(Part 2) Top products from r/alexa

I hate the idea of paying for a subscription as well. I can't figure out for the life of me why I can't use Spotify on the Echo for free when I can do so on both my phone and my PC. Pretty lame.
This is not exactly what you've requested, BUT, it's the closest thing I've found to making use of the Echo to control my own music collection. I also haven't set this up yet, but I will be in the next couple of months. From what I understand, if you buy "J. River Media Center" and install the "House Band" Alexa skill (https://www.amazon.com/Philosophical-Creations-House-Band/dp/B01ATZM6N4), you can tell Alexa to play anything from your library as well as control playback over any of your zones. The downside is that I don't think it'll stream over your Echo device. The Echo is used only for control and you need to have a PC running your media player, hooked up to an amp or some other sound system like a Sonos speaker. J. River sells media devices that are essentially power-efficient mini computers with their software installed and a hard drive to store music if you don't like the idea of running a media PC all the time. Good luck!

You can try something like this. But both the washer and dishwasher go through different phases of cleaning, some of which likely don't take much if any electricity (e.g. while filling). That could create some issues with a current detector setup. It might take a fair amount of fine tuning. Search around (SmartThings communicy, HASS, Webcore, etc) a lot of people have tackled this problem. I'm guessing there are routines and pistons already well developed.

For the dryer, and maybe the washer, I've read of people having a lot of success using multipurpose sensorsthat have a vibration/movement sensor.

I spent some time researching this, and ended up getting a z-wave garage door opener off Amazon (this one). It works well, communicates over Z-wave and reaches through several walls to my Z-Wave light switches to join the Z-Wave mesh my SmartThings hub communicates with - With that said, I found out rather quickly afterward that Amazon purposely prevents Alexa from working with any type of smart door/locking mechanism, which made me sadface. I could probably still get it to work through Smart Things custom scripting editor, but honestly I'm fine just doing it through the ST app.

Micca has some powered speakers for $109
Micca PB42X Powered Bookshelf Speakers With 4-Inch Carbon Fiber Woofer and Silk Dome Tweeter (Pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NXAEPDC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_AFLACbATJXA7G

A bit over your budget but should give you better sound than one of those bt speakers.

Or if you have an echo, you could add the echo subwoofer and fill out the low end. This will be perceived as louder and better sounding.

"Normal" depends on what outlet you buy. My outlets put out 4.0a total. Phones usually take 1.0a. Tablets usually take 2.1a.

TOPGREENER TU2154 4.0 Amp Smart High Speed USB Wall Charger Outlet, 15A TR Receptacle Free Screwless Wall Plate, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IAZIU5Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_7GiSybK0SDJPM

Thanks for the input. Like this switch and this outlet?

Mine came with a remote too. You can tell alexa, or you can use the remote, or you can use your phone.


This is what I got. Ships in 1-2 months though.
Logitech Harmony Smart Control - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BQ5RYI4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_P6PRzb3QQ0AYA

Hi there. This deadbolt works with zigbee and Alexa. Had it for 2 weeks and works great. Spendy though. Kwikset 99100-045 SmartCode... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OIBETFY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Try either the Ring doorbell products or get a z-wave doorbell like this: Aeotec by Aeon Labs ZW056 Doorbell, Small, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0182XG27Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_2IJdAbP3REJ65

If you have a hub. Can likely set up a rule either in your hub software or using IFTTT.

I am curious to try this now.

If you created an Alexa skill, your client's brand could interact with the potential customer through the skill versus Alexa just reading the results of a wikipedia page on your client's product or a search result. Creating an Alexa skill creates a new touchpoint for your client with their customers -- it's another marketing channel. See Tide's skill and Zyrtec's allergycast (useful tool to tell people allergy forecast) for examples of what I mean. Voice commerce isn't there yet, but it probably will be one day. I think you should be able to try out the Echo simulator with an Amazon account even if you don't have an Echo/Alexa-built-in device. Try "Alexa, open Tide" and take it from there...

Is the Harmony Hub available by itself in AU? You don't need the remote to interact with Alexa or the IR receiver. You only need the hub. US listing

This router works without ethernet, but be mindful of your school's policies.

It allows the creation of a small, private LAN that bridges to the Wifi, which is the only way I was able to hook up my Alexa in my classroom to the school's wifi network.

In the sense of having only a single skill that goes through the certification process and is enabled by users, no. You can certainly use a shared backend, though, that handles both custom and flash briefing skill requests.

I did that with a couple of my skills, for example:

CompliBot

CompliBot Daily Compliment

I use "GE 45852GE Zigbee Smart Dimmer Plug-In 2-Outlet Lighting Control, No Wiring Required Works Directly with Alexa Plus, Echo Show (2nd Gen)"
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019G6RQCS

Needs a Zigbee hub (such as found in Echo Plus or Echo Show 2nd gen)

Doubtful. You would have to have something that would control the output to the light.

Here's a dimmable smart switch.

You could buy a Bluetooth adapter like this one. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B074QLB1Y7/ref=mp_s_a_1_1 and go out the headphone jack, or one that is usb like this one. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009ZIILLI/ref=mp_s_a_1_1

Personally I hate using the Alexa and my windows 10 machine, I can ask Alexa to disconnect but windows 10 won't let go and keeps reconnecting until I turn Bluetooth off. I would go with the headphone adapter.

https://www.amazon.com/Simran-SMF-200-Converter-International-Blackberry/dp/B000W9DJ1Q?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_5

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Electronics-Co-Ltd-Smart/dp/B01M6ZNLBA

I didn't want to saturate the house with Alexa (yet). So, I have most of my content outputted from my iphone into bluethooth speakers in the house. I have a few of the House of Marley portables. Then I just connect the iPhone or iPad i'm listening to/watching.

"I cannot send it via Bluetooth or through my wireless network"

If the reason for this is "because my receiver does not have Bluetooth or Wifi" then this would be the solution to that problem

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Bluetooth-4-0-Audio-Receiver/dp/B00I59VBH4