Posted on 04/16/2020 11:56:18 AM PDT by Allen In Texas Hill Country
I'm considering doing something I said I would never do. Indirectly/directly buy an Alexa or Google device. I've said multiple times that I think Google is the 3rd most evil entity on the planet behind North Korea and Iran so maybe I'm just looking at Alexa.
For the wife I'm thinking about getting one for her to change the TV channel, audio and stuff. I looked at a Samsung device but you have to push a button so I was thinking about the 'special' word command used for Alexa and the like.
And I'm here to ask if anybody has gotten one of these devices and are or are not happy with it?????
I'm afraid of Alexa because it is always listening and sending stuff to headquarters but I thought I'd spend a tiny bit of the virus money. :<)))))
“so maybe I’m just looking at Alexa”
because Amazon is as harmless as a kitten
Blow up your TV, problem solved.
if you are serious about security you don’t get an alexa device.
it really is as simple as that.
Can’t say that I disagree with that my friend.
I never use the voice command on my Droid and made sure the settings are off. They do the same thing to Google Voice. I even have a voice changer app installed.
“For the wife I’m thinking about getting one for her to change the TV channel”
There will be more to it than the voice device that you pick.
Is your TV compatible with the device? With Alexa there are “skills” that you need to enable. If there is one for your TV model you may be in luck, otherwise you might as sell tell the dog to change your channel.
It is possible to disable that functionality is it not?
"What are you doing, Dave?"
If this is what you’re after I suggest looking for a bargain. For example, if you were to purchase a Big-Tech surveillance device that listens to and most likely records every word that is said in your household at the regular price of $69.99 you could get an Alexa included for no extra charge.
Actually that is the offer you’re already considering. I guess it’s worth it to not have to deal with changing channels.
When you’re too dam lazy for a remote control, just smh!
And as I’ve said here a million times,,,,,,,,,, my wife and I watch TV!!! OK!!
But there are always people who feel the need to let you know how superior they are to you by telling you that you shouldn’t be watching TV.
Bttt
If you want just to control your tv by voice command there are several remote controls that do that without bugging your entire house.
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And?????
If you are streaming movies through Amazon Prime or IMBD, a Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device might be something you would want. To invoke Alexa, you have to push a button on it and then speak to Alexa. So with this system, you don’t have Alexa listening in the background. I’ve had an older system similar to this for years and I value my privacy with the push button feature.
I can’t say how well Alexa works on other streaming feeds such as Pluto TV as I’ve never tried it there and Pluto is not Amazon-owned. Alexa couldn’t find channels on Sling TV very well when I subscribed to them. Alexa has found movies on Hulu.
I have a Fire TV stick. It doesn’t control the whole TV, just when you are using Fire. You do have to push a button on the small remote, but it can and does find things for you on YouTube, Amazon Prime, and whatever you are accessing through Fire.
I have Alexa controlling my AVR system. Not perfect but works.
Uses Frontier and Harmony tools.
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