jjj49er t1_iw6nvfn wrote on November 13, 2022 at 10:44 AM

Reply to comment by King_Tamino in Alexa-Powered Side Table Mixes Drinks on Command by shakhawat0410

You can do all those things with your phone. Why buy another device that does the same thing, but with less control over what it does in the background?

I have all my automation set up in my watch. I prefer to push a button rather than talk, but that's just me.

King_Tamino t1_iw6oskc wrote on November 13, 2022 at 10:57 AM

Yeah that’s probably you. I hate watches. And I use my phone enough on work, if I come home it often enough ends up in a corner. I was mobile game .. addicted.. long enough to make that decision.

Also all that you said would require me to be there. Live. Things like Alexa work even if you are not there or others can use it rather instinctively.

TexacoRandom t1_iw7awg3 wrote on November 13, 2022 at 2:50 PM

Plus, sometimes my hands are full. I could be working on a project or playing a video game, and I don't have to stop working or pause a game to pull up whatever on my phone. I can just tell Alexa to play a song or tell me the weather while I continue to work or play.

Same thing with cooking, I can make Alexa set timers or change the music without wiping my hands off, or stopping what I am doing.

Cast_Rate t1_iw7kofe wrote on November 13, 2022 at 4:01 PM

This is especially true when playing VR. Alexa is a life saver when you're wearing a headset

paco1342 t1_iw7nxyx wrote on November 13, 2022 at 4:24 PM

I have a smart light in my laundry room and as I’m walking through the house to go do laundry, I’ll just say “Alexa, turn the laundry room lights on” so I don’t have to flip a switch, fumble in the dark, or make sure it’s on before I carry things. It’s a small convenience, but it’s one of many and I use them often.

jjj49er t1_iw6p6tz wrote on November 13, 2022 at 11:03 AM

You can use whatever device you have at home; a desktop, laptop, raspberry pi, or tablet. They can be triggered from the other side of the Earth. I know I'm a watchaholic, but my point was that you can use any of your devices (which you have control of) rather than buying a dedicated device that listens to you all the time and does who knows what in the background.