alexa
 

I was going to buy my wife the alexa for xmas , until I found out you need the amazon service for $150 per month . are they crazy. I need one more $150 bill like I need a hole in my head. first the cell phone $150 , then the cable $150 , why is everything $150 ?? it will be cheaper if I buy her some diamond earrings.:ohdear::ohdear:

If you want to play around with the Alexa app to see what it can do get the Amazon Fire 7" from Best Buy for $30 I mentioned in an earlier thread today.

There is no fee associated with Alexa. If you have an Amazon account you can use her for ordering. If you have an Amazon Prime account, she is even better, but that type of account isn’t necessary. The fee for a Prime account is either monthly...$10.99/month or you can pay a yearly fee at a reduced rate...$99./year plus tax in either case. You do not need a prime acccount, but I use Amazon a lot and have had an account with them for eons...;)....so I opted for A Prime account sine I am a frequent shopper on that site.
I love my Alexas....have one in every room....she is a great alarm clock, timer, you can tell her what to put on your shopping list as you think of things you need and when you open the Alexa app on your smart phone, there is your list. You can make phone calls using Alexa, the are routed through your cell pnone, but in mid December another small device attached to Alexa, will connect her to you home land line. This will allow you to call 911 through Alexa using your voice and the 911 “switchboard” will show your home phone number an all the info associated with it to emergency services.
There’s music, audible books and so much more. It’s a gift she’ll enjoy I’m sure....and so will you!

Have Alexa up north and in TV. Not sure how $150 a month came from, but there are no fees for her. I have prime, which is $99 a year. Just 2 day shipped 12 things for holidays for free. We have zero alarm clocks just Alexa. Keeps my calendar, grocery list, appointments, plays music. When you are alone she is great company.

You can also get extra savings perks with Alexa. In addition, you can avoid the $25 minimum on certain purchases.

Not sure why you would need a fire pad to use Alexa. Works on just about any computer or cell phone. I have an Alexa of some sort in almost every room of the house. You can play music on each one or have them all play the same. I have mine controlling lights, TVs and thermostats. If you really utilize the full capabilities of Alexa she will make you a lazy guy.... as said above there are no monthly charges after the purchase. Get your wife one...she will love it.....

Alexa sounds really cool, and I love tech, but I don't like the idea of the thing listening to everything going on in the house all the time. In every room? You do realize that it's always connected to the internet in order to "obey" you?

Connected to Internet.....
 

Yes, I do. Is that something different than monitoring every transmission of your cell phone? If I should need to hold a personal, secret conversation in a room I can just reach over and turn the microphone off. Not to hyper about communications being stored on the Amazon server and if you are really worried about it you can delete your stored history!

But Alexa is not listening or recording every thing you say. Read this article

Relax: Your Amazon Echo Isn’t Recording Everything You Say – Variety

Alexa
 

Not much out there for reliable home automation that does not connect to the internet in some form or fashion. But I do understand we all have choices to make........

Then get the Amazon Tap which requires the touch of a button to activate an Alexa command.
It can be configures to be in stand by if one prefers to do so.

The main feature of the Amazon Tap is it is 100% portable. Once fully charged take it anyplace where there is wifi/blue tooth. Charge lasts 7-10 hours.
Operates 100% like the wired Alexa products.

If you're that worried, get the Tap. You have to push a button to talk to her, and it's portable/rechargeable so you can take it anywhere you want. No need for one in every room.

Personally - have no need for Alexa or any other assistance - at this time. Come the time I do, I will make arrangements for in-person assistance.

I'd prefer the diamond earrings or diamond anything! ;)

Clothes irons make good presents for wives.

maybe a 9 iron , but not a clothes iron.......I like my face just the way it is:0000000000luvmyhors

If you're going to get Alexa, it's on sale today at Amazon. We have both Alexa and Eco Dot. Love both of them!

Tap no longer requires you to tap the button; it responds to voice just like the Echo and dot.

It is programmable from the smart phone app to be one or the other.

No one ever gifts me with anything that has a plug on it! ;)

No Privacy with Alexa
 

I bought the Alexa technology to remotely control the light switches to my outdoor floodlights, both front and rear, for security purposes. (You have to purchase specialized switches to do this.) Being in a wheelchair, I wanted to be able to quickly turn on the lights by voice command.

I have since availed myself of other conveniences of Alexa, especially local weather information and forecasts; playing of musical selections, and use as an alarm clock.

However, it is apparent that Alexa is always on and listening. This is especially apparent when it responds to something that it hears on the television set.

If you are one of those who believes that you must speak the "alerting word" (Alexa or Echo) to activate the unit (or press the microphone button on Tap), or that you can "erase" everything that has been stored, then I consider you a good candidate for the purchase of the Brooklyn Bridge or Solid Gold Bricks.

It is like using a Smart Phone; the more convenience you seek, the more privacy you voluntarily surrender. It is your choice.

Nice reply, now you know why I will never have anything in my house this is watching (some TV sets, any laptop, etc.), or listening to me.

I just bought the one that looks like a Hockey Puck. It will keep the other larger Alexa company. We find it very helpful and they come out with new things for Alexa to try each month. Jeopardy is fun, weather is convenient, and occasionally I get a bit of an attitude from Alexa. I cave in all the time and just say yes dear. It has worked for me in the past. I also just ordered several of the devices to control lamps. I'll report back soon, sounds easy to set up.

If I were physically challenged I could see getting something that does everything for me without leaving my chair, but at this age staying as active as possible (yes, even if that means getting up and going over to throw a light switch)...makes more sense to me. :shrug:

Not to even mention the very good point Villagetinker made, about having one more electronic device...lessening your privacy.





Flamesuit on!

Someone with one of these, please ask it if the FBI is listening ?

And let us know what I says.

Uses for Alexa
 

I have three Amazon dots in my house. One connected via Bluetooth to a speaker for music.
I use them for:
1.Controlling lights inside and outside my house. If I am in another room and hear a sound on the lanai, I request that she turn on the light there. If I am coming home after dark, I can turn on the lights from an app on my phone, or ask Alexa to turn them on as I walk thru the door.
Houseguests don’t have to search for room lights, especially the bathroom light at night. They just ask Alexa.

2. From any place in the house I can ask her to add an item to my shopping list and it appears on my phone's shopping list. Handy when you run out of shampoo.

3. My neighbors have access to my house and will ( almost daily) take my dog for a golf cart ride or a walk. They can ask Alexa if the dog is hungry and she will tell them when the dog was last fed. Of course, when I feed the dog, I mention it to Alexa. The dog does not like Alexa - no more “extra meals”.

4. I love the aroma of fresh coffee in the morning. When I wake up, I ask Alexa to turn on the coffee pot. I prepare it the night before. Everyone needs a little pampering.

5. From anywhere in the house, if an emergency occurs, I do not have to even pick up a phone. I just tell Alexa to alert up to five people and she will instantly notify them by text, email and auto phone call that I need assistance now. No extra charge for this service...it is a free app.

6. If I want to check on an order from Amazon, I say “where’s my stuff?” And she tells me.

7. I use her as a free WiFi phone. I just ask her to call a friend who also has an Alexa device and I can talk to them without touching a phone. I can also leave a message- their Alexa will flash a different color so they know that there is a message.

8. She is much better at math and spelling than I could ever be.
Most of my lights are on "smart plugs". Easy to program.

She is great as a kitchen time, alarm clock and will read a book to you as you cook.
I am sure everyone uses her differently. At the current special of $29, it is a fantastic deal.

It is Great
 

I really enjoy Alexa. I was having a problem as for some reason it said it was not hooked to the Internet. This could have been interrupted because of the storm. I just unplugged it, re plugged it in, it automatically connected to the internet and it was back with music, weather, etc.
We have come a long way from when we sat in front of the large floor radio, turning the dials trying to get The Green
Hornet or Mr District Attorney,etc. They use to scare the heck out of us but they were fun!!!:ho:

No problemo, first I asked Alexa what FBI stands for and I expected something different than the answer she gave. She said FBI = Forever Bothering Italians and that she was going to take the fifth?? :1rotfl::1rotfl::clap2: She said they are not listening but I heard a clicking noise.

Question.....I use Alexa to control lamps in all rooms....via TP-Link smart plugs, Weemo smart plugs. Bought a TP-Link switch to control light over my kitchen sink. Did a great job, however, the switch would not fit back into the junction box (assume that’s the right term.). Those of you who use wi-fi switches with Alexa...what brand did you buy?

Sounds like something I need to try. I have Amazon prime and to me it is worth every penny

Wemo
 

I used Wemo for my outdoor lights, which are not capable of being dimmed. Did you use TP-link to get dimming feature?

My Wemo was an exact replacement; tight but it could all be gotten the box.

I use my Echo Dot (Alexa) to call internationally, free.

Alexa comes in handy when you enter your dark house from staying too late at the square and turns on your lights for you. Besides at this point in life Dont most have more jewelry than We will ever need.

Thanks Carl...will check out the Wemo smart switch. I would like having a smart switch for outdoor lights and for the over the sink light. So far, appears that all smart plugs and switches are for single pole, non dimmable set ups....but that could change before we know it.

I have three of the Wemo switches in use. One each in dual and triple boxes. Installed ok, just needed to "tweak" all the wiring. By the way Wemo does have a dimmable version wall switch but no 3-way yet. Non-dimmable wall switch is currently selling for $29.95. That is lowest price I've seen.

Don

I was at my sister's house yesterday and yelled out "good night" to my BIL in the other room as I was leaving. Alexa turned off the living room lights. Heh.

Thank you. Will take a look this week...and that is a GREAT price!

She’s good at doing that...;). Nice to be able to have her turn the lights off and on in different rooms while you are busy with something else. Since we have so many, some are Alexa, some are Echo and some are Computer....ah, Star Trek lives!:clap2::clap2:

Bless you if you have reached your jewelry limit!

Buy the Amazon Echo Silver model.
Amazon Echo - SNL - YouTube

Dual controls
 

Incidentally, my Wemo switches are controllable by both my Alexa (I call it Echo) and by my Smartphone. So, I don't have to be in the same room with Alexa to turn the lights on or off.

TP-Link can be used via phone, also. Nice to turn the lights in the house on before you arrive home.

We easily forget to shut off lights in one room or another....nice not to have get out of bed to switch them off....just ask Alexa to do that...;).