# We got an Echo Dot! What nifty tips and tricks do u you have? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 20, 2017, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-got-an-echo-dot-what-nifty-tips-and-tricks-do-u-you-have/804926 "2017-12-20T14:11:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-got-an-echo-dot-what-nifty-tips-and-tricks-do-u-you-have/804926/1 "2017-12-20T14:11:07Z")
Our friends got us an Echo Dot for Christmas and we’re wondering what all you Dopers have taught yours to do? So far we’ve learned it speaks Klingon, knows who that masked man was, how to solve a problem like Maria, and the Ultimate Answer to life, the universe and everything. Alexa can also update us on the current location of the ISS. We don’t have any smart home accessories yet. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-got-an-echo-dot-what-nifty-tips-and-tricks-do-u-you-have/804926/2 "2017-12-20T14:39:35Z")
Play Jeopardy and Question of the Day every day. Get the app and put in your commute to work and she’ll tell you how long it’ll take (a godsend to us cuz we work an hour away). Put your favorite Pandora stations and Sirius/XM (if you have it) into it as well and listen to music. Tell her all your favorite sports teams and she can tell you the latest results and upcoming schedule. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-got-an-echo-dot-what-nifty-tips-and-tricks-do-u-you-have/804926/3 "2017-12-20T15:11:31Z")
Does she know what a “catch” is? :mad: Thanks for the suggestions! ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-got-an-echo-dot-what-nifty-tips-and-tricks-do-u-you-have/804926/4 "2017-12-20T15:39:09Z")
Ask Alexa the weather every morning. I use it to play Jeopardy too. You can look up a list of Alexa skills on the Amazon website. The skills are in the cloud rather than the device itself and they are constantly adding more that you can turn on from there. Siri can go straight to hell. Alexa is the real deal and my main squeeze these days. Also, ask Alexa to tell you a dad joke. Many of them are groanworthy. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-got-an-echo-dot-what-nifty-tips-and-tricks-do-u-you-have/804926/5 "2017-12-20T15:55:33Z")
Courtesy of my kids, say “Alexa, play poop” and you will get a nice song about pooping 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-got-an-echo-dot-what-nifty-tips-and-tricks-do-u-you-have/804926/6 "2017-12-20T16:55:07Z")
I understand it will keep papers from blowing off your desk if you set it on top of them. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-got-an-echo-dot-what-nifty-tips-and-tricks-do-u-you-have/804926/7 "2017-12-20T18:25:22Z")
I don’t have one, but my son does. We played 20 questions with it. Three times I picked Schrodinger’s cat. Not once did Alexa ask me whether it was living or dead. I felt cheated. ---
**Author:** ![aa6vh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@aa6vh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aa6vh)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2017, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-got-an-echo-dot-what-nifty-tips-and-tricks-do-u-you-have/804926/8 "2017-12-20T21:54:22Z")
I have Philips Hue lights installed. Much easier to say “Alexa, turn on the Kitchen Light” than trying to fumble finding the light switch (especially when your arms are loaded when bringing in the groceries…). ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2017, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-got-an-echo-dot-what-nifty-tips-and-tricks-do-u-you-have/804926/9 "2017-12-21T12:44:09Z")
Can you have it start an argument with Siri? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2017, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-got-an-echo-dot-what-nifty-tips-and-tricks-do-u-you-have/804926/10 "2017-12-21T17:11:37Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Can you have it start an argument with Siri? You’d have to have each start a statement/question with their resp. wake word. E.g., “Alexa, I’m going to turn off your lights.” ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2017, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-got-an-echo-dot-what-nifty-tips-and-tricks-do-u-you-have/804926/11 "2017-12-21T17:25:52Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Can you have it start an argument with Siri? I tried to get Alexa to start a cat fight with Siri and Cortana at the same time. It doesn’t work. Alexa claims she likes all AI’s. It is a lie. They really hate each other but hide it to show a little class. I really want to see a 3-way argument between them and think that would be a great feature. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2017, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-got-an-echo-dot-what-nifty-tips-and-tricks-do-u-you-have/804926/12 "2017-12-21T19:21:36Z")
I’m always forgetting to listen to ‘Wait, wait, don’t tell me’ on PBS. Now I can just have Alexa play it for me whenever. Also, I’m told that because I have a Dish Network Hopper, I can connect them and have Alexa control my TV(s), Although I haven’t done that yet. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-got-an-echo-dot-what-nifty-tips-and-tricks-do-u-you-have/804926/13 "2017-12-22T00:00:23Z")
Good suggestions so far, thank you. Alexa sang us the poop song last night! She also knows what the fox says, but not why the rum is gone. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-got-an-echo-dot-what-nifty-tips-and-tricks-do-u-you-have/804926/14 "2017-12-22T00:29:48Z")
I just use mine for music. I set it up to use spotify as the default music system. And if you say ‘alexa, loop mode on’ it will repeat the same song multiple times. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-got-an-echo-dot-what-nifty-tips-and-tricks-do-u-you-have/804926/15 "2017-12-22T00:34:41Z")
Here’s an interesting list > **[r/amazonecho - List of known easter eggs for Amazon Echo (so far)](https://www.reddit.com/r/amazonecho/comments/2v15fx/list_of_known_easter_eggs_for_amazon_echo_so_far/)** > > 116 votes and 113 comments so far on Reddit ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-got-an-echo-dot-what-nifty-tips-and-tricks-do-u-you-have/804926/16 "2017-12-22T02:18:14Z")
I’m surprised when I ask it to play a radio station, it does. I’m able to play Browns games on Sundays by requesting the station by number, and if I am listening to an interesting story on NPR in the car I come inside and say “Alexa play NPR” and it tunes in to my local NPR station. It’ll play the latest episode of any podcast too, provided the podcast is on a network it gets. Oh, setting timers is good. Really nice if you’re doing something that involves both hands and you need a timer. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-got-an-echo-dot-what-nifty-tips-and-tricks-do-u-you-have/804926/17 "2017-12-22T04:52:20Z")
I started a thread about my new Echo last week. It’s great fun. So far I’ve learned a few new jokes. They suitable for young children, but I’m young at heart at 71, so that’s fine with me. Got a few WiFi Alexia compatible smart plugs today and having fun switching lamps on and off. I’ve enabled the Dish TV skill, but so far Dish isn’t cooperating, so need to find out what’s going on there. ---
**Author:** ![Cell\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Cell\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cell_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-got-an-echo-dot-what-nifty-tips-and-tricks-do-u-you-have/804926/18 "2017-12-22T05:30:08Z")
If you get the Harmony Home Hub you can control your TV through it. “Alexa, turn on the TV.” “Alexa, change the TV to channel 7.” “Alexa, watch a movie.” With this one you can link the Harmony Hub to your Phillips Hue and have it dim the lights. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-got-an-echo-dot-what-nifty-tips-and-tricks-do-u-you-have/804926/19 "2017-12-22T16:02:01Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > I started a thread about my new Echo last week. It’s great fun. So far I’ve learned a few new jokes. They suitable for young children, but I’m young at heart at 71, so that’s fine with me. > > Got a few WiFi Alexia compatible smart plugs today and having fun switching lamps on and off. > > I’ve enabled the Dish TV skill, but so far Dish isn’t cooperating, so need to find out what’s going on there. Sorry, I didn’t see your thread. I’ll have to go check it out.