The Core

Why We Are Here => Hardware & Technology => Topic started by: rcjordan on December 25, 2016, 04:10:41 PM

Title: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on December 25, 2016, 04:10:41 PM: Amazon owns Christmas 2016. I am seriously concerned about the number of Echo Dots that have infiltrated my extended family. We've been breached.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: ergophobe on December 25, 2016, 05:47:22 PM: Hold on. I'm assembling a team of plucky, but unconventional Americans known to be able to defeat the greatest AIs in the galaxy.

Bruce Willis is in. I'm waiting for Laurence Fishburn to check in, but it seems likely that he'll be onboard. Unfortunately, Jeff Goldbloom is busy taking down RankBrain with a virus injected via JPEG attachment, so I'm trying to get Kris Kristofferson onboard. Right now I'm only missing the young apprentice hero who will prove the key to defeating Echo.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on December 25, 2016, 10:04:01 PM: >defeating Echo

Abandon all hope, ye who enter here. We're toast.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Brad on December 25, 2016, 10:27:36 PM: Google Home may be better or more powerful but Amazon is way out ahead of the in volume. Plus Amazon has a marketing arm, Goo really doesn't.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: ergophobe on December 26, 2016, 01:51:17 AM: Quote from: rcjordan on December 25, 2016, 10:04:01 PM
>defeating Echo

Abandon all hope, ye who enter here. We're toast.

Don't give up hope. I'm still interviewing undisciplined but unconventional young apprentices who could still save the day. If I can find a young and as-yet untested Chris Pine, I think we've got this under control
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Brad on December 27, 2016, 05:15:15 PM: >breached

Oh no! Now Bezos will know all your launch codes.

Also:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-holidayshopping-amazon-com-idUSKBN14G1B1?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=Social
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on December 27, 2016, 08:03:26 PM: http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-best-selling-products-holiday-echo-dot-2016-12
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: DrCool on December 28, 2016, 02:56:34 PM: http://www.theverge.com/2016/12/27/14089836/amazon-echo-privacy-criminal-investigation-data

Tell your family to be careful if they are planning on committing any major crimes.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on December 28, 2016, 03:01:16 PM: >Tell your family to be careful

Pfffttt! As if they'll listen. It's going to take a synced mass-murdering of babies asleep in their cribs to get their attention on the home privacy issue.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: littleman on December 29, 2016, 12:19:54 AM: Warrant granted for Amazon Echo recordings (https://www.rt.com/usa/371984-amazon-echo-warrant-recordings/)
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Mackin USA on December 29, 2016, 12:35:55 PM: "mass-murdering of babies asleep in their cribs"

Is there some law about that?
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Mackin USA on December 29, 2016, 05:43:18 PM: AND NOW

Amazon patents show flying warehouses

https://beta.finance.yahoo.com/m/118b6f90-0845-3b06-9acb-47e9e450aee3/amazon-patents-show-flying.html
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: littleman on December 29, 2016, 06:07:33 PM: It does seem like a perversion, doesn't it?
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on December 29, 2016, 06:35:05 PM: These Echo gizmos have really grown legs now that they've opened the 'Skills' (apps) up to developers. I'm convinced that they put the Dot on sale for Christmas to gain marketshare ahead of G Home. You guys advising merchants and sites better bone up on the apps, it's going to be a major sales channel.

Here, for instance, is the Our Groceries app melded with Echo via a skill:
https://www.amazon.com/HeadCode-OurGroceries/dp/B01D4F1J0M

Here's the FAQ on the voice commands. Pretty sharp!
https://www.ourgroceries.com/faq#amazon_alexa
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: littleman on December 29, 2016, 06:57:21 PM: Echo + kids = near insanity

I was at my sister's house last night and my brother-in-law was given an Echo for Christmas. They're technophiles and already have their house wired with speakers to pump audio to all the rooms in the house. The noise level and randomness of it all was enough to make me step out for a bit. It is just one household's interaction with emerging technology, but honestly, it felt almost dystopia to me.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on December 29, 2016, 07:16:57 PM: I've already been told of one problem with a grandkid who overrides his dad's commands. In another daughter's house, the 9yr-old routinely tries to gain command. Currently, you can't set it to recognize specific voices, so anyone has control.

Also, I have one granddaughter named 'Alexis' and Echo picks up on it as Alexa. But you can now choose among 3 names; Alexa, Amazon, or Echo.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on January 02, 2017, 10:22:09 PM: I was researching on how to market via the echo and ran across this article written back in April. Nothing about using it for eyeballs, but worth a read.

"One of the early employees said Echo hit a million pre-orders in less than two weeks, a far better pace than the iPhone, which took about 70 days to reach the same milestone."

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-inside-story-of-how-amazon-created-echo-2016-4
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: littleman on January 03, 2017, 05:10:04 PM: So, where is Apple's Echo like device?
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on January 03, 2017, 05:44:28 PM: Looks like they were caught off-guard.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-23/apple-said-to-step-up-plans-for-echo-style-smart-home-device-itfnod11

Lenovo and others are piling on (by licensing Alexa)
http://www.businessinsider.com/lenovo-smart-assistant-speaker-amazon-echo-features-photos-2017-1
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on February 22, 2017, 06:13:31 PM: Quote
Spengler: Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.

Stantz: Total protonic reversal!

Users are crossing the streams;

The Best Features of the Alexa Phone App You Might Not Know About

http://lifehacker.com/the-best-features-of-the-alexa-phone-app-you-might-not-1792630570

BTW, best estimates say Amz has now sold 10m+ Echo devices.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on March 17, 2017, 03:50:51 PM: >So, where is Apple's Echo like device?

Shots fired: AMZ backdoored Apple.
Quote
Siri had one key advantage: a cushy home on hundreds of millions of iPhones. Now, however, Amazon has snuck Alexa onto iOS—making this look more and more like a blowout.

https://www.wired.com/2017/03/siris-not-even-best-iphone-assistant-anymore/
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on March 21, 2017, 11:01:06 AM: More on the infectious spread of Amz's jabbernet. (Jabbernet -credit Brad for this branding. Don't bother to look, domain is registered.)

Amazon adds Alexa to its main shopping app

https://techcrunch.com/2017/03/16/amazon-adds-alexa-to-its-main-shopping-app/

TL;DR: You don't need to buy extra appliances, Alexa can now reside on your phone.

---------------------

Alexa now takes orders from Amazon’s instant Prime Now and alcohol delivery services

https://techcrunch.com/2017/03/21/alexa-now-takes-orders-from-amazons-instant-prime-now-and-alcohol-delivery-services/
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on March 22, 2017, 02:24:06 PM: Alexa Is Spreading From Speakers To Screens

https://www.fastcompany.com/3069137/amazons-alexa-is-spreading-from-speakers-to-screens
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: ergophobe on March 22, 2017, 10:36:40 PM: Quote from: rcjordan on March 21, 2017, 11:01:06 AM
Alexa can now reside on your phone.

Translation: as of the latest update, like it or not, Alexa does now reside on your phone if you use the Amazon app.

Google is going to have a much harder time finding its way onto an iPhone
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on April 08, 2017, 01:17:04 AM: https://xkcd.com/1807/
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Brad on April 08, 2017, 12:38:30 PM: Everybody I know seems to have gotten an Echo device for Christmas and they all still love them. Games seem big. This isn't going away.

It's pretty sad that the high point of my week was hearing that Alexa now has a new skill: SomaFM, which makes it easier to play my favorite background music (Secret Agent and Illinois Street Lounge streams).
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on April 08, 2017, 01:42:48 PM: I rarely use anything but the [1] ToDoist integration (along with my hack now a daily absolute must-have), [2] timers, and [3] OurGroceries integration. Except that I'm waiting to see what the next generation hardware has to offer, I'd buy another couple to locate in spots like the garage just to have even-more-convenient access to ToDoist --it's an incredibly cheap secretary^{(non-human! WOO HOO!!)}.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on May 23, 2017, 10:22:22 PM: How Amazon's Echo went from a smart speaker to the center of your home

http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-echo-and-alexa-history-from-speaker-to-smart-home-hub-2017-5
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on June 02, 2017, 10:56:04 AM: Reminders and Named Timers now work in the US

https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/6/1/15724474/alexa-echo-amazon-reminders-named-timers

This is a big deal as these were among the top-requested by the user base.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on June 20, 2017, 12:13:12 PM: I just ordered the voice remote. The hardware is just a vehicle to patch me into my customized version of Todoist and transcribe my list items. Productivity has sky-rocketed ^{(Help! It's killing me!)} Secondary use is timers and time-of-day. 3rd is OurGroceries list.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on June 27, 2017, 01:34:19 PM: >remote

Meh.

Next firmware update (this week) will bring intercom capability. This is big. Big enough to clinch total dominance of the jabber device market.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on July 04, 2017, 10:56:12 PM: Intercom works. I used a throwaway G Voice number to have it send the activation code. Even so, it picked up 2 family members with Alexa devices (listed in my Amazon account for gift shipments) and offered to set them up as contacts. 2 more Dots ordered for a total of 5. That's dirt cheap for a station-to-station intercom system.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on July 07, 2017, 06:03:54 PM: Amz is doubling down on their voice assistant dominance. Alexa devices can now send you notifications, though limited.

http://www.aftvnews.com/amazon-alexa-devices-can-now-send-you-notifications/
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Brad on July 07, 2017, 09:06:02 PM: Get there firstus with the mostus. I have this feeling that by the time Apple starts shipping their Siri-can Amazon will already own the Jabbernet.

But the can device might be a sideshow for Apple, they will gain some real life Jabbernet experience which they can put into Apple Car and their self driving car OS.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on July 13, 2017, 06:19:34 PM: f### it, I'm all in. 6. I'm more than paying for these with time billing memos.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on July 13, 2017, 06:47:53 PM: Worth a read.

I installed an Amazon Echo Dot in a car and it was the best infotainment system I've ever used.
_{http://www.businessinsider.com/using-amazon-echo-dot-in-a-car-2017-7/}

--------------------

Here's a scary thought from Debbie:

There are many signs that Alexa is going to flash over to encompass social. But not just the friends & family version of social ...it's going to be an entity you engage with ---think chatbot on steroids.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on July 17, 2017, 04:43:43 PM: >all in

I needed a water-resistant cover in order to install one on the deck. They apparently don't make one, so I fashioned a reasonable substitute out of a peanut butter jar. Works fine ...and the remote (previously rated 'meh') is a must-have for this one installation.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on July 17, 2017, 04:58:21 PM: The first real Alexa phone is here

Quote
The U11, meanwhile, allows you to access Alexa just by calling out its name, the same way you would with an Echo device.
_{http://www.businessinsider.com/htc-u11-amazon-alexa-assistant-support-hands-on-2017-7}
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on July 22, 2017, 09:29:10 PM: Nobody cares about your Amazon Alexa Skill
_{https://medium.com/the-mission/nobody-cares-about-your-amazon-alexa-skill-ac14bd080327}
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on August 02, 2017, 11:59:09 AM: Alexa devices can now control your Fire TV
_{http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/08/02/alexa-devices-can-now-control-fire-tv/}

IMO, this adds some height to AMZ's walled garden. Besides bringing into the fold a substantial swath of their hardware, what really caught my eye was voice search of media. Example commands to search for movies, TV shows, apps, and games:
Quote
“Search for [movie / TV show / app] on Fire TV.”
“Find [genre] on Fire TV.”
“Show me titles with [actor].”

I assume it's only searching AMZ offerings (for now), but keep in mind that we already supposedly have voice control of a browser.

Note, too, that they've promised (coming soon) support for viewing smart home camera feeds on the Fire TV and 2nd gen Fire TV Stick. This will make for low-cost, Amz-based security cam systems similar to what's happening with the intercom.

<added> Fire TV control currently US-only.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on August 03, 2017, 04:34:37 PM: Another Brick In The Wall

Quote
Amazon today is rolling out a new experience for Prime Photos, its photo backup and sharing app, on Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. With the update, you can now ask Alexa to display your photos, including those saved to your various albums, photos taken on a certain day, week or month, those snapped at a particular location, or even those of specific people or things – like photos of your dog, for example.

https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/03/amazons-prime-photos-now-works-with-alexa-on-fire-tv/
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on August 30, 2017, 11:36:11 AM: Microsoft and Amazon partner to integrate Alexa and Cortana digital assistants
https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/30/16224876/microsoft-amazon-cortana-alexa-partnership
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Brad on August 30, 2017, 12:05:57 PM: This is one reason I like Amazon, they try to be available on all platforms, whereas the others build walled gardens. Sounds like a win-win for Alexa users and Amazon and MS.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on September 12, 2017, 01:29:31 PM: Smart Speaker Shipments Jump 843% In Q2

Quote
Amazon, the undisputed leader in the field, controlling more than 90% of the market.

Quote
penetration at 6% in the U.S. and 3% in the U.K.

Quote
Each home that owns a smart speaker has two, on average, noted Futuresource

http://www.investopedia.com/news/amazon-smart-speaker-shipments-jump-843-q2/
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on September 17, 2017, 08:48:06 PM: Alexa Store Assistant directs you to the right aisle, answers product questions

https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/17/alexa-store-assistant-directs-you-to-the-right-aisle-answers-product-questions/
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on September 19, 2017, 01:30:29 PM: Amazon Puts ‘Hands-Free’ Alexa Voice Assistant on Its New Tablet

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-19/amazon-puts-hands-free-alexa-voice-assistant-on-its-new-tablet
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Brad on September 20, 2017, 12:58:03 AM: Not hands free but here is a two minute video of Alexa, which comes built into the Huawie Mate 9 phone.
https://youtu.be/4y-vqWl4ErI
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on September 20, 2017, 11:43:06 AM: Google tries to go after the Dot's low entry price.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/09/google-hardware-leaks-50-google-home-mini-and-a-1200-chromebook-pixel-3/

Debbie: Day late, dollar short.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Brad on September 20, 2017, 01:56:13 PM: Looks like a dog chew toy.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Drastic on September 22, 2017, 05:18:13 PM: >Debbie: Day late, dollar short.

I also wonder if the masses trust having an Amazon speaker over a Google one anyway. (Or is that just us?)

Our Echo has arrived. I have handed it off to management and will report back.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Mackin USA on September 22, 2017, 07:17:15 PM: >management

There be trouble coming right thar :D
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on September 23, 2017, 01:42:11 AM: > just us?

Yep.

>masses

A George Carlin quote keeps coming to mind. Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on September 27, 2017, 11:35:56 AM: reddit thread worth a read just to get a feel for the lure of the jabbernet

https://www.reddit.com/r/amazonecho/comments/72nn6b/why_dont_hotels_have_alexa/
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Brad on September 27, 2017, 01:00:46 PM: >reddit thread

Oh yeah, Amazon is so going to push Alexa out everywhere: mobile, cars, appliances and the loo.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on September 27, 2017, 01:13:54 PM: >everywhere

The other day, I caught myself just before trying to set the timer on the rice steamer by voice.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on September 27, 2017, 05:57:10 PM: Amz called a surprise Alexa device roll-out meeting today and the tech web is having an orgasm. Reminds me Apple announcements of a decade ago.

Buzzfeed is live-blogging it

https://www.buzzfeed.com/mathonan/hello-alexa
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Brad on September 27, 2017, 06:16:29 PM: That’s a lot of stuff. RC, you were right, they were clearing out old inventory and this explains why.

Now they are hitting their price point with Echo.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on September 27, 2017, 06:22:29 PM: >lot of stuff

Still rolling.

Don't miss this one: Alexa is getting more useful in the smart home with a few updates
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on September 27, 2017, 08:59:49 PM: I almost missed this big API announcement in all the product hub-bub;

new API that lets developers build multi-step routines into simple Alexa commands.

Quote
In a demonstration, Amazon device VIP Dave Limp said “Alexa, good morning,” which triggered a sequence of events in the faux-home setting that Amazon set up in its headquarters for the event. First, the lights came on in the demonstration room. Then, a smart window shade rolled up, and Alexa began reading the news. Finally, a teakettle began to boil water.

https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/27/16375050/alexa-routines-echo-amazon-2017
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on October 18, 2017, 12:07:11 PM: 2 big features added recently

Support for custom lists

https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/17/alexa-adds-support-for-custom-lists/

Recognize Different Voice Profiles^{(with caveats)}

https://lovemyecho.com/2017/10/16/alexa-can-recognize-different-voices-now/
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Brad on October 19, 2017, 02:02:47 PM: Disturbing developments in Echoland this morning: I'm making coffee no talking and suddenly Alexa comes to life and announces an Amazon music channel I might like and starts playing it. I told it to stop and it did. Weird. If Alexa is just going to start spontaneously playing ads or even just suggestions for Amazon services it's going to be drop kicked out the door real quick.

Has anyone else had this happen?
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on October 19, 2017, 04:53:27 PM: Yeah, 3 or 4 times we've gotten a false start of some sort or another. IIRC, it's been documented that sub-sonic communications are 'heard' by Alexa, but I just write it off to poltergeists. Spooky when it happens.

Be sure to set the Do Not Disturb hours. It'd really freak you out if it happened about 3am.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Travoli on October 19, 2017, 05:09:16 PM: Wait, can you set Alexa to play a Youtube video at 3am?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPB-LivfPlg
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on October 19, 2017, 05:20:21 PM: >Youtube

Dunno about setting vid alarms, but I think Big G killed Youtube access by the Echo models with screens.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Brad on October 19, 2017, 06:14:12 PM: Good advice. Thanks.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on October 19, 2017, 06:55:50 PM: > sub-sonic communications

Yesterday, I put a glass lid down very close beside a dot on the hard-surface kitchen counter. The lid 'rang' a bit when it was placed and the dot fired up its lights. The house was otherwise quiet at the time.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on October 25, 2017, 05:02:03 PM: Amazon announces a new intelligent Alexa security camera called Cloud Cam

http://www.aftvnews.com/amazon-announces-a-new-intelligent-alexa-security-camera-called-cloud-cam/
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on January 31, 2018, 01:01:36 AM: You can use Alexa to send SMS messages now if you also have an Android phone

https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/30/16952218/amazon-alexa-sms-messaging-android-phone-update

BTW, Alexa Superbowl commercial is getting plenty of press.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on February 09, 2018, 04:40:56 PM: Amz modified the Alexa App so that instead of just being a management dashboard it turns your phone into an active Alexa device within your network. The only drawbacks are that access is within the app (rather than omnipresent on the home screen) and it's push-to-talk.

So, you can now control your jabbernet smart home devices easily from your phone rather than the nearest Dot. More importantly to me, since it's via my phone I do not have to be on my wi-fi network to get to my Alexa cloud. For instance, I've set up a list called "Memo" for jotting voice notes. I can now push the button on the app and say "Add to Memo list: Testing 1-2-3" and it transcribes it.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on February 17, 2018, 01:53:31 AM: >turns your phone into an active Alexa device

This is working great. I now have my Bot Secretary with me when away from the home Alexa network.

I wish Amz had activated reminders on the app.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Brad on March 07, 2018, 10:41:45 PM: Reports of creepy laugh coming from some Alexa devices.

Amazon promises fix for creepy Alexa laugh - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-43325230
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on March 09, 2018, 05:22:42 PM: >laugh

Supposedly fixed. I'm kinda creeped out because mine never laughed. I'm thinking it has a more sinister/dark personality.

New, much-asked-for feature: Multiple commands. Clunky, but works on what little testing I've done.

https://www.reddit.com/r/amazonecho/comments/8370jf/alexa_gets_multi_command_mode_sort_of_vcloud_info/

http://myitforum.com/amazon-adds-follow-up-mode-to-allow-strings-of-alexa-requests/
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on March 12, 2018, 11:59:29 PM: Amazon Alexa Can Now Make Calls on iPads and Android and Fire Tablets

Note: AFAIK, the Fire HD 10" is still the only Fire tablet with hands-free Alexa.

http://fortune.com/2018/03/12/amazon-alexa-calls-android-fire-tablet-ipad/
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on March 16, 2018, 03:15:18 PM: Just an observation that Alexa is now significant enough that any update to the firmware makes G News almost immediately.

Alexa’s new ‘Brief Mode’ replaces verbal confirmations with chimes

https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/16/alexas-new-brief-mode-replaces-verbal-confirmations-with-chimes/
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Drastic on March 16, 2018, 04:49:31 PM: Ah good, anything to speed up interaction.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on March 16, 2018, 09:37:25 PM: It seems to be a 50/50 split Minimalist vs Verbose.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on April 16, 2018, 07:02:02 PM: Ecobee 4, TP-link HS105, Broadlink IR blaster local

You know the story, first you buy an Alexa Dot. Then another Dot. And another. And another. Then you buy an HS105 to control a few lamps. And another. And another. Then you make an old Roomba work on Alexa using the $22 Broadlink. Now you're hooked.

Then the old digital thermostat on the geothermal heat pump goes wonky and you start thinking Ecobee 4 (the remote sensor is a much-needed feature in my house). BUT now I'm getting concerned about "smarthome creep" and increasing dependency on an array of 3rd party vendors.

I joined the Borg and sent Bezos another $240 for the Ecobee t-stat. We installed it ourselves in under an hour (saving $100+ installation fee) with the t-stat's onboard prompting walking Louise through the initial config.

The end plan is to control and schedule these assorted devices by different vendors with Home Assistant or somesuch. Local network only. No phoning home. ...But breaking away from the Borg will be difficult.

<added>

IIRC, Wall Street now puts Amazon with 70%⁺ of jabbernet marketshare. Separately, Apple's late entry has been reported as 'Disappointing." I see less & less mention of G's model and, when I do, it is often put in as a subordinate 'specialty' device on Alexa networks.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Mackin USA on April 16, 2018, 08:46:31 PM: I'm just fine :-)
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Brad on April 16, 2018, 09:00:18 PM: Pull out RC!

You're too young to be borged.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on April 16, 2018, 09:18:44 PM: >borged

Too late. I AM silo-ing the number of vendors and am currently severely limiting the time window the Broadlink IR Blaster calls home to China. (I plugged it into a TP-link smarthome receptacle which kills the power after the Blaster has executed the command to Roomba.)

The issue now is whether I want to assume support for a smarthome system running only on the local network or let the vendors do it via apps.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Brad on April 17, 2018, 07:20:21 PM: Okay RC, but if one day, you discover your Roomba in the garage, nonchalantly coming out from under your car, check the break lines first before driving off.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on April 24, 2018, 01:49:37 AM: The thermostat company. Ecobee, really has their act together --in product design AND online presence.

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

Yup, magic.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on April 24, 2018, 10:45:14 PM: Forgot to mention that I bought another Ecobee 4 for upstairs which uses a different type of heat pump than downstairs. I hit a snag in identifying one of the wires and opened a ticket with support. They resolved the issue within 4 hours.

Ecobee is now in Lowes. IMO, they are killing the old-line manufacturers Honeywell and White-Rodgers/Emerson. I know nothing about the strength of the company, but I'd review it as a possible investment.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: ergophobe on April 24, 2018, 10:48:27 PM: Quote from: rcjordan on April 24, 2018, 10:45:14 PM
Forgot to mention that I bought another Ecobee 4 for upstairs which uses a different type of heat pump than downstairs.

What types of heat pump? I've been looking into this for Fujitsu mini-splits and then got sidetracked because I didn't have the model number handy (but it seems like you need a special kit to convert from the remote controller to a wired thermostat)
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on April 25, 2018, 01:09:07 AM: Nothing exotic. Geothermal downstairs, standard single-stage with emergency heat strips air-to-air upstairs. I'm not into high-seer mini-splits (yet, but looking hard).

You could try posting it on /r/ecobee/.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on April 26, 2018, 05:38:13 PM: ^{Sentience just around the corner. Skynet just after that.}

Alexa will soon gain a memory, converse more naturally, and automatically launch skills

https://techcrunch.com/2018/04/26/alexa-will-soon-gain-a-memory-converse-more-naturally-and-automatically-launch-skills/
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on June 23, 2018, 03:17:57 PM: AFAIcantell, Alexa now so dominates the jabbernet that the other vendors are just swinging in the wind. I can hardly stay abreast of all the significant tangential developments sprouting up.

One recent one that is worth noting in the (co- ??)development of a commercial model for hotels. I believe Marriott is rolling it out soon. I know my daughter -admin of a large, upscale nursing home- is chomping at the bit for some sort of way to give her residents control of their room environs.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on January 11, 2019, 08:04:51 PM: The jabbernet has changed the 1st world in the 2 years since this thread was started.

One day your voice will control all your gadgets, and they will control you - MIT Technology Review
https://www.technologyreview.com/the-download/612750/one-day-your-voice-will-control-all-your-gadgets-and-they-will-control-you/
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: Brad on January 11, 2019, 10:19:39 PM: HAL open the door!

I can't do that RC.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on September 25, 2019, 09:41:25 PM: >> defeating Echo

> Abandon all hope, ye who enter here. We're toast.

Amz just announced Alexa wearables; ring, earbuds, glasses. Looks like they're doing a limited release for a beta.
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on November 16, 2019, 05:26:48 PM: Amazon Echo smart speakers' sales surpass Google Home by a wide margin
https://www.slashgear.com/amazon-echo-smart-speakers-sales-surpass-google-home-by-a-wide-margin-15599718/

related:
Cortana for Android and iOS will disappear in multiple markets soon
https://www.slashgear.com/cortana-for-android-and-ios-will-disappear-in-multiple-markets-soon-16599783/
Title: Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
Post by: rcjordan on February 20, 2021, 04:02:24 PM: <warp>

One in 5 Americans surveyed say they own an Amazon Echo smart speaker (from $39), supported by new data published by Trading Platforms, a leading education and comparison platform for online traders.

This is consistent with Edison Research and NPR’s Smart Audio Report findings.

Google Nest is its next closest competitor with roughly 8 percent of the U.S. market

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/2021/02/20/amazon-alexa-get-most-your-echo-these-tips-and-tricks/4494355001/