Review on Quirky PPVG WH01 Pivot Power Genius by Will Ridpath

Okay, here's the thing. It's the most affordable way to get into home automation with the Revain Echo. I love my Echo but always want more features. With this Wi-Fi connected power strip, I can control my living room light and turn on the radio (or other device) with a simple Alexa voice command. I followed the installation instructions (a bit complicated!) according to the Wink app downloaded on my Nexus 7 (2013). The band is connected to your WiFi and the Wink app in a very strange way. The app literally blinks on your phone/tablet screen and this blink code is used to program the power strip! This flash programming took a few tries but worked fine in the end. To use the Echo you need to link the Wink app to the Echo in the Alexa app on your phone/tablet. After pairing, you need to ask Alexa to discover your devices. Alexa finds two exits. You can rename each outlet to a specific device using the "Create Group" setting in the Alexa app. I used the ultra-creative name "lamp". So when I say "Alexa, turn on the lamp," that's exactly what happens! No workarounds, no IFTTT recipes, just simple Alexa commands. A few notes: 1) Pivot Power Genius only has two smart outputs. The other two are old plain blunt sockets. 2) It's a bit bulky for an extension cord. I don't mind. 3) Despite what other reviews say, I used an Android device to connect and program the band, not an iOS device. and try it yourself!