Playing with the Amazon Echo can be a lot of fun. You can ask it random questions and get answers, set alarms and timers, and even play music from your favorite artists. But did you know that Alexa has some hidden talents? These trivia are fun ways to interact with Alexa in unexpected ways:
how to set up and use your Echo speaker. Everything you need to know about the Echo and the Works with Alexa platform
If you’re the owner of an Amazon Echo smart speaker with Alexa, you’ve got one of the best voice assistants available, but what can Alexa do and how does it work?
Setting up your Alexa speaker for music, shopping, and smart home control can be complex, and this is where our ultimate Alexa user guide comes in.
Alexa’s premise is simple: You can ask the digital assistant questions or ask it to control devices in your home. Alexa will then try to get the information it needs or talk to the devices in your home to get them to do what you want.
For this to work, smart home devices must be compatible with Alexa. Look for the «Works with Amazon Alexa» sticker on the boxes, which you’ll no doubt see with increasing regularity in the months and years to come.
Alexa also uses «skills» to perform tasks and respond, these are apps built for the system. Common Alexa skills, for example, are TuneIn radio, so it can play your favorite station, or BBC News for the latest headlines.
What does Alexa do? And how does she work?
The popularity of the Amazon Echo speakers is causing many people to jump on the bandwagon – and then wonder, what exactly can Alexa do? And the beauty of those first few weeks is trying things out and being pleasantly surprised.
But here’s a handy cheat sheet for things to do with your Alexa speaker:
Play radio stationsStream music from Spotify or other music servicesSet timers and alarmsGet personalized news reportsAsk questions on the webControl smart home devices with your voiceGroup smart home devices to work together using single commandsCall smart home devices phones. Intercom between Echo speakers in your home. Play games Play soothing music for sleep or ambient sounds (and turn off automatically)
stations
Most people use their Amazon Echo smart speaker to listen to radio stations, stream music from services like Spotify or Amazon Music, set timers and alarms, and control smart home devices like smart lights, thermostats, and connected appliances.
Of course, Alexa can also search the web and deliver news reports, weather reports, and sports scores. It is a very versatile system.
And there are new features being added all the time. Alexa Calling and Drop In is a great way to stay in touch with the people in your home, using your Alexa as an intercom from room to room and even house to house.
The Amazon Echo Show and Spot, with their screens, can display security cameras and let you check who’s at the door.
Plus, what’s more, Amazon just announced cooking functionality, so you can tell compatible ovens and microwaves things like «Alexa, defrost three pounds of chicken» or «Alexa, microwave for 50 seconds on low.» .
And What Amazon Alexa Does and Doesn’t Do
The best Alexa devices
There are two types of Alexa devices: speakers with Alexa built-in and devices that simply work with Alexa, which usually means they can be controlled with your voice. It’s an important distinction, and we’re dealing with the first one in this section: devices that natively host Alexa.
Since the single speaker launched in 2015, the Amazon Echo has quickly divided into a range of devices with markedly different features. Here’s a rundown of the entire Echo range.
Amazon Echo (2nd generation)
The Amazon Echo Key is now in its second generation, with a scaled-down design, and it features a built-in speaker and microphone.
The new Amazon Echo uses a 2.5-inch woofer speaker inside and now has a mesh cover, which can be swapped out for different colors to better match your home decor.
There are seven built-in microphones, using Amazon’s second-generation far-field technology, designed to better pick up your voice in noisy environments.
Amazon Echo Dot (2018)
The popular Echo Dot is getting its first true update since it first launched into the wild in 2016, and like the Show, its new design is much friendlier to place inside your home.
A fabric makeover hides the ugly plastic of the original, and new drivers make the sound 70% louder. Hopefully that means it won’t make the same sound as the original when you turn up the volume.
Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition
Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition offers the standard budget smart speaker in a range of funky, rubbery colors. However, the $30 premium gets you more than just a flashy design.
You get parental controls that block kids from your shopping lists, and the $2.99 a month FreeTime Premium feature (of which you get a year free) blocks music, opens access to kids’ audiobooks and radio stations The Mode Magic word ensures they say please before they get what they want from Alexa.
Amazon Echo Plus (2018)
Amazon’s smart home hub (above) has Dolby speakers, a temperature sensor, security sensors, and a fabric cover reminiscent of last year’s Echo update.
It’s still a Zigbee hub, allowing you to connect directly to compatible devices without a bridge, and there are offline voice controls too.
The new Plus will launch on October 11 in both the US and UK, but you can pre-order now before it arrives.
Amazon Echo Show (2018)
Gone is the ugly design of the first generation of the Show, and it’s something that looks much friendlier on your kitchen counter.
The 2018 model looks better, but now works as a Zigbee hub, just like the Echo Plus.
There’s also Dolby stereo sound, Skype for video calls, support for live TV via Prime Video, and even the ability to play TV recordings when paired with the new Fire TV Cast.
We’ve already had a chance to take part in the 2018 Echo Show, and if you want to buy one for yourself, you can from October 11 in the US and UK.
amazon echo spot
The new Echo is the Spot, a smart alarm that has a built-in screen. That means that, like the Echo Show, it can make video calls and display information, but as a bedside companion. Read our full Echo Spot review.
Amazon Fire TV Cube
The new Fire TV Cube combines a number of Amazon devices into one, for a truly unique Alexa-powered proposition.
First off, it works as a streaming stick, and like the Fire TV 4K it has Alexa built in for your queries and is compatible with Netflix, Prime Video, HBO GO, Hulu, Sling, PlayStation Vue.
However, the TV Cube goes a step further by using the Echo Show by using your TV screen to visually display things like the weather forecast and recipes, as well as the standard audio feedback from a standard Echo device.
The $119.99 smart streaming box and Alexa device are up for pre-order with shipping June 21. It is the United States only for the moment.
echo input
Google has been dominating the proceedings with Chromecast Audio for some time now, and Echo Input is Amazon’s answer.
Puck’s job is essentially to make regular speakers smart: just connect them via Bluetooth or a 3.5mm audio cable and Alexa will take over. There are no speaker powers here, but the 12.5mm device has four microphones to pick up your commands. We don’t have any details yet regarding a release for the entry.
New Alexa Features
alexa hunches
Alexa Hunches, a feature that better understands your routines and suggests things to you. So, for example, if she tells Alexa that she’s about to go to bed, she’ll let her know if the door to her house is unlocked or if the basement light is still on, just to make sure.
email integration
Amazon says you can link your Gmail, Outlook.com, Hotmail, and Live.com accounts to Alexa, and ask «Alexa, check my email» for a summary of your messages from the last 24 hours. You can read, reply to, delete or archive messages, and check messages from specific people.
Leisure
Amazon’s Alexa service for kids now offers routines on FreeTime-enabled Echo speakers, so you can turn off the lights and play sleepy sounds.
Improved routines.
You can now stagger Alexa’s routines, so if your alarm goes off at 7am, you can have the headlines read at 7.30, for example.
business listings
Alexa is receiving restaurants. Ask «Alexa, where is the nearest Trader Joe?» Or you could ask, «Alexa, what’s the number for Domino’s?» .
local voice control
If your network is down, Local Voice Control will take the Zigbee element of the Echo Plus or the new Echo Show and use it to still allow you smart control of your home.
Multi-step requests
If you want the smart assistant to play music from Spotify and do it at a certain volume, you can do that too. Again, I’m sorry to tell you this, but there is no official date here.
Alexa on Windows 10 PC
Alexa will appear on PCs from the likes of Acer, Asus, HP and Lenovo. Most Alexa-enabled PCs will be ready for purchase by the end of the year, though Acer is already there.
When you start your PC, you can use this method:
1. Open the Start menu.
2. Click on the Alexa icon.
3. Sign in to your Amazon account.
Or, you can use this method:
1. Click on the Windows search bar.
2. Type Amazon Alexa.
3. Sign in to your Amazon account.
How to set up your Alexa speaker
Getting your Amazon Alexa speaker set up and ready to go is pretty straightforward. Just follow these steps to get Alexa setup.
1. Download the Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet. It’s available via iOS/Android, and of course there’s a Fire OS version if you own one of Amazon’s devices.
You’ll need to sign in with your Amazon ID (we assume you have one, or you’ll need to create one), and this will now be your account for Alexa. Naturally, if you have an Amazon account with Prime, be sure to use it for setup.
2. In the app, go…