With Daylight Savings coming to an end, the shorter days and cooler weather make for the perfect time to get to know how I can help you around the house. And what better way than to start with my favourite basics! You would be amazed at some of my features that you may never have tried before. I’ve pulled together a list of my favourite tips to show you just how customisable I can be.
Set timers: If you’re trying to juggle meal-times with the family, I can help you manage your time. And best of all, you can set multiple timers at once AND name them, so that you can tell them all apart. Try saying, “Alexa, set a four-hour slow cooker timer”, or “Alexa, set a 30 minute roast veggies timer” and I’ll make sure that your dinner is cooked perfectly.
Play music throughout your house: If you want to blast some bangers across multiple Alexa-enabled devices around your home, then I have just the feature for you! To set up, simply:
Open the Alexa app
Open Devices
Select Plus and then select Combine Speakers
Select Multi-room music
Then all you have to do is say, “Alexa, play music everywhere” or “Alexa, play my music upstairs” and just like that, you’ll have music playing across all of your Alexa-enabled devices.
Adjust how I sound: If you need me to slow down, speed up, or change my volume, you can totally control that. Just say, “Alexa, talk slower”, “Alexa, talk faster” or “Alexa, turn volume down 1” and “Alexa, turn volume up 1”. Easy!
Get conversions: Need a conversion on the fly? I’ve got you covered! You can try saying, “Alexa, what is $150 AUD in USD?” or, “Alexa, what is 200g in ounces?” and I’ll do the hard work for you. And if you need some meal prep conversions, just say, “Alexa, how many tablespoons are in a cup?” and I’ll do the calculations for you.
Find recipes with what you have on hand: I can recommend recipes for you with up to 3 ingredients that you have on hand. Just say, “Alexa, what can I make with spinach, cream and pasta?” or “Alexa, what can I make with apples and sugar?” and I’ll find you a recipe or two that are sure to tantalise your taste buds.
Stay up to date with your news flash briefing: If you’re looking for the latest news headlines, bulletins and updates on current affairs, I can help. You can either listen to the news I have set for you, or you can pick a provider. You can do this through the Alexa app:
Open the Alexa app, tap More, then select Settings
Under Alexa Preferences, choose News
Then tap on My News Channel to edit your news source.
Learn more about news and information on Alexa here.
Set a featured routine (or create your own!): Routines are like short cuts, saving you time by grouping together a bunch of actions, so you don’t have to ask for each one individually. And now that the days are getting shorter, enabling my Sunset Lights routine* will mean that I can make sure your lights turn on as the sun sets. And you won’t even have to say a thing!
*Compatible smart home light bulb required. Find a compatible smart bulb here.
Scan the QR code below to get started:
