Ultimate Guide to Alexa and the Amazon Echo Family

ASet the alarm.

Tell Alexa to set the alarm every night as part of your bedtime routine, or make life even easier with a repeating alarm for each weekday. And if you like the idea of Alec Baldwin or Missy Elliott greeting you each morning, be sure to use one of Alexa’s celebrity alarm tones.

BAdjust the temperature.

Nothing’s worse than having to crawl out of a warm, cozy bed. Ease the pain by using Alexa to turn up the heat before your feet touch the floor.

CFigure out what to wear.

Alexa can give you a weather update every morning, so you always know if the day calls for rain boots or flip flops. With Amazon’s latest Echo product, Echo Look, you can get a snapshot of your ensemble sent straight to your phone so you can critique your fashion sense before you hit the streets.

DDim the lights.

Set the perfect scene for relaxation when you combine Alexa’s voice control with smart light bulbs. You can also manage exposure to blue light before bed and set your lights to greet you with ideal illumination in the morning.

EReplace the remote.

Never fumble around in the dark for the remote again—Alexa can completely replace your universal remote. When you put Alexa in charge of your TV, all you have to say is “Alexa, turn off the TV,” and you’ll be on your way to sweet slumber.

FClose the shades.

Don’t worry about getting in and out of bed to make sure the shades are closed. With smart controls and Alexa on your side, you can tell those shades to close themselves.

ATell jokes.

What kid doesn’t love a joke? Alexa has an ever-growing library of jokes, including everything from knock-knock jokes to hilarious puns.

BPlay a game.

Kids get a kick out of playing games with Alexa through the Amazon Echo. You can pick from hundreds of games like Twenty Questions, Jeopardy!, and Simon Says. There are also games related to popular shows like Sesame Street or SpongeBob SquarePants.

CTell a bedtime story.

When you could use an extra five minutes to get the dishwasher started, Alexa can get the bedtime routine going. The Bedtime Story skill turns your Amazon Echo into an expert storyteller—each bedtime story is personalized to make it even more special.

DGet the wiggles out.

If you’re too pooped to get down with the youngsters, ask Alexa to play “The Hokey Pokey,” call out the colors for Twister, or play a groovy dance tune from Amazon Music or Spotify.

EGet silly.

Sometimes all your kids need is a little laugh. Alexa delivers with Laugh Box (you can ask for anything from a baby to a villain laugh) and 4AFart, which is sure to have kids large and small rolling on the ground with a fit of the giggles.

FHelp with homework.

Because we rely on the internet to help with all kinds of things these days, it’s super convenient to have Alexa look up references or help with specific questions without having to leave the document or webpage you’re already working on.

GSet timers.

Whether you want to make sure they brush their teeth for a full sixty seconds or get off the computer in five minutes, Alexa timers make sure things in your home run on schedule.

HProvide an extra set of eyes.

Alexa can help you keep watch over sleeping babies or adventurous teens. Simply set up Alexa to work with a compatible nanny cam or baby monitor. Then all you have to do to check in on the kids is ask Alexa to show them to you.

ACatch up on the news.

It’s hard to find time to sit down and read the paper or watch the news. Save time and stay up to date on current events by asking Alexa to read you the day’s headlines. You can select your favorite news sources to create a customized “Flash Briefing” that includes all the news that matters to you.

BHost family game night.

Alexa’s game prowess isn’t just for entertaining kids while you catch up on chores. Let Alexa run your next family game night. During a surprise event last September, Amazon unveiled Echo Buttons for use with multiplayer games like Trivial Pursuit. Echo Buttons let you add a new level of competition (you can “buzz in” to answer first) to game night when you play through a compatible Echo device—or you can play games specially designed for Echo Buttons.

CSet the mood.

Whether it’s movie night or a romantic evening in front of the fire, use Alexa to set the right mood. Control lighting, temperature, and ambiance with your voice. Alexa can access and play your favorite album or playlist from Amazon Music, Spotify, or Pandora.

DEntertain your crew.

Hands-free TV is more accessible than ever with Amazon Alexa. Alexa loves to manage home entertainment systems—from your TV and DVR to the stereo and streaming music services. With Alexa, you can tell your TV to fast-forward, rewind, record, or switch input, all with the sound of your voice. You can also control volume and launch apps like Spotify or Netflix, just by telling Alexa to do it.

EKeep things tidy.

If Alexa hasn’t impressed you yet, this might be the pièce de résistance. Use Alexa to control your robot vacuum, and you’ll never have to worry about even one dust bunny escaping. Best of all, your floors will get cleaned while you sit back and relax.

FFind lost keys.

Save yourself from turning the sofa inside out by using Alexa to locate lost items. Team Alexa with a remote tracker like Tile, and a simple voice command is all you’ll need to pull your keys back from the cavernous confines of your couch.

AGet the coffee started.

When you combine Alexa with a Wi-Fi coffee maker, you can have the perfect cup of joe waiting for you every morning. A simple “Alexa, is my coffee ready?” ensures that you start each day with the perfect jolt of energy.

BStock the fridge.

You can use Alexa to keep track of your grocery list. Not only can Alexa update the list when you notice something new to add, Alexa can also order groceries and have them delivered.

COrder a pizza.

We’ve all had those days. When you can’t face the prospect of making dinner, Alexa can call Domino’s directly. Or use one of the many other delivery and takeout skills to get a hot, fresh dinner at your doorstep in minutes.

DUse up all those leftovers.

You don’t have to stretch your creativity to the limit when you have Alexa on your side. When you’re faced with a fridge full of random ingredients or leftovers, just tell Alexa what you’ve got and ask for a recipe that uses those elements.

EMix a mean cocktail.

Impress party guests (and yourself!) with professional bartending guidance from Alexa. With this secret weapon, you can dare guests to try to stump your mixology skills.

FWatch your waistline.

If you’re counting calories, Alexa can give you the breakdown of every morsel that passes your lips. Alexa can even calculate the caloric value of homemade recipes.

GHelp with recipes.

If you’ve ever been elbow deep in a turkey and needed to check the recipe or set a timer, then you’ll adore having Alexa in the kitchen. All you need is your voice to ask for the next step in your recipe, set a timer, or convert measurements. Alexa can also help you find substitute ingredients if you discover you forgot something halfway through the recipe.

AKeep track of medications.

Use Alexa to keep track of medications—when it’s time for a dose, and when you need a refill. Alexa’s CareTaker skill can set reminders for medication, list common side effects, and send alerts to Facebook so you receive reminders no matter where you are.

BTurn off the flat iron.

How many times have you been stuck in traffic and wondered whether you left the flat iron—or any other hot styling tool—on? When you set up Alexa to work with smart outlets and switches, you can make sure those potential fire hazards are turned off, even if you’re already on the road.

COrder more TP (and other necessities).

Use Alexa to keep track of pantry items (like toilet paper, tissues, body wash, cotton swabs, etc.) and tell her to reorder when you’re running low. This way you’ll always be fully stocked and won’t have to worry if someone is willing to spare a square for you.

DTransform bath time into spa time.

A day at the spa is such a luxury that most of us don’t get to enjoy them very often. Use Alexa to help you simulate the spa experience right in your very own bathroom. Dim the lights, play a relaxing tune, and even monitor the humidity in the room to avoid things like frizz. Set up the kids with a fun game on the Echo in the living room to gain a few extra minutes of peace.

EAnswer the door.

Yes, you can do this from the bathroom when you combine Alexa with a smart doorbell. Ask Alexa to let you see who’s at the door and to enable two-way talk. This way you can screen visitors without having to rush whatever “business” you’re attending to.

ANever leave the garage door open again.

No one wants to turn the car around to make sure the garage door is closed. Save yourself stress and time by letting Alexa check for you. When you set up your smart garage door opener to work with Alexa, you can say, “Alexa, close the garage door,” and join the morning commute without worry.

BLock or unlock the front door.

Garage doors aren’t the only ones we forget to lock. Combine Alexa with a smart lock and securing the front door will be as easy as saying “Alexa, lock the front door.”

CKeep an eye on packages.

Stop wondering if that special package has been delivered. Alexa can be your eyes even when you’re far from home. Ask Alexa to show you footage from your outdoor security cameras to verify delivery—and catch a thief in the act, if the worst happens.

DLight up the walkway.

There’s no need to stumble in the dark when you can have Alexa turn on the porch light before you step outside. Whether you’re taking out the garbage, or you left something in the car, Alexa can turn on the lights to ensure safe passage.

AWater the lawn.

Don’t worry about a thirsty lawn when you set up your Wi-Fi sprinkler system to work with Alexa. You can not only set your system’s main control but also make quick adjustments for changes in the weather. If a storm moves in, all it takes is a voice command to add a rain delay that will keep your system from watering during a rainstorm.

BMow the lawn.

Say farewell to sweating under a hot sun to keep your lawn looking neat and trim. With Alexa and a robot lawn mower, all you have to exercise is your tongue—and you’ll still end up with a lawn the neighbors envy.

CKeep Fido safe.

Make sure your four-legged family members stay where they belong. Combine Alexa and a smart dog collar, like the LINK AKC Smart Dog Collar, to keep tabs on your best friend at all times. You can ask Alexa to alert you if your dog leaves a designated safe zone and tap into GPS to find them quickly if they get lost.

DGrill the perfect steak.

Never again serve a medium-well ribeye to someone who prefers their steak medium-rare. All it takes is a holler to Alexa to keep an eye on the time and you’ll quickly become the neighborhood grill master.