What can Alexa do to make life easier?

[Whyarecrispssonice]

Hi

We have numerous Alexas around the house. I listen to radio and spottify on them.

What else can they do that actually helps? How do shopping lists work (does she just make a list or can it transfer somewhere)? How does the ordering button thing work?

Basically, I want to know what I'm missing out on and how easy it is to do.

Thanks.

Turn on/off lights and heating etc if you buy add ons - really useful if you’re late home etc

With the shopping list, if you add things to it you can access it on the Alexa app on your phone.

I've never ordered from mine, so can't help with that.

Other things I use it for.
You can set up chore lists for multiple people.

You can get it to pick whose turn it is to do something from a list of people.
There are some cool quizzes and games.
I use mine as alarm clocks and oven timers.

Yes, forgot about bulbs, we have it on some lamps.

Love using it to create my shopping list.

Find checking local weather handy too, and asking for the latest news.

I use it for reminders all the time eg time to leave for school.

My enterprising children were using it for homework too, until I realised 😂

@LemonBreeland please could explain how the chore lists work?

Thank you

I don't have Alexa, but have the Google equivalent one. In addition to the usages above our kids used it for

• maths, e.g., what is 12 x 6
• languages, e.g., how do you say weather in German

Shopping list is the only thing I use it for. It appears in the Alexa app on my phone. I then cut and paste in WhatsApp to dh.

We use them everyday. I use the alarm, timers and radio the most. My girls listen to audible books and music. We also use the drop in facility as an intercom. But at Christmas Alexa is brilliant! All the timings for Christmas lunch are set as reminders so no clock watching, but my favourite is the smart plug to turn the Christmas tree lights on and off!

@TheSparkling it is the to do list function, but you can create more than one. So I made on for each child and they can ask Alexa what is on their named list.

I forgot I use it for quick sums sometimes too,

Whenever you use the last of something in the kitchen, just shout “Alexa, add X to my shopping list,” and next time you’re doing the shopping you just start by referring back to your list in the app.

Thanks all.

Actually, I've realised I do more on it than I think. I use timers a lot and use the intercom. I listen to Audible and have done quizzes and yes, children use for homework.

I am under using the other features. I am going to try a shopping list this morning. I wonder if she organises it by category??? Wishful thinking?

We don't have lights and heating attached and wouldn't know where to start.

I'm thinking of getting a Ring doorbell and apparently this links but I don't know what the benefits is.

Thank you.

@EarringsandLipstick

Love using it to create my shopping list.

Find checking local weather handy too, and asking for the latest news.

I use it for reminders all the time eg time to leave for school.

My enterprising children were using it for homework too, until I realised 😂

I wouldn't use it for homework beyond primary, it's general knowledge is pathetic.

I wonder if she organises it by category??? Wishful thinking?

Sadly she doesn't, I wish she did!

When adding items, after the first time, you only need to say, 'Alexa, add x' and it'll automatically go on your shopping list. Full sentence not needed.

You can also add multiple items, by saying that ... makes it faster when you've a few things to add.

Oh, I also like asking for recipe suggestions. She'll link to other apps you have.

We have an echo show and it can be a kareoke machine as it shows the lyrics for the songs it plays. It's also a photo display. We use audible, timers for cooking, lighting and heating. Generally though I find none of our 6 Alexa's are particularly responsive, I'm often heard shouting ALEXAAAAAA repeatedly until it finally 'wakes'.

I wouldn't use it for homework beyond primary, it's general knowledge is pathetic

Yes, it was primary & for things maths, addition, subtraction etc. They were being lazy!

But I disagree re general knowledge. I use her all the time for quick fact checks & topics I don't know about. I find it fine. It's not a research tool obviously!

Bulbs and plugs are the best bit. Just search Amazon for Alexa enabled bulb, stick in your light, open the Alexa app, select devices, then the plus sign at the top, then add devices and follow the instructions. Really easy.

Once you’ve done that you can start using routines which are brilliant. My current favourite is “Alexa this place is a shit tip” which results in Alexa saying “ffs Dusty (my robo vac) you had one job” then dusty starts up with Alexa yelling “ do the kitchen properly this time”

I find the 'Announce' function much better than the drop in/call intercom with kids.

So you say 'Alexa, announce "Please come downstairs now"' and she immediately repeats your voice saying "Please come downstairs now" on all devices (so none of the waiting around that's associated with drop ins/calls).

And if you announce that it's dinnertime, she plays a tinkly dinner bell too!

@Aposterhasnoname that routine has made me

I spent far longer than I should have done yesterday annoying the teens by making their Alexas play stupid songs to them (Thank You Baked Potato was my song of choice)

Ours has also been 'taught' to say certain things. If you "Alexa, what are you?" She replies "I'm an idiot sandwich"

If you have older dc who know what the unnamed goose game is get them to ask her if she's a goose.
Or if you are a GOT fan ask her if she likes game of thrones.

My (younger) nieces and nephews like to ask her to fart , or even better ask her how a certain person farts. Eg "how does James fart?"
My mum likes to ask how many sleeps until Christmas
I tell her I love her so she sings to me

Of course none of this is useful which is what you asked for!

ours controlls all downstairs lamps. also had christmas tree lights and outside lights controlled by her. Then set up routines "Alexa, goodnight" - all lamps/christmas tree lights turn off
can control my Dobby (robovac) although the above routine is brilliant and much better than my boring command!
timers
music
news
weather
calls to teen dc alexa's to summon for dinner
shopping list I use all the time, and have even managed to train the others to add stuff when they use the last of something
reminders (eg, Alexa remind me ds needs such and such for school tomorrow)
to do lists
calendar
heating

@EarringsandLipstick

I wouldn't use it for homework beyond primary, it's general knowledge is pathetic

Yes, it was primary & for things maths, addition, subtraction etc. They were being lazy!

But I disagree re general knowledge. I use her all the time for quick fact checks & topics I don't know about. I find it fine. It's not a research tool obviously!

We constantly get 'I don't know that' or somesuch wording. Maybe we are expecting too much.

Here, if it's actually plugged in, it's used to play music but it's mostly unused. I did buy one of the plugs for it when they were reduced from £20 to £9.99 but got a refund (and got to keep the plug as we were self isolating at the time) because it was too wide to fit the power sockets with a switch next to the plug. Apparently they are making it more slimline now - they asked me to speak online with their department that deals with Alexa devices.