Dumping echo devices

2,609 Views | 31 Replies | Last: 1 mo ago by cr0wbar
92Ag95
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8:14a, 6/27/25
AG
I'm certain these things are even more useless now than when they first came out.

This actual exchange from this morning was last straw for me.

Me: "Alexa, what time is it?"

Alexa: "Here's something I found from an Alexa answers contributor...Thyme is a fragrant herb from the mint family, known for its use in cooking and its potential medicinal properties. It pairs well with many foods, including meats, vegetables, soups, stews, and sauces and is commonly used in dishes like roasted vegetables, chicken, fish, and beef."

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Proposition Joe
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9:43a, 6/27/25
Amazon's entire automation eco system has seemingly been abandoned, and now they are trying to get people to pay for it to make it actually function.

Even the smart thermostat in Alexa is a clunky piece of *****
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BadMoonRisin
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9:44a, 6/27/25
AG
Ever since Gemini came out, Google dots and hubs are completely worthless as well.

Im actually surprised they are still selling these POS.
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IrishAg
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In reply to BadMoonRisin • 11:14a, 6/27/25
BadMoonRisin said:
Ever since Gemini came out, Google dots and hubs are completely worthless as well.

Im actually surprised they are still selling these POS.
Actually, if you turn on mute the google hub becomes an awesome desk clock now, great screen and you can view it from just about any angle.....which is all I use mine for, except in the kitchen where it makes a great timer. That's about it.

It's amazing how mostly useless these devices have become with the advances in AI all around them. But this is what happens when no one builds a common ecosystem and everyone tries to build their own.
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cr0wbar
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11:18a, 6/27/25
AG
Want to echo the same - my google/ nest hubs have become much less reliable now. I find myself using Gemini (Galaxy S25) and my Rabbit AI more and more.

I just want some semi-reliable speakers that I can put throughout my home and play music throughout the day. Why is that so difficult
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BadMoonRisin
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3:58p, 6/27/25
AG
OK, Google. Turn off TV.

Quote:
I'm sorry, I can't turn off 4 TVs

I only own 3 TVs, google....
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LOYAL AG
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7:02a, 6/28/25
AG
We deployed several Alexa's around our new house last fall. Two studios outside for use around the pool, the home theater system paired with a Fire stick and we have the regular ones in the living room and master bedroom. We use them for basic stuff like listening to music, timers, controlling lightbulbs on schedule and verbally and alarms. We have them in small groups for certain locations and a big group for the whole house. They're good for what they are but I think Amazon has figured out there's not a revenue model here. Since Google appears to be treating their system the same way that seems to enforce that opinion. They're nice gadgets with limited functionality that make life a little easier.
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YouBet
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In reply to cr0wbar • 5:55p, 6/28/25
AG
cr0wbar said:
Want to echo the same - my google/ nest hubs have become much less reliable now. I find myself using Gemini (Galaxy S25) and my Rabbit AI more and more.

I just want some semi-reliable speakers that I can put throughout my home and play music throughout the day. Why is that so difficult
I would look at Sonos then since that is what they do for a living. Granted, I saw some article hit my desk a few months ago about how they had some internal SW blunder but it did not seem to impact us at the time.

I'm sure there are competitors to Sonos at this point as well.
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TXAG 05
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9:12p, 6/28/25
AG
Still have one echo dot. Only use it for white noise at night.
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clobby
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10:22p, 6/28/25
AG
Bought one after my google home network went ***** Alexa sucks.
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Eliminatus
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10:02a, 6/29/25
AG
They were everywhere a few years ago but now I don't think I know anyone who still has one and I have not seen or heard of any talk of them in ages it feels like.

Feels like most tried to find ways to use one instead of getting one to solve an actual problem in my experience and then gradually just stopped trying.
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YouBet
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In reply to Eliminatus • 10:26a, 6/29/25
AG
Eliminatus said:
They were everywhere a few years ago but now I don't think I know anyone who still has one and I have not seen or heard of any talk of them in ages it feels like.

Feels like most tried to find ways to use one instead of getting one to solve an actual problem in my experience and then gradually just stopped trying.


Yes, it's a classic solution in search of a problem and always was. Much of early IoT is/was this.

The only use case it ever had was voice activated music On / Off / Play X.
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BadMoonRisin
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In reply to YouBet • 11:48a, 6/29/25
AG
I used to use it to add stuff to my grocery list (really nice in the kitchen when you use the last of ketchup or may/bread/meat, etc), set alarms/timers, play music, turn TV on or off, pause or play streaming (netflix or whatever was on TV), pull up recepies, turn on/off smart plugs, ask who is at the front door, etc.

Now, it barely is able to set a timer. sometimes it says it starts a timer and then forgets...

extremely frustrating.
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HECUBUS
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4:13p, 6/29/25
AG
We still have 5. We only use them for turning lights on/off. Alexa is basically "the clapper", only much more annoying. Everything new is another app on your phone.
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Counterpoint
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4:27p, 6/29/25
AG
They're about to do a big AI upgrade. Maybe that will make her smarter.
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AtticusMatlock
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4:55p, 6/29/25
I thought you could make it so when you said "ok Google" it would launch Gemini instead of the Google assistant thing? That's the way it is on my phone, did they not make that an option on the standalone devices?
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Big_Russ
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In reply to AtticusMatlock • 6:10p, 6/29/25
AG
AtticusMatlock said:
I thought you could make it so when you said "ok Google" it would launch Gemini instead of the Google assistant thing? That's the way it is on my phone, did they not make that an option on the standalone devices?
No go on devices. Something about the hardware not being capable is what I have read.

It's a pity. My two Google Home Maxes that I've had for several years make very good bookshelf speakers. They are now slow and unreliable after the Gemini hit the scene.
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YouBet
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6:45p, 6/29/25
AG
Related, it seems like a lot of this tech no longer works well. Siri Voice with CarPlay no longer works for me. I assume some SW upgrade Apple did broke it but it hasn't worked in months now.
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Redstone
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9:37p, 6/29/25
AG
We have a FireTV, Prime with PBS Kids add on (channel), a dot we don't use, and an Alexa that's used about 5 times a week or so for video chats. I'll also occasionally use Prime Music through my iPhone (not Unlimited, just regular).
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Redstone
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In reply to YouBet • 9:39p, 6/29/25
AG
Not familiar with CarPlay. I just use CDs, and occasionally Prime Music or Apple Podcasts via the iPhone Bluetooth connection (2016 4Runner Limited).
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YouBet
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In reply to Redstone • 3:46a, 6/30/25
AG
Redstone said:
Not familiar with CarPlay. I just use CDs, and occasionally Prime Music or Apple Podcasts via the iPhone Bluetooth connection (2016 4Runner Limited).


I finally knew about something before you did.
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Rex Racer
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9:07a, 6/30/25
AG
I still use my Echo Dots every single day. Actually just got the upgrade to Alexa+, and I dig it. It hasn't changed the way I use it, but it IS a lot smarter.

I listen to music, Fox News channel, control thermostat, control lights, kitchen timer, weather, check the time (exactly what the OP was trying to do).

The only issues I ever have with it are when there is too much noise going on for it to hear me, or my wife doesn't pause for even half a second after saying "Alexa" before charging on with what she wants Alexa to do for her.
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TXAG 05
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In reply to Redstone • 8:54a, 7/1/25
AG
Redstone said:
Not familiar with CarPlay. I just use CDs, and occasionally Prime Music or Apple Podcasts via the iPhone Bluetooth connection (2016 4Runner Limited).
Id figure you would have been an early adopter of CarPlay.
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htxag09
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In reply to YouBet • 9:28a, 7/1/25
AG
YouBet said:
cr0wbar said:
Want to echo the same - my google/ nest hubs have become much less reliable now. I find myself using Gemini (Galaxy S25) and my Rabbit AI more and more.

I just want some semi-reliable speakers that I can put throughout my home and play music throughout the day. Why is that so difficult
I would look at Sonos then since that is what they do for a living. Granted, I saw some article hit my desk a few months ago about how they had some internal SW blunder but it did not seem to impact us at the time.

I'm sure there are competitors to Sonos at this point as well.
Yeah, Sonos had a huge fallout w/ it. Speakers being disconnected, not being able to connect, features going away, etc., etc.,

Not sure how you weren't impacted.....I think I had to manually hard reset every speaker in my system 3 or so times and add it as a new speaker.

That said, I'm still a fan of their quality and ease to sync, add, etc. We did a renovation which gave us a playroom/gameroom and the Sonos arc ultra is still my top choice to put in there.
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YouBet
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In reply to htxag09 • 12:18p, 7/1/25
AG
Not sure. I will say dinking around in settings the other day both my subs are grayed out and I can't get to them in the app. They are on and working, but I can't seem to touch them in the app. Guessing this is residual from that SW fiasco.

I'm planning to update our living room center channel with the Arc. We have a Playbase (the pancake looking one) and I want to swap that.
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AmC_OldSarge
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2:15p, 7/1/25
AG

Alternative Option to Sonos.

https://www.soundavo.com/collections/audio-system/products/ws-66i
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IrishAg
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In reply to AmC_OldSarge • 4:58p, 7/1/25
AmC_OldSarge said:

Alternative Option to Sonos.

https://www.soundavo.com/collections/audio-system/products/ws-66i
I don't think I would put this as an alternative to Sonos except for the amp (which there are many alternatives these days). If my house was pre-wired to a centralized source then I would have gone with something like this over Sonos, but Sonos is still probably the best option if you don't have centralized wiring and/or stand alone speakers, even after that asinine app decisions.
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AmC_OldSarge
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8:37p, 7/1/25
AG

I wouldn't even consider using wireless for speakers, so for me this is/was a great solution. I've had Sonos in the past and the cost/performance wasn't worth it.
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Saxsoon
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8:14a, 7/2/25
AG
I mostly use HomePods from Apple. It has been nice having the ability to adjust temp on my ecobee, door lock, and have light turn on inside when I arrive. I don't really talk to it much in the house though
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IrishAg
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In reply to AmC_OldSarge • 8:21a, 7/2/25
AmC_OldSarge said:

I wouldn't even consider using wireless for speakers, so for me this is/was a great solution. I've had Sonos in the past and the cost/performance wasn't worth it.
I agree, and I wish my house was completely wired for speakers everywhere we listen to music, that would be amazing. But, unfortunately it's not and it's cost, time, and marriage prohibitive to redo, so I take wireless whole house speakers (with 2 sonos amps for the few wired spots I have) over no speakers. That's the only reason I don't consider that scenario as an alternative to a sonos system, I consider it more the difference of shoehorning a "home theater" setup in a living room vs have a dedicated media room. They both perform the same function, but the way the house was designed produces drastically different experiences.
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McNasty
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4:23p, 7/2/25
AG
We use them as intercoms, mainly between upstairs and downstairs. Also for live streaming audio.
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cr0wbar
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9:22p, 7/4/25
AG
Stumbled upon this audio company after doing some research - anyone use the bluesound system?

https://www.bluesound.com/usa/


https://texags.com/forums/30/topics/2331234
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