Help me use my Alexa better/properly?

[Graphista]

Had it over a year and still just basically use it as a speaker and "reminder robot"

I'd like to know how to use it as fully as possible so if anyone can link to a super easy user guide that'd be great I've tried finding by googling and searching on Alexa app but I don't find the instructions that easy to follow.

Also cos I want to know which functions are actually useful and which are best not used - hence posting here.

What I'd like to be able to do is:

Add to online shopping list (if this is a good function I can't risk losing my slot or order getting messed up. At the moment I simply set reminders and "manually" add or remove items via app on iPhone)

Maybe listen to audio books or podcasts - I have prime and kindle apps on phone and tablet and old tablet, don't know how to manage/sync this all properly. I'm also worried about losing permanently data storage on devices which I don't want to risk really.

I'm tempted to have a try of the "routine" function as I've had major insomnia issues and I'm trying to address that and routine is key to this so I'm thinking a morning and bedtime routine would be good

I've tried asking it random questions just for fun but it never knows the answers do I need to do something to set this function up?

Is it possible to make a hands free phone call from Alexa? This could be handy for me sometimes.

I'd love to play trivia/quiz games with it

I've linked to Spotify today and discovered accidentally and somewhat frustratingly I can't get it to play my playlists by voice command, but does play them when I hit play on the playlist from my iPhone - no idea why it is doing it this way or how to get it to play via voice commands. I've googled but it seems an issue for many Spotify users although no mention of the iPhone function thing

So... hoping you guys can help me figure all this out?

It's letting me voice command "skip to next song" though?

Bump fo4 someone more tech than me! My sone sets things up.
We have a lamp that I switch on via Alexa (smart plug).
Weather check
Spellings/definitions.

Re random questions, sometimes it's better to ask her to open Google or Wikipedia,. Then say 'search Google for ...'

I use the shopping list- just say ' Alexa, add fish to my shopping list'. Then later ask her to tell you what's on the shopping list. She reads it five items at a time.

I had the same spotify problem and changed the playlist names to simple things like 'my playlist 1' and now it works - well most of the time!

Following with interest. I didn't actually want one, it was a gift, but I'm keen to make the most of it now it is here.

I use it to listen to Spotify, the radio and do cooking timers - that's it.

You can call people hands free but it comes up as no caller id from our Alexa. Maybe we need to set something up? Ask her now to call you so you can try it out. She might ask if she should call by phone or Amazon device.

We have a fire stick so Alexa can start playing something on Netflix or Prime for us when we ask her. We haven’t bothered with special bulbs or plugs though.

She plays white noise for me to sleep, I do the same as you with the shopping list and I add the items manually. I also use her as a cooking timer because I can set several at once if I have different things on. I don’t think we use her fully but it’s always quick to find out if the change of clothes I need to take to work in the morning need to be extra warm or if (in the summer) I’ll need a jacket or whatever but she is brilliant at reminding me to do all the little things I’d forget.

Also handy to make announcement to bedroom so she can tell teen, who’s gaming with headphones on, that dinner is ready.

I can 'call' people. I've no idea how she got the numbers, mind. Possibly she raids your account.

i ask mine to read out traffic updates for my work commute...

not something i do now! one positive thing out of the pandemic- less time in traffic

Mine turns on all the lights and heating. It has a routine so it turns everything off at a certain time and if we are not at home for example as well. Also turns the TV's on and off as well. Did the Xmas tree as well this year.

It reminds the kids daily to do certain tasks.

It's linked to my doorbell so we know if someone is at the door and the echo shows us who on the screen.

It's linked to Apple Music so we can play any of our music on it as well.

My husband will announce via it when on the way home when him and the dog are soaked and need a towel 🤣

Shopping list function I don't use tbh, I'm not sure if you can link it to any of the supermarkets.

My son listens to audible on his every night to go to sleep as well.

Christ. She owns me doesn't she?

Routines are great, specially if you have smart devices that connect to Alexa. I have one that sets the robo vac off and has Alexa berating him and another on that turns the lounge blue and plays baby shark to entertain the grandson. We do have some sensible ones too that switch off all the lights when we go to bed, or turn on the security cameras, and lower the heating when we go out. Our morning routine switches the lights and kettle on, and gives us the weather forecast.

We have a daily reminder to take our pills, use it for music and shopping lists obviously, ask it random facts. We use the announce feature to say the showers free, or dinners ready etc (we have four)

At Christmas it controlled all the Christmas lights so we didn’t have to crawl around the floor switching them all off, or go into the freezing garage to switch the outdoor ones off.

Bloody love my Alexas.

For Spotify you need to say “Alexa, ask Spotify to play my playlist ‘playlist name’” and that seems to do the trick.

Routines are great, I am particularly fond of the ones that put various lights on at various times linked to sunset, and when we tell her we’re going to bed everything downstairs powers down and the lamp in the bedroom switches on!

@picklemewalnuts what do you mean when you say you use the shopping list, do you mean just a list read to you or items added to online order? If just a list that would work for me

@bytheby I know I tried changing playlist names but it can't seem to "find" any of mine no matter what I calll them it plays random playlists

You can call people hands free but it comes up as no caller id from our Alexa.

I wouldn't mind even that. It's mainly for when I'm having a panic attack (I have ocd) and don't want to touch devices and "contaminate" them but need someone to "talk me down"

I can 'call' people. I've no idea how she got the numbers, mind. Possibly she raids your account.
Yea think I need to check if I have phone numbers on the tablet for her to access?

Not at the point of bulbs and plugs but may do that in the future

It's linked to my doorbell so we know if someone is at the door and the echo shows us who on the screen. tis witchcraft! how?

My son listens to audible on his every night to go to sleep as well this is something I've been considering. But how do you get the audiobook to play from the right part the next night if you fall asleep to it? At the moment I fall asleep to streamed tv shows and I just know what episode I was on when I fell over to sleep and start from there the next night.

Currently listening to my "singalong" playlist as not had a sing for a few days and it's good for the lungs and the spirit

For Spotify you need to say “Alexa, ask Spotify to play my playlist ‘playlist name’” and that seems to do the trick

I'll try that thanks

1000 best things to ask Alexa. Free today on Kindle if that helps?

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06Y4S9Q54?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

This book will cover the following topics:
Jokes & Games
Mathematical Equations
Kitchen Measurements
Fun Facts
Entertainment
Kitchen Measurements
Educational Questions

Ok, OP.

Shopping list- she keeps a list for you, and recites it when you ask. She may be able to add to an online order- I haven't set that up as I'm more flexible than that with my shopping. She's where I put reminders as I think of things. If I'm doing an order or going to the shop, I ask her what's on the list.

Re phone numbers, it may be about the contacts in your email account/messaging/feacbook account rather than your actual contact book. I could be wrong though.

We use the shopping lists all the time, then if either of us are shopping we always have the list to hand on our phones.

I am very childish sometimes and find the ask Alexa to fart function hilarious, dh not so much.

You can take the shopping list a step further if you shop with Tesco.

Download the IFTTT app and look for the Tesco applet, you can connect to your account and when you add aligned to your shopping list via Alexa the IFTTT applet runs and will put the item in your Tesco basket. If there is an active order it will add the item to it and check it out for you.
Really handy if you're cooking or busy feeding children and realise you're running low on something you use infrequently (herbs/spices etc)
There are lots of IFTTT applets you can connect to, I really like the Tesco one though.