Amazon Echo Review- Alexa can do it all

by rmears

Well, Christmas is over and the new year has begun.  If you are like me then you like new cool gadgets.  This year’s gadget which is getting a lot of buzz is the Amazon Echo. Do you remember watching those future movies and the person could do all kinds of things just by talking to their house?  Well, the future is here. 

I received the Echo Dot as a present this year and love it.  One of the main functions it does is annoy the family.  They are already tired of me asking “Alexa what’s in the news?”, “Alexa, play some country music”. I must admit she is the smartest women I have ever met.  No offense to the other women in my life but she knows the scores from all of last night’s games.  She has been so annoying that she got moved to my office and we have been bonding ever since.  After doing a considerable amount of research on her “Skill” set, this device may turn out to be something special.  Not only can it provide me the news, play music or read me a bedtime story, but it can turn on/off lights, control thermostat, add items to my shopping list and keep my calendar in order.  Most of the “Skills” require an associated apps like Pandora or Spotify for music or smart devices like the Home Control Assistant systems to perform the various functions. Most apps are free and the smart devices are moderately priced. Heck, I can even order a pizza just by saying “Alexa order a large pepperoni pizza from domino’s please”.  Now, how great is that!

The main part is the actual Echo device and the associated app that goes on your phone. Once connected to your home WIFI, you are ready to go.  The app is used to configure and enable “Skills” and it even keeps track of past commands. If you really want to drive people crazy, get the Amazon fire stick and play “Alexa Simon Say…”. She will repeat whatever is said next.

People are creating skills all the time and if you are a real technonerd, you can create your own skill set by programming on the developer website.  But for now, just get one and annoy the family, it’s well worth it.- Dan Sexton

One thing that Alexa can not do is access our local MLS to find available homes.
ENTER CITY, ZIP, OR NEIGHBORHOOD BELOW TO SEARCH FOR HOMES. CUSOMIZE YOUR SEARCH BY CLICKING ON ADVANCED(MOBILE USERS CLICK ON THE “NEW PROPERTY SEARCH” BANNER BELOW):
$389,900
$389,900 - 3Br/2Ba -  for Sale in Woodlake 1, Carrollton
3 Beds
2 Baths
1,587 Sqft
1830 Woodbury Carrollton , TX 75007
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence
$350,000
$350,000 - 3Br/3Ba -  for Sale in Creekview Village Ph 1, Lewisville
3 Beds
3 Baths
1,369 Sqft
1743 Circle Creek Drive Lewisville , TX 75067
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence
$494,900
$494,900 - 4Br/3Ba -  for Sale in Stewart Peninsula Cottonwood S, The Colony
4 Beds
3 Baths
2,672 Sqft
3824 Red Oak Trail The Colony , TX 75056
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence
$475,000
$475,000 - 3Br/2Ba -  for Sale in Kings Garden Ph 1, Frisco
3 Beds
2 Baths
1,919 Sqft
9117 Bastille Way Frisco , TX 75033
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence
$499,900
$499,900 - 3Br/2Ba -  for Sale in Preston Pointe, Plano
3 Beds
2 Baths
1,507 Sqft
1425 Exeter Drive Plano , TX 75093
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence
$485,000
$485,000 - 3Br/3Ba -  for Sale in Frisco Spgs, Frisco
3 Beds
3 Baths
2,168 Sqft
7380 Panicum Drive Frisco , TX 75033
Status: Active
Property Type: Townhouse
$250,000
$250,000 - 2Br/3Ba -  for Sale in Lakeshore Condo, Carrollton
2 Beds
3 Baths
1,275 Sqft
3550 Country Square Drive Unit 506 Carrollton , TX 75006
Status: Active
Property Type: Condominium
$395,000
$395,000 - 4Br/2Ba -  for Sale in Plano East Ph One, Plano
4 Beds
2 Baths
1,865 Sqft
2816 Laurel Lane Plano , TX 75074
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence
$360,000
$360,000 - 3Br/2Ba -  for Sale in Colony 7, The Colony
3 Beds
2 Baths
1,913 Sqft
5105 S Colony Boulevard The Colony , TX 75056
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence
$425,000
$425,000 - 4Br/3Ba -  for Sale in Paloma Creek South Ph 13c, Little Elm
4 Beds
3 Baths
2,203 Sqft
1412 Heather Lane Little Elm , TX 75068
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence
$325,000
$325,000 - 3Br/2Ba -  for Sale in Timberbrook 4 Ph A, Lewisville
3 Beds
2 Baths
1,567 Sqft
718 Mockingbird Drive Lewisville , TX 75067
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence
$479,000
$479,000 - 5Br/3Ba -  for Sale in Brookview Ph 2a, Mckinney
5 Beds
3 Baths
3,443 Sqft
1217 Willow Tree Drive Mckinney , TX 75071
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence

 

Published on 2017-01-12 14:45:46