So I got an Amazon Echo. But can Alexa get my life together?
0Reported today on The Guardian Technology
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So I got an Amazon Echo. But can Alexa get my life together?
Looking to streamline his life, writer Phil Samba bought an Amazon Echo Dot to see if the smart speaker could provide some assistance …
Like every millennial, I'm obsessed with self improvement. Also like every millennial, I somehow constantly manage to never do any of the things I need to do to self-improve. I'm hoping that technology can help me get it together – so I got an Amazon Echo 3rd generation, with Alexa.
The Echo Dot comes in a small box, which I open up to reveal a small speaker, just larger in diameter than a drinks coaster, but small enough to hold in your hand. Aesthetically, it's very futuristic – at the top within the light ring are four tiny microphones and four buttons – volume up, volume down, mute and Alexa. It feels smooth around the sides with adaptor and aux ports at the back.
Mine is heather grey, but you can get them in charcoal, plum and sandstone too – you can even get one with a clock to show you the time. There's an information document, a charger, a user manual and a list of commands to try, such as: "Alexa, set a 10-minute timer" and "Alexa, add toilet paper to my shopping list".
To set up, I need to be connected to my wifi and download the Amazon Alexa app on to my smartphone. Set-up is easy, all within the app, and takes about five to 10 minutes – but if you struggle, there are a million and one tutorials on YouTube for you to follow and a dedicated Echo help page.
There are a ton of things you can do with the Echo straight out of the box, such as setting alarms and asking it trivia questions. To unlock even more value, you can add skills via the Alexa smartphone app or just by using your voice.
'Alexa, start the Body Coach