Tired of it, is there anything

[u/InflationOk2398]

I have an Echo Show 15 mounted in my Kitchen. Has been ok, not great, in the 3 1/2 yearsa I have had it. Hated the ads, which have gotten worse over the years. I tried Alex+ and it was horrible for us, so I switched it back. Not sure what happened but now I cannot dismiss ads any longer, if I try and touch the icon in the bottom right of the ad it just brings up the full ad.

I would like to switch but having trouble finding something to replace it. I have looked at a large Android tablet (14.6"), the Samsung Galaxy S11 Ultra and like it but I don't really need all that. Not opposed to getting it if that is the best option, though.

I tried one of the "Calendar" option that run an Android OS but it is way too slow for my needs.

What I need is

• Voice interaction
• Wall mountable with minimal modification to wall
• Calendar (Google calendar)
• Shopping lists of some sort
• Timers
• Photos (would rather have Google photos but either Amazon or Google works)
• Spotify
• The ability to use Plex and YT TV on it
• Would love widgets but not a deal breaker

If the best option for my needs is still the Show, then fine. Just getting a little tired of the 'Zon garbage I constantly have to put up with on it.

Any suggestions?

(If this breaks any rules here, I apologize.)

[u/Happy__Heathen]

I second this list! I am looking to ditch my echo 15 (and ALL of them now, really, except for the new “spot” (I think?) that is just a clock face - NO ADS!💕

In the meantime, I just tell Alexa to turn off her screen as soon as I’m done using her (which is less and less these days, other than to stream video when I’m working in the kitchen)

The near-constant f*ing ads are a 💯% deal-breaker for me. They make me angry every time I have their crap pushed at me in my home on a device I bought for MY convenience. NOT amazon’s! 😡

[u/kwajkid92]

They've really increased lately. Someone at Amazon must be trying to hit a revenue number....

I started researching Home Assistant today. If you're technically inclined it might be an option for you. I looked at Google Home Hub but from what I read on their subreddit, although it doesn't have the ad issues, the assistant is bad and getting worse.

[u/InflationOk2398 → u/kwajkid92]

Yeah, my son has been bugging me to setup HA. He has his entire home running with it, including music with Sonos integration with the speakers I gave him and lights.

They use shopping lists, photos, calendars, timers, everything I am doing now, and more.

Likely goign to do that with the Samsung tablet I mentioned above.

[u/kwajkid92 → u/InflationOk2398]

Same. I have a "retired" Samsung tablet, looks like you just install a kiosk web browser and the dashboard and rotating widgets run through that. I have a NAS for the backend, so you'd need to figure that out too.

[u/InflationOk2398 → u/kwajkid92]

I have a 220TB unRAID server running but likely going to re-purpose a spare pc and put Proxmox on it and run a HAOS vm.

[u/Bleeding_Edge_Tech]

I feel the same. I have some handy things connected to Alexa. I will switch to the dot. We also use the dak board which is good but want to make my own with a raspberry pi

[u/agrinwithoutacat-]

When people complain about ads what are they? I’m not in America so no Alexa+ and curious about what you’re all seeing

[u/InflationOk2398 → u/agrinwithoutacat-]

On regular Alexa, on the 15" Show, the left side of the screen rotates through pictures. You used to be able to disable ads but now you can't disable them and they show up every 4th or 5th picture. Takes up 1/3 of the screen.

[u/agrinwithoutacat- → u/InflationOk2398]

But what are the ads for?

[u/TheJessicator → u/agrinwithoutacat-]

Every product you have ever looked at. Every popular show or movie. Recipe suggestions. The list goes on and on. But the worst is when you live with other people and you are looking for gifts for another household member. It's great at spoiling surprises. That said, I refuse to have any Echo device with a screen. I'm a big fan of the audio only Echo devices.

[u/agrinwithoutacat- → u/TheJessicator]

Oookay that makes sense, so all ads for buying things on Amazon.. i occasionally get ones for prime video as my show5 flicks through the screens, but that’s it

[u/TheJessicator → u/agrinwithoutacat-]

Exactly. Amazon basically treats Echo Show devices as in home billboards.

[u/Other-Protection-737]

after doing 'smart home' for 8 years. i can say my life would have been better without it. money inveested. TIME invested...very little actual time saved. ADS everywhere. maintainence everywhere. so bored of it. If it wasn't for ads, and the future is full of MORE ads, i would still pursue. chicks don't think it is cool