Miss Ann Thrope

I got one of these things as a gift. After quite a bit of a faff I got it set up. Now what?

mikelincs

Talk to it, ask it questions, tell it to remind you of things to do or get.

Brains1983

I've got mine linked to spotify and the hue lighting system and quite like it. Handy if you in the kitchen and need timers / oF to oC, etc, etc.

dominoman

I love my Alexa.

Use it in the kitchen and use it for timers. Or in the bedroom for alarms.

Things I say most:

- How is the weather today
- Play BBC Radio 4
- Tell me something interesting
- Who is ...

Or even, just Tell me a Joke.

I reckon you'll love Alexa once you've got used to it

Miss Ann Thrope

But it is more trouble to get it to do anything useful than other more traditional options and it seems a bit unreliable.

One of the things I use it for is to listen to radio (yes, usually Radio 4) but it gave up the ghost mid-stream the other day. Meanwhile I had no problem getting the same stream on my PC at the time Alexa pronounced there was a problem with the signal. On the other hand she refuses to get Dubai Eye (no matter how I describe it) so it's not all bad. Although she appears to have a bit of an issue with my Irish accent (which is not that strong), she is able to get the local station from my home county in Ireland.

The device is quite a good speaker and should work well with my music collection on Amazon but actually that is a mixed bag also as she can find some stuff but not others. I really can't be arsed figuring out all the settings on each item in my digital music collection especially as it takes a lot longer to clearly enunciate "Alexa, play The Maid of the Sweet Brown Knowe by the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem" than it does to locate and click it. For example.

And, yes, it is freaking me out a bit whether I should refer to "she" or "it"..

Miss Ann Thrope

Also, I can't help every time saying: Alexa please....

Miss Ann Thrope

Oh, and every so often she starts spouting unprompted. Possibly something on the TV sets her off but i can never figure out what.

I dread this scenario:
News anchor sets off Alexa devices around San Diego ordering unwanted dollhouses - CW6 San Diego

I have enough dollhouses!

scrubbedexpat141

Firstly, how many rude questions have you asked her?

Surely that's the first thing to clear up....all the fun stuff that you can do with something like this?

scrubbedexpat141

Things to ask Alexa

This website makes me want one (not just for the fun stuff but everything).

Boomhauer

My sis got Google's version a few weeks ago. Was used for 1 week but now it sits quiet; novelty wore off.

tintriangle

Another gadget we did not know we needed and find that after buying it we realise we were sucked into marketting hype.
Another exhibit for the Twatopolois?

Dubai unveils Twatopolis

Inselaffen

Use mine quite a lot for controlling a the Hue lighting system and have it plugged into Sonos. will be better later in the year when it is fully integrated into Sonos.

Will also be linking it my my anymote remote control.

Bahtatboy

Anyone got it linked up so you can turn lights on/off while you're away? Can't quite work out if Alexa can do that, of if you need a separate hub.

mission

no idea what this is Is it similar to Siri?

Dubaiexile

Why bother having one????

I suppose it is nice having a woman about that does`nt argue and bitch about stuff, want to go shopping etc, downside is no sex...but then if your married lol......

i`ll just get my coat!!!!