On 10/02/2023 at 22:30, Davey wrote:
I have purchased an Amazon Firestick, as the only way I can watch my Discovery+ subscription. The accompanying blurb implies that it automatically activates the dreaded Alexa. If there is any way I can de-activate her, I will!
Luddites unite!
I have a Firestick with built in Alexa. I just never use it and it
has never tried to annoy me!!!
I have purchased an Amazon Firestick, as the only way I can watch my Discovery+ subscription. The accompanying blurb implies that it
automatically activates the dreaded Alexa. If there is any way I can de-activate her, I will!
Luddites unite!
I have purchased an Amazon Firestick, as the only way I can watch my >Discovery+ subscription. The accompanying blurb implies that itIt seems they have the capability of listening all the time! My son's
automatically activates the dreaded Alexa. If there is any way I can >de-activate her, I will!
Luddites unite!
On Fri, 10 Feb 2023 22:30:59 +0000, Davey <davey@example.invalid>
wrote as underneath :
I have purchased an Amazon Firestick, as the only way I can watch my >Discovery+ subscription. The accompanying blurb implies that it >automatically activates the dreaded Alexa. If there is any way I can >de-activate her, I will!It seems they have the capability of listening all the time! My son's
Luddites unite!
family stick a blob of bluetak over the mic hole on their various
Firesticks! --- dunno if it helps but..
On Fri, 10 Feb 2023 22:30:59 +0000, Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote
as underneath :
I have purchased an Amazon Firestick, as the only way I can watch myIt seems they have the capability of listening all the time! My son's
Discovery+ subscription. The accompanying blurb implies that it
automatically activates the dreaded Alexa. If there is any way I can
de-activate her, I will!
Luddites unite!
family stick a blob of bluetak over the mic hole on their various
Firesticks! --- dunno if it helps but..
I have purchased an Amazon Firestick, as the only way I can watch my >Discovery+ subscription. The accompanying blurb implies that it
automatically activates the dreaded Alexa. If there is any way I can >de-activate her, I will!
Luddites unite!
On 11/02/2023 07:31, Charlie+ wrote:
On Fri, 10 Feb 2023 22:30:59 +0000, Davey <davey@example.invalid> wrote
as underneath :
I have purchased an Amazon Firestick, as the only way I can watch myIt seems they have the capability of listening all the time! My son's
Discovery+ subscription. The accompanying blurb implies that it
automatically activates the dreaded Alexa. If there is any way I can
de-activate her, I will!
Luddites unite!
family stick a blob of bluetak over the mic hole on their various
Firesticks! --- dunno if it helps but..
it might be possible to go into the config or settings menu and deactivate alexa from there.
Another option is to crack the case open and physically unsolder the microphone bit but obviously this wrecks your warranty.
Another option is to build and install a Pi Hole. You can then look into
the pi hole logs to see if the firestick is making contact with any Alexa backend servers and then you can block list these specific DNS.
If Firestick is using direct IP access, then Pi hole won't help you, you
will need to use wireshark at a point in your network where Alexa traffic
is known to transit to find out what these IP addresses are and then block that/those IPs in your ISP's router. Sorting through the packet capture
list is easier if you have the IP address of the Firestick.
I have purchased an Amazon Firestick, as the only way I can watch my
Discovery+ subscription. The accompanying blurb implies that it
automatically activates the dreaded Alexa. If there is any way I can de-activate her, I will!
Luddites unite!
--
Davey.
Surely the microphone is in the remote as it is on my samsung. The device listens locally and only responds if you either touch its speak button or
on some sets, you can set it to listen for the wake word.. I'm assuming on a remote control, it will have a button as then its not listening till you press it, so the noise of the remote going down the back of the sofa won't select some random function or channel.
Brian
Ah, just like the piece of paper I keep stuck over my laptop's inbuilt camera. I never have any reason to use it anyway.
I have purchased an Amazon Firestick, as the only way I can watch my >Discovery+ subscription. The accompanying blurb implies that it
automatically activates the dreaded Alexa. If there is any way I can >de-activate her, I will!
Luddites unite!
On Fri, 10 Feb 2023 22:30:59 +0000, Davey <davey@example.invalid>
wrote:
I have purchased an Amazon Firestick, as the only way I can watch my >Discovery+ subscription. The accompanying blurb implies that it >automatically activates the dreaded Alexa. If there is any way I can >de-activate her, I will!
Luddites unite!
Just don't press the blue button.
Unlike the Alexa loudspeaker gadgets, the Fire remote control only has
one microphone and is not listening all the time. Try saying "Alexa"
without pressing the button and see what happens, or rather, doesn't.
If you press it accidentally, you can cancel the onscreen invitation
to talk to Alexa, by pressing the home button.
So don't press the blue button.
Rod.
On 11/02/2023 07:31, Charlie+ wrote:
On Fri, 10 Feb 2023 22:30:59 +0000, Davey <davey@example.invalid>
wrote as underneath :
I have purchased an Amazon Firestick, as the only way I can watchIt seems they have the capability of listening all the time! My
my Discovery+ subscription. The accompanying blurb implies that it
automatically activates the dreaded Alexa. If there is any way I
can de-activate her, I will!
Luddites unite!
son's family stick a blob of bluetak over the mic hole on their
various Firesticks! --- dunno if it helps but..
it might be possible to go into the config or settings menu and
deactivate alexa from there.
Another option is to crack the case open and physically unsolder the microphone bit but obviously this wrecks your warranty.
Another option is to build and install a Pi Hole. You can then look
into the pi hole logs to see if the firestick is making contact with
any Alexa backend servers and then you can block list these specific
DNS.
If Firestick is using direct IP access, then Pi hole won't help you,
you will need to use wireshark at a point in your network where Alexa
traffic is known to transit to find out what these IP addresses are
and then block that/those IPs in your ISP's router. Sorting through
the packet capture list is easier if you have the IP address of the Firestick.
On Fri, 10 Feb 2023 22:30:59 +0000, Davey <davey@example.invalid>
wrote:
I have purchased an Amazon Firestick, as the only way I can watch my
Discovery+ subscription. The accompanying blurb implies that it
automatically activates the dreaded Alexa. If there is any way I can
de-activate her, I will!
Luddites unite!
Just don't press the blue button.
Unlike the Alexa loudspeaker gadgets, the Fire remote control only has
one microphone and is not listening all the time. Try saying "Alexa"
without pressing the button and see what happens, or rather, doesn't.
If you press it accidentally, you can cancel the onscreen invitation
to talk to Alexa, by pressing the home button.
So don't press the blue button.
Rod.
On Sat, 11 Feb 2023 10:17:18 +0000
Roderick Stewart <rjfs@escapetime.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
On Fri, 10 Feb 2023 22:30:59 +0000, Davey <davey@example.invalid>
wrote:
I have purchased an Amazon Firestick, as the only way I can watch my
Discovery+ subscription. The accompanying blurb implies that it
automatically activates the dreaded Alexa. If there is any way I can
de-activate her, I will!
Luddites unite!
Just don't press the blue button.
Unlike the Alexa loudspeaker gadgets, the Fire remote control only has
one microphone and is not listening all the time. Try saying "Alexa"
without pressing the button and see what happens, or rather, doesn't.
If you press it accidentally, you can cancel the onscreen invitation
to talk to Alexa, by pressing the home button.
So don't press the blue button.
Rod.
That sounds like an easy to remember option, When It is all up and
running, I will do tests on that basis.
Thanks, all, for the information.
On Sat, 11 Feb 2023 11:31:03 +0000, Davey <davey@example.invalid>
wrote as underneath :
On Sat, 11 Feb 2023 10:17:18 +0000
Roderick Stewart <rjfs@escapetime.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
On Fri, 10 Feb 2023 22:30:59 +0000, Davey <davey@example.invalid>
wrote:
I have purchased an Amazon Firestick, as the only way I can watch
my Discovery+ subscription. The accompanying blurb implies that it
automatically activates the dreaded Alexa. If there is any way I
can de-activate her, I will!
Luddites unite!
Just don't press the blue button.
Unlike the Alexa loudspeaker gadgets, the Fire remote control only
has one microphone and is not listening all the time. Try saying
"Alexa" without pressing the button and see what happens, or
rather, doesn't.
If you press it accidentally, you can cancel the onscreen
invitation to talk to Alexa, by pressing the home button.
So don't press the blue button.
Rod.
That sounds like an easy to remember option, When It is all up and
running, I will do tests on that basis.
Thanks, all, for the information.
Some Firesticks dont have a blue button on the remote, mine doesnt. C+
On Sun, 12 Feb 2023 07:56:01 +0000
Charlie+ <charlie@xxx.net> wrote:
On Sat, 11 Feb 2023 11:31:03 +0000, Davey <davey@example.invalid>
wrote as underneath :
On Sat, 11 Feb 2023 10:17:18 +0000
Roderick Stewart <rjfs@escapetime.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
On Fri, 10 Feb 2023 22:30:59 +0000, Davey <davey@example.invalid>
wrote:
I have purchased an Amazon Firestick, as the only way I can watch
my Discovery+ subscription. The accompanying blurb implies that it
automatically activates the dreaded Alexa. If there is any way I
can de-activate her, I will!
Luddites unite!
Just don't press the blue button.
Unlike the Alexa loudspeaker gadgets, the Fire remote control only
has one microphone and is not listening all the time. Try saying
"Alexa" without pressing the button and see what happens, or
rather, doesn't.
If you press it accidentally, you can cancel the onscreen
invitation to talk to Alexa, by pressing the home button.
So don't press the blue button.
Rod.
That sounds like an easy to remember option, When It is all up and
running, I will do tests on that basis.
Thanks, all, for the information.
Some Firesticks dont have a blue button on the remote, mine doesnt. C+
Mine is a kind of greeney-blue. The sparse instructions clearly
identify it.
I got the stick working, looked around at what was available, loaded my >already registered Discovery+ 'app' (I hate that abbreviation),
subscribed to nothing, and was instantly charged £3.99 for what? I will
ask Amazon, or DPlay, what this is all about.
On Sun, 12 Feb 2023 10:03:38 +0000, Davey <davey@example.invalid>
wrote:
On Sun, 12 Feb 2023 07:56:01 +0000
Charlie+ <charlie@xxx.net> wrote:
On Sat, 11 Feb 2023 11:31:03 +0000, Davey <davey@example.invalid>
wrote as underneath :
On Sat, 11 Feb 2023 10:17:18 +0000
Roderick Stewart <rjfs@escapetime.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
On Fri, 10 Feb 2023 22:30:59 +0000, Davey
<davey@example.invalid> wrote:
I have purchased an Amazon Firestick, as the only way I can
watch my Discovery+ subscription. The accompanying blurb
implies that it automatically activates the dreaded Alexa. If
there is any way I can de-activate her, I will!
Luddites unite!
Just don't press the blue button.
Unlike the Alexa loudspeaker gadgets, the Fire remote control
only has one microphone and is not listening all the time. Try
saying "Alexa" without pressing the button and see what
happens, or rather, doesn't.
If you press it accidentally, you can cancel the onscreen
invitation to talk to Alexa, by pressing the home button.
So don't press the blue button.
Rod.
That sounds like an easy to remember option, When It is all up and
running, I will do tests on that basis.
Thanks, all, for the information.
Some Firesticks dont have a blue button on the remote, mine
doesnt. C+
Point taken. On the firestick Lite it's a black button, but the same
advice applies. Older versions didn't have a microphone button at all,
but I think that means they didn't have the Alexa connection either so
it won't be listening.
Dedicated Alexa devices have multiple microphones so they can phase
their outputs as soon as the wake word is heard to give best response
in the direction from which it was heard, so that you can talk to the
device from anywhere in the room. When I had one (before the novelty
wore off) this was the property that impressed me most, as I had it on
a table in my living area but it could still decipher what I said if I
called down the stairs to it from the landing. A single microphone in
a remote control wouldn't have this advantage so would require you to
hold it somewhere near your face as for any other microphone, hence
also the need to push a button otherwise it would be constantly
picking up garbage it couldn't interpret.
Mine is a kind of greeney-blue. The sparse instructions clearly
identify it.
I got the stick working, looked around at what was available, loaded
my already registered Discovery+ 'app' (I hate that abbreviation), >subscribed to nothing, and was instantly charged £3.99 for what? I
will ask Amazon, or DPlay, what this is all about.
I would suggest that you to set a PIN code. It's under parental
control, but it means that you have to enter the code whenever you
order something that has to be paid for, which is a useful reminder.
Rod.
I thought a Pi hole must be an abbreviated version of a slang
mouth, so I might do some research. It sounds a bit complicated,
though, reading the reviews.
Just don't press the blue button.
Unlike the Alexa loudspeaker gadgets, the Fire remote control only has
one microphone and is not listening all the time. Try saying "Alexa"
without pressing the button and see what happens, or rather, doesn't.
If you press it accidentally, you can cancel the onscreen invitation
to talk to Alexa, by pressing the home button.
So don't press the blue button.
Rod.
On 11/02/2023 11:36, Davey wrote:
I thought a Pi hole must be an abbreviated version of a slang
mouth, so I might do some research. It sounds a bit complicated,
though, reading the reviews.
Pi as in Raspberry if that helps.
Andy
On 11/02/2023 11:36, Davey wrote:
I thought a Pi hole must be an abbreviated version of a slang
mouth, so I might do some research. It sounds a bit complicated,
though, reading the reviews.
Pi as in Raspberry if that helps.
Andy
| Sysop: | Keyop |
|---|---|
| Location: | Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK |
| Users: | 297 |
| Nodes: | 16 (2 / 14) |
| Uptime: | 08:48:43 |
| Calls: | 6,666 |
| Files: | 12,213 |
| Messages: | 5,336,260 |