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Original poster

DH bought me amazon echo. What to do with it!

64 replies

DidntWeAlmost · 26/12/2018 23:42

I'm breastfeeding atm and lovely DH bought me amazon echo so I can do things without having to move with baby attached to boob.

Can anyone tell me some cool stuff I can use it for that I may not have thought of?

OP posts:
Springmachine · 27/12/2018 00:35

I'm waiting for mine to arrive but as far as I know you ask it questions - you can ask it to play a game, ask it to play songs or radio stations or just some genre of music you like.
You can ask it what the weather will be like, what the news headlines are and if you buy some of the smart WiFi plugs or bulbs you can ask it to control lighting or appliances around the home.

It struggled a little with my accent when I gave it a try but I'm sure once mine arrives il get used to it's tricks

Fairenuff · 27/12/2018 00:48

I'm guessing your dh wanted it more than you do so extra present for him really.

Auntieaunt · 27/12/2018 00:51

I also got one for Xmas too (absolute surprise).

So far I've had it play the radio, play songs, kept my nephew's busy for a while, used it as a timer and it's handy to ask it the time. There's also a way for you to hook up your phone incase you loose it in the house.

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Families
Simonsaysitschristmas · 27/12/2018 00:59

We use it to set timers, reminders, play us music, check weather, and we also play games on it such as Pointless Grin

ChristmasFan2018 · 27/12/2018 03:02

Recommend getting smart plugs so you can turn electronics on & off with voice command

ChristmasSprite · 27/12/2018 03:06

Is this to help sales along?

There was another thread like this in the run up to Christmas, detailing the data collected by these gadgets on you and you activities/conversations, etc.

Legalised stalking

Original poster
DidntWeAlmost · 27/12/2018 06:08

@ChristmasSprite it doesn't do anything our mobile phones don't already!

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Original poster
DidntWeAlmost · 27/12/2018 06:12

@Fairenuff it did cross my mind...

OP posts:
Veronicat · 27/12/2018 06:32

Apparently you can switch lights on and off with it. I can do that, it's called my hand. Ditto your heating.

I look at my watch for the time, use a pen for my shopping list and switch the radio on for music.

Alexa WONT be coming to our house to play. I'd rather not have my life controlled by Amazon. I've seen the film Demon Seed! Grin

ivykaty44 · 27/12/2018 06:35

Will it do cooking and cleaning?

Original poster
DidntWeAlmost · 27/12/2018 06:35

@Veronicat I won't be using it for certain things like switching lights on etc. But think it's a bit extreme to say my life will be controlled by it Grin

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Original poster
DidntWeAlmost · 27/12/2018 06:35

@ivykaty44 I wish!

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Lightsdown · 27/12/2018 06:36

Not much was our experience- it lasted a day in our house then went back. I bought it to manage our spotify/ sonos interface and it wasn't very good - drove me to frustration!

Original poster
DidntWeAlmost · 27/12/2018 06:38

@Lightsdown oh really? I've just linked to my Spotify and it works quite well... maybe they've improved it

OP posts:
AlbusPercival · 27/12/2018 06:42

There’s an app where you can tell it which side you are feeding from and how long. Handy if you are in to recording that

Have linked to my audible account to listen to audiobooks

Can listen to any radio station.

If you get lightbulbs being able to dim and raise lights is handy.

Our first one was in the nursery. We now have two others and use them as intercoms.

Topsyloulou · 27/12/2018 06:44

I got mine at the start of December & it's been great. We moved house last week & have no WiFi yet & im missing being able to yell out things to go on the shopping list as I find we've run out of things etc. I love listening to music on it, use it as a timer for cooking, use it to find recipes, check the weather, ask it DS(4) ridiculously hard questions he chucks at me every now & again. The hands free text & calling us great, rather than stop what I'm doing to find my phone & ring DP to find out when he'll be home I can keep making the dinner or changing a nappy & call him via Alexa.

It's not a must have but it's certainly proved very useful in this house.

Loopytiles · 27/12/2018 06:47

I would ask him to return it for data protection reasons.

Unless you play a lot of music / audio things, not useful anyway.

proseccoaficionado · 27/12/2018 07:18

I'm switching lights on/off (you need to have a special kind of light bulbs for that though), you can also change the light intensity, playing radio, playing music, checking the weather, set the volume. I find it really useful

MayhemandMadness01 · 27/12/2018 07:19

Not Alexa but google home here, I have it set up with my online Tesco shopping so it will add things straight to my basket rather than a shopping list. It add reminders to the calendar on my phone and I can call, text from it as well, intercom with DDs room, smart plugs, smart light bulbs, heating thermostat, cast from tablet to tv using Google cast and tells jokes. Will be setting up a meal planner when I can a minute soon.

Starlight90 · 27/12/2018 09:39

Sell it? You might have a baby but you don’t need one to help you fo things. Many gave managed without!

SagelyNodding · 27/12/2018 09:44

It can tell you recipes step by step-useful for cooking! I can't get upset about the data gathering stuff-is it any worse than our phones?

wheresmyhairytoe · 27/12/2018 09:44

I got one too, so far have only had it playing music while I cook, need to have a play with it.
Yes, I know about the listening in thing but my conversations are really not that interesting, so if it wants to spy on me moaning at DH to empty the bin or yelling at the kids to get their shoes on it can crack on.

Philomensapie · 27/12/2018 09:48

"Alexa, play Christmas music."
"Alexa, I love you."
"Alexa, open the magic door."

Cherrypi · 27/12/2018 09:50

Say start my day and it gives you a fact about the day, the news headlines and weather. I use mine mostly for the radio and music.

BlingLoving · 27/12/2018 09:51

I'm loving mine so far. Not that I'm doing anything too sophisticated - we don't have any smart appliances so can't dim lights or adjust heating or turn tv on. But the shopping list function alone is probably going to change my life - the pen and pad I kept for that were always going missing so just telling Alexa to add to my shopping list is fantastic. I'm loving the music function as our various speakers always give us a hard time - disconnect/ quality varies etc. Although for some reason can't get it to recognise any spotify playlists - need to figure out what I'm doing wrong there.

I suspect I'll quickly get into the habit of checking weather and news while I'm doing kids lunches and breakfast in the morning - used to often have my iPad on as a news source but this is more convenient.

DH and I are also planning to use the drop in function - if one of us is doing chores it is always annoying that the other one has their phone somewhere else so misses a message saying, "can you check if we need milk" or whatever! Hopefully the lack of phone being attached to our hip will disappear now!

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