Table of Content
If you're planning to give an Echo or Echo Dot to your kid, here's how to enable FreeTime so he or she uses Alexa appropriately. Shop your favorite products and we’ll find the best deal with a single click. The app will assign the right channel to one and the left channel to the other, but you can tap Swap Speakers to toggle the options, then tap Next.
Plus it’s also possible to connect the Dot to other speakers using Bluetooth or the 3.5mm jack. This Echo Dot with Clock does everything the standard Echo Dot can do, but can also display the time thanks to LEDs under the speaker fabric. For example, you could automate your devices so that when you say, “Alexa, good night,” your lights turn off, your front door locks, and your thermostat turns down for the night. You’ll use the Alexa feature called Routines to create these automations . Giving a voice command is simple enough and intuitive, but the setup process for enabling these commands can be complex and not as easy as manufacturers may lead you to believe. You can also rename plugs to be the device that's connected to them.
How to manage your Alexa smart home
Did you know you can make voice and video calls from one Alexa device to another? How to make Alexa speak faster or slowerAlexa's default voice isn't for everyone. Whether you want your voice assistant to slow down or speed up, all you need to do is ask. Before you purchase an Alexa-enabled speaker, make sure you're getting the one that best suits your needs and budget.
Log into your Google Home app to connect your thermostat with Google Assistant. The app is a central place for managing compatible home devices, such as your smart speakers, TVs, and air conditioner, and is available for both iOS and Android users. Second, Alexa can have a hunch that one of your smart home devices isn’t working as it should. For example, if a smart light bulb stays on when you’ve otherwise told Alexa to shut the house down for the night, you’ll get a notification asking whether it’s still lit on purpose.
Want to stay connected with the latest deals?
Many smart home devices can also be controlled with Alexa automation. You now know the basics of how to use Alexa to automate smart devices in your home. We've guided you through an example of how to set up an automatic water pump to turn on at certain times, but the principle can be used with any connected device.
Using Alexa is simpler than Home Assistant, and you can even add your own DIY smart switches and sensors if you want. For instance, turning on the water pump every day at 5am and turning it off at 7am or when the tank is full. For this project, we built and installed a contact-less smart DIY water level sensor based on a cheap ultrasonic module. You can also change the wake word with voice commands, too. Simply say, "Alexa, change your wake word." Alexa will prompt you to pick from the list of offered wake words. I purchased two “smart” lightbulbs by Samsung at the same time I bought our Echo Dots.
How To Use Alexa in Your Home
So, as you can tell, just buying a smart light bulb and an Echo Dot won’t be enough. In your Alexa app, go to Settings, then to Notifications, then to Things to Try, then toggle off “Alexa Device Notifications”. You can leave on notifications to your phone, which I did, to enjoy tips that can be read at your leisure.
You can get this for free on Android, iOS, and Fire OS. However, if you have a recent version of the Fire tablet, the application will likely already be installed. Through voice command, follow along with a cooking video or music lyrics is a must. However, there are wifi-enabled light bulbs that CAN work with Alexa and don’t need a hub. But these run around $20 each, and last about as long as a normal light bulb, so this isn’t a very cost-effective way to light up your house. If you find Alexa can't hear you over your TV, the best way to mitigate the problem is with the Voice Remote. As always with planning out a smart home set up, your best bet is to start small with one or two Alexa devices to see how you and your family will really use them.
For instance, if you have two smart bulbs in your kitchen called "kitchen light 1" and "kitchen light 2," you might create a group called "kitchen lights" that includes both of them. Then, you could turn both lights on at once by saying "Alexa, turn on the kitchen lights." If you currently have smart devices in your home, or you’re curious about this new wave of technology, consider automating your home with Alexa.
Select your network and enter your home network password . If you don’t see your Wi-Fi network, scroll down and select Add a Network or Rescan. Select the “+” icon in the top-right corner of the screen to add a device. That kind of fine-tuning can help guide you through a gradual expansion of your setup.
Prior to starting your set up, you’ll want to choose the best location for your device. Be sure to place it in a central location, like your kitchen countertop, living room or bedside table. You’ll want to position your device so that it has a clear path to receive Wi-Fi signals — free from walls, baby monitors and microwave ovens, all of which can impact optimal functionality. It's cheap, it's easy to use, and it'll let you turn anything you plug into it on and off just by asking Alexa.
Open the Alexa app, tap Devices on the bottom menu bar, then tap the plus sign (+) in the upper right corner. 6.Tap OK when a pop-up lets you know it might take a few minutes to change over, then either back out of that menu or close the app. Those old third-gen hockey puck Echo Dots make perfect speakers for your garage, hallway or other less frequently used spaces.
Instead of Alexa alerting you at a specific time, reminders have labels and can be triggered at particular locations. Qualifying system purchase requires minimum $599.99 equipment purchase, professional installation and applicable services agreement. DIY system purchases and reactivations of previously-installed systems not eligible for offer. Equipment purchase may be financed separately subject to an agreement with one of Vivint’s third-party financing partners.
No comments:
Post a Comment