Echo/ Google Home

[ROMOTOOWENS]

What are these things?? Do u have to buy other things to make it work. Saw them advertised this weekend. Voice activated. Plays songs, cuts lights off etc. How does it do this? I'm not techno advanced. I still have to have directions to hook up a DVD player. Is this something I need to stay away from

 

[SDGuy73]

 

[SDGuy73]

What are these things?? Do u have to buy other things to make it work. Saw them advertised this weekend. Voice activated. Plays songs, cuts lights off etc. How does it do this? I'm not techno advanced. I still have to have directions to hook up a DVD player. Is this something I need to stay away from

In order to get these to turn things on and off, you need smart plugs. Smart plugs plug into your wall and you plug-in your TV, light, coffee maker...etc. Echo/Google Home have a app for your phone/tablet. Once connect, you can turn on/off lights, TV, home alarm, order pizza, Uber...etc. When you are away from your home, you can turn anything on or off that is connected to these via your phone. You can play music. Check traffic, whether, time and so on.

Ask My Buddy is something that can be connected. It's great for the elderly and disabled. It will call anyone on your contact list if you need help.

 

[ROMOTOOWENS]

So u think this is a good thing to have???

 

[ROMOTOOWENS]

If so which one ?? Thanks for the info

 

[SDGuy73]

So u think this is a good thing to have???

I have the Echo Dot. I bought it to make my life easier. I'm a quadriplegic. So, having all these voice commands are great. If I wasn't in a chair, I'd still probably have one.

 

[ROMOTOOWENS]

So you buy special switches and outlets to go with it?

 

[SDGuy73]

So you buy special switches and outlets to go with it?

Yes. Not cheap. Read to see if they are compatible with Google Home or Echo aka Alexa.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Smart+plugs

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...,453&crid=TYRN97ID71H&rh=i:aps,k:smart+switch

 

[ROMOTOOWENS]

Okay - so let's say I have two lamps in my room - I would need to buy two different plugs?? In other words if you would explain how you work yours or the plugs/ switches/ outlets u may have. I really appreciate it.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

Sounds like a buncha Star Trek shit that we've been waiting for since the 50's.

Now where the HELL is my flying car???

 

[SDGuy73]

Okay - so let's say I have two lamps in my room - I would need to buy two different plugs?? In other words if you would explain how you work yours or the plugs/ switches/ outlets u may have. I really appreciate it.

That is exactly right.

 

[night]

What are these things?? Do u have to buy other things to make it work. Saw them advertised this weekend. Voice activated. Plays songs, cuts lights off etc. How does it do this? I'm not techno advanced. I still have to have directions to hook up a DVD player. Is this something I need to stay away from

I bought a Google Home for my parents for Christmas. You say "Hey, Google..." then you can ask it a question or to do something for you.

Without peripherals:
You can make it play audio, get the weather forecast, look up a recipe, add something to your grocery list, run down your calendar, add events to your calendar, make it Google search something, read you the news...

With peripherals:
With the Chromecast audio you can tell the Home to play music on the speaker it's connected to. For the Chromecast and ultra you can tell your Home to play a Youtube or Netflix video.

If you get the Nest (which is a smart thermostat) you can control how your home is heated and cooled with your phone. When you couple it with the Google Home you can casually tell it to lower/raise the temperature. As others have mentioned if you get the adapters you can also control lights and appliances throughout your home.

I think the selling point of it is getting small chunks of information hands-free and being able to do simple tasks without having to use your phone. It's for the most part a much better version of Siri.

Amazon's Echo is basically the same thing with a different brand.

 

[R.J. MacReady]

You can use echo for some of the most basic things and you will be hooked.

I ask Alexia (echo)

To set a alarm to move my car
a timer for cooking
What time is the Cowboys game.
how many meters in 45 feet
Play 80's music (if you have amazon prime)


Night said it's a better version of Siri but I think it's a better version of your cell all together (to a degree)

 

[JuiceTheGator]

Imma' get the 2nd gen. Dot for the kids. I figure they can ask it "what does .... spell" and "where is nebraska." Shit like that. It's cheaper than an encyclopedia and I might even have a question or two for it.

 

[JuiceTheGator]

Just bought the Dot Gen 2 on Amazon today 10 bucks off. Pretty nifty gift for $39.95!