Author Topic: Reporting in from Ground Zero  (Read 48490 times)

Brad

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Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
« Reply #60 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?

rcjordan

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Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
« Reply #61 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.

Travoli

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Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
« Reply #62 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

rcjordan

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Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
« Reply #63 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.

Brad

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Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
« Reply #64 on: October 19, 2017, 06:14:12 PM »
Good advice.  Thanks.

rcjordan

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Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
« Reply #65 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.

rcjordan

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Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
« Reply #66 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/

rcjordan

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Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
« Reply #67 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.

rcjordan

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Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
« Reply #68 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. 

rcjordan

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Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
« Reply #69 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.

Brad

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Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
« Reply #70 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

rcjordan

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Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
« Reply #71 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/

rcjordan

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Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
« Reply #72 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/

rcjordan

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Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
« Reply #73 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/

Drastic

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Re: Reporting in from Ground Zero
« Reply #74 on: March 16, 2018, 04:49:31 PM »
Ah good, anything to speed up interaction.