Echo Tips

During Amazon's recent announcements, they mentioned updates to Amazon Kids to make Alexa more kid friendly and educational. Learn more in this episode.

In this episode we take a look at the all-new rain and snow notifications. We also review the long standing severe weather alerts, since it seemed appropriate.

During the Amazon Event, in September, several new Echo Dots were announced. Learn all about the new 5th generation Echo Dots, in this episode.

From our archives we revisit turbo charging your reminders.

The SongPop Trivia game has a ten-year history and has won awards, now it is on the Amazon Echo! Listen as David demo's this fun filled game, that will work your brain to the max!

In this episode we demonstrate how to reboot your Amazon Echo hands free using a routine and smart-plug. We also introduce a new segment, called "Amazon Why Not?".

In this episode learn about how to pull from various podcast databases, on your Amazon Echo. Learn how to play a previous episode or even by episode number. Or if you don't know what to listen too, learn how to search for podcasts by a given category or genre. 

Voice Pad is a powerful but simple tool that allows you to dictate a note or message and then have it sent to your email. Easy-peasy. 

This week we take a look at the Samuel L. Jackson Trivia game and the Quiz of the Day Skill. 

In this episode we geek-out on the new Star Trek Trivia game.

In this episode you'll learn about Photo Frame mode, a feature originally unique to the Echo Show 15, but now available on all modern Echo Shows. This feature allows you photos to be viewed in all their glory minus the time and annoying news blurbs covering them up.  Link to Website Mentioned in Podcast: About Amazon Blog Website with Alexa Updates

I've used this feature since the beginning. But only recently learned you could invoke it via voice.

Learn how I use People Detection, Routines, and Smart Plugs to make a apartment seem dwelled in, even when I'm not around.

In this episode we highlight the Dot to Dot podcast which is passing 2,000 episodes this week. It is a powerful resource for learning about Alexa Skills.

In this episode we compare the Echo Show to the Google Nest Hub. We'll highlight two features that differentiate the Nest Hub from the Echo Show. We'll try to revisit this topic, since there's a lot more to say.

In this episode you'll learn about live captioning of a video call that can be placed on your Amazon Echo Show. Additionally, you can change the font, font size, font color, and background to aid easier viewing.

In this week's episode we review the Braille Bot and Braille Dots Skills. One serves as a reference tool and the other is a game to help with learning various Braille symbols.

In this week's episode we cover additional educational skills on the Amazon Echo. These might be good for pre-schoolers, kindergartens, and more.

In this episode we look at three Skills that might be useful for your little ones. Aiding them with letters, numbers, counting, and more.

In this episode we review a number of sleep sound skills available on the Alexa Store. I even have a recommendation in here for my dear Uncle Todd. Enjoy!