Parenting-Furkids

This And That - Often Non Pet Related Topics => General Discussion => Topic started by: Catgirl64 on February 02, 2018, 01:18:39 AM

Title: Dot?
Post by: Catgirl64 on February 02, 2018, 01:18:39 AM
Does anyone have an Echo Dot?  J just got hers Wednesday (had some trouble setting it up), and when she showed it to me yesterday, I thought it was so cool that she ordered one for me, too. 

If you have one, what do you use it for?  It seems like they can do a lot of things.  She even got a book about them.
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Middle Child on February 02, 2018, 08:31:16 AM
What is it?
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Catgirl64 on February 02, 2018, 09:46:38 AM
What is it?

Easier to show than explain.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DFKC2SO?ref=ODS_HA_B_surl&tag=mh0b-20&hvadid=78408970916496&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_4eqs0fqx7o_e

You can listen to music, get news and weather, set it up to control lights and thermostat, etc.  I'll probably be busy for hours Saturday, figuring out what all it can do.  I was sold the minute I learned I could ask it to play any music I wanted to hear. 
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: DeeDee on February 02, 2018, 09:55:02 AM
We haven't got one. Won't have any of those little "helpers" around our houses either. We don't even have our "smart" TV set to any "smart" settings.

Just don't want our lives recorded for other people to spy on--unless we're cutting on a video-cam.
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Middle Child on February 02, 2018, 10:02:37 AM
Easier to show than explain.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DFKC2SO?ref=ODS_HA_B_surl&tag=mh0b-20&hvadid=78408970916496&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_4eqs0fqx7o_e

You can listen to music, get news and weather, set it up to control lights and thermostat, etc.  I'll probably be busy for hours Saturday, figuring out what all it can do.  I was sold the minute I learned I could ask it to play any music I wanted to hear. 

Sorry to be so dumb.  I still don't understand.  It's some kind of wireless thing you hook up to everything else wireless? I think I am just too old and tired to get on board with it. Though I do know a number of people older than I am who are very hip to all the wireless technology now.

Since I don't do anything wireless, I guess that's why I have trouble grasping the concept lol.

Does it work as a security device?  When I do own my own home I intend to sign up with ADT for home security, including some way for immediate emergency help should I need it (older person living alone issues).  The peace of mind will be worth the expense.

Hopefully all that app stuff won't be required.
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Catgirl64 on February 02, 2018, 10:46:01 AM
Sorry to be so dumb.  I still don't understand.  It's some kind of wireless thing you hook up to everything else wireless? I think I am just too old and tired to get on board with it. Though I do know a number of people older than I am who are very hip to all the wireless technology now.

Since I don't do anything wireless, I guess that's why I have trouble grasping the concept lol.

Does it work as a security device?  When I do own my own home I intend to sign up with ADT for home security, including some way for immediate emergency help should I need it (older person living alone issues).  The peace of mind will be worth the expense.

Hopefully all that app stuff won't be required.

You're not dumb at all!  The fact is, I can't explain it very well because I don't know that much about it yet, myself.  It's not a home security system, but you are supposed to be able to ask it to make a phone call for you.  I assume you need a smart phone to do this.

I'll update when I learn more.  All I really did yesterday was ask J's dot to play some music for me, ask for the word of the day, the weather, things like that.  "Alexa, what's the current temperature in _____?"  "Alexa, play something by The Cure."  If you don't do wireless, it's not going to work, you have to have wi-fi.   

I did just check, and you can also ask for things like recipes, general information, find a restaurant. 
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Lola on February 02, 2018, 06:01:41 PM
I get how it connects to Amazon to play music and such.  I don't quite understand how it would know to turn my ceiling fan on... for example.  If my ceiling fan is remote controlled, then I also can make Alexa control it?
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Catgirl64 on February 02, 2018, 07:32:16 PM
I get how it connects to Amazon to play music and such.  I don't quite understand how it would know to turn my ceiling fan on... for example.  If my ceiling fan is remote controlled, then I also can make Alexa control it?

That's one of the things I don't know yet.  It's all by voice command, what I am not sure about is how you link things like lights, temp control, and all of those things.  I probably won't use mine that way.  I want it mostly for music, news, calendar, alarm clock, reminders...sort of a virtual personal assistant kind of thing.   
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Catgirl64 on February 04, 2018, 02:40:27 AM
Lola, I don't know how you would set it up to control a ceiling fan or thermostat, but you can get what they call "smart plugs" for things like lights and other items you want to use with it. 

One cool use we discovered today is that, if you have them in different rooms, they can be used as an intercom. 

The "sleep sounds" function is also neat.  I cannot sleep in a totally silent room, and there are lots of ambient sounds you can select.  There is even one called "cat purring." 
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Lola on February 04, 2018, 11:13:29 AM
Lola, I don't know how you would set it up to control a ceiling fan or thermostat, but you can get what they call "smart plugs" for things like lights and other items you want to use with it. 

One cool use we discovered today is that, if you have them in different rooms, they can be used as an intercom. 

The "sleep sounds" function is also neat.  I cannot sleep in a totally silent room, and there are lots of ambient sounds you can select.  There is even one called "cat purring." 

After my post, I read about smart plugs....and more!  Definitely a neat gadget.   
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: DeeDee on February 04, 2018, 08:42:18 PM
https://youtu.be/J6-8DQALGt4
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Middle Child on February 04, 2018, 08:49:10 PM
HAHAHA that was GREAT! Mainly because I recognized Drew Barrymore right away but doubted myself until I recognized other celebrities..  I just love Drew. But that was a good one.
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: DeeDee on February 04, 2018, 08:52:40 PM
Rebel Wilson "Setting the mood" just about made me pee on myself.
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Lola on February 07, 2018, 02:09:14 PM
HAHAHA that was GREAT! Mainly because I recognized Drew Barrymore right away but doubted myself until I recognized other celebrities..  I just love Drew. But that was a good one.

I watched it twice and didn't see Drew Barrymore.  ?
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Lola on February 09, 2018, 11:33:04 AM
Did you figure out more fun you can have with DOT?
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Catgirl64 on February 10, 2018, 03:18:06 PM
Did you figure out more fun you can have with DOT?

I'm still learning.  There are some fun questions you can ask, especially if you are a fan of sci-fi-ish pop culture references.  (Try a couple of classic Star Trek commands.)  Mostly I have used it to listen to music or sleep sounds.  I've also asked the temp outside, for news headlines, and for weight conversions when I was making cat food.  One cool thing is access to all music on Amazon, it's $3.99/month, definitely worth it.  I haven't used it to ask my phone to call people, and probably won't.  I don't talk on the phone that much.  You can ask her to play a game, and there are several, but I have just now started exploring them.

J liked hers so much that she ordered the full-sized Echo, which has amazingly good sound quality for such a small device, to put in the living room.  Then she got a speaker to fit upgrade the dot in her bedroom, decided it isn't as good as the full-sized model, ordered another full-size to replace it, and is giving me the speaker for mine.  We also got one for the screened porch, just a dot, and mostly to use as an intercom, although I will probably listen to music on it, too.  I spend a lot of time out there when the weather is nice. 
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Middle Child on February 10, 2018, 03:39:51 PM
I watched it twice and didn't see Drew Barrymore.  ?

She appears at 0:08
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Lola on February 10, 2018, 09:47:47 PM
She appears at 0:08

These are the people I see at 08 and 09.  Not being jerky, I just totally don't see her.   Silly7
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Middle Child on February 10, 2018, 10:06:45 PM
That woman with the brown hair and tan shirt, that's Drew Barrymore. at about :20 you can really tell, by her expressions and voice. Either that or a remarkable impression of her.

Did you ever see Big Miracle? That's what her in this clip reminds me of. More towards the 20 second mark.
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Lola on February 10, 2018, 10:11:28 PM
I googled just for fun... cuz it is driving me crazy.  lol. BUT maybe I haven't seen her in awhile. 


Quote
Here's a look at the Amazon Alexa commercial from Super Bowl LII between the AFC champion New England Patriots and the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles.

The commercial stars Cardi B, Anthony Hopkins, Gordon Ramsay and Rebel Wilson with an appearance from Amazon boss Jeff Bezos.
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2018/02/03/watch-super-bowl-alexa-commercial-cardi-b-anthony-hopkins-gordon-ramsay-rebel-wilson/304188002/
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Lola on February 10, 2018, 10:16:24 PM
That woman with the brown hair and tan shirt, that's Drew Barrymore. at about :20 you can really tell, by her expressions and voice. Either that or a remarkable impression of her.

Did you ever see Big Miracle? That's what her in this clip reminds me of. More towards the 20 second mark.

I don't think I have every watched Big Miracle... doesn't sound familiar.

Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Middle Child on February 11, 2018, 08:22:20 AM
I don't think I have every watched Big Miracle... doesn't sound familiar.



Big Miracle is one of my absolute favorite movies. Mainly because of the Barrymore part. It's based on a true story, when some whales got caught under ice in Alaska.  Drew Barrymore plays the Greenpeace activist and she is phenomenal.

I googled just for fun... cuz it is driving me crazy.  lol. BUT maybe I haven't seen her in awhile. 

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2018/02/03/watch-super-bowl-alexa-commercial-cardi-b-anthony-hopkins-gordon-ramsay-rebel-wilson/304188002/


I did that too.  They don't mention Barrymore.  But she wasn't playing one of the Alexa parts.  I could be wrong of course.  But no matter how many times I watch that segment, everything about that woman says Drew Barrymore.

Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Lola on February 11, 2018, 12:27:15 PM
Quote
But no matter how many times I watch that segment, everything about that woman says Drew Barrymore.

I think you are coo coo....   Silly7
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Middle Child on February 11, 2018, 01:21:15 PM
I think you are coo coo....   Silly7

Well, yeah, but what about the segment?   funny2
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: DeeDee on February 11, 2018, 01:52:58 PM
Big Miracle was a GREAT film, and you need to watch it, Lola.

Honestly, if it were DB, they'd say so, but all that's ever pointed out about that segment is (see last photo of story)


"Going to plan B: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos asks an employee what the plan is after Alexa. . ." http://dailym.ai/2FuvCab


That chin just isn't DB. I can see how she'd be mistaken just a bit for her straight on view, but that chin just isn't it. In this segment, there's only one famous person, and that's Jeff Bezos:
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: DeeDee on February 11, 2018, 01:57:07 PM
In that segment, I kind of thought that the girl beside him looked like Kelly McCreary of Grey's Anatomy too, but it's not her:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3691741/mediaviewer/rm2257659648
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Middle Child on February 11, 2018, 04:03:20 PM
I'm sure if it was here, they'd have said so.  It's uncanny though.
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Middle Child on February 14, 2018, 01:06:09 PM
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-43044693?ocid=global_bbccom_email_14022018_technology


 funny2 funny2 funny2
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Lola on February 14, 2018, 03:42:31 PM
Well, yeah, but what about the segment?   funny2

LOL
Title: Re: Dot?
Post by: Lola on February 14, 2018, 03:43:11 PM
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-43044693?ocid=global_bbccom_email_14022018_technology


 funny2 funny2 funny2

The ordering of the dollhouse I would be okay with.  However, the PURINA cat food would pizz me off!   >:D