Anyone into home automation/smart homes with integration to Alexa, Google Home, Siri, etc.?

[Rey Nocum]

Sale today and Echo Dot $22.

[oj88]

I purchased a pair of Amazon Echo Buttons when they came out, hoping to explore the entertainment and fun side of Alexa. But after the novelty wore off, the Buttons ended up stored in a desk drawer where old and unused technology went to die. So, I spent 10 minutes with it and turned an innocent button to something that may one day, hopefully, save lives.

I made a “Panic Button” using an Amazon Echo Button

As this is a work in progress, for now, it does the following when activated:
1. Turns on selected house lights (mostly exterior lighting and some interior lighting)
2. A warning message is played on all my Echo devices (or play some heavy metal music, maybe?)*
3. Waits one (1) minute then sounds an audible alarm from an alarm transducer/sounder** through a smart switch/plug
4. Sends a message to my phone through the Alexa app
5. Using IFTTT, it also sends an SMS message to my phone (for redundancy) and other members of the family living within the same compound (ie. "John's Panic button has been activated")

Note:
* For #1 and #2, we hope that this would scare off would-be intruders before the situation gets any more serious
** The alarm sounder is not yet installed, as is evident in the video. The 1-minute delay (not yet implemented) gives us time to cancel it in case it's a false alarm. Wouldn't want to unnecessarily wake up the whole neighborhood.

This can be modified for use by an elderly. You can put these buttons besides their bed, in the toilet, or other places where they may presumably require some assistance. All they have to do is press the button and wait for the cavalry!

[jut703]

I got a free Google Home from the office and someone gifted us with an Echo Dot. Can't decide which one to keep.



So far, Google Assistant seems more straightforward to set up than Alexa. It also seems to be able understand human sentences better as opposed to Alexa which seems to need a more robotic syntax.

Biggest bummer - neither Google nor Alexa can make my TV connect to Netflix. I still have to use the remote and find the show by myself. I have a Samsung NU8000 which supports SmartThings and has Netflix built-in but I can't get it to work via voice commands. Anyone have a simple workaround for this?

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[minicarph]

I got a free Google Home from the office and someone gifted us with an Echo Dot. Can't decide
Biggest bummer - neither Google nor Alexa can make my TV connect to Netflix. I still have to use the remote and find the show by myself. I have a Samsung NU8000 which supports SmartThings and has Netflix built-in but I can't get it to work via voice commands. Anyone have a simple workaround for this?

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In a year or so mawawala na netflix, kasi mayrun na sarile streaming apple, disney, fox, and even youtube has its own built netflix like setup with all the movies and the shows

[jut703]

In a year or so mawawala na netflix, kasi mayrun na sarile streaming apple, disney, fox, and even youtube has its own built netflix like setup with all the movies and the shows

Regardless of the streaming program, my gripe is that neither Alexa nor Google Home can access my TV and get the app running. So far it works well with Spotify but not any of the built-in programs on my TV (Netflix, Youtube, Amazon Prime, etc).

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[3GEMS]

I got a free Google Home from the office and someone gifted us with an Echo Dot. Can't decide which one to keep.



So far, Google Assistant seems more straightforward to set up than Alexa. It also seems to be able understand human sentences better as opposed to Alexa which seems to need a more robotic syntax.

Biggest bummer - neither Google nor Alexa can make my TV connect to Netflix. I still have to use the remote and find the show by myself. I have a Samsung NU8000 which supports SmartThings and has Netflix built-in but I can't get it to work via voice commands. Anyone have a simple workaround for this?

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Very nice living room, sir!

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[jut703]

Very nice living room, sir!

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Thanks bro.

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[jut703]

I experimented with both Alexa and Google Home this afternoon. In a nutshell, I think I'm more inclined to keep Google Home.

Google Home is able to understand a wider range of commands, whereas Alexa prefers you follow a certain syntax and needs you to say some keywords before it responds. For example, I can tell Google, "Hey Google, turn my TV on". Alexa will require me to say exactly the name of my TV registered in the app (i.e. "Alexa, turn on my Samsung TV").

While Google allows for more human-like inputs, Alexa is superior when it comes to responses. Google responds in your typical robotic AI manner while Alexa responds in a casual manner. If you tell them both "Good night", Google will say, "Good night" while Alexa will say "Sweet dreams".

The clincher for me is that Google responds to a wider range of commands - Spotify, Google Maps, Grab, weather, etc. Alexa probably has it somewhere in its long list of downloadable "Skills", but Google is easier to use out of the box.

Hopefully in the coming weeks, Samsung rolls out full Google Assistant support as promised for its latest Smart TV models.

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[minicarph]

baka naman ma in love ka nyan kay Alexa, juts

panoorin mo na nga to hihi,

[Jun aka Pekto]

I think I'll keep my house analog. I already have enough junk (including the car) connected to the digital network.