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As you may know from my writing, I am a television junkie. As such, I am always asked about how to make juggling with remotes and finding the proper inputs easier. This question comes up often with older TV viewers, but even the twenty- and thirty-somethings ask this question because they can't control their parent's television setups.

I have found the answer in the Amazon Fire TV Cube. The Fire TV has been around for several years. It is a good device for streaming video. The new Fire TV Cube, like some of the Fire TVs has Alexa built-in so that you can give the television commands. You can also use it like a stand-alone Amazon Echo to answer questions, tell jokes, and even turn lights on and off.

The Cube, however, adds a new feature that is extremely useful. It can automatically change the television inputs for you. And you can use it with your cable subscription as well as for streaming apps like Netflix, Amazon, HBO, Hulu, and others. It also works to control DVD and Blueray players. Set up is simple and when complete you simply tell Alexa to turn on the TV. Tell her what you want to watch and she will change the inputs and turn that device and input on. She can even help you find something to watch.

My only disappointment with the device is that although it will play music through your TV or sound bar, it will not play whole-house music along with other Alexa devices. But as a television and device controller, the Cube is excellent.

The regular price of the Cube is $119. Holiday pricing is $69.99, quite a bargain!!

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Looking for the perfect gift for Grandma, Grandpa, or yourself? Amazon has just come up with an offer that is hard to beat. Their new Kindle Paperwhite  bundle is $139. (Limited time offer.) The bundle includes the new 8-GB e-reader, a set of good over-the-ear headphones that usually sells for $79, and a three-month subscription to Audible for audio books (new subscribers only).

After a slight fumble with the first generation Paperwhite reader, Amazon produced  several Paperwhites that I recommended because the e-ink technology is easy on the eyes and can be read in the direct sunlight which is perfect for the patio or the beach. With this new Paperwhite, Amazon corrected all the shortcomings of the Paperwhite. It is now waterproof, which greatly enhances its useability. Even better, it now has Bluetooth capabilities so you can listen to an audio book -- even easier on the eyes.

Amazon lists this as the 10th generation. It is not the 10th Paperwhite, but it is the 10th Kindle reader. Don't let the generations confuse you. Just look for the Paperwhite that is waterproof and has Bluetooth.

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If you want to try a voice assistant, but are trying to decide whether to buy an Amazon Echo Dot or Google Home, don't stress.  You really can't go wrong since both the Echo Dot and the Google Home Mini are good. With Christmas pricing, these products are in the $20 to $30 range.

 

Here's a quick breakdown. If you basically want the device for answering questions, the Google Home Mini is better. Now, I have always said that Google Home devices were better than Echos for music, but in a side-by-side comparison of the new Echo Dot (3rd generation) and the Google Home Mini, the Echo Dot wins. With a new array of speakers, the newest Dot simply sounds better than the Google Mini. Since the Dot 3 also has four microphones, it also listens better than the old Dot or the Google Mini.

The $20 Amazon Echo Dot (Holiday pricing) is the cheapest small voice assistant on the market right now, but in a side-by-side comparison, the Google Mini wins and the new Dot 3 is better for music than either of the others..

Bottom line, the Amazon Echo Dot 3 has been greatly improved. Spend the extra $10 if you want to use this device to listen to music.

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The best thing about Google Home devices is that they can do so much. The wort thing about them is that they come with no instruction book. You are on your own to figure out what they can really do. Luckily Google gives you some support. You just need to know where to look. For istant help, check out the Google Home Help Website.  Google also has a website dedicated to their Google Assistant, which is built into all Google Home devices. Check it out at the Google Assistant Website. Be sure to look through the various tabe for what your Google Home can do as well as for news from the Google Home developers.

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This may  not seem like a big deal, but it is. Whispering uses many different types of vocal manipulations. This is something that Google Home cannot yet do. Just ask Alexa, "Alexa, do you know how to whisper?" and she will respond something cute like, " Yes. I can whisper. I learned after I realized that people take naptime very seriously."  Actually whispering somes in handy when someone in the room is sleeping.

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Fortunately, if someone in your family is named Alexa or if you simply don't like that name, you can change the Wake word that Amazon Echo responds to. You cannot choose your own word, but you can choose from the four words that Amazon supplies: Alexa, Amazon, Computer, or Echo. All Amazon Echo devices come with Alexa as the default wake word. If you want to change this to one of the other three words, open the Alexa app on your mobile device. Choose Settings. If you have more than one device, choose the device. Then tap on Wake Word. Choose the name you want from the dropdown menu and tap Save.

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Sometimes when Alexa speaks to us, we simply don't catch what she said. Or perhaps we didn't quite get the gist of her joke. Its easy to get her to repeat what she said. Just say, "Alea, can you repeat that?" or, "Alexa can you say that again?" She will repeat what she just said. You can ask her to repeat things as many times as you like.

Still don't know what she said? You can go to the Home tab of the Alexa app and tap on Activity where everything she says and everything you say to her is recorded.