Advice Needed About Amazon Alexa's Echo Show Device

[swsig]

For her birthday, Mrs. swsig received an Amazon Echo Show 10 device from our youngest daughter. It's one of those gizmos that sits on a counter, connects with the internet, and has the voice of "Alexa" to answer all of your questions. It also comes with a TV camera and a screen so you can watch streaming stuff and do video calls. The camera and screen follow you around so you can stay in the picture and see the screen while moving. It can also serve as a security camera when you're away.

We don't really do or need any of that, and we are concerned about having a "spy" in the house when we are home. (I know it can be turned off, but we are old, and may forget.) We are thinking of returning it, but we don't want to hurt our daughter's feelings, so we are trying to justify setting it up and using it. My questions are, for those of you that have one, what are the positives and negatives, and overall, is it worth having one of these in your life?

 

[soFlaNative]

And I thought the eyes in a painting following me was creepy...
Hope you get more help than I can offer.

 

[transit]

Nope. Nope. Nope.

 

[Kenna]

Something else to invade my space.Return it take the money and take family out to dinner.

 

[Rustyt1953]

And I thought the eyes in a painting following me was creepy....

It was Big Jack and Otis.

 

[outta_ammo]

I don't have this particular device but I do have an Alexa-enabled thermostat, and multiple Siri-enabled Apple devices including an iPad that doesn't rotate but keeps you in frame by way of an extremely wide angle lens. Oh, and our car is both Alexa and Siri enabled, so I talk to it too.

I spent most of my working life in technology so it all feels normal to me, but I've dealt with many people over the years who had misgivings and distrust about tech and I understand that. All I can say is that I understand the stuff and it doesn't give me a second thought.

I say plug it in and fire it up. Have a video call with your daughter, ask it some questions (you'll be surprised what it can answer). And know that these devices handle a volume of input that make it impossible for there to be a person listening to all of it.

Finally, to the nay sayers, I would ask are you really that interesting that people are transfixed by your every word?

I'm not.

Cheers

 

[iouri]

Nope no Alexas/Google Assistants or other "you pay us as we stalk you" devices in my home

 

[VonFatman]

who owns these things? it is mind blowing that folks don't care! unbelievable
"turn that thing on baby, let's go full-retard!"

 

[TX-Dennis]

It's not really "spying" on you. It's collecting data to improve its responses to your future queries and to target you with ads that you might have an interest in. Nobody is sitting around in an office somewhere listening to everything that happens in your home. Imagine the manpower that would require.

One thing to note, though. If you don't want to share a tiny portion of your internet bandwidth with others go into your amazon account and disable Sidewalk. Amazon sells it as helping keep your devices online even if your wifi goes out. It probably works, but I disabled it on mine just out of caution. \

My son bought me one, and honestly it never gets used. I guess some people find it helpful, but unless you have smart lighting, a/c, security, or other "smart home" devices connected to it (I don't) it's pretty useless.

 

[TX-Dennis]

Nope no Alexas/Google Assistants or other "you pay us as we stalk you" devices in my home

No cellphones? No smart TVs? No computers? They all collect similar data.

 

[mtgianni]

Return it and send your daughter a copy of Orwell's 1984.

 

[Jon651]

For her birthday, Mrs. swsig received an Amazon Echo Show 10 device from our youngest daughter. It's one of those gizmos that sits on a counter, connects with the internet, and has the voice of "Alexa" to answer all of your questions. It also comes with a TV camera and a screen so you can watch streaming stuff and do video calls. The camera and screen follow you around so you can stay in the picture and see the screen while moving. It can also serve as a security camera when you're away.

We don't really do or need any of that, and we are concerned about having a "spy" in the house when we are home. (I know it can be turned off, but we are old, and may forget.) We are thinking of returning it, but we don't want to hurt our daughter's feelings, so we are trying to justify setting it up and using it. My questions are, for those of you that have one, what are the positives and negatives, and overall, is it worth having one of these in your life?

If you indeed want to set it up you need an internet connection, a wi-fi network in the house and an account with Amazon. If you don't have one or more of those then that is a good reason to return it.

However, if you still want to go ahead you will find even the basic functionality to be useful. An Echo uses "Skills" that are the equivalent to "Apps" on a smart phone - you pick the ones you want and it tells you how to access each using keywords when you speak. For example, I have OnStar in my pickup truck, so I can say "Alexa, ask OnStar to start my Silverado", and the truck will be running for me with the AC on when I get outside.

Among the many basic things you can do is get the weather and news on demand (your choice of sources); ask for the time/day/date and set alarms, reminders and timers (like for the oven); listen to whatever music you like and ask what song is playing; make phone and video calls; ask questions about almost anything you can think of including word definitions, directions, recipes, schedules, general knowledge, etc.; check/add events to your calendar and on items shipped from Amazon (even voice order if you want, but we have that turned off); use it to play sleep sounds (like rain, waves, etc.), and much more. You can even use it to play live broadcasts of your favorite news or sports channels.

When our alarm clock died from a power surge we replaced it with an Echo Dot and I feel it works much better - With just my voice I can set as many alarms as I like, snooze for as long as I like, and wake to my choice of news, weather, music, alarm sounds, or whatever, and don't have to hear commercials over the poor-sounding radio.

If you also have a smart phone you can install the Alexa app on it. You can add things to your shopping or to-do list using your voice at home and they will show up on the list in the app when you go to the store.

I'm not worried about being spied on - I'm not that interesting. In fact, your average smart phone (or even Facebook) is 10 times worse than an Echo for invading your privacy and yet we've all gotten along with those things.

Hope that helps!

 

[bigwheelzip]

I just went online to look at this device, and I could easily see myself making use of this, in the same way I use my phone and tablet now.

As far as privacy, there is a camera shutter button that closes the lens, and a mic/camera on/off switch.

 

[iouri]

No cellphones? No smart TVs? No computers? They all collect similar data.

Yes for cell phone, no smart TV (never configured internet access on my TV, the only connected device is apple TV), yes for computer (numerous add-ons for browser). IOS did a lot of work towards privacy and I consider it a compromise. Whole argument is flawed - the fact that information might be leaking by other means (cell phone, computer) doesn't mean I'd welcome any device which only purpose is to collect information about my habits for purposes of targeted advertisement.

 

[Onomea]

On targeted advertising, to the extent that one must undergo being advertised to at all, I'd prefer ads directed at me to be of things in which I might have interest.

I use ad blockers tho, and will spend more to buy an ad free app or device.

 

[chuckie]

If you indeed want to set it up you need an internet connection, a wi-fi network in the house and an account with Amazon. If you don't have one or more of those then that is a good reason to return it.

However, if you still want to go ahead you will find even the basic functionality to be useful. An Echo uses "Skills" that are the equivalent to "Apps" on a smart phone - you pick the ones you want and it tells you how to access each using keywords when you speak. For example, I have OnStar in my pickup truck, so I can say "Alexa, ask OnStar to start my Silverado", and the truck will be running for me with the AC on when I get outside.

Among the many basic things you can do is get the weather and news on demand (your choice of sources); ask for the time/day/date and set alarms, reminders and timers (like for the oven); listen to whatever music you like and ask what song is playing; make phone and video calls; ask questions about almost anything you can think of including word definitions, directions, recipes, schedules, general knowledge, etc.; check/add events to your calendar and on items shipped from Amazon (even voice order if you want, but we have that turned off); use it to play sleep sounds (like rain, waves, etc.), and much more. You can even use it to play live broadcasts of your favorite news or sports channels.

When our alarm clock died from a power surge we replaced it with an Echo Dot and I feel it works much better - With just my voice I can set as many alarms as I like, snooze for as long as I like, and wake to my choice of news, weather, music, alarm sounds, or whatever, and don't have to hear commercials over the poor-sounding radio.

If you also have a smart phone you can install the Alexa app on it. You can add things to your shopping or to-do list using your voice at home and they will show up on the list in the app when you go to the store.

I'm not worried about being spied on - I'm not that interesting. In fact, your average smart phone (or even Facebook) is 10 times worse than an Echo for invading your privacy and yet we've all gotten along with those things.

Hope that helps!

I'll add that we have the regular Echo and the speakers are amazing. My wife listens to Classical Music all the time and the sound is great.

 

[Maddog 521]

Not for me

 

[LDM]

None of these surveillance devices in my house. No social(ist) media either. Best use for an echo is at 50 yards to sight in a .22.

 

[PatriotX]

We have an Echo.

It offers Samuel Jackson reading the weather in his inimitable pottymouth.

I like it.

 

[BigBoy99]

How about a big soft pillow which is placed over the device at all times? The pillow is removed only when you want to use it or the person who gave you the device is coming over!