Voice controlis one of the core capableness of theAmazon Echo : the marvelous , shameful cylinder comes with a canonical remote control and some on - board button , but speaking bidding and question is the most intuitive manner of interacting with it . If you ’re question just what your Echo can do and which require it responds to , here ’s a comprehensive leaning .
Weather prognosis are the lettuce and butter of smart assistants and the Echo is no different . Just ask for the current weather or a prognosis using your voice . you could adjust the phrasing in various way too , because something like “ Alexa , will it rain down tomorrow ? ” work as well .
Your fanfare briefing is a bout - up of pre - recorded audio update from the like of NPR , BBC and the Economist . Once you ’ve used it for the first time , a wag appears in the Echo app give you links to the full tarradiddle . practice “ next ” , “ old ” and “ cancel to pilot your agency between reports .
Your Amazon Echo can tap into local traffic reports , enabling you to need how your commute is bet ( render you ’ve set up home and work position through the twist ) . More generally , asking “ how ’s the dealings ? ” or “ how ’s the traffic right now ? ” will institute you information about the congestion on nearby road .
Your sleek - look Echo come with a make - in timer and a build - in warning equipment , both of which can be manipulate with your vox . placed alarms using the command above ( “ Alexa , forty winks ” can also be used when the alarm system go off ) or say “ Alexa , set the timer for 30 minute ” to set about a countdown .
If you join your Google calendar through the Echo app , you could ask questions and get information about your upcoming docket . For example , you’re able to ask what ’s on your calendar tomorrow or say “ Alexa , when is my next meeting ? ” . The twist also understands specific meter and specific days .
Alexa can superintend to do and shopping list for you well . Tell the Echo when you want to lend something unexampled to these lists ( or just say “ I call for to … ” ) and then use the simple command “ what ’s on my to do leaning ? ” or “ what ’s on my shopping list ? ” to have them read back to you .
you could also get your Echo toadd items to your online Amazon shopping basket(for Modern clobber ) or reorder something you ’ve bought previously ( if you ’re a Prime member ) . Of course it helps the outgrowth if the thing you want to corrupt can be mouth clearly and easily in just a few words .
There are all kinds of ways you may apply your Echo toplay medicine from Amazon Prime Musicand support services like Pandora and Spotify . If you ’re using another Robert William Service , you usually call for to specify it , whereas something like “ roleplay Submarines by the Lumineers ” is going to default to Amazon Prime Music .
One of the third - party apps is Spotify , so you could play genres , play list , artists and albums by specifying the Spotify app . More universal commands like “ pause ” , “ halt ” and “ mute ” are go to bring across all music apps , meanwhile , and you’re able to also ask your Echo “ what call is play ? ”
Likethe Apple TV , Amazon ’s smart machine can give you entropy about sure sport teams and leagues . Ask about your favorite team or specific matches : “ Alexa , what is the account of Cubs game ? ” Or utter out a inquiry about a fixture : “ Alexa , when do the Seattle Seahawks play next ? ”
entanglement hunting queries are confirm too , so just about everything Google will give you a direct answer for works . you may ask for definitions , world times , facts and figures , and so on . you’re able to also just say “ Wikipedia ” followed by the title of the article you want to get wind to have your Echo read it out to you .
Amazon Echo knows plenty about local movie showtimes , and you could ask about specific films or specific genres if you desire to . Say “ Alexa , tell me about the movie The Revenant ” ( or whatever moving-picture show you ’re interested in ) to get key fact about the moving picture pull out in from the web and read out loud .
you may get Alexa to lighten the modality with a few ready jokes as well , though you may find the tone variable . If you have trouble hearing the joke , judge saying “ Alexa , turn it up ” or “ Alexa , volume eight . ” The bulk can be chosen from a scale of one to ten .
The Echo can take out your Audible audiobooks and Kindle ebooks ( though it ’s often in a stilted , robotic voice ) . Use “ next chapter ” and “ premature chapter ” to jump around ( or qualify chapter by identification number ) . Other commands like “ skip back ” and “ break ” are support too .
The Echo is compatible with a potpourri of smart place kits , admit Philips Hue lights , Belkin WeMo gadgets and the SmartThings reach from Samsung . Once you ’ve got new equipment added , you’re able to control them through Alexa and the Echo using your phonation . IFTTT integrationis another available option .
Your bright helper can now tap into Yelp listing and bring you results , as long as you ’ve added your home computer address through the Echo app . Ask for a nearby restaurant , for example , or check up on the scuttle hours for a nearby apothecary’s shop . If it ’s listed in Yelp , then Alexa can help you find it .
meet the author at[email protected ] .
AlexaAmazonAmazon EchoSmart HomeVoice controlvoice acknowledgment
Daily Newsletter
Get the good technical school , skill , and culture news in your inbox daily .
newsworthiness from the future tense , surrender to your present .
You May Also Like
