What Is Alexa

[Bramleyboy]

Can anyone tell me in plain English or point me in the right direction - what is Amazon’s Alexa and is it worth getting? Many thanks, Bramley

[B00]

This any good?

https://www.digitaltrends.com/home/what-is-amazons-alexa-and-what-can-it-do/

[KJN]

I purchased the Echo Dot last week from Amazon. If you are into gadgets you will like this, Boo has given you the link that explains what it does. It can be useful if other members of your family also have this as you can leave a message or speak to them immediately using it at no cost. For what it costs to buy I personally think it’s a must buy but I have to confess I love my gadgets.

[bednobs]

I think whether it's worth it depends on how it will fit into your life and what you want it for. I love mine, but i use it to play my amazon prime music mainly, so have the one with the good speaker. I occaisionally ask it to set a timer, or play a podcast or do a weather forecast. My 5 year old loves it because it's someone who will do what she says (unlike me!). One thing, you need a mobile device to set it up i think as you need to download the App to do that and i have no idea if you can download it onto a computer

[trt]

I have had mine for about 3 months, and they are amazing.

Apart from telling you in an instant the weather, playing your fav music, news etc, there is 100s of things it can do.

Yesterday I got it to play Halloween creepy music, which you can pause when you like.
You can do your shopping list, alarm, reminders, facts and figures etc, sooo much.

It amazes me how fast it works when asking a Q, and she can even tell you a jokes. :-)

[trt]

PS. You only need a laptop etc.

Boo, do you want the latest things it can do, theres about 400, I could send you the link!

[trt]

##Boo, do you want the latest things it can do, theres about 400, I could send you the link!''

Didnt see the other post, anybody else want it, your welcome/

[woofgang]

I bought mine to listen to web stream radio but I now have amazon music (free with Prime). I find the inbuilt speaker satisfactory but have bought a battery base for it so I can carry it around with me or use it outside. I have got a couple of smart plugs which I use for lights and I find the alarm and the timer functions helpful. Alexa is really only the voice of the system, like Siri or Cortana, she "lives" in the Amazon Dot (small unit), the Echo (bigger unit allegedly better speaker) in some Kindles and on the Fire TV stick and also in the Show which has a screen. Trt, can you not just post your link here? I am sure loads of us would be interested

[HansUrbancka]

Unless it can answer Technical problems that AB can't resolve, I certainly wouldn't want one.

Hans.

[hc4361]

If you are not an Amazon Prime member there are other options such as the Google Home

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/smart-tech/smart-tech/smart-home/google-home-white-10161441-pdt.html?istCompanyId=bec25c7e-cbcd-460d-81d5-a25372d2e3d7&istItemId=xpmiatlwat&istBid=tztx&srcid=198&cmpid=ppc~gg~1051+%28PLA%29+Smart+Home+Control+-+Google+Home~1051+%28PLA%29+Smart+Home+Control+-+Google+Home+ad+group~Exact&mctag=gg_goog_7904&;kwid=GOOGLE&device=c&ds_kids=92700019913642827&PLA=1&tgtid=1051+%28PLA%29+Smart+Home+Control+-+Google+Home&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlcrc99KG1wIVQRobCh2iYwhbEAQYAyABEgJxM_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&;dclid=CIKB9PnShtcCFQIy0wodRfoBMA

[trt]

Here you go folks.

Hi Wolf, you mentioned lighting, I have sockets for my table lamps, fan etc, but been looking for something for my ceiling lights, do you have any info, thanks,

http://sirionsteroids.org/amazon-echo-updates/#

https://alexa.amazon.co.uk/spa/index.html#skills/category/10068518031/?ref=skill_dsk_cat_10068518031&sort=date-desc-rank

[trt]

## Unless it can answer Technical problems that AB can't resolve, I certainly wouldn't want one.

Well Hans, she just told me how the Universe started, and her answer was much more feasible, than the ones mentioned today in A/B.

[woofgang]

trt, you can buy lightbulbs that work with Alexa but they re a fierce price and of course when the bulb blows that's it.....
You may be interested in these which will adapt ceiling lights to work with a remote but aren't for Alexa
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

and thank you for the link.

[woofgang]

Oh! there are also wall light switches that will work with Alexa....search amazon using the search term "smart home" to see everything

[trt]

Thanks Woof,

I looked at lightbulbs a few days ago, nearly £40 each. Joke

I dont mind if its with Alexa or not, so will have a look Thanks.

[KJN]

My son purchased one of these about three weeks ago, works great on the Echo Dot etc

https://www.gearbest.com/smart-lighting/pp_361555.html?vip=2714270&;gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-pvgjen_1gIVQT8bCh0zzQiLEAAYASAAEgIctvD_BwE

[Bramleyboy]

Thank you all. They were all good answers and very helpful. One last question, what relation is Alexa to Echo Dot. ( what is Echo Dot) Would I need both? I have read the blurbs but cannot work it out. KJN confused me with Echo Dot! Thank you all, Bramley.

[hc4361]

Alexa is the artificial intelligence that needs a voice box - the Echo, Dot and other gadgets provide the means for Alexa to speak and listen.

[trt]

Hi Woof again,

Have been searching the links, but none that I can switch on my ceiling lights from a remote, unless I use my smartphone, which I dont want too/

I found this site, phoned them up, and they said I would have to have an electrician to put a wire from light to the switch, so going nowhere at the mo.

https://buyhomeeasy.co.uk/catalog/index.php?cPath=23

[HansUrbancka]

I think Echo Dot and Alexa are no more than toys for young folk. At the moment, as an old man, I can still draw my curtains by hand, open the front door to callers, turn on lights as required ,etc. without going to lots of unnecessary expense to have additional fitments throughout the house to be activated by speaking to a machine that is Not fully programmed to deal with all questions which are submitted to Answerbank.

It is very possible that I am misunderstanding the wonderment of Dot and Alexa.

Hans.

[woofgang]

trt, so far as I can see this is a straight swap for an existing light switch and is voice controlled through Alexa
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation