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):
$480,000
$480,000 - 4Br/2Ba -  for Sale in Fountain Park First Sec, Allen
4 Beds
2 Baths
1,930 Sqft
708 Lake Highlands Drive Allen , TX 75002
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence
$479,000
$479,000 - 4Br/2Ba -  for Sale in Plantation Resort 01b, Frisco
4 Beds
2 Baths
1,693 Sqft
10612 Atlanta Drive Frisco , TX 75035
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence
$324,995
$324,995 - 3Br/2Ba -  for Sale in Meadows Fourth Sec, Plano
3 Beds
2 Baths
1,398 Sqft
1704 Sherrye Drive Plano , TX 75074
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence
$400,000
$400,000 - 4Br/2Ba -  for Sale in Dallas North Estates 1st Instl, Plano
4 Beds
2 Baths
1,600 Sqft
1215 Drexel Drive Plano , TX 75075
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence
$499,000
$499,000 - 4Br/3Ba -  for Sale in Wellington Trace Ph Ii, Little Elm
4 Beds
3 Baths
3,287 Sqft
3445 Varsity Drive Little Elm , TX 75068
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence
$500,000
$500,000 - 4Br/3Ba -  for Sale in Avalon Ph 4, Mckinney
4 Beds
3 Baths
2,500 Sqft
4621 Tina Drive Mckinney , TX 75070
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence
$429,900
$429,900 - 3Br/2Ba -  for Sale in Wilson Cole, Mckinney
3 Beds
2 Baths
1,419 Sqft
1804 Greenwood Road Mckinney , TX 75069
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence
$354,000
$354,000 - 3Br/2Ba -  for Sale in The Villages Of Woodlake Ph 2a, Little Elm
3 Beds
2 Baths
1,868 Sqft
2328 Live Oak Drive Little Elm , TX 75068
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence
$435,000
$435,000 - 3Br/3Ba -  for Sale in Falcon Creek Phase Iv, Mckinney
3 Beds
3 Baths
2,234 Sqft
412 Sparrow Hawk Mckinney , TX 75072
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence
$339,900
$339,900 - 4Br/2Ba -  for Sale in The Villages Of Woodlake Ph. 4b, Little Elm
4 Beds
2 Baths
1,868 Sqft
2720 Cedar Crest Drive Little Elm , TX 75068
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence
$449,900
$449,900 - 3Br/2Ba -  for Sale in Park Forest North Add First Increment, Plano
3 Beds
2 Baths
1,930 Sqft
1522 Canadian Trail Plano , TX 75023
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence
$334,000
$334,000 - 3Br/2Ba -  for Sale in Westwood Estate 1, Lewisville
3 Beds
2 Baths
1,279 Sqft
920 Ashwood Drive Lewisville , TX 75067
Status: Active
Property Type: Single Family Residence

 

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