We’re all looking for ways to simplify our home lives whether its meal prepping at the beginning of the week, setting reminders to take the bins out or pay bills on time, or simply keep on top of day-to-day commitments.
Fortunately for us we have access to affordable, easy-to-use smart home technology which can help to simplify our home life.
From the kitchen to the living room and everything in between, there’s a smart home device for every corner of the home.
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Now with the launch of Amazon’s new Echo Hub ($329) — an Alexa-powered control panel which helps with smart home device management — having the smart home of your dreams has never been easier.
Whether you’re controlling your smart bulbs, the volume on your Echo device or wanting to check who is at your front door using your Ring Doorbell — all can now be managed in one place, via the touch of a button or through voice control.
No matter what TV you have, you can enjoy your favourite programs from Prime Video, Netflix, Binge, Kayo, Stan, Disney+ and more, all in 4K Ultra HD with the Fire TV 4K Max ($119).
Fire TV is always getting smarter with new Alexa skills and voice functionality.
Use the Fire TV 4K Max to control compatible smart home devices right from your TV.
You can even press and ask Alexa to do things like show Live View Picture-in-Picture camera feeds without interrupting your show, check the weather and stream music.
Never miss a bill and stay on top of your payment cycles by setting reminders.
Appointments, sporting games, special occasions and when to water the plants will never be forgotten either, with the ability to set personalised reminders and alarms as required on the Echo Dot with a clock ($119).
Aussies can utilise smart home tech to avoid unnecessary spending and reduce food wastage by simply asking “Alexa, create a shopping list” and telling Alexa what to add.
Never again should you mindlessly stroll up and down the supermarket aisles wondering what’s for dinner or arrive home with a forgotten ingredient.
Better yet, use your Echo Show device ($429) to display recipes by asking “Alexa, show me a recipe for pumpkin and chickpea salad.”
Forgetting to turn off the light when leaving a room is a crisis easily averted when using an Echo device coupled with smart lights and the Alexa app.
Controlling smart lights remotely or implementing occupancy routines that use ultrasound motion detection to sense your presence mean Alexa can turn off the lights or stop music playback when you’re not in the room — a convenient feature for the eco-conscious consumer trying to reduce energy consumption.
Your best bet for this feature is the $79 Echo Pop.
