Echo dot. What’s the point?

[Howmanysleepstilchristmas]

Is this something a young teenager would use? No shopping lists, no need to control heating etc... what else do they do that a smartphone doesn’t? Am I missing something?
I’m struggling to buy for ds, and keep seeing people say they’re getting these for their dc. Is this something ds13 would like? I’m a dinosaur when it comes to tech, but he loves it. Could someone explain in words of one syllable for me please and help make my decision?

OvO as a device for people with disabilities I think they are a absolutely fantastic invention. For a non disabilied healthy teen I think they are fairly pointless.
SoupDragon so you can play music. Ok. But so can a digital radio or an mp3 player (and you don't have to be permantly connected to the Internet for those).
Maybe it's just me but I think they are a total waste of time. I simply don't see the point.

so you can play music. Ok. But so can a digital radio or an mp3 player (and you don't have to be permantly connected to the Internet for those).

Neither of those things can stream whatever music you wish on demand.

I could tell DS2 to get up when I'm 55 miles away having had to stay with my mother. That was useful.

Maybe it's just me but I think they are a total waste of time. I simply don't see the point.

Maybe try saying it without insulting people who feel differently then.

I bet you use things other people can't see the point of. My mother can't see the point of smartphones or Skype etc.

OK OK SoupDragon we will have to agree to disagree. People do like different things. This is just one of those products that my brain says 'why'! Obviously others love them. We are all different as you say. I just find it a bit of a lazy way to write shopping lists and what not.

My 2 boys have them. They’re good for playing loud classical music through to get them out of bed in the morning

Honest question though SoupDragon what is the difference between streaming music and having it on a MP3 player? I actually don't know.

It’s not that it’s lazy, it’s that I’m multi functioning to ridiculous levels, and if I wait ten seconds to write it down then A: I’ll have forgotten, and B: Even if I do remember long enough and uninterrupted to write ‘ketchup’ then I’ll head out to the shops and leave the paper list at home. If I just shout from the fridge though ‘Alexa, add ketchup to the shopping list’ then when I’m next at the shops I just have to open the Alexa app on my phone and there’s the shopping list.

I suppose people thought remote controls for the tv were a lazy invention at one point, but soon remotes could do far more than just change the channel or increase the volume.

And, don’t worry, I don’t order my batteries from Amazon. I buy them in Tesco.

Can spell words!

I'm disabled so my uses might be a little different but I and my kids use our Echo Dot all the time. Our home's door lock is on it as are some lights that I can't reach. We tell it 'Computer lock the door' and it will lock the door for us. And I'll tell her 'Computer turn on the kitchen light' and she will since I can't get to that switch easily. My kids use her for music but I use it to check the weather and check my amazon notifications and I've used it to order things.

It also plays nighttime sounds if you have a young kid or even an older kid who needs white noise to sleep. It plays ocean sounds and rain sounds and stuff.

OK so this is another genuine question. When you do a tesco shop how do you get Alexa to tell you what you have already reminded her to tell you? As I assume when planning a shopping list you check your fridge /cupboards etc - make note of what you need. Do you then ask Alexa what you have asked you to be reminded of? But in the time you have taken to ask that surely you have looked in the cupboard anyway. This isn't me being sarcastic - I am genuine that I don't see the point. If you are going to Tesco for your batteries and sauce wouldn't you be checking what else you need anyway?

bookmum that's because you're organised! In my world, I randomly realise we're out of something as I discover the empty packet in the cupboard, not when I'm planning a shop.

We've also out our family calender on ours, so that everyone can access it. It shows on my spot each morning.

Ha Ha Notquite I am sooo not organised. I popped to Sainsburys earlier and came home with a giant tub of Duplo from a second hand shop instead (it's way cool - it has Duplo dinosaurs).

And (light hearted) what do you lot do when there is a powercut? I'm guessing it's like this.

😂😂 well, not since reading this thread - I never knew you could get battery packs for the Alexas! 😂😂

For the shopping list, you shout out what you need through the week etc and then when you go to the shops you just open the Alexa app and select ‘shopping list’ and then it shows you everything you’ve added to it. You can then delete the items as you buy them. What’s rather handy though is that DH also has the app, so can also see the shopping list (without me needing to send it to him).

Loving the dinosaurs find!

I like the comedy value of Alexa too though. I live on the same street as my workplace, but I like to ask her how my commute will be 😂 ‘Traffic is light, your journey should take 3 minutes’

More light hearted.... What does Alexa say if you say "Alexa start Self Destruct Programme"? Does she politely say "I'm sorry but I can't do that"!

Do we think this will be the cheapest they'll get??

I’ll try it bookmum and see. I’ll let you know. (If you don’t hear back from me, you’ll know it worked, big style 😂)

NickMyLipple, the 19.99 price is the old stock. Presumably once they’re all sold we won’t see it this cheap again until the next upgrade comes along.

bookmum08 if the power is out you can use the app on your phone to access alexa. We've done that too lol

So I'm going to get one for me and Ds17 as we both need portable speakers anyway and these have added benefits. However i have now also been looking at google home mini and cant decide if that would be better?! On my phone I use Google for everything, plus we have a Google chrome rather than firestick so am thinking that a home mini will tie in better?

I have a quick question; my dd is getting a vtec super star, (kids karaoke) for Christmas that needs an mp3 via a 3.5mm jack. The dot has the jack so could I use it to play music through, what I assume is just another speaker?

@bookmum , tried it. I’m still here 😂. ‘Sorry, I don’t know that one’.

Just had a thought about the battery pack for the Alexa though - that wouldn’t sort the no WiFi problem, would it?! 😲😬🤯😂

Get it!

My DSS got one last year off his mum, he’s used it a handful of times. So pretty pointless... very much a present he got as she didn’t know what to get him!!

3out you were very brave to try.

Thank you, I thought so too 😂