Amazon launches cost-cutting review focusing on Alexa

[andyh2000]

I tried Dragon NaturallySpeaking on a desktop PC about 10 or 15 years ago and OK, I had a bit of a rubbish microphone but the results were laughable. This isn't a direct quote but it was the equivalent of this:

Mary had a spittle ham
Its lease was quite as glow

etc.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by andyh2000

I tried Dragon NaturallySpeaking on a desktop PC about 10 or 15 years ago and OK, I had a bit of a rubbish microphone but the results were laughable. This isn't a direct quote but it was the equivalent of this:

etc.

ANY software 10-15 years ago would be less polished than today. I've been using Dragon NaturallySpeaking for about that long now (and have always invested in good quality Sennheiser mics too), and its progress over that time has been a real boon. For any long writing, I now use it as my first draft, and it reduces the amount of typing I have to do by at least 95%. It has learned both my accent and to a large extent my idiolect (through patient training), and given the less-than-common mix of languages from which I draw words I use frequently, this is no mean feat.

[andyh2000]

I'm constantly astounded by how well natural speech to text works nowadays. I don't use any standalone software but occasionally use the transcription facility built-in to MS Office, MS Teams etc. and if you speak fairly clearly and deliberately it's amazing. Same with handwriting input by pen - I don't do it often and it blows my mind it can interpret my cursive squiggles.

Andrew

[shanghaichica]

Originally Posted by frahse

I just remembered that the Echo that died was for a guest room and guests are coming Monday, so I just replaced the Echo for $6.55. (I don't know how they manage their prices but HURRAY.) It will be here tomorrow by 10pm.

What to say except I love Amazon!

I know their devices are so cheap. It’s rude not to lol I have two echo dots in their boxes still as I don’t have a room to put them in (all rooms I have echo’s already) but they were ridiculously cheap. I might gift then for Christmas.

[Quoth]

If you are fine with this and you never have visitors, or the other people in the place are OK with it, then that's fine. Be aware.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...-smart-devices
Not sure if the Facebook Portal, a kind of desktop tablet, is mentioned. It has facial recognition & face tracing via Meta's servers.

[Quoth]

And https://www.theregister.com/2022/12/...lexa/?td=rt-3a

Is Gmail at risk?
It's certainly scanned by Google.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Quoth

And https://www.theregister.com/2022/12/...lexa/?td=rt-3a

Is Gmail at risk?
It's certainly scanned by Google.

Do you mean scanned in the sense that the article specifically says it's not? If so, then (and this should be fun) prove it.

As for the articles claim that Google would be unwilling to pull the rug out from under billions of users....well I would like to believe that's true, but....

[ApK]

Originally Posted by shanghaichica

I might gift then for Christmas.

Ah, the gift that keeps on giving....until Amazon pulls the plug, and then it totally stops giving.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by ApK

Do you mean scanned in the sense that the article specifically says it's not? If so, then (and this should be fun) prove it.

As for the articles claim that Google would be unwilling to pull the rug out from under billions of users....well I would like to believe that's true, but....

Your second point casts doubt on first.

On Android there is a built-in thing called "mail". You can put in the imap or pop3 details. But it's not a real email client. Google gets those settings and fetches the email to their server for "mail" to read. They also get all outgoing email. It's really an app to Google (Alphabet) servers.
You can install a real email client on Android.
So I use K9 for email. I have my own email domains.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....fsck.k9&gl=US


Also mysteriously on Android the stock Messaging App tells Google as much as possible, including about SMS. You can install Signal and use it for send/receive of SMS which then is purely using Mobile SMS. This also optionally lets you forward SMS to the Signal Desktop install.

Google lied about the Wardriving when doing Streetview. But now with Android they get all that info in more detail automatically.

Google was also proven to lie about Location services on Android.

Add a payment method easily on Android in Playstore. You then need to use web browser to remove and it's not removed till you contact the payment provider. Paypal automatically sets up a special payment method for Google Playstore, that last I looked, you had to contact Paypal support for removal.

So I bought ONCE from Playstore and might never again. Not sure how the Supermarket sold Playstore gift cards work?

No-one can predict what Google will do about anything.

[haertig]

If someone is using the internet, they are being watched, monitored, tracked, and used for many companies gain. Saying "I don't use Google" or "I don't use Amazon" or "I don't use PayPal" ... therefore I am immune is laughable.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Your second point casts doubt on first.

Oh, I got doubts, and suspicions aplenty.

But when a stranger on the internet makes a statement that calls the official account a lie, I like to see actual evidence before accepting the statement as fact.

[theducks]

Google analytics is attached to the sites. You don't need to Search with the G.
Same with Amazon. AWS is tattling. They have hooks at many places.
It becomes pretty obvious that while browsin at X, V, W
I later see ads for those types of items at a way different place.

[frahse]

I have been waiting for sometime for the Price Shoe to drop on Alexa.
They have done these incremental charges. $1.00 per month for better "rain storm,etc." sounds. $5.99/mo for better song choice. It started at $4.99 I think.

I will be surprised if they don't do like on their Fire TVs and throw commercials in on occasion. Bezos needs the money to support the Washington Post, his yacht and his current girlfriend. And don't forget his "personal trainer." That girl friend is surely high maintenance

[graycyn]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I do have a smart thermostat and it works very well. I like being able to set it to warm up the place while we are on the way home from a winter vacation.

I'm not much for smart home devices, but if I ever cave and get one, a smart thermostat would probably be my pick.

Sent from my Pixel 6a using Tapatalk

[Renate]

Originally Posted by Quoth

So I use K9 for email. I have my own email domains.

Yup. +1

Originally Posted by Quoth

Add a payment method easily on Android in Playstore....

I avoid PlayStore. The last time I used it years ago I used a "burner" gift credit card.