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.

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!!!
--
Wilf

On Fri, 10 Feb 2023 22:42:42 +0000
Wilf <wilf@postingx.uk> wrote:

> 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!!!

That is good to know! Thanks.
Installation tomorrow morning.
--
Davey.

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!
>Luddites unite!
It seems they have the capability of listening all the time! My son's
family stick a blob of bluetak over the mic hole on their various
Firesticks! --- dunno if it helps but..

On Sat, 11 Feb 2023 07:31:27 +0000
Charlie+ <charlie@xxx.net> 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 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!
> It seems they have the capability of listening all the time! My son's
> family stick a blob of bluetak over the mic hole on their various
> Firesticks! --- dunno if it helps but..

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.
Thanks for the idea.
--
Davey.

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 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!
> It seems they have the capability of listening all the time! My 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 11/02/2023 08:37, Davey wrote:
> 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.

The first thing that I do is stick some black tape on the camera!

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!

Search for Firestick on U-Tube. There are several videos telling you
what the Firestick does / can do and how to turn them off.

I don't remember whether you can stop Alexa recording but you can
prevent the recorded file from being stored by Amazon. You can also
set Alexa to delete files by voice command.

--
brightsise S9

Well, I don't see the issue. I'm not up on the latest sticks, but for
terrestrial stuff you normally could control the tv directly. However, if
you are using the online content as you have a firestick, then you are
already sending data to the people who run the subscription every time you
use it, so why worry about Amazon processing the speech?

Brian

--

--:
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
briang1@blueyonder.co.uk
Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Davey" <davey@example.invalid> wrote in message
news:ts6gj4$15r1k$1@dont-email.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!
>
> --
> 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

--

--:
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
briang1@blueyonder.co.uk
Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"SH" <i.love@spam.com> wrote in message news:ts7m6h$ojom$1@dont-email.me...
> 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 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!
>> It seems they have the capability of listening all the time! My 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 11/02/2023 10:01, Brian Gaff wrote:
> 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
>

if the microphone is indeed in the remote control, I'd keep the
original but with batteries removed and buy another replacement remote
control and desolder the mic from that one then your warranty is protected?

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.
--
Davey.

On Sat, 11 Feb 2023 09:12:50 +0000
SH <i.love@spam.com> wrote:

> 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
> >> 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!
> > It seems they have the capability of listening all the time! My
> > 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.

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.
--
Davey.

On 11/02/2023 at 10:17, Roderick Stewart 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.

I guess that's why I've never been annoyed by Alexa - I have never
pressed the blue button!
--
Wilf

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.

--
Davey.

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.

On Sun, 12 Feb 2023 11:07:58 +0000
Roderick Stewart <rjfs@escapetime.myzen.co.uk> wrote:

> 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.

Thanks. Not being a parent, I had rejected parental controls, so I will
look at that.
--
Davey.

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 10:17, Roderick Stewart wrote:
> 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.

They can't possibly listen to everything you say. The remote batteries
would only last a few hours.

The Echo (Dot) is mains powered, and can run its microphone and wake
work detection full time. Only when it thinks you said "Alexa" does it
start streaming to the servers which have better "Alexa" detection
algorithms and the ability to make some sense of what you said. And they
can't do that full time, the network bandwidth and CPU cost would be
prohibitive. I happen to know there's a HW link between the microphone
amp and the mute light too.

Andy

On Sun, 12 Feb 2023 21:07:55 +0000
Vir Campestris <vir.campestris@invalid.invalid> wrote:

> 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

It is interesting that neither

On Sun, 12 Feb 2023 21:07:55 +0000
Vir Campestris <vir.campestris@invalid.invalid> wrote:

> 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

It is interesting that neither:
https://pi-hole.net/

nor:
https://docs.pi-hole.net/

the first two hits in my Search mention the Raspberry Pi at all.
I think I'll pass, thanks. Besides, the mystery of the unexpected
charges has been solved.
--
Davey.