[mikestew]

Then she asked me if I'd like to hear tips about using timers? No. Then she told me I had two notifications, would I like to hear them? No.

Are you saying this for comedic effect, or does the Alexa really do this? (I'd look it up myself, but good luck with that query...) To each their own, but I'd throw the device into the street if it pulled a stunt like that.

Then I timed myself setting a timer on my phone, which took 9 seconds from pocket to running.

To the Homepod or my Apple Watch: "hey, siri, tea timer for three minutes".

"Three minute tea timer, starting now."

I didn't think a product could screw that up. I would suppose it's a design decision between "assistant" and "servant that carries out my command without backtalk". There are times that I wish the Apple product were more "assistant" than "servant", but the Alexa product just sounds pushy.