Because technology should be the means, not the end.

How can a great and wise civilization have destroyed itself so completely?” “Perhaps,” said Apollo, “by being materially great and materially wise, and nothing else.”

Walter M. Miller, Jr., A Canticle for Leibowitz

Tag: Alexa

Alexa and the Echo Dot on the Go

November 27, 2016November 9, 2022 Andrew Comeau 5 Comments

Amazon Echo Dot at my office. — Setting up the Echo Dot at my remote office and hoping Alexa will absorb some more technical knowledge.

I’ve been playing around the Amazon’s Echo Dot for just under a week now and was curious about its portability. Obviously, the hardware just needs a place to plug in and a Wi-Fi network to access but I was really wondering if I could run its data through my phone’s 4G hotspot. Public networks are fine and I don’t do any secure transactions through the Dot but I just had to know!

I have one of the Samsung Galaxy Prime phones which has served me pretty well for the past year. I don’t use the hotspot much but it comes in pretty handy when I want to login to a private site from a local restaurant and the MetroPCS 4G signal is really good in the area.

Personal Tech

My First 24 Hours With Alexa

November 23, 2016November 9, 2022 Andrew Comeau 2 Comments

Chatting with Amazon's Alexa and the Echo Dot

I couldn’t resist any longer and decided to welcome Amazon’s Alexa into my home. I was a little hesitant at first about letting Amazon put a microphone in my house but my curiosity won out. I live alone anyway and the device can always be unplugged if necessary. At worst, it might get me to stop talking to myself so much.

I wasn’t sure how useful the service would ultimately be but at $49.99, I decided the Echo Dot was affordable enough to take a chance on. Miniaturizing the Echo and setting the price low was a smart move on Amazon’s part. In addition to decreasing the cost of purchase, it also turns it into a potential repeat purchase as customers decide they want access to Alexa throughout their homes. Amazon is even offering the Dot in discounted 6- and 12-packs.

Hardware, Personal Tech