Smart Device for Helping with The Morning Get Ready Rush

jayta on 29/07/2020 - 13:54

Hi all,

I'm after some type of device to help with our getting ready for school/work morning rush.

Ideally it needs to be able to
- announce the time between 8-9am (without being asked, just announce at some predetermined interval so that slow movers can be prompted to get a hurry along)
- weather
- reminders (eg every Monday is library day, one off events/appointments)
- have a 2nd speaker for the other end of the house
- look up Sydney/Newcastle bus times (we currently use TripView and can see how many minutes away a particular bus is from our stop. Ideally it would do the same and be able to announce something like 'the next 123 bus is arriving in 10mins' etc, or if asked how long away 456 bus is, it could answer 18mins etc)

If it had a screen, then I would also like to use it for recipes when cooking (and if I could I ask it, how much flour should I add? etc)

If it matters, we currently have no smart home products and our phones run android.

I started looking and got a bit overwhelmed by what is out there. I'm just looking for some general advice on different devices or if you use something, what works for you?

thanks

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • trustnoone on 29/07/2020 - 13:56
    +1

    Google Nest Hub?

    https://store.google.com/au/product/google_nest_hub

    • psyren89 on 29/07/2020 - 14:02
      +1

      The Lenovo Smart Clock can do all that at a slightly lower price point, if screen size and powerful sound output is not an issue.

      EDIT: I got my smart clock for $69 from The Good Guys (not including cashback), so you may want to wait for a sale.

      Also, seeing as you want to be able to interact with it while cooking, perhaps a larger device (like the Nest) would be more suitable.

    • 87percent on 29/07/2020 - 14:08
      +1

      I got a Hub a while ago, and it's probably one of the most used things in the house. Besides the security issues, it's pretty good

  • jace88 on 29/07/2020 - 14:07
    +2

    Sounds like a Nest Hub or Nest Hub Max might be good options for you. There are routines which can include announcing time/etc which would work. eg https://support.google.com/assistant/thread/1939358?hl=en

    I can't comment on how effective they are with public transport but I think all the other things you mentioned should work well.

  • Nalar on 29/07/2020 - 14:18
    +1

    Nest hub was cheap on Telstra Rewards recently if you've got some of those.

  • f0x13 on 29/07/2020 - 15:23
    +5

    I know some people who set up their smartlights to warn them when to leave to catch public transport.

    IIRC Blue was a 15 minute marker and green was 5 and red means they're late.

    • jayta on 29/07/2020 - 16:31

      what a great idea!

  • pegaxs on 29/07/2020 - 15:58

    An alarm clock, get up 30 minutes earlier and a healthy dose of arse kicking for those that don't get their world in order before the bus gets there. Have a notice board with the bus time table on it and appointments and reminders and a radio for news and weather (part of the alarm clock most times.)

    Only because it's an alternative suggestion to what has already been mentioned above.

  • Archi on 29/07/2020 - 16:07
    +1

    wake up earlier

  • jayta on 29/07/2020 - 16:40

    thanks all, I will be investigating the Google Nest hub to see if it can handle the buses ok as it seems to do everything else.

    Also I don't want to wake up earlier as me getting ready is not the problem. I'm just sick of hurrying others along

    • jace88 on 29/07/2020 - 21:39

      I don't know if the Nest Hub (or any smart screen/speaker) is necessarily going to help with that though… you'd need to place it in the right spot, at the right volume, etc…

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