Alexa

Nobody had mentioned the downside that the OP asked about. The downside is that Alexa is always listening. You can turn off the microphone though, if you don't want it to listen. I usually turn off the microphone in the living room as I mentioned before, because Alexa sometimes reacts to the TV.

Since I bought one BlueBelle, I can listen to new releases without buying the cd or any of my old cds and tons of other music. It costs £15 per month for both dh and I.

I also had no clue as I don’t have one and don’t know anyone with one ....do I need one it doesn’t sound as if I do I use my radio or tv for most of the things mentioned I can play my many cds I talk to family for free on FB and I ve got no central heating to remotely turn on
Now if it washed up and cooked for me I mght have bought one

Thanks for the feedback folks, I hadn't got a clue about them obviously far more versatile than I realised.

It's great for setting alarms or reminders. You can create a to do list. Play radio including podcasts. Get the weather and news briefing. Compile your own playlists and choose from millions of songs.

You plug it into the mains day6. Everyone can talk to Alexa as the voice recognition it extremely good. I have an Echo Dot in the living room which really requires a speaker, but a tall Echo has amazing sound quality, my DD has one in her kitchen. Another thing you can do is call another Echo, I say Alexa call A* and my DD answers. I can also call my son on his. Alexa calling is free.

Plugs into the mains, recognises any voice. Commands have to start with Alexa ........
They are linked to your WiFi.

I love my Alexa . I use her for playing music and the radio . The DGC ask her to tell them jokes ( they’re corny ) and they play “would you rather” etc.
I always bid her goodbye or goodnight and she’s very polite .

Predicted text! acts as. *playing heating

Alexa can’t write posts for GN ☹️

We were given one for Christmas. It was so good DH bought a couple more, different varieties!
The one in the bed room ascot as a clock and has a face, it can wake you up with the news headline, put you to sleep with soothing music and all the other Alexa tasks.
The others in different rooms, play all the radio stations, play just about any music, artists albums etc on request. They will also stop p,aging at a requested time. They will read stories, turn on the central heat, lights etc. Answer questions, play word games GCs love it.
I’m not someone who is a mad keen tech type person, but we love Alexa!

I have an Echo Show in my kitchen. I use it mostly as a radio as we have no radio reception here, not even FM. I also play music from Amazon music unlimited, and sing along as Echo Show gives you the lyrics on the screen. I also play Question of the Day and am amassing quite a lot of points, get weather reports, news, and find out which planets are visible in the sky.

I have been thinking about getting an Alexa. Can it be plugged into the mains? The battery life of blue-tooth speakers, etc, is annoying.

Does she have to be trained to recognise voices, so all members of the household can make requests? (I am calling IT 'she'! )

Oh I didn't know you could use her for playing music, so that explains a lot. Thank you Kitty.

We don't use 'her' for half the things she is capable of. I mostly use her for playing music, listening to radio and reminders. Our kitchen is quite echo-ey and the sound quality from Alexa is much better than our Bose or Pure radios. It cost about £70.

Apparently the problem has been fixed. They've changed the command to make Alexa laugh. Instead of saying "Alexa, laugh", you've now got to say "Alexa, can you laugh". Hopefully this will stop your Echo from picking up on background words. Mine, in the living room, sometimes reacts to the television. I just turn the microphone off if I don't want it to listen.

On a serious note, do you find her useful?

The reports say she laughs even without being 'woken' up!

I'm wondering if you have to give her something to laugh about Kitty.

We have one and dh asked her to do the funny laugh. Her reply was 'I'm afraid I don't know that!'