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Amazon Echo Show

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Re: Amazon Echo Show

#81

Post by lsaferite »

Nullabillity wrote: post #45
eclipxe wrote: post #21

People are missing this: "With the Alexa App, conversations and contacts go where you go. When you’re away from home, use the app to make a quick call or send a message to your family’s Echo. Alexa calling and messaging is free—to get started download the Alexa App." Alexa is now in the messaging and communication game. https://techcrunch.com/2017/05/09/amazon-enables-free-calls-...

But... why? Presumably everyone who would even consider buying this already has a computer at home, which does that better anyway.

There is a large space between sitting at my computer and talking to my wife in the grocery store vs. sitting on the couch and talking to my wife in the grocery store.

Re: Amazon Echo Show

#82

Post by eclipxe »

verytrivial wrote: post #63

I must be one of those old farts who prefers privacy over convenience. I do not want what amounts to an always-on black-box surveillance device in my home and I simply do not understand why other people think it is okay. I honestly don't. Down with this sort of thing!

Do you own a cellphone with a camera and microphone?

Re: Amazon Echo Show

#83

Post by mhermher »

Klathmon wrote: post #73
mhermher wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can leave the TV always on, but muted and blacked out by the set top box. That may be a good solution to that? Not sure if anyone has designed that on a set top box.

most TVs are then still using almost full power, some still aren't "black" when a black screen is up (it provides light at night, enough to see with in my case!), and still puts off heat. It's a hack that might work for something personal, but I wouldn't be comfortable selling a product that did this.

Fair points. I'm really kind of tied to the idea that someone is going to do this as a set-top box format. What you mention is a major issue though. Maybe it can use the video output only if the TV is already on, and just failsafe to audio in those cases, like a regular echo.

Re: Amazon Echo Show

#84

Post by odonnellryan »

pwaivers wrote: post #10

A few thoughts: - This is way less creepy-looking than the Amazon Look ( https://www.amazon.com/Echo-Hands-Free-Camera-Style-Assistan... ), but it is actually very similar. - It is great to add a screen to the Echo. Just more feedback on interacting with it, and possibility to watch YouTube, Netflix, etc. casually. - It doesn't have the same cool minimalism as the Echo. The Echo sits on my counter and looks nice when…

I wonder, why go this route instead of creating a device to add to your TV?

My echo is right next to the TV.

Re: Amazon Echo Show

#85

Post by vthallam »

pickthenimp2 wrote: post #70
Nullabillity wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But... why? Presumably everyone who would even consider buying this already has a computer at home, which does that better anyway.

hands free...one click answer on other end.

for that they have facetime or duo? I mean if 2 users using this are out, why use amazon app to make calls?

Re: Amazon Echo Show

#86

Post by thatwebdude »

odonnellryan wrote: post #84
pwaivers wrote: post #10

A few thoughts: - This is way less creepy-looking than the Amazon Look ( https://www.amazon.com/Echo-Hands-Free-Camera-Style-Assistan... ), but it is actually very similar. - It is great to add a screen to the Echo. Just more feedback on interacting with it, and possibility to watch YouTube, Netflix, etc. casually. - It doesn't have the same cool minimalism as the Echo. The Echo sits on my counter and looks nice when…

I wonder, why go this route instead of creating a device to add to your TV? My echo is right next to the TV.

Doesn't the FireTV/Stick do full-on Alexa now?

Re: Amazon Echo Show

#87

Post by rkangel »

odonnellryan wrote: post #84
pwaivers wrote: post #10

A few thoughts: - This is way less creepy-looking than the Amazon Look ( https://www.amazon.com/Echo-Hands-Free-Camera-Style-Assistan... ), but it is actually very similar. - It is great to add a screen to the Echo. Just more feedback on interacting with it, and possibility to watch YouTube, Netflix, etc. casually. - It doesn't have the same cool minimalism as the Echo. The Echo sits on my counter and looks nice when…

I wonder, why go this route instead of creating a device to add to your TV? My echo is right next to the TV.

Because this way the screen can turn on and off dynamically.

Also, it doesn't tie you to having to have a TV in a location you want one.

Re: Amazon Echo Show

#88

Post by colemannugent »

deong wrote: post #52
colemannugent wrote: post #19

I feel like this entire product could be a Chromecast-esque dongle that connects to a TV. Having a personal dashboard would actually be quite useful, but this seems like they want to sell appliances not experiences. Maybe they've gone with this form factor because of the 2x 2" speakers? But why would I want that when it could be plugged directly into my home audio setup? Or maybe it's so they can include a touchscree…

I think there are certainly reasons to have your "hands-free conversational interaction" device also be able to show you things. It seems like the big pitch they're making right now is on communications, but there are loads of reasons why I can imagine it being useful. Most mornings, I ask Alexa about the weather. Usually, the voice response is all I need, but occasionally, there are storms in the forecast, and there…

I agree with you that an assistant with the ability to show you things is more useful, but if I wanted to see a radar image I would just pull out my phone and ask it in the first place.

The selling point of this genre of devices seems to rest on the utility of voice control, but this products only innovation is a built in display.

Re: Amazon Echo Show

#89

Post by Roritharr »

danso wrote: post #71

I'm not willing or interested enough to enable voice activation (Siri) on my phone or desktop, but thought Echo would be nice to have as a music player. The voice recognition is so reliable -- not just the NLP, but the mic array (unlike trying to activate Siri on the iPhone) -- that it's converted me to a true believer in voice interfaces, at least for simple tasks, such as playing music, turning on NPR, and activati…

Same here on all accounts, I'd just add that before I buy more Echoes Amazon needs to make the Multi-Room Integration better so it's better to furnish out a larger apartment or house. I mean there's probably no difference between a single NSA listening device and a suite of them.

Re: Amazon Echo Show

#90

Post by mikeash »

eclipxe wrote: post #21

People are missing this: "With the Alexa App, conversations and contacts go where you go. When you’re away from home, use the app to make a quick call or send a message to your family’s Echo. Alexa calling and messaging is free—to get started download the Alexa App." Alexa is now in the messaging and communication game. https://techcrunch.com/2017/05/09/amazon-enables-free-calls-...

Are we ever going to see unity between these services, or are we doomed to have little walled-off fiefdoms forever?

A phone number works anywhere in the world, to anywhere in the world, with anyone who has a phone. All e-mail providers work with each other. I don't care who you're with, and I wouldn't even have to know except it's usually part of the address. SMS works no matter which provider we both have.

It feels like we're taking huge steps backwards. Instead of sending a message to a phone number or e-mail address, I'll use iMessage or Google Hangouts or Skype or Slack or.... Video call? We can do FaceTime or Hangouts or Skype or....

Will these things start interoperating with each other eventually, or are we just doomed forever?

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