4 ms·

I didn't either until I tried a few things; got a cube for streaming and it was obviously built-in. With a couple of power controllers ($10) it turned into a f

by pp19dd 8y ago

I didn't either until I tried a few things; got a cube for streaming and it was obviously built-in. With a couple of power controllers ($10) it turned into a few practical things. First, I immediately changed that "Alexa" command into "computer." "Computer, lights" - turns on lamps behind the couch. Better than craning my neck and struggling to find that cheap push-pin switch on a scary fragile glass lamp x 2. "Computer, pause" - when my hands are coated in layers of an escaped burrito and I need few more ice cream scoops of congealed vegetables and cheese in my maw. "Computer, set timer for 20 minutes" - for the bread baking, because I already used both microwave and oven timers for rice and vegetables. "Computer, convert 1 liter to cups" - because imperial units and surprise recipe. "Computer, switch inputs" - when I want to watch cable. Of course, I have to say it four times rapidly because of an awkward Sharp TV. This one is a bonus feature, but I can say "computer" with a fake British accent and it still works.

k__ 8y ago
Seems like many small things that can make life easier. I was always searching for the major killer feature, hehe.
- criddell 8y ago
  I think that's a fair characterization. There's no single thing that I would be a huge problem if the Echo stopped working, but all of the little things together would add up to a major bummer. For my family, one of the best features is the shopping list via the AnyList skill. We say "echo, add butter to my shopping list" and it gets added to the AnyList app in the correct category. Next time we are at the store, I pull up AnyList and can see my entire shopping list. For a single person, it might not be a big deal, but it's works very well for a family.
criddell 8y ago
You can also set multiple timers on the Echo by giving them names. "Computer, set a 20 minute timer for rice" "Computer, set a 10 minute timer for vegetables" Then you can query it: "Computer, how much time is left on my rice timer?"
- pp19dd 8y ago
  That's better than my hamfisted example, or use. Though I did forget couple of other really useful features. "Computer, add nitrile gloves to shopping list." (Shopping list goes to a phone app, just a simple list with checkmarks, not to be confused with purchasing something from Amazon.)

by pp19dd 8y ago

k__ 8y ago

Seems like many small things that can make life easier. I was always searching for the major killer feature, hehe.

criddell 8y ago
I think that's a fair characterization. There's no single thing that I would be a huge problem if the Echo stopped working, but all of the little things together would add up to a major bummer. For my family, one of the best features is the shopping list via the AnyList skill. We say "echo, add butter to my shopping list" and it gets added to the AnyList app in the correct category. Next time we are at the store, I pull up AnyList and can see my entire shopping list. For a single person, it might not be a big deal, but it's works very well for a family.

criddell 8y ago

You can also set multiple timers on the Echo by giving them names. "Computer, set a 20 minute timer for rice" "Computer, set a 10 minute timer for vegetables" Then you can query it: "Computer, how much time is left on my rice timer?"

pp19dd 8y ago
That's better than my hamfisted example, or use. Though I did forget couple of other really useful features. "Computer, add nitrile gloves to shopping list." (Shopping list goes to a phone app, just a simple list with checkmarks, not to be confused with purchasing something from Amazon.)