Alexa- what do you use it for?

[OldMotherHubbardsBigBottom]

I was bought one last year as a present and other than asking it to make rude noises I haven't really used it.

What do you use yours for?

@MyOtherProfile please tell me how! Radio 2 is no longer in Tunein which is Alexas default radio app x

@feelinghelplesstoday get the bbc sounds skill

Thanks @ELM8 x

Nothing, we set it up, used it for a few weeks, realised none of us like it and put it away again. Complete waste of money.

I ask it for a trumpet fanfare for when I enter the room!

I ask it for a trumpet fanfare for when I enter the room

Now I want one purely for that

@ELM8 tried it on the kitchen one and no matter what it wouldn't work. Tried it on 11 year old DD and it did. Have swapped them over as DD never listens to R2 😂. Thank you! x

@feelinghelplesstoday no problem glad it worked (sort of) ☺️

At the moment we ask Alexa "how many sleeps til Christmas" every day & we get Santa and a update or cheesy festive joke.
Other than that, timers, music, lights, weather, newsflash, traffic update, word of the day, would you rather game, jokes.
As pp said, not essential but occasionally useful & a bit of fun.

@feelinghelplesstoday I have no idea! I just tried it again now to make sure and now I'm listening to radio 2. I said Alexa play radio 2 and she is.

I find Alexa is much more talkative than Google. I just tried that how many sleeps til Christmas thing and once we got the answer she kept waffling on about how I could try some educational maths thing.

10 second fart countdown. Keeps the kids amused.

We've literally just received an Echo Dot.. (it arrived less than half an hour ago)

Alexa has played all sorts of music from my childhood to now since then. It's like magic!!!

Tis witchcraft I tell you...

How do you ask for a fanfare?

@MyOtherProfile thanks. It's ok @ELM8 helped but ended up swapping mine and my daughters as no chance of her listening to R2 😂 x

We use ours to talk to the kids when they're upstairs, you can "drop in" to another room so we tell the kids to stop arguing and they drop in to ask us random questions and to complain if there's an insect in their bedroom

Music, BBC podcasts, adding to my shopping list, reminder to take medication, timer when cooking, dropping in on DD to wake her up in the morning, turning lights on and off via smart plugs.

Cooking timers - great when you have messy hands and you can set multiple timers.
Shopping lists
Radio
Spotify
Podcasts
Reminders
Alexa will tell me how long it will take me to drive to work and what is on my calendar today
Weather - sunset sunrise etc
Date
Dimmable lights without having to wire a dimmer switch

And I just tried whispering to her. It really is creepy!

I got one primarily to use instead of a dab radio and so I don't have to type on my phone - I am prone to RSI

Radio and reminders.

Set timers, music, weather take up 99%. Mostly music.

Play specific types of music - e.g. "plays hits from the 90s" or "play relaxing classial music".

Timers and reminders in the kitchen.

Play radio stations.

Play my audiobook (audible).

What's the weather going to be.

Turn the lights on/off (Phillips Hue).

Turn the heat up or down (Nest).

Play thunderstrom sleep sounds to get to sleep.

Turn on specific smart plugs and their associated devices (e.g. "Alexa turn on the electric blanket").

Make announcements through the house on other Alexas ("do you want a cup of tea?").

As bluetooth speakers.

What's the temperature outside? (so I know how to get dressed)

To translate temperatures and measurements to other unit types.

To check the time in other countries where we have friends/family.

am totally gonna try fanfares and whispering next....

We've only just got one, loving these answers.

I use it mostly to listen to music and set timers. The weather forecast if I want to depress myself (from 4pm is is 8 degrees and raining, from 5pm it is 8 degrees and raining, from 6pm it is 8 degrees and raining). To play say hello when DS is upset.

I'm starting to use the shopping lists and want to use it as a Bluetooth speaker (since you can only listen to 1 device on spotify).

I listen to LBC on it in the mornings.