I got a Dot unexpectedly from my father in law. The uses for cooking are a god send. Set timers, ask for conversions, and add things to your shopping list.

I was against it in principle because I don't like the idea of being body cavity searched because of a mixup--guess I'm lured by flashing lights.

The contextual questions make it seem like Home will wipe the floor with Alexa once it gets better integrations.

12/27/2016 6:18:07 PM

I'm up to five Echos now. Two Dots downstairs (living room and kitchen) using ESP, one Dot in the master bedroom, one full-sized Echo in the kid's room and one Dot on the third floor.

As I said earlier, I set each one up with a unique profile so each room is isolated via simple commands. So "Alexa, turn off lights," works in every room that an Echo is in. Each Echo can also control the other rooms by including the room identifier (ie. "Alexa, turn off master bedroom lights.").

The master bedroom Dot is connected to a Bluetooth speaker at all times, and the third floor Dot is wired to an old stereo.

So far so good. My next step is to add Echos in my second guest room and the office. I also want to connect the gas fireplace, but I need to get more voltage to the outlet to power the switch.

12/28/2016 1:57:13 PM

got a Dot for Christmas. unexpected, but i have been enjoying it quite a bit.

1/3/2017 2:53:24 PM

Alexa turn off my lights

"I don't have a device called my lights in your profile"

Alexa turn off all lights

"I don't have a device called all lights in your profile"

Fuck you Alexa turn off my bedroom lights.

"Okay"

1/3/2017 4:21:53 PM

My Dot should be here tomorrow.

I can't wait for Alexa to tell me about gangbang pron.

1/4/2017 9:13:53 AM

I got a dot for my birthday; I'm a little ambivalent about it. I heard of a story where the Echo had recorded sound during a murder. Why does Amazon have to store voice recordings on its server?

1/4/2017 9:46:59 AM

do you have a smartphone?

probably so.

1/4/2017 9:59:48 AM

Yes I do have a smartphone

1/4/2017 1:15:41 PM

Quote :

"Alexa turn off my lights "I don't have a device called my lights in your profile" Alexa turn off all lights "I don't have a device called all lights in your profile""

Sounds like you have a couple groups to create

1/4/2017 1:41:35 PM

Currently using Alexa to check my sons division.

"Alexa what is 697 divided by 3?"

Sure I can just type it in, but its more interactive for my son as well.

1/4/2017 7:43:16 PM

^^^then you already have a listening device with you at all times. Why is the echo any different?

1/5/2017 7:57:42 AM

seriously?

1/5/2017 7:45:42 PM

what are some things that have surprised you about Alexa (answers to questions, helpful tips, etc.)?

what are some things that have disappointed you?

1/12/2017 8:56:46 AM

1/12/2017 9:57:02 PM

^^
surprises:
- the directional noise cancelling microphones work great!

disappointments:
- time based reminders don't exist. can't do - "remind me to feed the chickens at 6 PM"
- the lists/notes portion is clunky. can't do - "add 'goat cheese' to my trader joe's list"
- variable volume is stupid. depending on your source(s) for the daily briefing, the volume isn't set up to be balanced, so you'll have some info that's super quiet, some info is super loud.

1/13/2017 10:28:34 AM

https://www.yahoo.com/news/alexa-randomly-laughing-apos-creepy-194800376.html

3/7/2018 3:19:23 PM

So many new echo devices now...

Echo sub
Echo auto
Echo wall clock
Etc.

I'll prolly get the echo auto.

9/20/2018 10:26:34 PM

I honestly never use my Echo Dot. It sits in the kitchen recording my conversations and reporting them to the shadow government. And maybe once a week it will convert a cooking measurement for me.

Is anyone actually getting any real day-to-day use out of these?

9/21/2018 8:57:29 AM

i use my google home daily - i use it to set reminders, turn on/off the fan or lights, ask the weather, play music/videos and in the morning it automatically tells me my agenda and starts playing the news

9/21/2018 9:27:00 AM

maybe i don't have enough going on

9/21/2018 9:59:17 AM

I have two echoes and a dot and love them when initially I thought it would never be something I'd like. I also have them paired with Phillips Hue lights, which I also love.

I use them mostly for playing music, especially when I have people over, but also to add things to shopping lists, check traffic/news/sports, ask random shit, call people, toggle lights, etc. My parents use theirs as an intercom. Having one in the bathroom is awesome.

9/24/2018 10:00:06 AM

Just won an Echo Spot, so two Dots and now the Spot.

I use them all day long. We have them setup to give us alarms and reminders about things like alarm clocks, time for the kids to go to the bus, take medicine, feed the cat, etc. Also use them to turn lights off and on, although I only have them mapped to about a half dozen lights via smart plugs. Haven't used the video in the Spot much so far.

9/25/2018 7:00:13 AM

Still using the Echo and one Dot in our studio apartment. The Echo still works as a great smart smart speaker without tying up our phones via bt and then the Dot is nice for setting separate timers or alarms in the shower etc. We pretty much use it for the most basic things: music, podcasts, alarms, cooking timers, weather, and turning a couple lamps on and off. If I felt like installing a separate thermostat, I'd use it for that as well, but I don't feel like messing with that in a rental.

9/25/2018 9:56:00 AM

i use a dot as my morning alarm clock, it turns on the lights and the tv in the morning

9/25/2018 10:03:37 AM