is so terrible I've encouraged her to get another bluetooth speaker just for that reason. I admit that is my only exposure really to smart speakers and it's a real turn off for me.
ETA: See, not a luddite. Haha...just a music lover...
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jan 19, 2024 16:30:09 GMT
I'm surprised at how many people listen to music through them. My mom has an Alexa and when I'm there for dinner she often has it playing music. The sound quality is so terrible I've encouraged her to get another bluetooth speaker just for that reason. I admit that is my only exposure really to smart speakers and it's a real turn off for me. Your story reminds me of my mom who used to have this little tinny sounding clock radio in the kitchen when I was growing up. I think my dad would turn it on in the morning to listen to the local weather and the news before work and she would leave it on all day long playing in the background. I don’t think she was really listening to it per se, it was just providing some background noise.
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naby64
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,932
Jun 25, 2014 21:44:13 GMT
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Post by naby64 on Jan 19, 2024 16:39:55 GMT
I'm surprised at how many people listen to music through them. My mom has an Alexa and when I'm there for dinner she often has it playing music. The sound quality is so terrible I've encouraged her to get another bluetooth speaker just for that reason. I admit that is my only exposure really to smart speakers and it's a real turn off for me. ETA: See, not a luddite. Haha...just a music lover... My Echo Show and the Alexa that looks like a dome put out a great sound! The smaller hockey puck looking Dots aren't as good. So I think it depends on which one she has.
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Post by Bridget in MD on Jan 19, 2024 16:46:44 GMT
we have like 8 dots and 1 alexa, and really its just the alexa that gets used.
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Post by wallyagain on Jan 19, 2024 17:07:54 GMT
3 dots (in the bedrooms), 3 echos (common area on each floor), 1 show (my bedroom), which we use for switches, bulbs, plugs as well as timers, alarms, reminders, lists.
When we had to replace our modem and were without internet for a couple of days, dear lord, what do you mean, I have to stand up to turn on the lights, LOL.
We also have a doorbell camera at the front door which is connected to the security system. Cameras in the backyard to see the yard (we got these when our cat was missing).
I’m a boomer that has never worked anywhere that didn’t have computers and I love technology.
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Post by airforcemomof1 on Jan 19, 2024 17:16:23 GMT
I do not.
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Post by dewryce on Jan 19, 2024 17:28:48 GMT
Yes and we use them for all the things. The most helpful was when I fell out of the shower in such a position I couldn’t get up. We have a small device in the bathroom so I was able to call my husband. Meanwhile I pulled the towels off the bars and made myself comfortable
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Post by Patter on Jan 19, 2024 17:39:55 GMT
I have never wanted one and have never had one UNTIL Wednesday of this week! My friend gave me an Echo Dot, and I am in LOVE with the thing. Oh my word. I am still figuring out what she can do but so far it's love.
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naby64
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,932
Jun 25, 2014 21:44:13 GMT
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Post by naby64 on Jan 19, 2024 18:02:26 GMT
I have never wanted one and have never had one UNTIL Wednesday of this week! My friend gave me an Echo Dot, and I am in LOVE with the thing. Oh my word. I am still figuring out what she can do but so far it's love. Go into the app and look up all the skills. It really is handy!!
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Post by monklady123 on Jan 19, 2024 18:30:00 GMT
I have never wanted one and have never had one UNTIL Wednesday of this week! My friend gave me an Echo Dot, and I am in LOVE with the thing. Oh my word. I am still figuring out what she can do but so far it's love. There was a thread here not too long ago where someone asked about all the ways we use our Alexa/Dot/Whatevers...See if you can find it (I'd help find it but I never have any luck with that search thing) or maybe someone else can. It had all sorts of good ideas in it, things I had never even thought of. My Alexa actually has a pretty sweet deal...she doesn't work nearly as much as everyone else's does.
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Post by epeanymous on Jan 19, 2024 18:46:06 GMT
I have a couple of Alexas. I use them mostly to listen to postcasts, and sometimes to listen to music. I have a record player with better sound quality, but, eg, during December, it was nice to just say “Alexa, find a station for holiday jazz” and have jazz versions of Christmas music playing in the background for hours.
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Post by lurker on Jan 19, 2024 18:56:10 GMT
We have an Echo Show that we received free when we switched to a new ISP. I would never have spent money on something like that. However, if it quits working now, we will immediately replace it. Didn't realize how handy it would be.
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Post by alsomsknit on Jan 19, 2024 19:03:03 GMT
We have a Sonos system. We also have a couple of Bluetooth speakers for when we go to the beach. I think this is the type of speaker that is in the kitchen. Everyone uses it. As for the ask Alexa type, I don’t trust the privacy factor.
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Post by Zee on Jan 19, 2024 19:58:36 GMT
Same. Our phones listen to us and that's bad enough! I do love my bluetooth speakers though. Listen to it constantly on the weekends. I just don't understand the need for a device to listen to you. How hard is it to "manually" google something, turn on the radio, change the channel, etc. That's the epitome of lazy. I'll talk to you when you tell us you get up and manually change the channel on your TV, no remote. I can't even do that on my TV, can't find any buttons. It's ridiculous to tell others they're lazy for using technology. You're lazy for not walking across the country and using a car or other transportation instead. You're lazy if you're not building a fire to cook your dinner instead of using a stove. Manually Google, you say? Lol that's called going to the library and looking up articles and in encyclopedias, or writing away to university department heads for specific info. The "good old days"! Why are you using anything modern at all? To save time and for convenience.
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Post by Jen in NCal on Jan 19, 2024 22:57:39 GMT
We have a Sonos system. We also have a couple of Bluetooth speakers for when we go to the beach. My mom has a Sonos system that was disassembled when she had some construction done and we have no idea how to set it up again. I don't think she needs it in her new house since she will have a Google Home system. I have an Alexa device in every room. I love that I can tell it to play something everywhere and I can go from one room to another with music. The one in the bathroom isn't good enough quality technically to be a speaker but it works fine when I am getting ready to go to work. I also have a Bluetooth speaker but that lives at school now.
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Post by Jen in NCal on Jan 19, 2024 23:21:29 GMT
Same. Our phones listen to us and that's bad enough! I do love my bluetooth speakers though. Listen to it constantly on the weekends. I just don't understand the need for a device to listen to you. How hard is it to "manually" google something, turn on the radio, change the channel, etc. That's the epitome of lazy. It can actually be hard. My living room does not have a plug attached to a switch. It is in a corner that is not near the stairs or the path through the room. "Alexa, turn on/off the living room light." I don't have a music system so I ask Alexa to play my Amazon music everywhere, or only downstairs, or only upstairs. I like to walk in to a nice smelling house so I have it timed to turn on and off my Scentsy warmers. I have the living room light timed to go off about 10 minutes after I leave so I can see until I get out the door, again, no lights in the area inside the house attached to a switch. I can also, from my phone, tell Alexa to turn on my light so I don't come into a dark house. And the list goes on and on. I don't use it to Google something or add it to my Amazon cart. That I do on my computer. I do have her change the channel because unless I am sitting in one tiny spot on my couch the signal doesn't go from the remote to the tv.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Jan 19, 2024 23:47:59 GMT
I have numerous Alexa-enabled devices with speakers around the house and often set my Spotify to ‘everywhere’ so I can listen to my playlists while moving around the house.
I also love my Bose Soundlink bluetooth speaker for its portability. I travel with it some just for the sound quality for music.
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Post by worrywart on Jan 20, 2024 3:46:43 GMT
Well I admit to being a little lazy but for me the Alexa is mainly about convenience. Our main one is in the kitchen and the echo show (small) is in the bedroom basically functining as a clock radio - which also has the capability to tell me the temperature, daily weather and play the news when I just ask.
The kitchen one is mainly used for basic questions, grocery lists, timers, music etc. but lots of times I am cooking/preparing and need to ask how many teaspoons in a tablespoon (you'd think I would learn) or how many grams in a cup of flour. These are the times it is not convenient to use a computer or google.
I do love our Echos but I do have family members who have no interest and that is okay!
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Post by smasonnc on Jan 20, 2024 12:23:08 GMT
My mom has a Sonos system that was disassembled when she had some construction done and we have no idea how to set it up again. There are YouTube videos to show you. Go into the app and find the "Add a speaker" option. It will walk you through. The sound is much better than on Google Home or Alexa and you can set it up to play your own library.
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Post by Neisey on Jan 20, 2024 20:59:03 GMT
We have a variety of dots, spots and shows as we merged 2 households. DSO is a tech geek so we can use ours to change temps, unlock doors, play music through our in home speaker system, etc, etc. We are getting new blinds for our vaulted ceiling wall of windows and really looking forward to using Alexa to adjust those according to the heat of the sun.
What we use Alexa for the most…asking how old various actors are as we see them pop up on TV/movies lol. Second is adding things to shopping lists - if only we remembered to check the lists when we are shopping!
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