Is my Amazon Alexa dead?

[something daft already!!]

Call me paranoid but I dont really want a device in my home which listens to everything. Not that anyone would be interested or care about what I do, I still won't get one. Any device I have which can be voice activated is disabled. I don't have a mic plugged into my PC and my phone has that sort of thing switched off.

 

[Maundie]

Call me paranoid but I dont really want a device in my home which listens to everything. Not that anyone would be interested or care about what I do, I still won't get one. Any device I have which can be voice activated is disabled. I don't have a mic plugged into my PC and my phone has that sort of thing switched off.

Cool, thanks for that.

 

[d_brennen]

Call me paranoid but I dont really want a device in my home which listens to everything. Not that anyone would be interested or care about what I do, I still won't get one. Any device I have which can be voice activated is disabled. I don't have a mic plugged into my PC and my phone has that sort of thing switched off.

Got the mother in law one as well as a Ring doorbell. It's nice for her as the Echo Show can display who's at the door but I wholeheartedly agree. Many times things pop up in advertising she (and the wife) sees that were spoken about in the in-laws kitchen, way more than coincidence. I find it all quite disturbing

Edit: OP, your Echo is dead, you're free!

 

[Chris Wilson]

I have put the cable into another usb plug. Nope. Dead.

Bought a 4th gen Dot yesterday. Took 2 mins from opening box to Alexa to say hello to me

That's a long time and rather rude, did you complain?

 

[Feek]

Many times things pop up in advertising she (and the wife) sees that were spoken about in the in-laws kitchen, way more than coincidence. I find it all quite disturbing

I reckon it's your phones rather than smart speakers that do that. We have smart speakers in every room (except the toilet) and have all made a concerted effort to deny apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp, instagram etc access to the microphone on our phones.

None of us have had the thing where adverts appear that are targeted to discussions we've had. It's not the speakers, it's your phone.

 

[d_brennen]

I reckon it's your phones rather than smart speakers that do that. We have smart speakers in every room (except the toilet) and have all made a concerted effort to deny apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp, instagram etc access to the microphone on our phones.

None of us have had the thing where adverts appear that are targeted to discussions we've had. It's not the speakers, it's your phone.

I don't get them as I actively wage war on advertising and spyware of all sorts! I've considered fitting a shredder to the mailbox but been overruled

 

[Werewolf]

I have put the cable into another usb plug. Nope. Dead.

Bought a 4th gen Dot yesterday. Took 2 mins from opening box to Alexa to say hello to me

USB?

Do you mean the round plug at the back of it?

And aye, IIRC the 4th gen ones are only something like £18 at the moment on offer so cheaper than a new official power adaptor for the old ones.

 

[Doobedoo]

I reckon it's your phones rather than smart speakers that do that. We have smart speakers in every room (except the toilet) and have all made a concerted effort to deny apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp, instagram etc access to the microphone on our phones.

None of us have had the thing where adverts appear that are targeted to discussions we've had. It's not the speakers, it's your phone.

We quite often have recipes pop up a day or 2 after we’ve been talking about them.

 

[Dr David Reed]

Call me paranoid but I dont really want a device in my home which listens to everything. Not that anyone would be interested or care about what I do, I still won't get one. Any device I have which can be voice activated is disabled. I don't have a mic plugged into my PC and my phone has that sort of thing switched off.

There's an option in the app that lets your listen to false calls where it thought you said Alexa but then didn't give a second command. Went through my mams and it's strange how much conversation it picked up without their knowledge.

Personally wouldn't have a smart speaker in my house for privacy reasons but they seem super useful other than that.

Edit: Here's a guide on how you can see what conversations Alexa has picked up on: - https://www.digitaltrends.com/home/how-to-hear-and-delete-alexa-conversations/

 

[Semple]

Call me paranoid but I dont really want a device in my home which listens to everything. Not that anyone would be interested or care about what I do, I still won't get one. Any device I have which can be voice activated is disabled. I don't have a mic plugged into my PC and my phone has that sort of thing switched off.

Yes definitely paranoid.

 

[Diddums]

Yes definitely paranoid.

Guess I'm paranoid too then as I have about as much trust in MegaCorp INC as I do in Amber Heard leaving the sheets clean.

 

[dlockers]

Call me paranoid but I dont really want a device in my home which listens to everything. Not that anyone would be interested or care about what I do, I still won't get one. Any device I have which can be voice activated is disabled. I don't have a mic plugged into my PC and my phone has that sort of thing switched off.

Just FYI (as it is interesting in its own right) - but it isn't "constantly listening" in the traditional sense. It has a chip on there that only 'wakes up' when it hears the soundwaves corresponding to the wake up word. Only then does it start a passageway to Amazon/Alexa servers.

Basically all Alexa's will "wake up" whether there is internet or not once you say the word. Then they whinge there is no internet.

 

[Simon42]

Just FYI (as it is interesting in its own right) - but it isn't "constantly listening" in the traditional sense. It has a chip on there that only 'wakes up' when it hears the soundwaves corresponding to the wake up word. Only then does it start a passageway to Amazon/Alexa servers.

The problem is they mishear the wake up word too often.

We have two Echo Shows I got during to use as CCTV monitors so the mics are usually off and they have no internet access anyway. However I did try one with audio on for a few days with internet access and it was amazing how much it recorded when I reviewed the audio capture logs on the Amazon site.

 

[Semple]

Guess I'm paranoid too then as I have about as much trust in MegaCorp INC as I do in Amber Heard leaving the sheets clean.

Are you posting your replies by pigeon carrier

 

[arknor]

Call me paranoid but I dont really want a device in my home which listens to everything. Not that anyone would be interested or care about what I do, I still won't get one. Any device I have which can be voice activated is disabled. I don't have a mic plugged into my PC and my phone has that sort of thing switched off.

exactly they should be free if they want to listen and try to harvest my preferences

 

[d_brennen]

Just FYI (as it is interesting in its own right) - but it isn't "constantly listening" in the traditional sense. It has a chip on there that only 'wakes up' when it hears the soundwaves corresponding to the wake up word. Only then does it start a passageway to Amazon/Alexa servers.

Basically all Alexa's will "wake up" whether there is internet or not once you say the word. Then they whinge there is no internet.

THATS WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO THINK

Companies as big as Google and Amazon wouldn't let all that valuable data go... They listen more than they let on for sure

 

[dlockers]

THATS WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO THINK

Companies as big as Google and Amazon wouldn't let all that valuable data go... They listen more than they let on for sure

Yeah but physically, no.

 

[dlockers]

Interesting development on Amazon though is their acquisition of Roomba. Roomba literally can map out your room/belongings and let Amazon sell you a pot stand that fits precisely your pot... and then AR super impose it to the Amazon listing - so you can see what it looks like in your house before evening considering a purchase.

 

[Nice1]

Spoke to Alexa and no lights. Have pulled out the cable from the Dot (2nd gen) and put it back in after a min. Opened the app and Alexa is offline. Rebooted modem, which is by Alexa. Removed the device on app and then tried to add it. On app, says to hold action button for 15 seconds until orange light comes on. No light.

Is my Alexa dead?

I had the same problem as you albeit mine was the Dot (3rd Gen), googled and You tubed for help with the problem and I kid you not the way i got it to work was to hit the bottom hard against a hard surface and i swear you not the Dot came back to life. Thought at the time if its borked its borked no harm done.

 

[Efour]

Call me paranoid but I dont really want a device in my home which listens to everything. Not that anyone would be interested or care about what I do, I still won't get one. Any device I have which can be voice activated is disabled. I don't have a mic plugged into my PC and my phone has that sort of thing switched off.

You are paranoid