Hey Google
 

I bought one of the little round Google things for about $30. I use it to know the temp and weather forecast, small things like that. The grands use to hear silly jokes and music etc. But now I have found the best use for it ever! I am constantly looking for my cell phone in the house. I lay it down and if no one is around to call it I may be looking for awhile. I can say Hey Google call ___ ___ ____ and my phone rings. It's a simple thing but it saves me so much frustration.

Too cute!!

Thanks for the tip. Too bad we can't call some of our misplaced quilting tools when they hide from us.

Can you adjust any privacy settings? I remember when Alexa first came out if it heard you say something like we are out of tide pods. Amazon would send it and bill you. Not to mention all the kids who discovered they could order toys by just speaking to Alexa....lol

Great to know!! I use mine a lot to ask her to play a song that pops into my head or songs by a certain artist. I also use her every day to set timers while I’m cleaning or cooking. If I have something in the oven for 40 minutes and something on the stove to simmer for 20, I can tell her to set both —and add or subtract minutes as necessary.

my son in fiber optic business--discourages us to use a home smart computer due to privacy concerns. Although my sis-in-law loves her's and uses it all the time.

My son has one in their home in Colorado - we were there for the birth of our first granddaughter and I learned how to turn on and off the lights. He showed me all the things you can ask - it was kind if fun. But I’m still a bit leary. Maybe I’ll think about it as a Christmas gift for me. My husband doesn’t like it at all.

I'm concerned about the privacy too. DH and I will never get one.

Phone tip
 

Thanks for the tip. I hope my Alexa will do this...will check it out today, as I am Always misplacing my phone. We do like ours, and I won't worry much about the privacy issue as I Don't think anyone would get much info of either importance or useful from my mundane life. I am also one who does not mind cameras all over towns for safety reasons.

Brain cells are like muscles: use them or lose them. I will stick with the old fashion way and use my brain.

Ha Ha! Me, too. But at my age, I'm beginning to need a little extra help.

That’s a good tip! I have Alexa down in my sewing room. I don’t want anything up here where it listens to what we’re saying. There’s one in our room at my daughter’s house and I often hear it turning on like it’s listening.

Too much now coming out about these devices listening and gathering conversations and your voice patterns,.....my question is, why? It is nefarious! will never have one in this household.These are not smart anything, they are thieves of your personal information and conversations. Don't get sucked in. Turn off your own lights, unlock your own doors, start your cooking yourself.

Mine stays disconnected until I want to use it so no overhearing me asking DH what he wants to eat for dinner. No power, it is dead as a rock.
I don't use mine but maybe a couple times a week. Takes about five seconds for it to come on. Takes me over half hour to find my phone. Google wins this hands down.

A smart phone already has the capability to listen and pick up 'alert words' if it is turned on and connected to a service. Alexia and Hey Google are the same as that smart phone setting on your table or in your pocket. If privacy is a main concern then anyone with any online presence has already lost it most of it.

A luxury I have thought about but would much rather be buying fabric!

Hey Google was $19.99 at Walmart when I bought mine. It's the basic simple model, it doesn't run my house. I like it because it will read a book to me while I'm sewing. No batteries or charging needed.

Awesome idea!!

I am so old fashioned that I would never use such a tool or "help". I lived way out in the country and did not even have electricity or running water and I never felt deprived. I know that I read at an early age and I treasure that ability.

My Daughter bought us one last Christmas. I was not interested but it was a gift. My husband set it up. It turns out we both love it. She cracks me up, she is so funny sometimes. We have a ball with it.

I'm with you on that one.

I've heard that they can listen to conversations, gives me the creeps.

I have the Alexa one and since I live alone not too worried about the eavesdropping aspect. You can set the privacy rules on it. But, I wanted it when I found out there was an app that would allow me to say "Alexa, ask my buddy to send help". You set up the app with phone numbers and names of contacts, and if you should fall or get incapacitated and are unable to access a phone in anyway (well except for the ability to speak) all you have to say is "Alexa, ask my buddy to send help", the app will send a text, an email, and a phone call to your designated buddy or buddies. They will know to contact you, call 911, or get to you ASAP. You work out those details with your buddy as to what you want them to do.
To me that was one reason enough to get one of those "assistants". I also use her for timers, ask some questions that I want a quick answer, however, I did find she doesn't know much about quilting :D They were on sale for the holidays last year and I have one in my bedroom, sewing room, kitchen, living room: the places I hang out most. The one in the bedroom can hear me from my bath just in case.