[jsz0]

> if you have an android phone or iphone or smartwatch, you already can "Hey Siri/Google" whatever you want,

Most of those devices just don't have speakers/microphones cable of working reliably at room scale in real world conditions. They've certainly gotten better over the years but I doubt they will ever match the reliability of physically larger devices purpose built for the task.

> how many people have 50$ wifi connected bulbs? and isn't the most convenient way to turn on a light switch still just physically flipping the switch?

I don't think this is the killer app for the Echo but home automation is becoming pretty mainstream these days. Enough so that stores like Lowes, Home Depot, Target, etc stock bulbs, switchable outlets, starter kits, etc.

> isn't the most convenient way to turn on a light switch still just physically flipping the switch?

Not if you have your hands full or the switch happens to be on the other side of a dark room. Home automation is a novelty at first but once that wears off it becomes just another tool not very different from a light switch

[Eridrus]

I can't wait to be able to control my TV from one of these things. Much easier than hunting for the Roku app on my phone, since I've long lost the actual remote.

[smackfu]

Harmony works with Echo now. "Alexa turn on the TV" works well.

[Eridrus]

Nice. For me it seems a little ridiculous to spend $99 on an IR sensor + LED since I don't have any more home automation.

Given I gave the Echo I had away, I'm hoping the next iteration of the Echo or Google Home device has the $2 of components required to implement this functionality so that it just works out of the box.