If you’re like most people, you probably use Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant to play music, control your smart home devices, and get weather and traffic updates. But did you know that Alexa can also help you with other tasks, like finding a recipe or scheduling an appointment? Here are some unique ways to use Alexa that you may not have thought of.
1. Find a recipe
If you’re feeling culinary adventurous, Alexa can help you find a new recipe to try. Just say, “Alexa, find me a recipe for chicken curry,” and she’ll provide you with some options. You can also ask her to add ingredients to your shopping list so you can make the dish later.
2. Schedule an appointment
If you need to schedule a haircut or doctor’s appointment, Alexa can help you do that. Just say, “Alexa, schedule a haircut for next Tuesday at 3pm,” and she’ll add it to your calendar. You can also ask her to remind you about the appointment beforehand so you don’t forget.
3. Check the stock market
If you’re curious about how the stock market is doing, Alexa can give you a rundown of the latest prices. Just say, “Alexa, what’s the stock market doing today?” and she’ll tell you the current Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite Index.
4. Check the weather
Before you head out for your run or walk, ask Alexa what the weather is like. She can give you the current temperature, forecast for the day, and even tell you if there’s chance of precipitation. Just say, “Alexa, what’s the weather like today?” and she’ll give you all the details.
5. Play a game
If you’re looking for a way to pass the time, Alexa can help you there too. She has a variety of games you can play, like Jeopardy!, Word Ladder, and Trivial Pursuit. Just say, “Alexa, let’s play a game,” and she’ll give you some options.
6. Listen to a book
If you’re looking for something to listen to, Alexa can read you a book. Just say, “Alexa, read me a book,” and she’ll start reading from Amazon’s Kindle store. You can even ask her to read a specific book if you have one in mind.
7. Check the news
If you want to stay up-to-date on the latest news, Alexa can help you with that. Just say, “Alexa, what’s in the news?” and she’ll give you a rundown of the top stories from outlets like NPR, CNN, and The Washington Post. You can also ask her to read a specific article if you’re interested in learning more about a particular story.
8. Find a nearby restaurant
If you’re looking for a place to eat, Alexa can help you find a nearby restaurant. Just say, “Alexa, find me a restaurant,” and she’ll provide you with some options. You can also ask her to narrow down the results by cuisine type or price range.
9. Get a traffic update
If you’re headed out on the road, Alexa can give you a heads up on traffic conditions. Just say, “Alexa, what’s the traffic like?” and she’ll provide you with an update for your current location. You can also ask her to check the traffic for a specific location or route.
10. Set a timer
If you’re in the middle of cooking dinner and need to set a timer, Alexa can help you with that. Just say, “Alexa, set a timer for 10 minutes,” and she’ll start counting down. You can also ask her to cancel the timer or add time to it if you need more time.
How to find alexa mac address
To find your Alexa’s MAC address on a Mac, open a Terminal window and type the following:
ifconfig | grep -A 2 “en0”
The MAC address for your device will be displayed next to “ether”.