Amazon's Alexa Passes 15,000 skills, Up From 10,000 in February (techcrunch.com)

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Amazon's Alexa Passes 15,000 skills, Up From 10,000 in February (techcrunch.com)

Posted by msmash on Wednesday July 5, 2017 @02:00AM from the craze-for-smart-speakers dept.

As more and more companies get into the smart speaker game, a new report shows just how much ground they have to make up to catch Amazon's digital assistant, Alexa. From a report: Amazon's Alexa voice platform has now passed 15,000 skills -- the voice-powered apps that run on devices like the Echo speaker, Echo Dot, newer Echo Show and others. The figure is up from the 10,000 skills Amazon officially announced back in February, which had then represented a 3x increase from September. The new 15,000 figure was first reported via third-party analysis from Voicebot, and Amazon has since confirmed the figure. According to Voicebot, which only analyzed skills in the U.S., the milestone was reached for the first time on June 30, 2017. During the month of June, new skill introductions increased by 23 percent, up from the less than 10 percent growth that was seen in each of the prior three months.

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Awesome. by sunking2 · 2017-07-05 02:03 · Score: 4, Funny

You know, like numchuku skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills... Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills!
1. Re:Awesome. by mfh · 2017-07-05 02:19 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  I get that you're joking but the erosion of our language to this pseudo-marketing language is devolving us completely as a species.
  No corporation can deny the meaning of common words.
  Skill is not the same as "number of apps interfacing with a hardware system," and this perversion of language continues to be tolerated.
  Corporations want this because it means they can make a word mean whatever will benefit them the most, either to limit their own culpability or to trigger a buying response.
  Amazon wants to take the word "skills" and apply it to "app-count" but if this was truly an amazing product, it would work on every app and not require special coding just to get it to work.
  
  --
  The dangers of knowledge trigger emotional distress in human beings.
2. Re:Awesome. by __aaclcg7560 · 2017-07-05 02:29 · Score: 1
  
  If you want to impress the ladies, making awesome deviled eggs during the holiday season is the skill to learn. One year I made 17 dozen deviled eggs for a half-dozen holiday parties. I was the most popular guy at every party.
3. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 02:31 · Score: 0
  
  And learn to dance, the ladies love it when you can get up and dance with them.
4. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 02:35 · Score: 0
  
  >...perversion of language ...
  I agree totally. With the introduction of Alphabet, Agile, Chrome, Metal, hell even Apple... it skews search engine results to companies instead of nouns/verbs. And worse is when reading news headlines, Which Capitalize Every Word, so it can be tough to distinguish words from proper companies or products.
  Can actual words be left alone please?!? Make up your company's name!!!
5. Re:Awesome. by __aaclcg7560 · 2017-07-05 02:39 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  And learn to dance, the ladies love it when you can get up and dance with them.
  Another useful skill. The first time I learned how to dance was when my date taught me the moves to "YMCA" by the Village People.
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QINoUyrP0BI
6. Re:Awesome. by XxtraLarGe · 2017-07-05 02:40 · Score: 1
  
  You know, like numchuku skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills... Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills!
  Yeah, but can it draw a Liger, known for its skills in magic?
  
  --
  Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
7. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 02:47 · Score: 0
  
  While you're at it, buy an Amazon Dot. In black, of course, to match my awesome Black MacBook.
8. Re:Awesome. by Shalian · 2017-07-05 02:56 · Score: 0
  
  I get that you're joking but the erosion of our language to this pseudo-marketing language is devolving us completely as a species.
  No corporation can deny the meaning of common words.
  Skill is not the same as "number of apps interfacing with a hardware system," and this perversion of language continues to be tolerated.
  Corporations want this because it means they can make a word mean whatever will benefit them the most, either to limit their own culpability or to trigger a buying response.
  Amazon wants to take the word "skills" and apply it to "app-count" but if this was truly an amazing product, it would work on every app and not require special coding just to get it to work.
  Really interesting choice of words since Apple decided that they can 'make a word mean whatever will benefit them the most' when they changed 'app' from being an appearance in a sport to 'software interfacing with a hardware system.' In riling against the practice you subtly reinforce it. Bravo!
9. Re:Awesome. by Wootery · 2017-07-05 03:01 · Score: 1
  
  I agree this choice of words is particularly insufferable.
  I don't follow Amazon's Alexa, so I had no idea what TFS was trying to say.
  It would have done better to put 'skills' (apps) rather than simply misusing the word the way Amazon do.
10. Re:Awesome. by mfh · 2017-07-05 03:04 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Really interesting choice of words since Apple decided that they can 'make a word mean whatever will benefit them the most' when they changed 'app' from being an appearance in a sport to 'software interfacing with a hardware system.' In riling against the practice you subtly reinforce it. Bravo!
  Slow down cowboy!
  App is short for application. Apps is the plural. You got this wrong totally. If Apple uses the term APPS, they are merely using the general term with the happy coincidence that it includes the first three letters of their company name.
  How many of you remember WAREZ APPS? Apple wasn't even a thing back then for most of us. :D
  
  --
  The dangers of knowledge trigger emotional distress in human beings.
11. Re:Awesome. by Waffle+Iron · 2017-07-05 03:26 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Skills skills are more skillful then LUDDITE apps! Only LUDDITE appsters lack skill skills!
  Skilly skill SKILLS!
12. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 03:35 · Score: 0
  
  DALNet killed the warez channels (in 03) before the iPhone (07) even existed. https://yro.slashdot.org/story...
13. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 03:43 · Score: 0
  
  Apple was a few decades late to the party with the word "app," dude. It already meant the same thing it does now before they started using it too. Prior to the iPhone, they just called it "application software" like about two thirds of the rest of the planet did.
14. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 04:07 · Score: 0
  
  If you want to impress the ladies, making awesome deviled eggs during the holiday season is the skill to learn.
  Yeah, the ladies are sure to get wet & sticky over one of the most basic recipes imaginable after "boiled water."
  
  One year I made 17 dozen deviled eggs for a half-dozen holiday parties.
  Wow, that must have taken you at least two hours. Bitches love a man who can spend two hours in the kitchen. I bet you got mad pussy, bro.
  
  I was the most popular guy at every party.
  Unspoken, but implied:
  1) You were the ONLY guy at every party;
  2) The female attendees at the party were simpletons and cripples;
  3) You have a rich fantasy life;
  4) You imagine that making a simple recipe can somehow redeem an unlikable shitstain.
  Seriously creimer.
15. Re:Awesome. by __aaclcg7560 · 2017-07-05 04:31 · Score: 1
  
  Bitches love a man who can spend two hours in the kitchen.
  All the men in my family are cooks. It's the only way to avoid food poisoning, as girls today don't take home economic classes in school.
  
  [...] an unlikable shitstain.
  You're thinking of Chris Christie. When he came up on the news during Fourth of July, I've told my friends that he reportedly weighed 320 pounds. Everyone knows I'm 350 pounds. My friends couldn't believe that I was slimmer than the governor even though I weighed more. As I pointed out, muscle weighs more than fat..
16. Re:Awesome. by mfh · 2017-07-05 04:37 · Score: 1
  
  User was friended for this comment. :D
  
  --
  The dangers of knowledge trigger emotional distress in human beings.
17. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 04:43 · Score: 0
  
  creimer is a narcissistic buffoon. Constantly puffing himself up and revising his past, so as not to confront the awful truth of his existence. A sort of Creimerological Congress, if Stanislaw Lem wrote creimer's life story.
18. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 04:50 · Score: 0
  
  If you want to impress the ladies, making awesome deviled eggs during the holiday season is the skill to learn. One year I made 17 dozen deviled eggs for a half-dozen holiday parties. I was the most popular guy at every party.
  Sure just like the story of how you passed an egg sized kidney stone. Your skill is laying cock eggs from your big dick. The ladies are shocked and mesmerized by your size and girth when you whip it out.
19. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 04:50 · Score: 0
  
  "It's the only way to avoid food poisoning, as girls today don't take home economic classes in school."
  Neither do boys, so what line of reasoning are you trying to establish?
  And what do girls in school today have to do with an almost 50 year old obese virgin?
  "You're thinking of Chris Christie"
  No, we know exactly what we're thinking of, you narcissist.
  "muscle weighs more than fat.."
  Or Christie is a huge liar. Nah, it's because you're a Mr Universe. Fuck off...
20. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 04:52 · Score: 0
  
  I get that you're joking but the erosion of our language to this pseudo-marketing language is devolving us completely as a species.
  No corporation can deny the meaning of common words.
  Skill is not the same as "number of apps interfacing with a hardware system," and this perversion of language continues to be tolerated.
  Get over yourself. Do you think "app" as in "software application" was used over 40 years ago? no.
  When I look up the definition of skill on dictionary.com, the first choice is "the ability, coming from one's knowledge, practice, aptitude, etc., to do something well"
  So, if a piece of software does something well, is it not "skilled"? Oh - but we're applying a term used to describe a person to describe software. Like "app"
  
  I really don't understand your confusion in the last sentence :
  
  if this was truly an amazing product, it would work on every app and not require special coding just to get it to work.
  So, you're saying along the lines of "if android was really great, it would run all iOS software." stupid.
21. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 05:06 · Score: 0
  
  All the men in my family are cooks. It's the only way to avoid food poisoning, as girls today don't take home economic classes in school.
  Wow, creimer, just when I think you can't get more ugly, you drop a sexist gem like this. "Bitches don't know how to cook to please they mans, so I have to learn how so they won't kill me." Did it ever occur to you that they may be mixing rat poison into your food to TRY and kill you, you fucking cuck? It's not that they don't know how to cook, it's that you're so unlikable that women want to murder you.
  
  You're thinking of Chris Christie.
  No, I'm thinking of Christopher Dale Reimer.
  
  When he came up on the news during Fourth of July, I've told my friends that he reportedly weighed 320 pounds. Everyone knows I'm 350 pounds. My friends couldn't believe that I was slimmer than the governor even though I weighed more. As I pointed out, muscle weighs more than fat.
  Yeah, a pound of muscle weighs more than a pound of fat, for sure! Muscle is DENSER than fat, you dipshit. "Muscle weighs more than fat" is exactly the type of nonsense statement that we would expect from you.
  And you are still a fat fuck. No amount of rows and biking will change that - you simply carry all your fat high on your torso, giving you an apple shape, as opposed to Christie's more traditional "pear shaped" body. Of COURSE you have some muscle content - you'd have to, to be able to truck that disgusting bulk around. But your repeated claims that your 350 pounds is "muscle" is bullshit.
  1) Hafór Júlíus Björnsson - the actor who playes "The Mountain" Gregor Clegane in the Game of Thrones franchise - is 6'9, 385-ish pounds, and has a caloric intake of 10,000 calories per day to maintain his vast bulk, which has a body fat percentage of ~ 16%. (http://www.businessinsider.com/mountain-game-of-thrones-diet-2016-4) -- he's not exactly a shredded, cut guy with no body fat, and he works out CONSTANTLY.
  2) YOU claim you eat 15% of that caloric intake, but manage to somehow maintain some ridiculously high muscle mass with an occasional jog-walk on a treadmill and some seated rows.
  YOU look NOTHING like Björnsson. You look like a fat guy wearing a corset who worked out for three days and then decided that gave you enough fitness to compete in a Mr. Olympia. He looks like a guy who has devoted hours a day for years to building his muscles, and eats nearly perfectly in order to maintain them.
  Your claims are IMPOSSIBLE in reality, and from this we may conclude that you are delusional, full of shit, and an idiot.
22. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 05:18 · Score: 0
  
  Who knew Cockmoon Rising was about creimer??
23. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 05:22 · Score: 0
  
  "If you want to impress the ladies"
  Yes, let's take advice from the obese middle-aged kissless virgin.
24. Re:Awesome. by kwbauer · 2017-07-05 05:25 · Score: 1
  
  So, we are complaining that Apple is using "app" as an abbreviation for "application" because "app" was previously used in some box scores as an abbreviation for "appearances"?
  I am assuming that the very fact that we have 2 words (in English) to describe the various ways that the a word can have multiple meanings (one for if they sound the same and one for if they sound different), that this phenomenon is not restricted to Apple and Applebees (free apps after 10 or whenever).
25. Re:Awesome. by __aaclcg7560 · 2017-07-05 05:37 · Score: 1
  
  1) [...] is 6'9, 385-ish pounds [...]
  Why are you comparing me to someone who 10" taller and 35 pounds heavier than me? Chris Christie is a better comparison because we're the same height and similar weight range. Except he's an obvious butterball and I'm obviously not.
  
  2) YOU claim you eat 15% of that caloric intake, but manage to somehow maintain some ridiculously high muscle mass with an occasional jog-walk on a treadmill and some seated rows.
  And I'm slimmer than Chris Christie even though I'm 30 pounds heavier.
26. Re:Awesome. by __aaclcg7560 · 2017-07-05 05:40 · Score: 1
  
  Yes, let's take advice from the obese middle-aged kissless virgin.
  Kissless? Phftt.... please.
27. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 05:48 · Score: 0
  
  Kissing your own reflection in a mirror does not count as kissing.
28. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 05:53 · Score: 0
  
  That's a gay anthem. You realize that, yes? Your sheltered religious upbringing notwithstanding.
  Your "date" was probably trying to tell you something. Oh, and gesticulating the alphabet is not really "dancing".
29. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 06:20 · Score: 0
  
  But what does that have to do with you being an unlikable shitstain?
30. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 06:37 · Score: 0
  
  Why are you comparing me to someone who 10" taller and 35 pounds heavier than me? Chris Christie is a better comparison because we're the same height and similar weight range. Except he's an obvious butterball and I'm obviously not.
  Because HE is 85% lean muscle mass. You keep making these claims about having all this muscle - the proof is right there. If you were comparable muscle mass to him, and 10 inches shorter, you would be *fucking jacked* - your muscles would have muscles of their own who were thinking about starting a family and having baby muscles themselves. Instead, you look like a big fat douche in a corset.
  As far as the comparison of yourself to Chris Christie - different body shapes look different. The camera adds pounds. Instead of guffawing about how silly Chris Christie looks in his beach chair, why don't you actually go stand next to him - I'll bet that the only "difference" is that the giant ring of fat around each of your bodies is centered at a different point - his is centered in the belly and hips, your is centered in the man-tits.
  Seriously, that you have a "more narrow waist" than Chris Christie is awfully faint praise. You carry your fat higher on your body than he does, you are not "skinny" because he "looks fatter." I'm betting that if we got a photo of the two of you next to each other without shirts on, he'd have a big gut and a comparatively smaller chest, while you'd have Triple-F man-titties, a pack of hotdogs on the back of your neck, and a comparatively smaller waist. Neither of you would "look" slim, or "be" slim - you'd still be two fat fucks. The only difference would be that Chris Christie is actually intelligent, powerful and influential, while you... well, are not.
31. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 06:59 · Score: 0
  
  " My friends"
  [citation needed]
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hDJdZNlhU0
32. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 07:13 · Score: 0
  
  Thanks, useless bot who contributed nothing!
33. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 09:12 · Score: 0
  
  Kissing your boss's asshole doesn't count either.
34. Re:Awesome. by Martin+Blank · 2017-07-05 09:43 · Score: 1
  
  Title case in headlines isn't new. A check of the New York Times headlines from a random date (April 7, 1936) shows that they used title case back then.
  
  --
  You can never go home again... but I guess you can shop there.
35. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 11:53 · Score: 0
  
  I get that you're joking but the erosion of our language to this pseudo-marketing language is devolving us completely as a species.
  When you start out this way, it immediately discredits whatever else you were going to say.
36. Re:Awesome. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 13:27 · Score: 0
  
  Be real, Chris Christie looks slimmer than you...plus he doesn't wear a corset. I doubt you have friends who stand around giving you complimentary comparisons to the state governor, because you social life seems to be logging on to Slashdot, telling weird stories about yourself, and the arguing with people who make fun of you.
  Anyway, notice the lack of neck rolls or corset on https://thenypost.files.wordpr....
37. Re: Awesome. by KGIII · 2017-07-05 14:34 · Score: 1
  
  Really?
  I am not sure if you're able to be that dumb and still find Slashdot. I will assume you're trolling, which is better than the alternative assumption.
  
  --
  "So long and thanks for all the fish."
38. Re: Awesome. by KGIII · 2017-07-05 14:57 · Score: 1
  
  The first dance, in part, you learned to do. Sorry for the correction but it kinda matters - at least to me.
  You almost certainly haven't learned to dance. You certainly didn't learn 'a first time' of how to dance. That's okay, really. You learned to give in time, r you did not. Professional dancers are the exception.
  I used to make extra money by playing in a band. I'm long since retired. However, there is no first time one is taught to dance. Once learned, it is not forgotten and learned anew. However, new specific moves may be learned.
  Can you count? The most difficult count you may have to do is count from 1 to 12 - assuming Western music of all types. Kinda like how we eventually standardized on 440 = A, we have a limited number of BPM.
  Follow the drum, and wiggle in time to that. There... You're now dancing. Jam band? Dig a hole by walking back and forth. Trance? Throw in a step to alternating sides and keep your arms synchronized. Rock? Keep your feet in the same range and work in a small circle.
  Etc...
  I can play loads of musical instruments, but I have never taken a formal dance lesson while sober. (Long story...) I have danced on five continents and haven't ever known the proper way to dance. I can fake a waltz and probably a few tango steps, for example.
  The whole point is learn to count and then wiggle in time with that count. Even on stage, I'm counting too. Just wiggle in time and few will know the difference, 'cause they aren't professional dances themselves. If you can count, you can dance. I have to believe you can coun to 12. If you can't, three fours make a twelve.
  Just wiggle in time. I have seriously danced on five continents. I am also not even remotely a dancer. I've even danced to aboriginal music, of many types. Didn't care, had fun.
  Seriously, wiggle in time with the music. Have confidence that yo can count to 12. You can even do something like stop-motion photography and make your dance moves look like you're burying a body, nobody will be the wiser. Just wiggle in time.
  Err... I've taken t recording lately. I'd be happy to show you what I play. I am trained as a classical guitarist, but took many years in percussion. Just learn to count. You can, with practice, take cues from the band.
  Then, you can write a book on dancing.
  
  --
  "So long and thanks for all the fish."
Skills? by Luthair · 2017-07-05 02:09 · Score: 2

I've never been able to convince anyone that farting is a skill.
1. Re:Skills? by Topwiz · 2017-07-05 02:26 · Score: 1
  
  I was wondering if one of those "skills" is that it would laugh whenever someone in the room farted.
2. Re:Skills? by Big+Hairy+Ian · 2017-07-05 02:41 · Score: 1
  
  This guys quite talented https://www.google.co.uk/url?s...
  
  --
  Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.
3. Re:Skills? by Rockoon · 2017-07-05 02:42 · Score: 1
  
  Farting is easy.
  
  Blowing that excess pressure out the other end on the other hand...
  
  --
  "His name was James Damore."
4. Re: Skills? by KGIII · 2017-07-05 15:10 · Score: 0
  
  This is probably going to sound like a lie. I'm okay with you disbelieving me. Still, I mst tell you about a chick we are going to call Zoe. Why are we going to call her Zoe? Well, that is her name.
  Anyow, she was my typical girlfriend at that time. She was pretty, pretty much insane, and pretty useless in the grander scale. She was a granola eating hippie chick with a false projection of being peaceful.
  One of her favorite things to do, assuming she didn't have to pretend to be someone else, was farting. Yup... A chick that farted. Other than the fact that she ate no meat and shaved nothing, she was really kinda attractive - except she loved farting.
  She'd fart and giggle. She'd force herself to fart. She'd even eat foods which she felt would help her fart. They weren't even odorless farts. She would Dutch Oven herself, and giggle.
  I don't have a point, except that women both fart and can be pretty juvenile about it. I haven't seen her in twenty, or more, years. She is probably out there and crop dusting to this very day. She is secure in the knowledge that she will be the last person blamed, simply because of her gender.
  So, if you meet a farting Zoe, you should try to have sex with her. She gave great head. Also, she is crazy. Like, cut herself kinda crazy. It's still a fun ride.
  
  --
  "So long and thanks for all the fish."
Self programming. by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 02:14 · Score: 1

Post when I can say, "Computer, analyze the data from the census bureau and tell me what counties in the USA grew the fastest over the one hundred years. Make it so."
"Computer, write me a video game where I can beat up CNN reporters and as I gain points, I become bigger and so does my hair but my fingers become shorter. The final prize is winning the tall beautiful Slovakian super model."
Giving Away Echo Dots by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 02:14 · Score: 0

Part of the reason there are so many more skills may be that they were giving away free Echo Dots if you added a skill in June. I received confirmation mine is on the way.
Only 42% malware by xxxJonBoyxxx · 2017-07-05 02:14 · Score: 3, Funny

>> Amazon's Alexa voice platform (now has) 15,000...apps

And only 42% of them are malware.
1. Re:Only 42% malware by EvilSS · 2017-07-05 02:19 · Score: 1
  
  >> Amazon's Alexa voice platform (now has) 15,000...apps And only 42% of them are malware.
  Source?
  
  --
  I browse on +1 so AC's need not respond, I won't see it.
2. Re:Only 42% malware by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 02:24 · Score: 0
  
  You're thinking of the Google Play store.
3. Re: Only 42% malware by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 02:53 · Score: 0
  
  Github, I assume
4. Re:Only 42% malware by xxxJonBoyxxx · 2017-07-05 03:03 · Score: 1
  
  >> Source?
  
  Same place the monkeys flew from, my friend.
5. Re:Only 42% malware by Darinbob · 2017-07-05 05:19 · Score: 2
  
  If it's anything like smart phones, where 5 apps out of 5 million are useful, then Alexa probably doesn't even have 1 useful skill.
It's a proprietary system by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 02:17 · Score: 1

Why are you people working for free to further Amazon's ambitions?
1. Re:It's a proprietary system by Darinbob · 2017-07-05 05:20 · Score: 1
  
  It's what slashdot is now. So many of us have adblock on that they've resorted to opening up the firehose to advertisers.
Real reason for expansion by frank_adrian314159 · 2017-07-05 02:21 · Score: 2

Amazon's Alexa voice platform has now passed 15,000 skills...
...and only 14500 of them start with "buy: or "purchase" .

--
That is all.
Still Can't understand what I say... by Oswald+McWeany · 2017-07-05 02:21 · Score: 1

15,000 skills and still misunderstands what I tell it 75% of the time.
Alexa's inability to understand an English accent is matched only by operators of fast-food drive thru restaurants in the US.

--
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
how to monetize? by trybywrench · 2017-07-05 02:23 · Score: 1

I did a skill to get a t-shirt back when they were running that promotion. I would like to write more but how do you monetize skills? Last I checked there's not like a "skill store" or anything.

I have an echo dot and I love it but just use it for news and timers more or less. It's useful when you have kids because you use it for timeouts hah "Alexa! set a timer for 10 minutes!". I also use it for music but not very much since the dot speaker isn't all that great.

--
I came to the datacenter drunk with a fake ID, don't you want to be just like me?
Spy apps? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 02:29 · Score: 0

Is that 15,000 counting the NSA/CIA/FBI/etc spying apps?
Number Headlines by Dripdry · 2017-07-05 02:29 · Score: 1

I'm often wary of headlines touting numbers. Doubly so when it involves a product, trebly so with anything political.
Oh yay, 15,000 apps (apps!) that aren't terribly useful. Very droll....

--
-
Most of them are shit by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 02:33 · Score: 0

The equivalent of when Apple padded out the App Store with fart apps and "torch" apps.
The solution is simple... by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 02:33 · Score: 0

... Learn you to speak right, hon.
I'll say, though, that the problem is with the general population; try being an American visiting a local fish-and-chips establishment in England—man, your lower classes are a rough and inscrutable bunch!
1. Re:The solution is simple... by Oswald+McWeany · 2017-07-05 03:34 · Score: 1
  
  ... Learn you to speak right, hon.
  I'll say, though, that the problem is with the general population; try being an American visiting a local fish-and-chips establishment in England—man, your lower classes are a rough and inscrutable bunch!
  I'm no "Lord of the Manor"; but, I believe my speech to be well annunciated and clear. (Just not an American accent). Even domestically, some of us have problems understanding people from some of the various regions.
  A southerner might have difficulty understanding some of the people from Liverpool or Newcastle.
  
  --
  "That's the way to do it" - Punch
2. Re:The solution is simple... by anybody_out_there · 2017-07-05 04:30 · Score: 1
  
  I'm no "Lord of the Manor"; but, I believe my speech to be well annunciated and clear.
  Are you the town crier? Are your annunciations well enunciated?
  Do you affect people such that it has a positive effect on them?
  (I'm sure I'll pay the price for being a silly pendant; where's that preview button? ;-) )
3. Re: The solution is simple... by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 05:15 · Score: 0
  
  If your accent was clear, then they would be able to understand you. Logic is not your ally. I guess you really are a European.
4. Re:The solution is simple... by kwbauer · 2017-07-05 05:31 · Score: 1
  
  So, you admit to having trouble understanding your own countrymen but complain that Americans have problems not understanding foreigners? Something seems just a tad off here. I can't quite put my finger on what exactly seems wrong about your attitude but maybe somebody else can.
5. Re: The solution is simple... by KGIII · 2017-07-05 15:16 · Score: 1
  
  You can't reason someone out of a position they didn't reason themselves into. Like most people, they believe they represent the norm, and maybe even the ideal. If the app has difficulty understanding them, it surely has nothing to do with their own shortcomings, but is the fault of others - including entire nationalities, even if our accents also vary greatly.
  I kinda doubt they will be along to mention that they are grateful for you having given them the chance to learn. Call it a hunch, but it seems unlikely that they will do so.
  
  --
  "So long and thanks for all the fish."
Age of consent by PopeRatzo · 2017-07-05 02:37 · Score: 3, Funny

Do any of you know if the Alexa AI has yet reached the equivalent mental age of a 16 year old? Asking for a friend.

--
You are welcome on my lawn.
WTF? by DogDude · 2017-07-05 02:39 · Score: 2

I read the article, and I still have no idea what this article means. What the fuck does "skill" mean in this context?

--
I don't respond to AC's.
1. Re:WTF? by Rockoon · 2017-07-05 02:44 · Score: 1
  
  It means the other "personal assistants" are beating it in functionality, so every little thing on the amazon device is declared a "skill"
  
  --
  "His name was James Damore."
2. Re:WTF? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 02:50 · Score: 0
  
  Yea, I don't get that either...
  Perhaps we could get some clarification.
3. Re:WTF? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 03:05 · Score: 0
  
  Skills = things you can buy from Amazon (marketing-speak)
4. Re:WTF? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 03:49 · Score: 0
  
  They are "plug-ins".
5. Re:WTF? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 05:30 · Score: 0
  
  Huh? Skills are products purchased through an Alexa? Not some ability of the Alexa? WTF?!?
  Are items bought not through Alexa un-skilled? This word choice is a word-smithing-nightmare.
6. Re:WTF? by kwbauer · 2017-07-05 05:33 · Score: 1
  
  Is Amazon trying to have Alexa have the same functionality as all "personal assistants"? I'm not sure I want a personal assistant with the capabilities of Bill Clinton's.
7. Re:WTF? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 11:55 · Score: 0
  
  "Skills" are plugins you can write for Alexa so that it will respond to new commands. They're just like apps that you interact with verbally, afaik.
who gives a shit if they are all shit by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 02:42 · Score: 0

15,000 pointless ways to talk to the spy in your house, fucking great...
what we get sold as the future is just fucking hyped up shit.
1. Re:who gives a shit if they are all shit by __aaclcg7560 · 2017-07-05 03:04 · Score: 1
  
  If you have a smart TV with a built-in video camera, you can be visually expressive to the spy in your house.
Horrible SKILLS by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 03:27 · Score: 0

Companies PLEASE for the love of language, stop appropriating regular words in your 'techy buzzword' lexicon.
What's described is not skill, not at all. And don't make it Skill either.
Shall we start using the word "confusion factory" when we really mean "commercial business"?
Still no reasons by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 03:47 · Score: 0

Still no reason to purchase it.
Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 03:50 · Score: 0

Alexa, play Classic Vinyl on SiriusXM? Seriously WTF?
still mostly useless by syrupdude · 2017-07-05 03:55 · Score: 1

and still it remains mostly useless. I say this not as a troll, but as a paying customer.
If I wanted to use the Alexa app for every goddammed thing I asked, I wouldn't have spent the money to begin with.
Bills by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 03:58 · Score: 0

There should be a skill on Alexa where you could pay your rent or electricity. You could then say that Alexa had the skill to pay the bill!
Skillz, I haz them by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 04:15 · Score: 0

Alexa play "mini tunes!" ..hot dog armour hot dogs...
What is Amazon Skill? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 04:16 · Score: 0

Perhaps someone can explain what Amazon thinks a "skill" is.
1. Re:What is Amazon Skill? by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 04:25 · Score: 0
  
  A skill is any marketable keyword which convinces consumers to buy, buy, buy.
Alexa keeps her Skills Up by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 04:19 · Score: 0

Due to extreme skill shortage in every human employee, total layoffs will now commence.
Yeah, but by wonkey_monkey · 2017-07-05 04:29 · Score: 2

Doesn't mean most of them aren't shit. There's one that reads out Zoidberg quotes, and another that plays firework noises. Yay.

--
systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
Meh by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 04:59 · Score: 0

Yo that Alexa bitch got mad skillz!
You HAVE to put adblock on by Anonymous Coward · 2017-07-05 07:20 · Score: 0

Unlike reddit's, Slashdot's ads are horrifically intrusive.