See also alexa setup and configuration
and  Echo Show smart display

Music:
"Alexa, play some music."
Queue specific song or artist: "Alexa, play music by [artist]."
Play a song based on context: "Alexa, play the latest Avett Brothers album" or,
 "Alexa, play that song that goes 'Gotta gotta be down, because I want it all.'"
Play Spotify music: "Alexa, play [playlist] on Spotify."
Play Pandora station: "Alexa, play [artist] station on Pandora."

Amazon finally lets Echo play Spotify or Pandora by default | engadget
Music on Alexa
Basic Amazon - Can play by genre or artist but not specific songs
Amazon Prime $99/year * 2 million songs See   
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/dmusic/promotions/PrimeMusic?ref=pr_ol_lm
  
Amazon Music Unlimited $10/mo ($8/mo with Prime) 10's of million songs
  
Pandora - Can play with a free account
Spotify - Requires premium Account
Some third-party music providers (like TuneIn, and iHeartRadio)
See Streaming Music
* Amazon Prime also gives you free 2 day shipping and some movies and TV see
https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Video/b?node=2676882011
Amazon.com Help: Play Music on Multiple Echo Devices

http://www.cnet.com/how-to/the-complete-list-of-alexa-commands
Others:
Select the menu on the Alexa App
Select Things to Try

Lists:
Alexa "Add [item] to my Shopping List."
Alexa "Put [task] on my To-do List."
Alexa, add 'Car payment' every 4th of the month to my to-do list.
Alexa, "What's on my Shopping List?"
Lists are on the Alexa App under the menu

Alexa Lists are on the amazon web site and available from the alexa app. 
 See If This Then That below for an applet to merge alexa todo list with the todolist app

Alexa, Ask All Recipes what can I make with chicken, bacon and cheddar cheese?

Alexa, Ask Allrecipes to find me the recipe for (all recipes.com)

Alexa, Ask Mastermind to send message (MasterMind [android])
Ask mastermind to make phonemail



News weather
"Alexa, what's my Flash Briefing?"
(set up flash briefing in the alexa app.
  Eg. read NPR news)
Check headlines: "Alexa, what's in the news?"
Alexa, 

Control a WeMo switch with Alexa
http://www.online-tech-tips.com/gadgets/control-wemo-insight-switch-using-alexa-echo/

You can enhance the basic features with things like:

Skills basically apps for alexa.

Routines

If This Then That" (IFTTT)

See alexa setup and configuration



Links:

The complete list of Alexa commands so far - CNET

How to craft your own custom voice commands for Amazon Echo's Alexa - CNET

IFTTT adds a channel for Amazon Echo - CNET

Dave's Notes

last updated 27 Nov 2017