14 ways you can control your home with your voice using Amazon's Echo and Alexa

Merely owning an Amazon Echo could be the impetus you need to turn your regular home into a smart home. 

Indeed, it would almost be a waste to simply use it as a regular Bluetooth speaker or ask it about it tomorrow's weather. Apple's Siri can already do that. 

More and more smart-home and connected-device companies are adding support for Amazon's smart AI assistant, called Alexa, so you can control almost anything that uses electricity in your home using your voice. 

All you need to add Alexa and voice control to your home is Amazon's $45 Echo Dot. If you need a portable Bluetooth speaker, you can check out the $100 Amazon Tap, which comes with Alexa, and the original Echo is also $100, but it needs a wired connection to a power outlet. 

Check out all the things you can control with your voice with Amazon's Alexa: