Post by garbulky on Jul 28, 2017 14:56:57 GMT -5
Maybe I'm late on the bandwagon but I gotta share how much fun I'm having with these two things.
The first is the Amazon bluetooth waterproof portable speaker.
www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Shockproof-Waterproof-Bluetooth-Wireless/dp/B01GF4XZ24/
This unassuming $19 device is so much fun. My car is too old to pair with my iphone. So after trying out various gadgets I found that this simple device beat all of them.
It's a small speaker that comes with a clip which can hook on to a keychain or belt buckle or cup holder. It has surprising bass and nice sound quality for its size.
The battery life is ample. It's rated at something like 9 hours but I've never done more than 3 hours before charging so I've never run out.
Now the best part is that this thing is literally water proof. It's been dunked in the pool several times, used in the shower. No issues whatsoever. I take it with me as I work around the house. A great alternative when you don't want to crank the living room system.
An aside to waterproof devices this $30 Kindle Paperwhite waterproof case is also a great buy. Relaxing in the tub. And true to its word it is waterproof.
www.amazon.com/Paperwhite-Waterproof-Vcloo-Shockproof-Transparent/dp/B01HMCKKKI/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1501270285&sr=1-3&keywords=kindle+paperwhite+waterproof+case
Second is the Amazon Echo dot
www.amazon.com/Amazon-Echo-Dot-Portable-Bluetooth-Speaker-with-Alexa-Black/dp/B01DFKC2SO/
I got this at a ridiculous $30 on Prime Day. I see no reason why they won't do it again for cyber monday and black friday.
Anyway, my only regret is not having gotten more of these.
This amazing device is basically Siri but for your house and it's always on.
The difference is that it is very quick.
So for instance with Siri you say "hey siri". Then there's a pause. Then a music tone. Then you say what you want. Then a pause. Then another music tone. Then it thinks for half a second more. Then it pushes out what you want.
With the Echo aka "Alexa do whatever all in one sentence" and that's it. It does it. No beeps, no pauses. It just does it.
So when we first got it we just used it to play music. And to our surprise it had nearly every song we asked for. It also did music stations. Etc.
We were worried that the speaker would be bad as it was the small version of the $170 Amazon Echo. But honestly the speaker sounded quite nice for what it was. It won't give you much bass. But the voices are clear with a natural tone. And it's great for background music at modest levels.
So we use it when we just want some background music. Also it will pair with bluetooth speakers if you want more. A better buy than an Echo imo.
Then we moved on quickly as we were loving the responsiveness. Quickly we found that it could set multiple timers - great for cooking and have tons of other skills including reading your text messages, sending texts and even on a limited basis - making calls.
It paired with the Kindle Fire HD 8 (on sale for an insane $50 at the time) to use as a display. An aside: I noticed little difference between the Fire HD8 and the ipad mini except for the camera. The fire actually moved a little faster. I found myself not needing the screen.
It was pretty magical when my wife ordered some Laundry detergent using the Echo using just her voice. The whole process was done in about 30 seconds or less. It just did it all.
Even my MIL was impressed.
Then the real knockout feature was seamless home automation.
I got this $19 smart plug to which I plugged in a lamp. I got two of them for two lamps.
It got an app which integrated with the light instantly and then with just a few clicks - the echo. I called it what I wanted and I found I could turn each of them off with my voice.
www.amazon.com/Socket-Outlet-Amazon-Google-Control/dp/B06XZ3J66L/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1501271364&sr=8-6&keywords=alexa+smart+plug
"Alexa turn off the light / light 2".
Or turn them both off and on "Alexa turn on the lights".
Trivial but this worked GREAT for 3d movies or when you are eating dinner and need to get up. I could plunge my room in to total darkness and light it up without having to fumble around for a light switch or get off the couch.
Fyi, they have smart bulbs - which do the same thing but the tech is in the bulb itself for about $20 per bulb (ouch).
They have smart switches.
Our next purchase is going to be the Alexa controleld thermostat. $120
"Alexa make it colder." How "cool" is that?
www.amazon.com/Sensi-Smart-Thermostat-UP500W-Amazon/dp/B00HHE6CW2/ref=sr_1_5?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1501271592&sr=1-5&keywords=alexa+thermostat
[imkg]https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51x7xKH1agL._SL1133_.jpg[/img]
Note there are cheaper thermostats at around $70 but I read a review saying that it's tolerance range is too narrow causing the ac to cut in and out too frequently.
So there ya have it. Living in the future with AFFORDABLE voice controlled devices!
The first is the Amazon bluetooth waterproof portable speaker.
www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Shockproof-Waterproof-Bluetooth-Wireless/dp/B01GF4XZ24/
This unassuming $19 device is so much fun. My car is too old to pair with my iphone. So after trying out various gadgets I found that this simple device beat all of them.
It's a small speaker that comes with a clip which can hook on to a keychain or belt buckle or cup holder. It has surprising bass and nice sound quality for its size.
The battery life is ample. It's rated at something like 9 hours but I've never done more than 3 hours before charging so I've never run out.
Now the best part is that this thing is literally water proof. It's been dunked in the pool several times, used in the shower. No issues whatsoever. I take it with me as I work around the house. A great alternative when you don't want to crank the living room system.
An aside to waterproof devices this $30 Kindle Paperwhite waterproof case is also a great buy. Relaxing in the tub. And true to its word it is waterproof.
www.amazon.com/Paperwhite-Waterproof-Vcloo-Shockproof-Transparent/dp/B01HMCKKKI/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1501270285&sr=1-3&keywords=kindle+paperwhite+waterproof+case
Second is the Amazon Echo dot
www.amazon.com/Amazon-Echo-Dot-Portable-Bluetooth-Speaker-with-Alexa-Black/dp/B01DFKC2SO/
I got this at a ridiculous $30 on Prime Day. I see no reason why they won't do it again for cyber monday and black friday.
Anyway, my only regret is not having gotten more of these.
This amazing device is basically Siri but for your house and it's always on.
The difference is that it is very quick.
So for instance with Siri you say "hey siri". Then there's a pause. Then a music tone. Then you say what you want. Then a pause. Then another music tone. Then it thinks for half a second more. Then it pushes out what you want.
With the Echo aka "Alexa do whatever all in one sentence" and that's it. It does it. No beeps, no pauses. It just does it.
So when we first got it we just used it to play music. And to our surprise it had nearly every song we asked for. It also did music stations. Etc.
We were worried that the speaker would be bad as it was the small version of the $170 Amazon Echo. But honestly the speaker sounded quite nice for what it was. It won't give you much bass. But the voices are clear with a natural tone. And it's great for background music at modest levels.
So we use it when we just want some background music. Also it will pair with bluetooth speakers if you want more. A better buy than an Echo imo.
Then we moved on quickly as we were loving the responsiveness. Quickly we found that it could set multiple timers - great for cooking and have tons of other skills including reading your text messages, sending texts and even on a limited basis - making calls.
It paired with the Kindle Fire HD 8 (on sale for an insane $50 at the time) to use as a display. An aside: I noticed little difference between the Fire HD8 and the ipad mini except for the camera. The fire actually moved a little faster. I found myself not needing the screen.
It was pretty magical when my wife ordered some Laundry detergent using the Echo using just her voice. The whole process was done in about 30 seconds or less. It just did it all.
Even my MIL was impressed.
Then the real knockout feature was seamless home automation.
I got this $19 smart plug to which I plugged in a lamp. I got two of them for two lamps.
It got an app which integrated with the light instantly and then with just a few clicks - the echo. I called it what I wanted and I found I could turn each of them off with my voice.
www.amazon.com/Socket-Outlet-Amazon-Google-Control/dp/B06XZ3J66L/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1501271364&sr=8-6&keywords=alexa+smart+plug
"Alexa turn off the light / light 2".
Or turn them both off and on "Alexa turn on the lights".
Trivial but this worked GREAT for 3d movies or when you are eating dinner and need to get up. I could plunge my room in to total darkness and light it up without having to fumble around for a light switch or get off the couch.
Fyi, they have smart bulbs - which do the same thing but the tech is in the bulb itself for about $20 per bulb (ouch).
They have smart switches.
Our next purchase is going to be the Alexa controleld thermostat. $120
"Alexa make it colder." How "cool" is that?
www.amazon.com/Sensi-Smart-Thermostat-UP500W-Amazon/dp/B00HHE6CW2/ref=sr_1_5?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1501271592&sr=1-5&keywords=alexa+thermostat
[imkg]https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51x7xKH1agL._SL1133_.jpg[/img]
Note there are cheaper thermostats at around $70 but I read a review saying that it's tolerance range is too narrow causing the ac to cut in and out too frequently.
So there ya have it. Living in the future with AFFORDABLE voice controlled devices!
