Let me talk about the background
The intelligent voice assistant has long been nothing new. Microsoft, Google, Apple, and Amazon all have their own voice assistants. But to say that the actual application scenario of the voice assistant, most of them are still not reach the degree of popularity, and even the ease of use is very problematic. However, with the recent appearance of a series of audio assistant hardware (Echo, HomePod, Google Home), intelligent voice assistants began to enter the white-hot war (only in Europe and the United States market).
Amazon their home Let's look at the relationship between Amazon Echo/Echo Dot and Alexa:
Amazon Echo can be used as a smart home control device, but also a portable speaker, its height is 10 inches, with a cylindrical design, can be placed anywhere in the home, including the kitchen. Alexa is a personal virtual assistant pre-installed in Amazon Echo, can receive and corresponding voice commands, Alexa can be seen as the Amazon version of Siri voice assistant. Excerpt from http://
Echo Dot can be thought of as a non-audio version of Echo. The price is Echo is 180, and Echo Dot is only 50 (40 for discount). Therefore, for entry-level users, it is highly recommended to try a cost-effective solution such as Echo Dot+ Bluetooth stereo.
Echo Dot is really small
With Echo/Echo Dot, you can set up your own smart home system with the smart center. Alexa realizes the smart device access of various hardware manufacturers through open skills. Users only need to add the corresponding manufacturer's skill to the Alexa management page. Realize the hosting of various devices.
There are many cooperative companies in Echo's advertisements. Most of them are big international brands, and they seem to be very beautiful. In fact, they are not in line with the purpose of my “friendshipâ€. Let’s take a look at the deep waters of the American people:
Philips Hue 464479 White and Color Ambiance A19 60W Equivalent Starter Kit, Works with Amazon Alexa199.97 USD Domestic Price 1300+ Belle Shopping United States Amazon Buy 
Wemo Insight Smart Plug, Wi-Fi Enabled, Control Your Lights, Appliances and Manage Energy Costs From Your Phone, Works with Amazon Alexa47.85 USD Domestic Shopping 300+ Belle Shopping United States Amazon Purchase Among them, Wemo has also been blown into a cost-effective entry-level smart home product by a foreign technology website.
The protagonist debutsAs value-friends, can we only see that foreigners who are not bad are increasingly smart (lazy)? No, the following describes the cost-effective smart home products that support Amazon Alexa.
Mi Yeelight bulbIntroduction: Xiaomi's smart home ecology is divided into independent Wifi devices and Zigbee devices that require a gateway. Yeelight is an independent wifi device.
[Jingdong Supermarket] Millet ecological chain (Yeelight) millet smart white light bulb 8W E27 warm yellow large screw energy-saving WIFI wireless remote control LED bulb 59 yuan Jingdong to buy Yeelight is divided into white light version and color light version of two kinds of light bulbs, white version is slightly yellow, do not consider the tone, then the higher cost performance. Pay special attention to 2 points:
Light bulbs are more plump, and ordinary downlights may not be installed. (All the downlights in my house cannot be used.)
Select Singapore to match Alexa when matching devices
Applications and skills: yeelight applications (also available in the Mi application) and yeelight skills.
Yi Weilian/Itead Sonoff S22 socketeWeLink is a smart home solution from Cool Home Technology, which advertises that there are many partners. What is currently available is the product of their own brother company, ITEAD.
Their home smart socket is definitely the preferred price/performance ratio. Buying a Wemo can buy 10 S22s and plug them into your home socket. Because it is relatively niche, it is only sold at a certain treasure.
There are also disadvantages, looks ugly, large body size, the indicator light can not be set, it can not be placed in the bedroom, but wins in cost-effective superior.
Apps and skills: Easy App and eWelink Smart Home Fan skill.
Galaxy situation Wukong i8The Galaxy Wind's Wisdom x series features smart air-conditioner sockets and smart security. Ordinary smart socket is unable to use 16A air conditioning plug, can not also switch remote control air conditioning, Wukong i8 essence is a 16A wifi socket with air conditioning remote control and temperature sensor, can remote / voice control air conditioning is very comfortable, the price is also Not out of line, suitable for popularization.
Galaxy (GALAXYWIND) Wukong i8 Smart Air Conditioning Mate Socket WeChat Mobile Remote Cloud Control Smart Home 16A White WeChat Edition 129元京东to buy Yan value is still very high, on the physical map
Application and skill: GoHome app control, skill Wujia on Alexa looks like an individual developer, expect the official to give skills.
Controlled guest Mini Pro socketLover is a technology company in Hangzhou with some common smart home solutions. This socket is not the cheapest, but there is a feature that comes with infrared remote control, which is equivalent to a universal remote control, can control non-mechanical switch air conditioning, fan, audio, etc. (a single socket does not help the device that needs remote control).
Poke Mini E smart home appliances switch smart socket WiFi socket timing delay remote control learning compatible appliances infrared remote control 69.9 yuan Jingdong to buy The Yan value is much stronger than the itead's socket, which is equivalent to a universal remote control center at home. Unfortunately, the remote control function does not support Alexa.
Can learn a variety of remote control
App and skill: SmartK app and skill, but the current skill has problems with device support.
Other teammates The above are some smart single products with high performance-price ratio or unique features. There are other brands who have also done some research. Most of them are not cost-effective or feature-specific. Friends who are interested can start playing.
Introduction: The official website is quite beautiful, and the main push is a smart home solution.
Products: Bulbs, Sockets, Panels Most need to be mastered, and there are also relatively rare Bluetooth version bulbs.
Applications and Skills: Use the Lifesmart app and LifeSmart SmartHome skills.
Price: 100-400.
GeeklinkProfile: Guangzhou is a joint intelligence technology, the main product is the switch panel.
Product: Panel, security sensor, camera, need master.
Apply and skill: Geeklink app and skill.
Price: 100+.
CooltouchProduct: The main push switch panel, the price is higher.
Write lastOriginally titled "costal" "pseudo-" smart homes, it is not too fake to think of these products as being at least smart. The real smart home is far from simple. It requires equipment, algorithms, and a whole set of solutions. Currently known as a smart home solution provider, there are no decent products or reasonable prices. The products of different manufacturers are not common to each other, and most of them require mastering, which is also a big headache. This raises the threshold of popularization and urgently requires standardization organizations to formulate a common standard.
Can not help but say that it is necessary to popularize smart homes in the true sense of the word.