Let’s dig in.
Torchier-style lampAngles to adjust light bounceMulti-color Alexa control
Pros
Nice, bright lightGood colorAlso allows manual control
Cons
Only 2.4GhzKind of annoying to set upCan’t replace bulb if fails
Our living room has been sporting the brightest Hue bulbs we could find, which were great for mood, but terrible if we wanted to read or do any work. My wife and I needed more light, and we reached the point where we actually considered putting a bunch of Hue bulbs together in a cluster. Then I found these lamps. They’re great. They only work at 2.4Ghz, which necessitated some fiddling with my router, but that’s often the case with lighting. We compared the light level from these to our Hues, and a Hue bulb at 100% matched once of these lights at 20%. We bought four.
Alexa controlLots of colors
Pros
Lots of blingDefinitely stands out from the crowd
Cons
Lots of blingShorter than you’d expect
No, I definitely don’t have one of these. There’s way too much bling there for me. But if you want a bright, colorful floor lamp, this might be for you. It stands about waist height, so it’s not super tall. And while it makes a nice general-use Alexa-controlled lamp, I was thinking that you can probably use these in a studio or workshop, or any place where a long bar of light would be more helpful than a point light source.
Streams most of the big-name servicesSmall and convenientAlexa control
Pros Cons Let’s start off with the key thought: this thing is less than $40. So, what do you get? You get a streaming stick that will stream most of your favorite video and audio streaming services. So far so good. Now, add in 4K and HDR video. If you have a 4K TV, if your streaming service supports it and if your ISP can handle it, you can watch TV in glorious 4K. Trust us. 4K is pretty awesome. It’s not a deal breaker if you can’t get 4K, but for under $40, the 4K option is a bit of a no-brainer. Oh, and you get Alexa smarts in the device as well. You access Alexa by pushing a button on the remote. Depending on whether the streaming service has built integration into Alexa, you can even call up the shows you want. The only thing is, if you lose the remote, Alexa can’t help you.
Lets you create a decorative statement on your wallAlexa control
Pros
FlexibleEasily configurable
Cons
Can get very expensive, very quicklyYou have to like the shapeCord running up wall unless you punch into drywall
These are ideal for both a corporate lobby and a home office. In the lobby, you can arrange them as if they were very large pixels and brighten up the space or even display your corporate logo. At home, you can use them to brighten a dark corner, reflect your mood, or even hook them up with IFTTT to have them change color based on triggers ranging from a new order to a new email, or even whether it’s going to rain.
Inside smart lockControl via Alexa, app, and watch
Pros
Battery-backup available from both sides of locked doorNo harder to set up than normal door lockSmart lock for inside the house (which is not common among smart locks)
Cons
Handle instead of knob might not match décorBattery means you have to replace or could run out and leave you locked out
A few months ago, I did a review and video of the Yale Assure Lever smart lock. This lock is different from many you may have seen, because it doesn’t come with a dead bolt and is intended for interior security. It’s a way of making sure the kids don’t get access to potentially fragile or dangerous items, or allows you to comply with “locked room” clauses that are often part of a non-disclosure agreement. This lock works with the August smart lock system, which means that it can be locked by your phone, your Apple Watch, and even Alexa. The Alexa feature is great because if you’re on the other side of the house and suddenly have guests (does anyone ever have guests anymore?) or contractors in the house, you can secure the room without running to the door to do so. You can also check status by simply asking Alexa.
It’s a microwave with AlexaCooking smarts for certain foods
Pros
Had database of microwave instructionsSmaller footprintRelatively inexpensive
Cons
The entire idea of Alexa for your microwaveNot as powerful as some better kitchen microwavesRequires pairing with another Alexa device
A microwave is almost a small office cliche. Commuters who bring lunch to work can go into the break room and heat it up in the office microwave. But at home? Do you really need a microwave in your home office? After all, the kitchen is just across the house (unless your home office is in the kitchen as mine was for a year). I guess it depends. My current home office is upstairs and I do have a microwave in it. The microwave came with the house and honestly, I’ve yet to use it. But I have definitely thought about zapping up a bag of popcorn, putting my mic on mute, and sitting back to watch some of the particularly entertaining disagreements play themselves out in Zoom meetings.
Control heat/AC from Alexa and appWorks with many HVAC systemsAttractive and unobtrusive
Pros
Temperature control without having to walk to itNothing beats turning up or down the heat while still in bedHave three for a few years now and love themIf Internet goes out, you can control by hand
Cons
Google’s ecosystem sometimes likes Alexa and sometimes doesn’tDifficult to get multiple Alexa family account members to control one thermostatKind of expensive
When we moved into this fixer-upper house, there was no heating or air conditioning in half the house. Instead, the previous owner just put a space heater in every room. One of our biggest projects on moving in was installing HVAC throughout the building. When we did so, I made sure to include support for a smart thermostat and I chose the Nest. My office is upstairs and the Nest thermostat that controls this portion of the house is downstairs. While I certainly could run downstairs to set the heat, that interrupts my workflow. Instead, I use Alexa. In the summer, I ask Alexa what the temperature is upstairs to decide if I need to pre-cool the office before I go up. When in my office, I tell my desktop Echo to raise or lower the temperature depending on my comfort level.
High-speed AC1900 Dual-Band Wi-FiWI-Fi mesh for extending throughout your network
Pros
It’s a D-Link router with all the featuresSome level of Alexa support
Cons
Alexa support is odd and limitedNo Alexa-based stream prioritization
This is a pretty sweet router for home office work, but I’m not entirely convinced D-Link’s marketing folks thought through the implications of “reboot the router” as a selling point. So what are we really looking at here? This is a powerful router that can participate in a mesh network, giving your home more overall coverage and reducing Wi-Fi dead zones. D-Link is D-Link. They’ve been making good stuff for years. It’s the Alexa control that amuses me. Yes, you can reboot the router. You can also tell Alexa to enable or disable guest access. But oddly enough, you can’t command Alexa to block the kids once they’ve passed their bedtime. You also can’t tell Alexa to prioritize your work computer’s video stream instead of the kids or family watching Netflix. It’s a solid device, but Alexa control has a way to go.
Video screen for Alexa interaction and videosInterfaces with other smart devices including camerasFull Alexa capabilities
Pros
Small video screen with tiny footprint fits almost anywhereInexpensive and does not require a subscriptionAlexa on screen is better and more engaging than you might expect
Cons
Technically, it’s an older model, but it’s still the newest 5-inch versionSmaller screen is too small for use at a distance
It’s probably time to recommend an Echo device for your home office. I have the hockey puck-sized Echo Dot, but the Echo Show probably would be a better fit. My office is in the back of the house and upstairs, so being able to see who is at the door (see Ring, next) would be something of a win (more on that next, too). The new Echo Show 10 is more than twice the price of this device, and that one eerily follows you around, so I’m not a fan. Having an Alexa in your office can be helpful in other ways, too. For example, I just tried spelling “eerie” and was way off. So I asked Alexa and got the right spelling. I use her for math help when my hands are on the keyboard, for facts and information, and to add things to my lists. Office Alexa is a big help. I’m recommending the smaller Echo Show 5 because it has a nice screen and doesn’t take too much space on your desk.
Video of whomever’s at your doorTwo-way audioChat with visitors from anywhere in the world
Pros
App-driven and integrates with video AlexasDoes not require bell-current electric circuitGood video quality and exclusion zones
Cons
Changing the batteries regularly gets old fastDoesn’t always work with all Wi-Fi environmentsAchieving a video connection with visitor may take longer than visitor willing to wait
I had the Ring installed in my previous house and it worked pretty well. It still took 20-30 seconds to get a picture on the screen, but it worked. Most of the time, I was able to respond to a ring before the delivery person lost patience and left. In my new house, where I really need to have something like the Ring, it doesn’t work as well. I’m at the far end of the house, upstairs in my office and I’ve found that the Ring can take upwards of 60 seconds to show whoever’s at the door. It’s still helpful, because I can talk to that person socially distanced from across the house. But.. the slow speed does mean that some delivery folks are long gone before the Ring successfully establishes a connection.
Dispenses precise volume of waterDispenses precise temperature of waterAlexa controlled
Pros
Great for precision cookers who want to reduce use of measuring containersNice to have precision control of water temperatureWow all your friends
Cons
It’s $440It’s $440It’s $440 for… a faucet
OK, so strictly speaking, this isn’t exactly an office-related product. But you’re working at home and everyone’s gotta eat, right? Having a smart kitchen faucet – a $440 smart kitchen faucet – seems like a necessity, or it will once you learn about it. Imagine walking up to your sink and asking Alexa to turn on the water. Or imagine asking for precisely one teaspoon of water, or a cup of water at precisely 100 degrees. This faucet can do all that. Do you need it? Well, that’s a matter of perspective. Do I have one? No. Is it something you needed to know about merely to reinforce either your faith in human progress or your observation that we’re all going to hell together? Of course it is. I’m here for you. I really am.
Voice and app controlSet schedulesGet notified if it falls over
Pros
Manual control in addition to app controlHousing stays cool so you can move it even after it’s hotVariety of smart safety features
Cons
Rather largeNo child lockCan get very hot and users report inconsistent temperature sensor
Oh, the weather outside is frightfulBut the smart heater is so delightfulAnd since we’ve no place to goIt’s the pandemic, don’t ya knowLet it snow, let it snow, let it snow With apologies to Dean Martin, this is an Alexa-powered space heater. This allows you to place the heater under your desk, behind you in a strategically perfect location, or anywhere else in your office where you want to stay warm. Control it via an app or by Alexa. And stay warm and safe next winter. Do the folks you live with insist on keeping your home super-cold in the summer? Do you know it’s less than six months to Thanksgiving? You might not want this as we enter the heat of summer, but by the time it starts getting cold everyone else will want one of these. The bottom line is that Alexa is becoming ubiquitous. Where you choose to put her to work is up to you. Before I leave you today, there’s this: “Alexa, sing digital intelligence.” You’re welcome. Tell us about your Alexa devices and how you’re using them in the comments below.
