Alexa Ads coming?

[Scottmichaelj]

Amazon has big plans for Alexa ads in 2018

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/02/amazon-alexa-is-opening-up-to-more-sponsored-product-ads.html

[lilyoyo1]

I have mixed feelings. If I'm constantly buying certain things I wouldn't want them referring things to me that I don't buy

[paulbates]

The first thing I did on my echo account was turn off ordering. I only use it for ISY, and it's stated that the ads will be used for shopping only 

 

"A spokesperson for Amazon said the company has no plans to add advertisements to Alexa."

 

If it does start pitching things, it will be the next thing pitched. 

 

Paul

[Scottmichaelj]

The first thing I did on my echo account was turn off ordering. I only use it for ISY, and it's stated that the ads will be used for shopping only

 

"A spokesperson for Amazon said the company has no plans to add advertisements to Alexa."

 

If it does start pitching things, it will be the next thing pitched.

 

Paul

"We have to come up with the right monetization opportunity," said Doug Rozen, chief digital and innovation officer at media agency OMD. "But it can't get in the way of what we are trying to use these devices for."

[ScottAvery]

It just seems like a record breaking class action lawsuit in the making.  The devices were not sold with advertising in the model.

[larryllix]

I am starting to get the urge to toss everything "smart" out the window and get my life back.

[Scottmichaelj]

I am starting to get the urge to toss everything "smart" out the window and get my life back.

I am starting to feel the same way. Not sure if I was just getting to be a grumpy old man like my old man! So thanks for the reassurance I might not be. Unless your also a grumpy old man!

 

With all the patches, firewalls, and other random crap, to keep keep it running is starting to feel like a full time job that I don’t get paid enough to do (aka effort vs usefulness).

[Goose66]

It just seems like a record breaking class action lawsuit in the making. The devices were not sold with advertising in the model.

 

Class action, eh? Did you read that user agreement when you activated your first Echo device?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[io_guy]

First add I hear from Alexa converts it into a football going over my back fence.

[paulbates]

Class action, eh? Did you read that user agreement when you activated your first Echo device?

 

 

Yes, exactly... These contracts are buried in an avalanche of terms (mostly binding arbitration.. Note the links to links that have links... ) written so pretty much "its your fault".    It appears that by having shut off the buying capability, I reduce some of my own liability (not a lawyer, at the same time I will never turn buying on). When we're really paranoid, they let us delete recordings: www.amazon.com/mycd (device actions/manage recordings)

 

 

... With all the patches, firewalls, and other random crap, to keep keep it running is starting to feel like a full time job that I don’t get paid enough to do (aka effort vs usefulness).

 

That's the fine line I try to walk. One reason I came to the ISY from Homeseer because I was sick of windows & software service resuscitation, reboots, maint. and power requirements (pre-pi at the time). There's a power use footprint from all devices installed to manager power and HA.... 

 

My HA maint plan is

• ISY FW (on my 4th V5 FW in 2 years counting 10E),
• pi OS updates once a year, addressing wanna cry was an exception. Nodelink updates itself and its profiles, reboots the ISY,
• Asus router FW updates 2 - 3 times a year depending on security releases. (router, firewall, vpn service, NAS and security/IPS)  

I do admire the accomplishments of those that test out what technology can do, and set the bar higher for performance, security and capability, and also the growing functionality with V5 node servers. But other than looking at ways to securely "box in" iot on my network (our other discussion), I'm not spending more time in the server space this year.

 

Paul

[ScottAvery]

Class action, eh? Did you read that user agreement when you activated your first Echo device?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

What?  That they can change the terms whenever they want?  They can write whatever they want on a piece of paper but it doesn't mean it will hold up in court when it is not in the spirit of the agreement. 

 

The Device and Alexa terms make no mention of advertisements and they would not be able to prove in court that the advertisements are "improving my experience."  They set an expectation in their customer base when the added optional advertising to the Fire line as a means of reducing cost.  They have been selling them for what, 4 years?  I don't recall when they did the initial wait-listed sale as it does not appear in my history.  The change will not be accepted by their customers without a fight.

 

Even if the class action loses, it will inevitably be fought and settled to the tune on all echo purchasers getting a free month of some random amazon service as payment.​  Or maybe some free digital services dollars for music/books, but you will never know how much you have or which items qualify!

[larryllix]

Those written, verbal, and online agreement means nothing. As most find out the hard way, the piece of paper with all the policies and benefits mean nothing because they use hidden online policy changes to do whatever they want, whenever they want.

 

Until somebody gets real lawyer-ed up and sues the pants off them, this is not going to change. When you do this and threaten with legal formalities, my guess is everybody gets bought off with their signature on a non-disclosure agreement so the public will never know. 99.999999999999% (Teken approved calculation method ) of the time people will not pursue that hard or formally because their damages are not that great and usually more about hard feelings, like being scammed.

 

My son always toots back that he has a website with his policies regarding the agreement and if they haven't read it, or know where to find it, then it's their problem but he is not paying / fulfilling their new  demands.