My Alexa Experience

Over the last few weeks I've acquired both an Echo Dot and, through a promotion when purchasing a new TV, an Echo speaker (the 2nd gen).

I've setup the Echo Dot in my living room, hooked up to my sound system with an AUX cable, and the Echo speaker up in our bedroom. Figure this gives us the best opportunity to use throughout the house

The good:

• Flash briefing: The ability to have a quick update in the morning is really a sweet deal. Add things like an NPR news update, sports update, weather, and "things that happened on that day in history" are pretty great features
• Music and podcasts any time: No need to pair any devices when you get home to a bluetooth speaker, you can just tell Alexa what to play and she gets going. Love a little Jazz in the AM as I am making breakfast.
  

The bad:

• Answers to random questions: I don't have the Google Home platform, but based on my Android phone voice command capabilities, I am certain that will answer anything I could possibly ask. These aren't overly complex questions either. If I want to know the date of the next solar eclipse, you should be able to tell me.
• Switching stations on music apps: I use Spotify and Pandora for music listening and its annoying to have Alexa change stations or playlists. You are better off using the app in your phone
• Giving it "skills": Why do I have to do this in the first place? Just give it all of the skills already. Having to sort through the 2k+ different skills is not my ideal way to spend time. Especially because the reviews are few and far between for the skills, so you don't know if you are getting something that is actually worth your time or just some coder playing around with voice app creation.

Things I haven't tried but either want or will try:

• Online ordering: I use Amazon Fresh to order my groceries, so I'm pretty excited to give this a shot

• Intercom system: With speakers in two sections of the house, the system can be leveraged as an intercom. While this feature is completely unnecessary for my 1,000 sq ft apartment, I'm glad they have features that have the two Echo products interacting.

• Recipe walkthrough: Wouldn't it be great to have Alexa walk you through a recipe when cooking so you don't need to flip pages or check your phone? I want to be as happy as this person when Alexa tells me how much basil to add to my recipe.
  

• Smart home integration: I haven't delved into the smart outlets or light bulbs, but would like to. I've heard the Echo / Alexa capabilities are not the greatest but plan to give it a shot.

• Adaptability or programmability to the way we phrase things: The system should be able to recognize the way we say "Open up that station on Pandora" or "Tell me some news". Similar to any integrated voice recognition when you call a support desk, it should respond with "Oh, did you mean XYZ?" Don't just respond "Sorry, I don't recognize that command." Work with me here, Alexa!!!

What grade would I give it?

I am someone who loves simplification (excluding Apple products) and I am also someone who nitpicks when it comes to technology - as you can tell from my long list of negatives above. The chance to acquire these Echo products really got me excited and I am still just grazing the surface.... but I am just confused at times with this thing. My girlfriend doesn't even attempt to use it because she has no idea how to properly phrase things to get it to respond correctly. When Alexa responds "Sorry, I didn't recognize that," she really cuts to your core. Its demoralizing. But there is hope! I have faith in Mr. Bezos and his team that they'll get Alexa up to where she needs to be because the products themselves are a great concept.