Amazon echo dot

There is currently a case in Arkansas where Amazon is being sued to release the audio that Alexa has which might be relevant to a murder case. Apparently it does send the audio back to Amazon's servers.

MrWizard wrote:

FYI, I was shocked out of my boots (just a few days ago), when I hit something on my SmartPhone, and it brought up a list of every location I've been to! OMG! Freaked me out completely.

I've decided to start leaving my SmartPhone home now. Really!

Really ¿ Where have you been?

It was big news in 2015 about iPhones tracking and logging your where abouts ALL the time

About it being hacked and people using the info

Or did you find this on Android?

He is correct. Android tracks your location by default and many apps rely on this to operate precisely. It can be turned off but I have no problem with my phone doing this, should something happen, I want my location found if I cannot dial 911.

This thread on Alexa is interesting. We have 3 dots and an Echo and after a month they never get used. Alexa got old quickly!

FYI, I was shocked out of my boots (just a few days ago), when I hit something on my SmartPhone, and it brought up a list of every location I've been to! OMG! Freaked me out completely.

I've decided to start leaving my SmartPhone home now. Really!

Really ¿ Where have you been?

It was big news in 2015 about iPhones tracking and logging your where abouts ALL the time

About it being hacked and people using the info

Or did you find this on Android?

I have an app I installed called "my tracks"
It only works when I turn it on
It's great for hiking biking and traveling, shows your path and the distance covered, time and avg speed etc..

I like to use it when I go to swap meets, RV shows etc..
Show me how much everyday exercise I got walking around

Note if I could get it to record notations of interesting items
It could lead me back to them quicker

Got one at 39 bucks during Christmas and we Love it. Of course we were already using the voice activated Amazon TV device. As far as listening in on my conversations within the house....no conspiracies or Government over-throw here, if someone wants to be bored to death, let'em listen away( although I do use the "Dot" in a Den, normally in this room alone talking to myself..lol :-) )

Good reply NESCHULTZ. The Echo is NOT recording conversations. I'd worry more about the computer camera or a television set if I wanted to get paranoid.

One thing we use it for is to add an item to our shopping list. When we are working in the kitchen, behind the counter and we need an item it is the simplest thing to just say, in a conversational voice, "Alexa, add this to my list" and it is done. When shopping the list is always on our phone using the Alexa app.

Alexa has an option to order products online but it can be turned off.

We have a Verizon hot spot in the camper so it is always ready to perform.

Want to know movie times? Ask Alexa
Temperature? Ask Alexa
Restaurant hours? Ask Alexa.

One of the best Xmas presents we received.

Wow, "Wall-E". :) Heck, I think the only exercise some people get is getting up to turn the lights on/off and using the remote. Now you're going to take that way from them. :)

We've had an echo since they first came out. Here's what we use Alexa for:

Tell Alexa to add ** to the shopping list and then use the Alexa app shopping list on our phone when at Walmart or wherever to see what to buy. Can do similar with the todo list
Measure something in the house, tell Alexa, go to garage and use phone to see size to cut. I never write a note anymore.
Ask Alexa the current outside temp
Ask Alexa what the weather forecast is
Tell Alexa to play ** music
Ask Alexa to ring my wifes phone so she can find it
Tell Alexa to turn on the tv (thru our logitech harmony), or dvd, or volume up/down, etc. Which actually turns on soundbar, sets the tv input, etc. also
Tell Alexa to adjust our thermostat to ** degrees
Ask Alexa for traffic info
Ask Alexa where the closest ** store or place is
Ask Alexa for the phone number of ** place
Tell Alexa to set an alarm for ** time
Tell Alexa to start a ** sec/minute timer
Ask Alexa what sound a whale makes (you had to have seen the Google home ad to understand this one)
Someday we will add some lights for the Echo to control. It also can do a sequence of actions with a single command but we haven't tried that yet. For example, Alexa - its bedtime, could change the thermostat, turn off lights and turn off the tv, etc.
Alex Baldwin knows how to use more commands

Sounds lazy, huh? I prefer to think convenient.

For those that are worried, You can check to see how much data each wifi or cell connected object uses (to see if the Echo or anything is communicating when it shouldn't).

In case you don't know, your cell phone can be used to monitor the conversation in a room without your knowledge. The conversation on any cell or wireless phone can be listened to when you use it. It used to be illegal for the gov't to do so in the US (without a court order). I'm not sure if it still is but I doubt it. One of the monitors once asked me how/where I thought they tested their listening equipment.

I was planning on buying one for $39 prior to Christmas. I just couldn't come up with enough things to make it do to make it worth my time. Buying pizza from one vendor, or getting an Uber driver to the house isn't anything I would ever do.

Everything else it does I can already do fairly easily with current technology at hand. The reason I asked what you did with it in your RV was not to make it RV related, but to see exactly what you did with it that made it so useful. Maybe I'm overlooking something.

Well, I didn't research this "thing" on the internet, and it definitely sounds like something I'd never want, especially at the thought of, yet another, wifi associated device that "could" have the potential to invade my privacy. No thanks.

Between my wifi television, computers,and SmartPhone, I think "big brother" has enough evidence on me to determine I am a "total nobody" in the scope in world wide problems. And I'd like to keep it that way.

FYI, I was shocked out of my boots (just a few days ago), when I hit something on my SmartPhone, and it brought up a list of every location I've been to! OMG! Freaked me out completely.

I've decided to start leaving my SmartPhone home now. Really!

Put me into the column of not getting one. I also will not get any device that can be turned on or off, opened or closed with a cell phone. I work for cybersecurity and you would be surprised how easy it is to hack some of the items out there.