this post was submitted on 14 Sep 2023
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My girlfriend gave me an Alexa assistant as a gift with all good will, since she knows I like technology. I know in terms of privacy it is garbage, however I wonder if there is a safe way to use some functions of this device, perhaps without internet. Some way to hack it or something, do you guys know something about this?

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I had a google thing which I used as a speaker for a bit. If it has Bluetooth, you could just not let it connect to the internet? As an assistant I found it useless, even without privacy concerns, but as a speaker it was alright.

It's nice that you are trying to find a use for it though! Hopefully it works out long term and you could talk about it the privacy stuff before you get a Facebook Portal next

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

usually the alexa things do not have Bluetooth and can't play audio from another device

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What are you talking about? All Alexa Speakers I own or have encountered support bluetooth playback from other devices just fine, and at least the older ones also have a 3.5mm jack.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

sorry maybe i confused echo dot devices with alexa speakers?

i only ever encountered echo dots and they can't play over Bluetooth

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Echo dots can also play over Bluetooth.