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Hi everyone,
Digital home assistants have become more and more sophisticated over the past few years, and an increasing number of companies are developping and releasing their own version of the smart devices. They can perform a wide range of tasks, help you with your day to day organisation and the overall control of your house. Their potential keeps on growing!
Do any of you guys use home assistants, such as Google Home or Alexa?
If you do use one, I'd love to know what benefits you find to these digital home assistants, and how you prefer to use them - whether it's through speakers, using the mini version of the device, or through your TV. What kind of things do you use them for, i.e. playing music, setting timers, checking the weather, turning your TV on, etc? What do you think the best, and most fun functions are?
If you do not use one, is there any particular reason behind this choice? Do you have any reservations, or feedback on what home assistants can or cannot do that is stopping you from getting one?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this! 
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- 10294 Posts
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@jonsie wrote:I'll try that when I get home.
My carers do most of the home assistance and I'm hoping to train my wife when I get home. Fat chance. ..!
Very good luck with that @jonsie. i don't what your wife would say but I'd tell you what my answer would be, if only the forum filter would allow the word(s) 
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@Glory1 wrote:
@jonsie wrote:I'll try that when I get home.
My carers do most of the home assistance and I'm hoping to train my wife when I get home. Fat chance. ..!
Very good luck with that @jonsie. i don't what your wife would say but I'd tell you what my answer would be, if only the forum filter would allow the word(s)
Unfortunately I've taught her the words. ...
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I've got both a Google Home Mini and 2 x Echo Dot's at home. One of the Dot's are in my bedroom and the other two are in the living room. Why two? They perform different tasks better than the other, so it's more just for ease, convenience and accuracy.
My Echo Dot in the bedroom is the latest generation, which produces much better music quality than the Google Home Mini (imo, at least)... Great for kick-starting the weekend. That's the main use for that one, and of course turning on/off my bedroom light (Philips Hue).
Google Home Mini is so much better at finding out info and voice searching for stuff and that's my main use for that one.
Usage breakdown estimates:
- 66% turning on/off lights
- 4% giving commands to control my Xbox (good integration with Alexa!)
- 20% music listening
- 10% searching / asking for info
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@Chris_K wrote:
I've got both a Google Home Mini and 2 x Echo Dot's at home. One of the Dot's are in my bedroom and the other two are in the living room. Why two? They perform different tasks better than the other, so it's more just for ease, convenience and accuracy.
My Echo Dot in the bedroom is the latest generation, which produces much better music quality than the Google Home Mini (imo, at least)... Great for kick-starting the weekend. That's the main use for that one, and of course turning on/off my bedroom light (Philips Hue).
Google Home Mini is so much better at finding out info and voice searching for stuff and that's my main use for that one.
Usage breakdown estimates:- 66% turning on/off lights
- 4% giving commands to control my Xbox (good integration with Alexa!)
- 20% music listening- 10% searching / asking for info
How does it control the console? Can it turn it on and off, start games...? I hadn't thought of this! 
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@Marjo wrote:
How does it control the console? Can it turn it on and off, start games...? I hadn't thought of this!
Yep, it does!
For anyone interested, you can find the Alexa skill here which also lists all command options.
I have hundreds of games and apps and sometimes takes precious seconds loading up the list, and then scrolling through it to find the right one. Whereas I can just say "Echo, open Call of Duty Black Ops 4 on Xbox" and hey presto, it does it for me.
