One Good Thing by Jillee

Home Hacks, Cleaning Tips, & DIY

Header Right

  • Homekeeping
    • All Homekeeping
    • Cleaning
    • Laundry
    • Crafts & DIY Projects
    • Gardening & Outdoors
    • Organization
  • Natural Remedies
    • Essential Oils
  • Food
    • Recipes
    • Main Dishes
    • Gluten-Free
    • Breakfast
    • Baking
    • Appetizers
    • Desserts
    • Snacks
    • Side Dishes
    • Instant Pot
  • Bright Ideas
    • All Bright Ideas
    • Advice
    • Saving Money
    • Green Living
  • Beauty
    • Hair & Makeup
    • Skincare
  • Shop
  • Get OGT Plus
  • Log in

sticky-header-right

Home · Bright Ideas · 18 Surprisingly Useful Things You Can Do With The Amazon Echo

19

18 Surprisingly Useful Things You Can Do With The Amazon Echo

Jill Nystul  ·  August 8, 2016

Amazon Echo

There are plenty of cool and useful electronic gadgets out there these days that are designed to be fixtures in your home and life. There’s Siri and Cortana, the helpful voice-activated personal assistants in your smartphone. There are wireless speakers that can access your music library and play it in any room in your house, like SONOS. And there are even voice-recognition devices that will create a grocery list for you, like the SmartShopper. But I recently discovered that there is a new device available that can do ALL of these things, and more… the Amazon Echo!

More Ideas You'll Love
Uses for White Vinegar

16 Ingenious Uses for Ordinary Household Vinegar

I have already written over 50 posts that include white vinegar! It is such a handy product to have around the home. I know some people really hate ... Continue Reading

(Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I purchased an Amazon Echo on Prime Day for $50 off, and I have really been enjoying using it!)

MY LATEST VIDEOS

18 Cool Things You Can Do With Your Amazon Echo

The function I’ve used most so far with my Echo is playing music. All I have to do is ask “Alexa” (the Echo’s interface) to play whatever album or playlist I want to listen to! Also, when I’m reading a book that refers to a song, I can ask Alexa to play that song and it’s takes my reading experience to a whole new level. (You’re just going to have to try it to believe it!)

Another function I get quite a bit of use out of is list-making. As soon as I realize I am out of something, I can just holler over to Alexa to add it to my shopping list. Then, next time I’m at the grocery store, I simply pull up the Alexa app on my phone, and my list is waiting for me! You can also make as many custom lists as you want!

These are the two functions I use most often, but there are so many more things that the Amazon Echo can do! Here are a few more…

More Cool Things You Can Do With Your Amazon Echo

18 Cool Things You Can Do With Your Amazon Echo

  • Start the day by checking your calendar. Alexa will tell you what appointments you have coming up that day. You can also tell her to add a new appointment. (You can also manage your appointments manually in the Alexa app.)
  • Set an alarm. If you feel yourself nodding off on the couch, you can tell Alexa to set an alarm for 20 minutes, so you don’t accidentally sleep the afternoon away!
  • Ask Alexa about what the traffic is like when you’re getting ready to leave for the day. If traffic is heavy, you’ll know to leave a few minutes early.

18 Cool Things You Can Do With Your Amazon Echo

  • Check up on what’s happening with your favorite sports team. Alexa can tell you sports standings, or results from specific games or matches.
  • Check the weather, in your own area or somewhere else!
  • Ask about nearby restaurants, coffee shops, pharmacies, banks, etc.

18 Cool Things You Can Do With Your Amazon Echo

  • Quickly and easily re-order an item on Amazon. If you notice you’re out of paper towels, just ask Alexa to order some more!
  • Learn something new! Curious about the distance from the earth to the moon? Wondering about what started the War of 1812? Just ask!
  • Ask about movie showtimes and tickets.

18 Cool Things You Can Do With Your Amazon Echo

  • Ask about the day’s top news stories.
  • Listen to an audiobook! Not only can you tell Alexa to start or stop your audiobook, you can also pause, skip to a certain spot or chapter, and even set a sleep timer.
  • Listen to your favorite radio apps.

18 Cool Things You Can Do With Your Amazon Echo

  • For all of you Game of Thrones fans… apparently Alexa knows EVERYTHING about the Game of Thrones universe! You can ask her about quotes, characters, House words, and more!
  • You can even switch Amazon profiles, so the kids can listen to their music, or your husband can listen to his audiobook, without changing or altering your own profile.

18 Cool Things You Can Do With Your Amazon Echo

More Ideas You'll Love
How To Pack A Cooler

40 Creative Uses for Versatile VELCRO®

Today's post begins with a very short history lesson. Back in the early 1940's when Swiss engineer George de Mestral would go for walks in the Alps ... Continue Reading

  • You can even use your Amazon Echo to order a pizza from Domino’s!
  • Ask Alexa to request a ride from Uber.

 

I may include affiliate links to products sold by others, but only when they are relevant and helpful. I always offer my own genuine recommendation. Learn more.  
Read This Next
  • 17 New Ways to Use Your Old Bed Sheets
  • Not Just For Cupcakes Anymore! Creative Uses for Paper, Foil & Silicone Liners
  • 14 Surprisingly Useful Ways To Use Alka-Seltzer Tablets Every Day

Hi, I’m Jillee!

I believe we should all love the place we call home and the life we live there. Since 2011, I've been dedicated to making One Good Thing by Jillee a reliable and trustworthy resource for modern homemakers navigating the everyday challenges of running a household. Join me as I share homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make life easier so you can enjoy it more!

Every day I share creative homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make your life easier and more enjoyable!

Read More
Categories
Bright Ideas

More Ideas From Bright Ideas

50 Amazing Ways To Use Vinegar

50 Amazing Uses For Vinegar That You’ll Want To Know

Creative Uses For Grill/Oven Mats

10 Creative Uses For Grill Mats That Will Make Your Life Easier

Unusual Uses For Your Appliances

15 Unexpected And Unique Uses For Your Appliances

10 Unusual Uses For Shaving Cream

Uses for Shoelaces

Genius Uses for Old Shoelaces (Other Than Keeping Shoes On Your Feet)

14 Things You Can Clean With Bar Keepers Friend That Will Amaze You

Uses for White Bread

7 Things You Can Do With A Slice Of Bread Besides Make A Sandwich

10 Reasons Why Hangers Are More Useful Than You Think

10 Uses for White Glue

10 Surprising Reasons To Have A Bottle Of White Glue

Uses For Brown Paper Bags

9 Unexpectedly Useful Things You Can Do With A Paper Bag

uses for cinnamon

7 Ways That Cinnamon Is Way More Useful Than You Thought

Silicone Molds

7 Marvelous Things You Can Do With A Simple Silicone Mold

21 Things You Can Clean With A Lint Roller Besides Your Clothes

Why Every Kitchen Should Have Grill Mats

9 Reasons Why Every Kitchen Should Have Grill Mats

Uses For Paper Plates

10 Practical And Creative Ways To Use Paper Plates

Uses for Floss

9 Ways To Use Floss When You’re In A Pickle

15 Surprising Foods You Can Make In Your Waffle Maker

Uses for Magnets

10 Easy Ways To Get More Organized With Magnets

newest oldest most voted
Christine
Christine

It is also compatible with Vivint smart home products. So if you have Vivint smart home security, you can ask the Amazon Echo to turn on your lights, lock the door etc. with your home automation & security products.

Vote Up3Vote Down 
3 years ago
Pat Fox
Pat Fox

Thanks for this info as I just did not know what this Echo did. Maybe I do need one!

Vote Up0Vote Down 
3 years ago
gale m
gale m

I have this and the dot – love them! I have them connected to my thermostat and various lights\electronics as well as house alarm and can control them verbally. Want to get one for my mom as well – figure it can help her in cases of emergency – believe we can also have it text or call with connected cell – not certain yet though.

Vote Up0Vote Down 
3 years ago
Denise
Denise

What is the dot?

Vote Up0Vote Down 
3 years ago
Barbara
Barbara

Doesn’t Siri do most of this? I’m wondering about the difference…

Vote Up0Vote Down 
3 years ago
Nardooncis Butterfield
Nardooncis Butterfield

It certainly seems like a nifty gadget, but am wondering the same thing. It looks like Alexa is a tiny speaker and microphone that you take with you from room to room, so that it will always be within “ear-shot.” Ok, neato! So, do you simply call out your wishes into the air? Alexa hears you and will obey? The part I’m stuck on is you must have to carry this unit around with you at all times, in order to maximize the giant list of things it can do, which isn’t necessarily out of the question, but I seem… Read more »

Vote Up0Vote Down 
3 years ago
by Jillee
by Jillee

You don’t carry it anywhere – just set it up in a central location in your home, and shout out from anywhere!

Yes, Siri, can do a lot of these things, but Amazon echo is a speaker, so you can put on music while you’re cooking. Being hands-free is definitely a big advantage!

Vote Up0Vote Down 
1 year ago
Karen
Karen

wow! Sounds awesome. Until now, I had no idea what the Echo was-I thought it was a speaker! ha ha. Thank you for the great explanation!

Vote Up0Vote Down 
3 years ago
Clarissa
Clarissa

This is amazing! It’s like a personal assistant! lol – I need this in my life :-P

-Clarissa @ The View From Here

Vote Up0Vote Down 
3 years ago
Vickie
Vickie

My husband is blind and disabled, the Echo has been such a good thing for him. He loves to listen to the audio books, the music, spends a good amount of time thinking up questions to ask her. The fact that you can verbally ask her and she does it. Such a blessing for him. I love the list/to do feature and especially the access to so much music.

Vote Up1Vote Down 
3 years ago
Jill Nystul
Jill Nystul

How fun! Best wishes to you and your family, Vickie!

Vote Up0Vote Down 
3 years ago
mj leandro
mj leandro

I also bought my Echo on Amazon prime day and saved that $50. Alexa tells joke! When I wake her up in the morning she tells me what is special that day. LucyBall’s birthday…so much more. She is learning my likes and the music she plays is exactly what I need. Let me kn
ow any other great ideas and uses for Alexa.

Vote Up0Vote Down 
3 years ago
Jill Nystul
Jill Nystul

Awesome!

Vote Up-1Vote Down 
3 years ago
Sandra
Sandra

Alexa not only reads audio books to you, she will also read Kindle books,
whether you have bought and downloaded them from Amazon or merely
downloaded them from your local library in kindle format.

Vote Up1Vote Down 
3 years ago
Amanda
Amanda

I LOVE my echo for list making!!! In the past I would think of something I needed, but if I was in the middle of doing something I would forget to add it to my list. Now, I can just say it the second I think of it and Alexa adds it to my list!!

Vote Up0Vote Down 
3 years ago

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I’m Jillee!

Every day I share creative homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make your life easier and more enjoyable!

Read More
  • Contact
  • About
  • Work With Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

copyright © 2019 One Good Thing by Jillee · All rights reserved