Your smart assistant can do so much more than just switch your lights on or off, inform you of your schedule, or play music for you. Depending on the brand you use, you can set up your Alexa or Google Home device to do some pretty nifty things to make your life easier!
Of course, no smart home is complete without a fiber-fast home WiFi connection. So once you’re locked and loaded with a PLDT Home Fiber Plus plan, here are some features on Google Home or Amazon Alexa that you definitely need to activate, stat.
Switch on whole-home audio
If you have two or more smart speakers at home, you can automatically set them up to play multi-room audio. That way, you’re listening to the same playlist or podcast, whether you’re in your living room, kitchen, or bedroom. Setting it up is pretty easy, too–we’ve pretty much covered the basics here–and if you’re an Alexa user, you can even configure your speakers for your home theater system!
From Amazon Official Website
Whisper to your Amazon Echo
Alexa may already be used to your usual speaking voice, but what if you have a sleeping partner or family member nearby and don’t want to wake them? All you need to do is activate Alexa’s Whisper Mode. You can either command Alexa to “turn on Whisper Mode” in your normal voice, or whisper directly to your device. You can also toggle Whisper Mode on its app settings. It’s the ideal feature for night owls!
Let Google Assistant remind you of stuff
For those of us who tend to be forgetful–or if you’re the type who suddenly gets random brainfarts–you can program Google Assistant to remember stuff for you. Now, you no longer have to jot down random thoughts on your Notes app.
Simply say “Hey, Google,” or “Okay, Google,” followed by the information you need it to take note for you:
- “Remember that my house keys are in the kitchen.”
- “Remember that Mama’s favorite flowers are orchids.”
And then, you can test it out with:
- “Where did I put my house keys?”
- “What are Mama’s favorite flowers?”
The possible limitation of this feature is that Google Assistant won’t always provide you with general answers. So, keep in mind that you need to have it remember a specific item, so you can receive a specific answer.
Get health insights from Alexa
You’ve probably Googled some or any of your past ailments to help figure out what was going on. Now, you can utilize your Amazon Echo to give you answers to your health-related questions–whether you’re curious about the side effects of a particular drug, or want to know more about a specific condition. Alexa gathers information from the Mayo Clinic, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and the United States National Institutes of Health.
Note that your smart assistant is not equipped to provide a diagnosis, so any healthcare concerns should still be addressed directly with your doctor. You may also avail of mWell’s telehealth services to receive the care you need, right at home.
Make your home smarter with PLDT Home
These are just some nifty features you can do with your smart speakers! What else have you discovered as you utilized this helpful device?
Now, smart living is just at your fingertips with PLDT Home. Our Fiber Plus plans deliver speeds of up to 1000 Mbps, ideal for the smart home of your dreams. Subscribe to the Philippines’ undisputed fastest Internet today!