Over the christmas holidays I got a a google Home, 2 google mini, and a chromecast audio. a mini in the living room, mini in the bed room, and the home in the office. chromecast audio is plugged into the living room entertainment center speakers.
saying "hey google, play music on house speakers" in any room gets whole house music going.
since then i have added 4 wifi remote power plugs. lights in the living room, office and bedroom are now smart devices.
I find my self using the google assistant for lots of things like timers, controlling the lights, the good morning feature is a nice touch with a brief accounting of current news(you select what news). it was late the other night, and i wasn't sure what time a restaurant closed. "hey google, what time does the brisket house close?" google came back with... "the brisket house at 3232 center street closes at 9pm" now that's cool!
I have had a chromecast ultra plugged into the back of the TV for a few years now, and telling google to play youtube videos, stop and start a streaming show with just your voice, is some really nice stuff. the remote in my living room has finally died. i mean that literally, the batteries leaked and killed it from lack of use.
There is a whole host of smart devices like the garage door, lights, thermostat, or even exotic things like mini blind control.... groovy baby!
i made fun of my coworkers going hog wild over their alexa stuff a year ago, but some of this stuff is darn handy.
