• ThunderLegend@sh.itjust.works
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    3 days ago

    I bought an Alexa echo long before I actually cared about privacy and I regret it a lot. It’s been a pricey paper weight since then. I wish I could flash some kind of OS and use it as a sound bar or something. I can’t even use the Bluetooth without signing in with amazon account, which requires a lot of data including phone number.

  • stellargmite@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    I’m amazed it didn’t already as someone who has never used or heard one being used. What’s the business model? Just the data harvesting for purpose of their other businesses?

    • Luffy@lemmy.ml
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      3 days ago

      After AI became a thing, Amazon decided you needed to pay a subscribtion to use Alexa with an LLM instead of the basic keyword recognition model

  • Bristlecone@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    I can’t even stand when my Google assistant says more than three words to respond 😂 if I start hearing ads out of that thing I will get rid of it faster than anything I’ve ever done

    • tomkatt@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      Not this one. I’ve been a Prime member for many years out of convenience (and because I live in the rurals and need to ship a lot of things to the house). Amazon completely fucked it up for themselves with regard to my subscription this past year or two, I’m done.

      • Removed the ability to download and sideload Kindle books
      • Ads in Prime Video
      • Followed by even more ads in Prime Video
      • Now this, and I don’t even own an Alexa device

      I’m done. Subscription is cancelled. I’ve found alternative sources for several things I need to buy monthly/regularly that I previously would purchase on Amazon. Video was already trashed, but I barely used it. I’ve jailbroken my Kindles, converted all my books to EPUB, and installed KOReader on them. Wasn’t a hard transition since I’ve had a Boox device as my main reader for some years now anyway. I’ve started buying my books from Kobo and other sources.

      Looking into other services for online purchases and shipping. It’ll be less convenient, and I’ll still buy from Amazon in the event I absolutely have to, but I’d like to minimize that now.

        • tomkatt@lemmy.world
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          3 days ago

          Depends on the model and firmware, but for most, Winterbreak is the current method.

          Do note if your Kindle is updated to version 5.18.x currently it’s not possible to jailbreak. There is ongoing work on a new exploit though, and a new jailbreak method (or update to Winterbreak) is expected later this year.


          Edit - actually, if you’re on firmware 5.18.0 the jailbreak may work. 5.18.1 and above it definitely doesn’t.

      • MangioneDontMiss@lemmy.ca
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        3 days ago

        I have a prime subscription, simply for the delivery and grocery discounts, but the ads on their streaming service have convinced me to stop using it entirely and just pirate all their shows / movies.

  • BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    Alexa has ads since the beginning and I can’t imagine that would change just because they are replacing the backend with AI. The first time Echo wasted my time trying to selling me something in my own home was also the last time. I don’t understand how anyone can be okay with that.

  • Rose56@lemmy.ca
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    3 days ago

    And yet people will buy it, like they did with Nintendo switch 2! See you when it really happens.

  • shalafi@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    Got 8 Google Minis around the house, mostly ceiling mount. First ad that comes out that bitches mouth, I’m taking a 12-gauge to every motherfucking one of them, patch the roof later.

      • shalafi@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        <pump-action sound>

        “How’s your supply of shells? Winchester is having a blowout sale on 00-buck. To learn more…”

      • shalafi@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        🎵I got a shotgun, and here’s the plot,

        Takin’ Minis out with a flurry of buck shot,

        Boom, boom, boom! Yeah, I was gunnin’,

        And then you look, all you see is Googles runnin’,

        And fallin’ and yellin’ and pushin’ and screamin’,

        And cussin’, I stepped back and I kept bustin’🎶