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Alexa is Coming To Windows 10 PCs From HP, ASUS and Others (engadget.com)

Posted by msmash on from the next-up dept.

An anonymous reader shares a report: Amazon's Alexa recently arrived on headphones and even toilets, but it's about to become much more ubiquitous by hitting Windows 10 PCs later this year. HP, ASUS and Acer have revealed that the voice assistant is coming to various models, including ASUS's ZenBook and VivoBook lineup, the HP Pavilion Wave, and select Acer Spin, Swift, Switch and Aspire notebooks. Amazon will release a special Alexa app in the spring, and laptop builders are tapping Intel's Smart Sound tech to make sure that the app can pick up your voice when you're not right next to your PC. "Hands-free access to Alexa on PCs can be helpful to customers in many ways, like making it simple to interact with your smart home, get news or weather, set timers, and more," Amazon Alexa VP Steve Rabuchin said in a statement.

99 comments

  1. The article didn't state by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    why I would want this?

    1. Re: The article didn't state by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      To interact with your smart home and configure your cloud apps by using AI. Also you will look like a lil bitch in front of your friends if you don't buy it.

    2. Re:The article didn't state by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      *You* aren't the customer -- like the cellphone applications that you don't want, it will probably be pushed onto "your" device and you won't be able to delete it or shut it off.

    3. Re:The article didn't state by Austerity+Empowers · · Score: 2

      you might pay more for a PC tho if it didn't have it installed, so there's that angle. Similarly not having a webcam and not having a microphone are increasingly features i'd want in a PC if I were going to buy one rather than build one.

    4. Re: The article didn't state by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can remove any camera with a high tech scotch.
      What interests me is that winblows already offers a nonremovable spyware cortana.

    5. Re: The article didn't state by sdinfoserv · · Score: 2

      Exactly why I don't want it. Thank you.

    6. Re:The article didn't state by mark-t · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The power button, perhaps? Windows 10 is a desktop OS, after all.

      --
      File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
    7. Re:The article didn't state by nospam007 · · Score: 3, Funny

      "why I would want this?"

      It's progress.
      When you now say on a public toilet:
      There's no fucking paper!"
      Nothing happens.

      On the new toilets you say:

      "Alexa, there's no fucking paper!"

      You'll get a response:
      "Order for toilet paper confirmed, stay put until monday."

      Or in select cities:
      "Stay put for 2 hours."

    8. Re:The article didn't state by coofercat · · Score: 3, Funny

      Surely you 'set timers' all day long don't you? I mean, I probably spend literally microseconds per month setting timers that would be oh so much easier if only someone could give me a voice controlled one.

      Even Amazon can't think of a good reason for Alexa on your PC. That's okay, neither can I.

      This is obviously all just part of a plan to flood the market with Alexa so that literally every calculator and laser pen has it. Hell, you'll soon walk into some people's houses and say "hey Alexa" and have 5 devices all answer you. Setting timers will never be quite so easy as it is now. So long as Alexa is there though, then Google probably isn't (or can be kept out), and god forbid Cortana or Siri should ever get anywhere.

    9. Re:The article didn't state by interkin3tic · · Score: 2

      Also didn't state why amazon didn't do this before. They can't be making much money off the dots at $35, and if google or apple smart assistant gains more users, they'll have lost a big edge on their store.

    10. Re:The article didn't state by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Christ you're an idiot. Turn the machine off is your snarky response? Try harder kid.

    11. Re:The article didn't state by Hylandr · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Install Linux. The kids all have it these days. My wife and I are the only holdouts.

      --
      ~ People that think they are better than anyone else for any reason are the cause of all the strife in the world.
    12. Re:The article didn't state by squiggleslash · · Score: 5, Funny

      In two hours, an Amazon employee will use the Amazon Smartlock(TM) on your front door to enter your house, go to your bathroom, unlock the bathroom with the Amazon SmartBathroomLock, enter, replace the toilet roll on your toilet roll holder, dispose of the empty roll, and spray a deodorizing spray, all while you sit on the toilet and watch.

      And it's all part of your Amazon Prime subscription.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    13. Re: The article didn't state by Opportunist · · Score: 2

      Erh... the problem is, I WOULD look like a little ignorant bitch in front of my friends if I DID buy it...

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    14. Re:The article didn't state by Opportunist · · Score: 2

      I think it's time to cancel my Prime...

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    15. Re:The article didn't state by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      *You* aren't the customer -- like the cellphone applications that you don't want, it will probably be pushed onto "your" device and you won't be able to delete it or shut it off.

      There WILL be customer driven apps or hacks to turn it off. Bet your Amazon gift cards there will.

    16. Re:The article didn't state by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you might pay more for a PC tho if it didn't have it installed, so there's that angle. Similarly not having a webcam and not having a microphone are increasingly features i'd want in a PC if I were going to buy one rather than build one.

      Desktops typically don't come with a microphone (and I've never owned a laptop). I only plug in my microphone if I'm gaming with someone. (and I don't typically do multiplayer).

    17. Re:The article didn't state by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 1

      Doesn't the power button just put Windows in a sleep/hibernate state? I bet Alexa is still listening.

      --
      Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
    18. Re:The article didn't state by dwillden · · Score: 1

      You, are no geek or nerd. Every true geek or nerd has dreamed of speaking to his computer since the dawn of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Only Alexa responds to the wrong prompt and doesn't sound like Majel Barrett-Roddenberry.

      This has a ways to go, but in many ways is achieving that geeky dream. Giving us handheld communicators with global reach. (you can even get Bluetooth broaches for that variant of the experience.)
      Now if we can just get Warp drives, anti-gravity and gravity controls, Holodecks, replicators and transporters.

      --
      I'm too lazy to compose a creative sig.
    19. Re:The article didn't state by dwillden · · Score: 1

      Amazon will pay Linus to integrate it into the next build of the Kernel. Or Intel and AMD to build it into the core processor functions of every CPU. Amazon will own your soul one way or another.

      --
      I'm too lazy to compose a creative sig.
    20. Re: The article didn't state by Luckyo · · Score: 1

      Cortana is removable. You just need a decent third party "windows 10 castration application" to do it.

    21. Re:The article didn't state by dwillden · · Score: 2

      And the paper will have an x-rated pattern printed on it. Alexa strives to meet every aspect of your request.

      --
      I'm too lazy to compose a creative sig.
    22. Re: The article didn't state by The+Real+Dr+John · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I don't even want Windows 10, and certainly don't want Amazon's Alexa in my OS anyway. Amazing how Microsoft can't figure out any way to make Windows 10 attractive to so many consumers and grasps at straws like Alexa.

      --
      A brain is a terrible thing to waste... Mind? That's debatable.
    23. Re:The article didn't state by mark-t · · Score: 1

      Yes, but that is user-selectable. Plus, thereâ(TM)s always the mains switch in the back, attached to the power supply, if the situation gets really dire. Unless you were in the middle of a large disk-write when cutting power, windows will generally recover from it at next bootup quite handily

      --
      File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
    24. Re:The article didn't state by Hylandr · · Score: 1

      I call your Amazon - Torvolds purchase and raise you a Forked Repo.

      --
      ~ People that think they are better than anyone else for any reason are the cause of all the strife in the world.
    25. Re:The article didn't state by pr0fessor · · Score: 1

      Wouldn't putting Alexa on your pc just result in Cortanna and Alexa having a cat fight...
       

    26. Re:The article didn't state by KingMotley · · Score: 1

      We set timers probably 15 times a day. Mostly for cooking and having a voice controller timer while cooking and your hands are either full, or covered in food is actually very nice.

      As for being on the PC, well... In the past week:
      Twice I was either working later than I normally do, or on a day that I don't normally do, so I had to change the thermostat. Once I did it via the web on my PC, the other I yelled at Alexa in the living room from my office to do it. I guess I could get a dot for my home office, but I have a PC here, so that would have been nice.
      I needed to add some things to my to do list, which would have been nice to do from my PC via Alexa.
      I've created appointments/reminders a few times this week where it would have been nice as well (If it synced with my Outlook reminders which I could set up, but haven't yet).

      Your imagination is either very poor, or you just don't like change.

    27. Re:The article didn't state by magarity · · Score: 1

      Wouldn't putting Alexa on your pc just result in Cortanna and Alexa having a cat fight...

      More like a cycles fight, especially when both are combined with the Meltdown and Spectre fix drivers.

    28. Re:The article didn't state by dwillden · · Score: 1

      Likely, although with a forked repo, Other distro's could remain Alexa (aka HAL) free. If Alexa (aka Skynet) is to take over the network it must be deployed to every platform possible.

      --
      I'm too lazy to compose a creative sig.
    29. Re:The article didn't state by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Handjobs, like 1-day shipping, will be offered intermittently. :)

    30. Re:The article didn't state by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have dreamed of that since *long* before ST:TNG, and was even experimenting with voice-recognition devices as far back as the VOXBOX accessory on my TRS-80 Model I, so my geek credentials are fully intact, thankyouverymuch.

      The point at issue here is that I have indeed dreamed of speaking to MY computer, and having it do things for ME based on MY wishes. I have NOT, however, dreamed of speaking to a computer which is only "mine" in the sense that I have physical possession of it, but which has in fact been hijacked by Microsoft and Amazon to do what THEY wish it to do based on THEIR desire to monetize and data-mine every waking (and probably sleeping) moment of my existence for their own ends.

      The future we *wanted* was "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century", where our personal robots and computer assistants simply did what we asked them to. What we're *getting* is "1984", where the telescreens and listening devices report everything we say and do back to Big Brother. If trying to avoid the latter makes me less of a "true geek" in your eyes, then so be it. Enjoy living in your goldfish bowl.

    31. Re:The article didn't state by spire3661 · · Score: 1

      The Star Trek computer is a voice command interface, not an 'assistant'. If you watch Star Trek closely, they use voice to narrow the search field and then almost always look at the drilled-down data on a screen. Further, The Star Trek computer doesn't attempt to 'be nice', or use colloquial phrases. When i tell Cortana to play a song, she gets cheeky and REPLIES instead of just playing the song. The Star Trek computer never attempts to be my friend or buddy up to me. We DO NOT WANT an assistant, we want voice command.

      --
      Good-bye
    32. Re: The article didn't state by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Microsoft has their own AI called Cortana, so they are not pushing Alexa, laptop makers are the ones doing this. I know it's difficult, but try to be informed before voicing your opinion.

    33. Re:The article didn't state by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You don't, but the corporations do. Nobody will ask you if you want to install the Alexa, you will just get it any day as a critical system update.

    34. Re:The article didn't state by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And the po-po will say: "Give us all of the word spoken by nospam007 in the last two years, and search for angry tones. Give us all the dates and times for those."

    35. Re:The article didn't state by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't understand. It would be easier to just put Dash buttons in all the toilet rooms!

    36. Re: The article didn't state by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Glad to know that you, AC, are safe. I can sleep at night now.

    37. Re:The article didn't state by ls671 · · Score: 1

      Amazon will pay Linus to integrate it into the next build of the Kernel...

      I would bet they will pay Lennart Poettering to incorporate it into systemd instead.

      --
      Everything I write is lies, read between the lines.
  2. That's not the only Intel tech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "builders are tapping Intel's Smart Sound tech.."

    That's not the only Intel tech people have been "tapping" into lately.

  3. This is why my dad has never seen a turkey. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Trump is a tremendous amount of money and he is a tremendous tool to be able to make it work. I donâ(TM)t want you guys in my luggage and you need me to grab it. This game was so good it just needs to level the speed of the game.

    1. Re:This is why my dad has never seen a turkey. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I couldn't agree more.

    2. Re:This is why my dad has never seen a turkey. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why you shouldn't post under the influence of drugs.

    3. Re: This is why my dad has never seen a turkey. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If he posted dictating to Alexa, the meds would be on the way, secretly ordered by her.

  4. Waiting for suppository version by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    so it goes where it belongs.

    1. Re:Waiting for suppository version by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      They tried that, but the sound was kinda muffled.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  5. Uh oh Amazon and MS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why would I not want anything to do with that couple over there?

    "Hey Amazon, this is the telemetry stuff we normally pull from Joe Schmoe using his regular PC." (nods toward a thick wad of 132-column perforated continuous form folded paper)

    "No, this is your pile. That, right there is mostly NSA stuff, they'll be picking it up within the hour"

    "So, this is *your* stuff. Any more questions; you know how to reach us. See you"

  6. Arms Race by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Putting Alexa on toilets is just the first step in ensuring a crappy race to the bottom, which I'm sure HP will have no problem winning.

  7. Alexa Flush.,, by cdreimer · · Score: -1

    Alexa, please flush the toilet.

    Sorry, Dave, I can't do that until you wipe your ass.

    1. Re:Alexa Flush.,, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Still blazing it up with CNN?

    2. Re:Alexa Flush.,, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's nothing. Check out the thumbnail for creimer's channel trailer. Notice the Alien Trespass movie poster that is cutoff in the background?

      LIEN - A right to keep possession of property belonging to another person until a debt owed by that person is discharged.

      SPASS - Whenever sperm inside a womens anus returns out with connected wind. Frequently features a brown tinge.

    3. Re:Alexa Flush.,, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I really had no idea. He's a man-child, a victim of life.

      Be honest. You knew that even before seeing the video.

      Nothing from the video was really a surprise except for the speech impediment/teeth.

    4. Re:Alexa Flush.,, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We're still going to treat creimer like shit. Retards don't belong on Slashdot.

    5. Re:Alexa Flush.,, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      His author channel had 550+ views (90% increase) and 1+ subscriber in the last 30 days. The weekly channel has 13 videos and 6,283 views.

      https://socialblade.com/youtube/c/cdreimer

      His precious metals channel had 859+ views (11% increase) and 7+ new subscribers. The semi-monthly channel has 64 videos and 19,151 views.

      https://socialblade.com/youtube/channel/UCvIGUWCSXk7Guv9m1UNAsgw

      His efforts on YouTube don't look like a joke.

    6. Re:Alexa Flush.,, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Chris is too busy pimping his current YouTube video. Please leave a message and he might get back to you on Thursday when he is in between videos. *click*

    7. Re:Alexa Flush.,, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Last month, the asshat trolls didn't check out your Youtube Channel. This month, they do. That's the entire trend. You can't keep repeating it ad nauseam. You aren't on some massive upswing to become the next Darksyde Phil.

      Hasn't $75 over three years convinced you it's not working out? You could earn one hundred times that, and it would still be dwarfed just by your normal salary. $75 isn't even enough to pay your commission from all the money you've lost "investing" in old coins. You could have used all that time and money doing something productive.

    8. Re:Alexa Flush.,, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Have you ever stopped to consider why Chris is promoting YouTube channel on Slashdot? He has more fans than "asshat trolls" who are happy to click on his links and feed the YouTube algorithm with external users. Seriously, you're the problem here. Stop paying attention to him and he will leave for a few years.

    9. Re:Alexa Flush.,, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Chris, you can promote all day long and maybe get your viewership up...what? Twice what it is now? Ten times?

      Your latest video has 12 views. 120 views will (in the real world) not earn your 12 cents, it will earn you nothing. The cause is hopeless. If you want more money, work on getting a better job or move out of the Bay Area. If you want to have fun, pick up some kind of enjoyable hobby.

    10. Re:Alexa Flush.,, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Never mind his dysfunctional family, can you imagine the horrific abuse he must have endured in a 1980s high school?

      Have you paid attention to anything that creimer wrote in the last 10+ months? Or are you besotted with your own brain farts?

      Chris graduated from Special Ed in the eighth grade, skipped high school, worked in construction with his father for a few years, and graduated from community college with his first associate degree in General Education. After starting his technical career, he went back to community college to earn his second associate degree in computer programming with a 4.0 GPA and making the college president's list.

      The entertainment value has dropped dramatically for me, he looks like an average homeless person to me now, and it's no fun punching down.

      Except you're still here making your idiotic comments, accusing every AC of being Chris and rationalizing your own bullying behavior. Look in the mirror and you will find a troll staring back at you.

    11. Re:Alexa Flush.,, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's no end to your rationalizations of abusive behavior.

    12. Re:Alexa Flush.,, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ok chris. So by this account one would predict that you'd be making something approaching normal tech worker pay for silicon valley. You do not make normal pay though.
      At this point you're supposed to sit down and scratch your chin and consider why not. You should be identifying actions for the next step in your career progression, "Carl took a class in JRubyPenis and he was promoted and makes lots of money, I should do this too"
      "Mary applied at KellyOfficeNappers and got a better position, I should do that"
      "Jodie got his CISSP and doubled his pay"

      But instead you scratched your chin and got involved in precious metals and youtube crap. I guess you can make money off this stuff but very little in life pays off like enriching an IT career in Silicon Valley, so you should be concentrating more on that.

      It's my opinion that you're intelligent enough for complex tasks like programming but for whatever reason your judgment and executive function is extremely poor.
      Think about it like this. If there was a safe with a keypad and 4 digit display, the safe contains a million dollars... and above it there is a tree with 1000 5 dollar bills attached to it. You can shake the 5 dollar bills off the tree and they'll fall off, maybe new ones will grow maybe not.
      Or you can punch all 10,000 combinations into the safe until it opens.

      You're shaking the fuck out of that tree and you're reading books about tree shakers who didn't have safes at the bottom of their trees.

      In school you did fine because you had people with normal judgment to guide you but in normal life the only guidance you have is from your boss, who will never tell you to work on opening your safe even if he plans on getting rid of you at the end of your contract.

    13. Re:Alexa Flush.,, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why don't you reply directly to Chris? I doubt he reads these comment pits that you create for him.

    14. Re:Alexa Flush.,, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why don't you stop pretending you're a third person, Chris? All it does is prove " your judgment and executive function is extremely poor".

      Jiminy Crickets, what happened to you to make you like this?

    15. Re:Alexa Flush.,, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But, but Alexa, the toilet is going to plug if I flush both my megaload and the paper together. I need to flush my load separately first!

      https://science.slashdot.org/c...

  8. Alexa and Cortana fight by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This will be the voice assistant version of IE vs Netscape. If Windows 10 S doesn't allow other browsers, then Microsoft won't allow Alexa on it either.

  9. CustomersDontMatter by sdinfoserv · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Just like the evisceration of NN so the wealthy and powerful corporations can pillage- it no longer matters what we as consumers want. 80%+ of Americans supported Net Neutrality, yet it was killed anyway.
    https://www.washingtonpost.com...
    What you or I want as "free" Americans in a "Democratic" society no longer matter. If a company can extract our personal information it will at any cost to our liberties or pocket book.

    1. Re:CustomersDontMatter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm sure that 80% of Americans did not care about Net Neutrality either way. People who did and do care about Net Neutrality may be 80% in favor, but with no reliable poll of that sentiment, I don't know what to do with that guess. The simple fact of the matter is that you still do not have to buy Alexa or something that comes with Alexa. At the very least, there's Open Source, but there are also commercial options that exclude Alexa. People buy things with Alexa. People buy Alexa. They pay for that stuff. I'd like to think they don't want it, but voluntarily paying for something is a pretty strong indicator that people want what they buy. Perhaps people just don't want the same things that you want?

    2. Re:CustomersDontMatter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah when the jackbooted thugs forced me to purchase an electronic device with a microphone in it I definitely thought that was a bit much.

    3. Re:CustomersDontMatter by sdinfoserv · · Score: 2

      Perhaps, before you post, Coward, you should read the link. A a vast majority, including 3 out of 4 REPUBLICANS opposed the repeal of Net Neutrality on the eve of the vote. Which contradicts with the GOP storyline of "pesky Government interference" by regulation of providers.
      Just like "pesky Government interference" requiring fire escapes or defining child labor laws. Corporations have shown little respect for safety to people, the environment or human rights. So, unfortunately, when Corporations fail to act responsibly, it falls on Governments to ensure the public safety and welfare.

    4. Re:CustomersDontMatter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A vast majority of what? People in a survey that probably had leading questions? If you think that 80% of Americans have an opinion on Net Neutrality or even know what that is, you need to get out more.

    5. Re:CustomersDontMatter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > 80%+ of Americans supported Net Neutrality, yet it was killed anyway.

      That's because the US system is broken. The admin agencies are a branch of the executive, not at the service of the people. People need to wake up and fix the system instead of bitching about the broken system being broken.

  10. Off my new laptop list by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    So, conveniently can remove the following laptop from my list of possible new laptops to replace my agin ASUS Zenbook this spring -ASUS's ZenBook and VivoBook lineup, the HP Pavilion Wave, and select Acer Spin, Swift, Switch and Aspire

    1. Re:Off my new laptop list by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why avoid it? I'm not sure how you handle all this NSA/telemetry/data collection but for me I just wipe out windows and put on linux and for 99% of the problem...solved.

      Then your not worried about the software and just checking out the fancy shiny bling hardware.

      Or you could ditch both, get a raspberry pi. Screw the hardware screw the software, just get a working box with das blinken lights

    2. Re:Off my new laptop list by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I just want to pee in your butt.

  11. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 0

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  12. Another "Assistant"? by cyberpunkrocker · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I've already disabled Cortana on Windows 10 and Google Assistant on Android, Alexa is just yet another privacy-invading annoying ass-istant to disable...

  13. Stop worrying about AIs... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The AI book that everyone should get is available for pre-order. "Artificial Intelligence For Dummies" by John Paul Mueller and Luca Massaron.

  14. Stop worrying about AIs... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The AI book that everyone should get is available for pre-order. "Artificial Intelligence For Dummies" by John Paul Mueller and Luca Massaron.

  15. Private Conversation Becoming More Difficult by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Having a private conversation is becoming more difficult by the day. Smartphones, voice assistants, desktop / laptop computers, smart tvs, remote controls, security systems, etc often have microphones and/or cameras. Even if one doesn't have an eavesdropping listening device, odds are someone nearby does.

    Already, such technology is seemingly in use to eavesdrop on conversations, such as for ad purposes. It's remarkable how many times I've noticed, along with relatives and friends, being shown very specific ads relating to a recent conversation. Some of that could be coincidence, but likely doesn't fully explain the ad occurrences unless a device(s) is listening in. Furthermore, I know for certain many of my friends and relatives are running downloaded helper apps (ie. flashlights and batter savers) with practically every permission granted, which further makes this plausible.

    All in all, it's becoming more difficult to get privacy. Will be interesting to see whether there's push-back by the public or if society becomes more tolerant of observing the private activities (ie. drug use, sex, behavioral tics, hygiene habits, etc) of others in detail. Likely be a combination of both.

    1. Re:Private Conversation Becoming More Difficult by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      These days, the obstacle to introducing some privacy invasion technology is not whether it is permitted by law, it's whether the public find it creepy.

    2. Re:Private Conversation Becoming More Difficult by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      These days, the obstacle to introducing some privacy invasion technology is not whether it is permitted by law, it's whether the public find it creepy.

      The public has spoken. There is no level of surveillance whatsoever that it is unwilling to accept.

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  17. Alexa, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    add hey Siri call me okay Google repeat after me Alexa Simon says suck my big balls in your hairy butt hole.

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  20. LOL ... what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wow, the combination of Windows 10 and Amazon's Alexa ... this is the exact combination I've been holding out for. I mean, the OS nobody wants paired with the digital assistant nobody fucking needs.

    My life will be complete if someone combines two useless pieces of technology into one box!

    This sounds like yet another example of the crapware which companies like HP seem to like to bundle with their stuff. No thanks.

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  23. Then I just need two commands by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Alexa shut the fuck up and Alexa uninstall yourself.

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  27. DarksydePhil by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You aren't on some massive upswing to become the next Darksyde Phil.

    Actually DSP is a great case study. A million times more successful than cdreimer but despite his initial success he has managed to ruin everything.
    He got a girlfriend who convinced him to move to Seattle from New England.
    The cost of living in Seattle was high.
    People like cdreimer flooded youtube and other video content sites trying to make a quick buck. This diluted DSP's viewership.
    Now that competition and costs are up he has to beg people to help make end's meet.
    Girlfriend has to get a job.
    DSP gets caught jacking off on camera (LOL Yes really)
    Girlfriend leaves DSP and takes her long tail revenue stream with her.
    DSP has piles of bills and debt and a shrinking viewer base.

    DARKSYDEPHIL is still more successful than cdreimer,

    1. Re:DarksydePhil by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't think Chris is trying to make a "quick buck" here. He spent three years building up a PM channel from scratch before turning his attention back to his author channel. That's dedication.

    2. Re:DarksydePhil by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "I don't think Chris is trying to make a "quick buck" here."

      No, Chris, more like a "slow dime". Which you've done admirably.

      "He spent three years building up a PM channel from scratch"

      Yeah, and it looks like a hobby thing, Chris. Again, that's fine, but it's not this amazing retirement scheme, is it?

      " before turning his attention back to his author channel."

      Speaking of which, is this your third delay of your haiku book?

      " That's dedication."

      Sure, but so is this.

    3. Re:DarksydePhil by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Chris Dale Reimer.
      Most people aren't smart enough to write a computer program or set up a datacenter. Chris can.
      Most people aren't born in Silicon Valley. Chris was.
      Most special needs kids won't graduate college or have a real career. But Chris did.

      But here you stop. So close.

      So much potential, so much good fortune, and so many obstacles overcome. Here you will sit blocked by your unusual deficiencies. A better lifestyle has sat more or less within your reach for years and you never grabbed it. Wealth like only 1 in 10 living Americans will ever see, wealth like 1 in 10,000 or more humans living in the past 100 years will ever see.

      Instead you're putzing around with the kind of income potential that would be a nice compliment to a part time job and food stamps. Really chris what the fuck are you doing?

      Does it make you happy when people say stuff like "Fuckoff he's obviously special needs?" Someone who says those words thinks that you're a broken dependent human being who is incapable of self-improvement. Like a perpetual kid. Is he right?

  28. Wasting your career, wasting your opportunity. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Darksydephil did even more than you.
    Doesn't matter if all the people on youtube are making a quick buck or a slow buck they're all chasing the same dollars.
    DarkSydePhil made LOTS of money and made LOTS of mistakes. But the only thing that has made his lifestyle unsustainable is the fact he lives in an expensive part of the country. If he didn't he wouldn't even be in hot water right now.

    You live in THE WORST part of the country for doing the sort of shit you're trying to do. Tell me. Why don't you work on your career instead?

    Please answer this question, I already know the answer. But you can't tell me why you would keep making low-value internet content instead of concentrating on your career.
    Tell me why you would keep making low-value internet content instead of concentrating on your career?

  29. Hmm...I don't know about that. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't know about that.

  30. Why don't you respond to cdreimer? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You've had this conversation with all of your trolls several times CHRIS DALE REIMER
    1) You're down here at the bottom of this comment pit reading it right now CHRIS.
    2) I do believe you that you don't bother reading long posts
    3) We nest the posts so we don't have to bother the rest of slashdot and it pisses you off so bad that you have to beg us to stop.

    I jack off in celebration every time you ask why we do this because it proves it works. You're desperately trying to increase the visibility of your posts even if it means being such a dick that people respond

  31. Just a question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    but to they have to pay me for their using my equipment?