(Part 3) Top products from r/alexa

>I’d like to make Alexa keep track of my todo list and keep my habits such as running, working out, studying, proud of my eating, meditating, waking up on time etc. Ideally I’d like to be able to see if a streak is active or how many days in the past week or month I’ve done it.

I'm not aware of any app/service where you can set your target for multiple activities or track historical actions, but according to Fitbit they can integrate with Alexa to tell you how many steps you are from your daily goal.

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>I’d also like it to read me a todo list that I can knock off. Such as “what do I have due today/ this week” and tell it when I’m done so it can knock it off the list. Some of these things will be scheduled weekly (I can’t program it in the Alexa app) and some will be “one off situations”

Alexa already supports multiple "To-Do" lists, would have 2 lists work? 1 you use day-to-day, and a weekly one? Then you can ask Alexa "What is is on my (weekly) todo list" and she'll tell you what you have left, and control like using "Clear my (weekly) todo list" or "Take X off my todo list"

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>Also, is there any way to make the dot to “remind you” but when you’re in the room to actually hear it and not gone elsewhere?

As far as I am aware, reminders come from the device you set them on. There is a setting in the Alexa app so that your phone get's a notification as well - Turn that on and keep your phone on you?

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!

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.

Yes. Here is a link to the v2 dot.

Echo Dot (2nd Generation) - Smart speaker with Alexa - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DFKC2SO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_kGj6BbRMJQM1V


There is also the v3 dot which is a little more expensive but has significantly better audio.

Have you ever considered using a good battery backup and surge suppressor like an APC? APC has different sizes available as well.

https://www.amazon.com/APC-Battery-Protector-Charging-BE600M1/dp/B01FWAZEIU

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?

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.

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

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-3-5mm-2-Male-Adapter-Stereo/dp/B01D5H8JW0

Not audiophile quality obviously, but not bad either.

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)

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

https://www.amazon.com/Lossless-Bluetooth-Receiver-Optical-Coaxial/dp/B01G5AMGR8

I stand corrected. https://skills-store.amazon.com/deeplink/dp/B01JTQCD3W?deviceType=app&share&refSuffix=ss_copy

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.