I was given one as a gift, and decided to try it for a while. The biggest benefit is being able to ask to hear any song, and being able to hear it. The Echo has brought music back into our lives, in a big way, which was a surprise. I also use it for listening to news and/or podcasts while cooking.
It sounds like you needed a music player with a better interface. I seriously doubt that a very convenient (fully? mostly? partially?) hands-free interface requires a microphone uploading what used to be private audio to servers you do not control.
> brought music back into our lives, in a big way
That's great, but you should be able get a similar benefit without giving up your expectation of privacy. Normalizing sending the audio from formerly private areas - even if you are not currently saying anything other than "Alexa, play ${random_pop_song}" - will eventually move listening devices across the bright line established in Kyllo v. United States[1][2]. The SCOTUS opinion: (emphasis added)
>> "Where, as here, the Government uses a device that is not in general public use, to explore details of the home that would previously have been unknowable without physical intrusion, the surveillance is a "search" and is presumptively unreasonable without a warrant."
When a technology is* in "general public use", a warrant is no longer required to use that technology in a search. If Echo (or similar) becomes common enough for people to start assuming the average home may contain a microphone that uploads to a 3rd party, the expectation that a home is private. Music is important, but was that particular convenience worth undermining the 4th Amendment?
> Normalizing sending the audio from formerly private areas
I call B.S.
Why?
It has been normal for decades to send audio from "private areas." Phones, for example. Cell phones now mean you send audio from nearly any location with cell service.
I expect that Amazon respects my privacy, according to their own statements and terms of service. Activating the sending of information is only done intentionally, with the use of a trigger word that I don't otherwise use. This is no different than pressing a button on a computer, or dialing a phone number on my phone.
The expectation of privacy does not change just because I have a device with a microphone, at least from a legal perspective.
Obviously, this still requires trusting the service provider, government, etc.
I would urge you to learn more about side effects of using white noise for a baby. These high frequency sounds might cause development problems [1] and also your brain is getting used to them and then it's hard to live in an environment without white noise.
The experiment was _continuous_ white noise, rather than 'while the baby is sleeping' or 'while the baby is falling asleep'.
From the article:
"""Both Chang and Paula Tallal, PhD -- a researcher who was not involved in Chang's study -- say it is probably not a good idea to intentionally expose babies and infants to nonstop white noise, but they say everyday exposures are probably not harmful for most children."""
he says probably, I would not personally risk doing it if I am not 100% sure it's safe. I mean babies don't really need it , why risk it for something that is hardly providing any benefit for a child.
Personally, I have no use for one. "Alexa turn off the lights", or just get up or use your phone? That's what I do at least.