To think the smart Alexa stuff is shite?

[caffelattetogo]

Why are all the smart bulbs and devices such utter shite? I don't want to download and set passwords in third party apps to make a fucking lightbulb switch on. Why is it all so glitchy and inefficient?

Is that what that is… I thought it was just another brand app.

ok..my one new thing I’ve learned today

This sounds good. I'm just following the instructions on each thing and they all sat to download the manufacturer app, then link that to Alexa. But this does them all, is that right?

The heck are you syncing there😳
I think your issue are the particular brands and the fact it's brandS not a brand

Smart

@Cheesuswithallama that was for one lightbulb can you see why I'm fed up with it? There's no warning on the Amazon listing that it's so convoluted. Just says it works with Alexa. Robot vacuum cleaner, different brand, was the same.

What brands do you have?

Tbh of course non alexa brands will not clock on like Alexa's own (they don't even make own) but you seemed to have picked shite brands. Bad luck there!

I'm fine with the devices, it's all the Alexa back chat recently that winds me up.

She can't just perform the task you asked, she has to dribble on about new features, then ask you questions you don't care about.

Switch off the lamp you glorified speaker, and know your place.

"Switch off the lamp you glorified speaker, and know your place."
😂
One of the great joys of being single for me is my house is now smart device free. Any I've ever had have driven me potty. Hope you get yr devices to behave OP.

Me neither!

The cleaning tips. THE CLEANING TIPS.
Fuck you Alexa😂
No I always en up saying "alexa, thank you but stop". Polite to a robot

I use "smart life" app too. Initially used a different one for my first few products, but realised that smart life (also called Tuya) had the biggest range of products. Its an app that loads of different manufacturers link their products to so when I'm buying online I always look for devices that use Smart life.

@caffelattetogo I think your biggest problem is that everything you're buying is different apps, so you're having to go through the entire set up every time, rather than just quickly adding new devices to existing set up. This should only take 5 minutes max. The Alexa app will then automatically discover the new devices when you open it.

My advice would be to find a brand you like then stick with it. Apps evolve over time so bugs will be ironed out, new features will become available and they will become smoother and more intuitive.

I use Tapo Bulbs, no issues at all. They have their own app but once linked to Alexa can do everything through the Alexa app.

Use either Amazon plugs or Teckin and again no issues once set up.

I haven't tried smart plugs yet, but the bulbs, we've had Phillips (no extra app so easy to set up, but glitchy so often don't switch on or off when requested - like our old dog who is selectively deaf, albeit much cuter), Meross, LE, and some others I sent back because I got so fed up trying to make the apps work. Will check the name of the smart vac.
I haven't set up a brand I like and stuck to it, I suppose because all the faffing makes me so grumpy. I begrudge giving them all my email address too, as they then spam me. Why does a lightbulb manufacturer need my email, not just a username.
This last bulb I bought because it was recommended with the lamp I bought, and was an unusual spec.
I'll try that generic app, thank you.
Despite some suggestions to the contrary, I am not a complete idiot. I go manage to function in a professional role, but I've never had this level of admin for something so trivial at work.

Do

Easy.
Keep to couple of beands max or use the app recommended, opt out of emails (i get none) or set up spam email (i have 4).

You are not an idiot, you just overcomplicated it. That's all

Nearly all our lights are operated through Alexa either by smart bulbs or smart plugs and we never have a problem with them unless we lose Wi-Fi for some reason. They are all voice activated - my DH had to set that up but now we just ask for the lights to come on. Same with radio, television, etc. We can even switch them on and off when we're not in the house. However I did discover a downside to this a few nights ago. I can't sleep unless either the radio is playing or Audible is reading me a book. I woke up in the early hours because Audible had stopped and our Wi-Fi had dropped out... We no longer have an actual radio and I couldn't put on my bedside light because it has a smart plug and I couldn't get to the plug to put it into a normal plug. I need to get a smart bulb for that light rather than a smart plug (you can switch on and off normally) and an emergency radio! We normally use the Phillips bulbs.

Last year I was feeling especially smug because I had all of our Christmas lights on smart plugs. I had a routine to turn them all on when I said “Whoville”, you know from the Grinch… I found out Alexa has problems understanding words with lots of vowels…

Me: Alexa, Whoville
Alexa: I don’t think I know that one
Me: Alexa, whoville
Alexa: Windmills are traditi-
Me: Alexa stop. Alexa Whoville
Alexa: sure, let me find you a copy of Tess of the d’Ubervilles on Amazon.com
Me:Alexa stop. Alexa Whoville…WHOVILLE…WHOVILLE
My DH from the bathroom: HahahahHahahHAHAHA
Me-changes word in the app
Me:Alexa roast beast
Alexa: OK -turns lights on

Did you know alexa can make accents? I once accidentally set it on Australian when messing with app and nearly pissed myself laughing