~Lauren~
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,876
Jun 26, 2014 3:33:18 GMT
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Post by ~Lauren~ on Apr 5, 2016 22:00:59 GMT
I've had it sitting here since last summer and never opened it. What kind of a fool am I?
So, now I'm having fun with it. It plays music, gives directions and told me the name of Lincoln's mother (LOL).
What do you use "Alexa" for?
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Jili
Pearl Clutcher
SLPea
Posts: 4,366
Jun 26, 2014 1:26:48 GMT
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Post by Jili on Apr 5, 2016 22:07:46 GMT
It's really fun, isn't it? There are times, though, that I admit that I forget about it. I use it to listen to music while I'm cooking, to set timers for exercise and sometimes for cooking. I don't use the app as a shopping list, but if I run out of something I'll tell Alexa to add it my list and then later I'll review and add it to my master grocery list. This is helpful so I won't forget, and I don't have to stop to find something to write it down on. There's probably some more but I'm drawing a blank at the moment. Once in awhile Alexa speaks randomly ("I'm sorry, I don't understand your request") and it scares the crap out of us.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 1, 2024 11:32:54 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2016 22:11:49 GMT
I am intrigued by Alexa, what little I know about it. But also deeply paranoid about it. It's LISTENING to you all the time?! What if it's reporting back to the government or the mother ship orAmazon headquarters or something?
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Post by jennifercw on Apr 5, 2016 22:17:11 GMT
We use the set-timer function all the time. Also ask it for the weather report a good bit.
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Post by freecharlie on Apr 5, 2016 22:23:28 GMT
I am intrigued by Alexa, what little I know about it. But also deeply paranoid about it. It's LISTENING to you all the time?! What if it's reporting back to the government or the mother ship orAmazon headquarters or something? It listens, but only sets off at her code word (Alexa). She also may go off for Alexis (during Castle) I use her for the timer, a speaker, to play Jeopardy, ask some questions, as a grocery list and as a to do list. She makes us smile.
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Post by jennifercw on Apr 5, 2016 22:24:58 GMT
Oh yes, she may or may not "help" me with my crossword puzzles...
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 1, 2024 11:32:54 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2016 22:29:39 GMT
Ha! At least that's what they TELL you... (I'm kidding)
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Post by rst on Apr 5, 2016 22:31:29 GMT
Grammar and spelling questions: Alexa. Apostrophe here or not?
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Jili
Pearl Clutcher
SLPea
Posts: 4,366
Jun 26, 2014 1:26:48 GMT
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Post by Jili on Apr 5, 2016 22:43:00 GMT
I am intrigued by Alexa, what little I know about it. But also deeply paranoid about it. It's LISTENING to you all the time?! What if it's reporting back to the government or the mother ship orAmazon headquarters or something? It listens, but only sets off at her code word (Alexa). She also may go off for Alexis (during Castle) I use her for the timer, a speaker, to play Jeopardy, ask some questions, as a grocery list and as a to do list. She makes us smile. My daughter has a friend named Alexis, so that sets her off quite a bit. We also listen to jokes. There's even an app where you can ask Alexa for a fart. Once in awhile that is good for a laugh.
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Post by disneypal on Apr 5, 2016 22:45:46 GMT
I am intrigued by Alexa, what little I know about it. But also deeply paranoid about it. It's LISTENING to you all the time?! What if it's reporting back to the government or the mother ship or Amazon headquarters or something? I wonder the same thing, and I am not typically a paranoid person. I just wondered if someone, somewhere can here me at all times?
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Post by elaine on Apr 5, 2016 22:48:45 GMT
We have lots of the trivia quizzes loaded and my older son loves those. Otherwise, weather, sports scores and playing music.
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Post by freecharlie on Apr 5, 2016 22:57:58 GMT
Sometimes I ask her what time it is just so I don't have to go find a clock
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Post by scrappersue on Apr 5, 2016 22:58:22 GMT
I have may family trained to add shopping items to the list via Alexa. I can leave work and go straight to the grocery store, pull up the app on my phone and know exactly what to buy. This is a game changer for me - LOL! I use the To Do List for my Costco list because I don't go there very often. As we get low on stuff I put it on that list and then when I finally get there I'm not trying to remember what I needed. I love it for music - I leave it on for the dog now - he loves light jazz We find that Alexa usually has better answers than Siri so the kids ask her stuff all the time. When I was at the park I saw a little Lego woman in the grass and put it in my pocket. She got placed on top of the Echo and now is "Alexa".
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Post by magenta on Apr 5, 2016 23:12:15 GMT
You can use her to listen to some of your kindle books! If it's not a book you bought in with Audible narration then she will read it in a flat monotone, but it's still a nice feature to have. We also use her to check on when pro sport games start and the scores, the weather and traffic and events in our area, like movie times and locations. We also have her set up to turn on some of our home devices, like the water pump.
I can't think any others not already mentioned. The app is really helpful too. Have fun!
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GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,452
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Apr 5, 2016 23:47:23 GMT
Mostly our Alexa is a weather station. "Alexa, what's the weather forecast tomorrow in XXX, CA" "No rain is expected in XXX, Calif tomorrow. There's only an 11% chance."
She also tells stupid jokes, gives the score of the game (baseball, hockey, basketball, etc), or tells us what time the game starts.
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Post by jumperhop on Apr 6, 2016 1:47:22 GMT
"Alexa, put lettuce on my grocery list." Jen
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Post by epeanymous on Apr 6, 2016 2:01:59 GMT
We use it to listen to our music library, Pandora radio, NPR, selections from artists on there, etc.
We also add things to our grocery list and ask it questions about the weather, news, etc.
I love it because I can just say "Alexa, play Ella Fitzgerald," and I have nice background music for the evening. It's really lovely.
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Post by snowsilver on Apr 6, 2016 2:29:40 GMT
I'm a member of Audible and I absolutely love Alexa for playing my Audible books. She is so easy to transport (although we love her so much we actually have THREE of them--one is DH's and the other two are mine, so we have one on each floor). I like the fact that I can wake up in the middle of the night and wonder what time it is and simply say "Alexa, what time is it?" and she tells me without my having to roll over and look at the clock. I have multiple playlists for almost any mood. My favorite is the heavy rainstorm with clashes of thunder that I listen to each night as I drop off to sleep. Yep, I love my Echo.
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Post by MsChiff on Apr 6, 2016 2:38:13 GMT
Streaming music, shopping list, weather, news, timer, jeopardy.
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Post by dewryce on Apr 6, 2016 4:48:04 GMT
My cousin has one. It would be great except that she starts up every time she addresses her daughter Alysa. If I had one I think I would use it most often to play whatever song I was in the mood for.
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Post by blueeyedpups on Apr 6, 2016 15:57:43 GMT
In addition to everything mentioned, I love it to re-order things i've purchased on Amazon Prime! Like pig ears for my dogs..."Alexa, re-order pig ears." So easy!
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Post by jennifercw on Apr 6, 2016 16:26:56 GMT
My cousin has one. It would be great except that she starts up every time she addresses her daughter Alysa. If I had one I think I would use it most often to play whatever song I was in the mood for. Are they aware they can change the wake word to "Amazon" or "Echo"? We might do this, because my dd has a friend named Alexis and our Echo responds to hearing that as well. Typically with "I'm sorry, I didn't understand the question I heard."
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Post by dewryce on Apr 6, 2016 16:30:01 GMT
My cousin has one. It would be great except that she starts up every time she addresses her daughter Alysa. If I had one I think I would use it most often to play whatever song I was in the mood for. Are they aware they can change the wake word to "Amazon" or "Echo"? We might do this, because my dd has a friend named Alexis and our Echo responds to hearing that as well. Typically with "I'm sorry, I didn't understand the question I heard." I am not sure but I will definitely mention it, thank you!
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Post by hennybutton on Apr 6, 2016 16:48:55 GMT
You can use her to listen to some of your kindle books! If it's not a book you bought in with Audible narration then she will read it in a flat monotone, but it's still a nice feature to have. We also use her to check on when pro sport games start and the scores, the weather and traffic and events in our area, like movie times and locations. We also have her set up to turn on some of our home devices, like the water pump. I can't think any others not already mentioned. The app is really helpful too. Have fun! Listen to books? Sold!
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raindancer
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,095
Jun 26, 2014 20:10:29 GMT
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Post by raindancer on Apr 6, 2016 16:54:24 GMT
I am intrigued by Alexa, what little I know about it. But also deeply paranoid about it. It's LISTENING to you all the time?! What if it's reporting back to the government or the mother ship or Amazon headquarters or something? I wonder the same thing, and I am not typically a paranoid person. I just wondered if someone, somewhere can here me at all times? They could theoretically, but they cn use your phone, your computer, your car, or your smart tv. I figure privacy is pretty much dead and there is nothing I can do about it unless I want to live without the new technology.
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Post by auntkelly on Apr 6, 2016 17:02:46 GMT
Last weekend we had a lot of house guests in town for the NCAA basketball tournament. We are all Oklahoma fans, so we periodically asked Alexa to play "Boomer Sooner" our school fight song.
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Post by whopea on Apr 6, 2016 17:58:28 GMT
I am intrigued by Alexa, what little I know about it. But also deeply paranoid about it. It's LISTENING to you all the time?! What if it's reporting back to the government or the mother ship orAmazon headquarters or something? It listens, but only sets off at her code word (Alexa). She also may go off for Alexis (during Castle) I use her for the timer, a speaker, to play Jeopardy, ask some questions, as a grocery list and as a to do list. She makes us smile. If she makes a grocery list for you, where does it go and how do you access it at the store? Same with the to do list. I think I see a father's day gift . . .
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Post by Ellie on Apr 6, 2016 18:44:05 GMT
I never knew I wanted one until reading this thread. And you can buy it in installments? Tempting.
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Post by rst on Apr 6, 2016 18:56:43 GMT
They do have a monthly payment plan. << enabling.
We don't have one, but probably will someday. DH can't resist tech.
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Post by baylorgrad on Apr 6, 2016 20:13:03 GMT
I once asked, "Alexa, who's the fairest of them all?" She recited the appropriate passage from Snow White.
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