Next time you need a meeting or reminder on the cal: Tell Siri or Google Assistant what your plan is, along with a date and time. For example, say, “Hey, Siri, set up a lunch meeting with Bob tomorrow at 1 p.m.” or “OK, Google, remind me to thaw the steaks tomorrow at 8 a.m.” Nice.
To do: Change your smart speaker settings before the holidays
When we have friends and family with kids over, voice assistants can become a favorite attraction. At best, someone will start another “Baby Shark” round and you’ll sing it for a week.
But what if one of those curious kiddos buys toys with your Amazon Echo? Or maybe your niece, Alexis, will have the Echo going haywire.
That’s why it’s worth changing a few settings to make your voice assistants safer when guests come knocking. Do it now before the holiday rush!
Keep kids from shopping on voice assistants
Tech-adventurous toddlers can order things with voice commands before anyone can stop them. That’s a massive pain in the wallet and can take lots of service calls to untangle … and yes, it’s more likely to happen around the holidays.
Frankly, I’m more comfortable turning voice purchasing off unless it’s on something private like my phone. Since Amazon is a big culprit here, it’s a good thing you can prevent Alexa from going on a shopping spree.
- Open the Alexa app, select More > Settings, then go to Account Settings.
- Here, you can find the Voice Purchasing menu, where you can turn voice purchasing capabilities off entirely.
- You can also set up codes to use voice purchasing, but only if you know the passcode.
Google Assistant lets you do something similar to the Payments section in your account. Voice payments aren’t on by default, but you can turn them off here if you’ve set them up before.
Know your mute buttons
Manufacturers include physical mute buttons on every voice assistant device because they care about our privacy. No, they just do it so they can say they care.
When you have guests and it looks like over-indulgence in voice commands (and/or cocktails) could be a problem, tap mute to stop any commands. Look for the crossed-out speaker icon. For displays, an accompanying switch flips the camera off, too … just in case.
Set up parental controls
Why asking Siri, Google or Alexa for medical advice is a terrible idea
You’re suddenly thrown into a situation where you must perform CPR to save a life. Oh no. You don’t remember anything from that course 15 years ago.
You might think a quick “Hey Siri” would pull up the instructions quickly and clearly, but that’s absolutely the worst thing to do. In a recent study, researchers asked voice assistants questions related to cardiac arrest emergencies. Yep. It was a complete disaster.
Can Siri help you perform CPR?
We rely on voice assistants for a lot of things. But here’s why you should think twice about that, in one minute.
No Waze! Navigation apps are turning men into worse drivers. A study shows female voice assistants trigger mating-related cues, like risky behavior. Seriously, 40% of men in the experiment were more likely to run a yellow light. Switch to a male voice, dudes.
Apple, Google, Amazon, and Facebook are always listening unless you change these settings
I use my voice to get a lot done. Siri sets meetings for me, silences my phone and lots more. An Amazon Echo can help find your phone, lock the front door and drop in to chat with loved ones.
What’s the downside of always-on devices that listen for commands? Nearly all voice-activated technology uses microphones that listen for “wake words.” That means they are, technically, always listening.
Top hidden dangers of your smart home (and how to stay safe)
Our homes are filled with smart tech these days: You may love the convenience of spotting packages from video doorbells or asking Siri how many fluid ounces are in a cup (it’s eight!). But in return for convenience, you have to make some trades, including your contact information.
Change these computer settings to stop programs from spying on you
Your phone knows a lot about you. It tracks your movement, browsing habits, downloads, and more. Here’s a trick to know when your phone’s camera or microphone is being used.
You must also worry about social media apps, voice assistants, and smart TVs from listening and recording what you have to say. Tap or click for steps to put a stop to it.
It’s not you. How to get Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant to understand you better
Voice assistants changed the way we interact with technology. Why set an alarm manually when Alexa can do it for you? Siri can type up your emails.
Want to get more out of your Amazon Echo? Tap or click here for new tricks such as using your Echo as a speakerphone to finding the right wine to pair with a particular dish. What about Siri? Tap or click here for my favorite Siri shortcuts.
5 great uses for smart plugs
When you think of smart homes, what comes to mind? Thermostats, speakers, doorbells, lighting and TVs are common smart devices that make your life easier, but some can also make it safer.
A smart home surveillance system can deter criminals and help police catch them in the act if they attempt a break-in. You can monitor your home, belongings and pets while away. While there are many benefits, smart home devices are vulnerable to hackers. Tap or click here for tips on locking down your smart home cameras.
Best smart LED lights for the money
I’m new to the smart light revolution, and I’m not turning back. Let me explain. I lived in my last home for 17 years, and while it needed upgrades throughout, the lights were the least of my worries.
Moving into a new place, I had to either hire an electrician to install the kitchen’s under-counter lights or try to do it myself with smart lights. I opted for saving money and getting my tech hands dirty.
The 5 most annoying Alexa problems, solved
Smart speakers are great for listening to your favorite tunes, but they can do so much more. Thanks to voice assistants, a smart speaker can tell you the weather, give you a traffic report, answer random questions, set your thermostat, turn off the lights and turn on the TV. And more features are being added by developers all the time.
Are your home's router, TV, phones hack-free?
Our homes are more connected than ever before. Between Alexa, smart home devices, and Wi-Fi throughout our houses, there’s no escaping the reach of the internet in our domestic lives. On the one hand, this has made daily living more convenient, with voice command or button services. On the other hand, by connecting everything in our home to the internet, we open ourselves up to hackers, thieves and cybercriminals.
5 reasons smart light bulbs should be part of your smart home
Most of us have at least one smart device in our homes. Whether it’s a smart assistant or a smart TV, we’re all well on our way to having smart homes in the near future. These devices are quickly and vastly changing the way we live. If you have a hub and smart appliances, you can live out your dreams of full home automation.
Stop listening! 1,000 phrases that can trigger Alexa, Siri, Cortana and Google
We already know that voice assistants like Alexa are listening to us. After all, it’s how they pick up our voices and hold conversations. If they weren’t listening, wake-words wouldn’t be necessary, and the entire point of an always-on virtual companion would be eliminated.
One trick to unlock your smart home speaker’s true potential
The widespread adoption of smart home products is one of the biggest recent developments in the tech industry. In fact, during CES 2020, a sizable portion of the convention was dedicated to smart home and internet-of-things products, as well as the voice assistants that make it all possible.
Tech how-to: Convert old CDs, tapes and vinyl to digital
Do you remember the last time you listened to music on a CD? If not, you’re not alone. As we’ve transitioned into the digital age, many of our media staples like discs, tapes and records have gone the way of the dinosaurs in favor of streamed digital files from subscription services.
Best Google Home tricks and Easter eggs to try
When it comes to virtual assistants, many people fall into two camps: either Amazon Alexa or Google Home. With Alexa getting much of the hype, Google Home owners might not know that there are some incredible tips and tricks you can do with your virtual assistant. From playing games to changing voices, it can do some incredible things.