Know before you buy [message #96556] |
Sun, 26 March 2023 08:49 |
Leot55
Messages: 226 Registered: June 2017
|
Master |
|
|
I know that smart TVs, soundbars, receivers, and standalone speakers aren't for everyone, but lately it's getting difficult to buy a product that doesn't already have the feature. I used to love Alexa and incorporated Amazon's products into my entire home theater. I have a FireTV, Echo Show, Home Studio speaker, and several Dots which make up my system. I also have an audio receiver and soundbar that works with Alexa.
Things were great for years. The products weren't always the cheapest option, but they were affordable, and they did what I needed them to do. Unfortunately, Amazon has completely changed how these products now work. They push advertising - constantly! You can supposedly tell Alexa to stop, but a new advertisement pops up in its place and the old ones come back the next week. It is impossible to turn them off completely. With every update, Amazon adds new ways to advertise to the consumer, and these options are automatically turned on. Amazon also uses updates to turn undesirable options back on that the user had turned off. The sponsored ads are relentless. It's like living with a billboard and carnival barker right in your living room. Amazon sells tablets with special offers. The user can pay a fee to stop those ads. Amazon is upfront about it before the consumer buys the product. On the other hand, there was no such warning on their other smart devices and there is no way to stop the ads.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Re: Know before you buy [message #96858 is a reply to message #96857] |
Tue, 18 July 2023 06:07 |
Rusty
Messages: 1185 Registered: May 2018 Location: Kansas City Missouri
|
Illuminati (3rd Degree) |
|
|
Madison wrote on Mon, 17 July 2023 20:10Have you considered changing Alexa's voice to one from a different country? I have mine set to Australia and I haven't been getting ads. I believe it's the only viable workaround at the moment.
What a great hack! Congratulations. Plus, I'd favor hearing Australian accents. Mate.
|
|
|