The Alexa Amazon Com app is a game-changer for smart home automation and control. It allows you to control your smart devices with just your voice.
With the app, you can easily manage your smart lights, thermostats, security cameras, and more. It's incredibly convenient and can be a huge time-saver.
The app is also highly customizable, so you can tailor it to your specific needs and preferences.
Smart Home Devices
Alexa is a great smart home controller, allowing you to view your Ring Video Doorbell on your Echo Show and connect to your Philips Hue or other lightbulbs to turn them on or off with voice.
You can also link Alexa to your heating controls to check and change the temperature in your house. This is especially useful if you have a lot of devices to keep track of.
The new Amazon Alexa Devices screen has a list view of your connected devices, which you can search by name and sort alphabetically, by date added, or by device type. This makes it much easier to find specific devices, especially if you have a large number of devices connected.
Philips Hue
Philips Hue is a great smart lighting system that pairs perfectly with Alexa. You can control your Hue lights by asking Alexa to dim or brighten them, or even change their color.
You can get precise with your voice-controlled lighting by saying things like "Alexa, dim the living room lights to 20%". This is especially useful when you're relaxing in your favorite chair.
The Philips Hue partnership allows you to control your Hue lights by asking Alexa, rather than having to go into the app. This means you can turn off the bedroom light or all the lights with just your voice.
With some Echo devices, you can even connect Philips Hue bulbs directly without needing a separate Hue Hub. This makes setup and control a breeze.
You can also use Alexa to control other smart devices, like Arlo cameras or Ring Video Doorbell, which can be accessed through your Echo Show.
Logi Circle
If you have the Logi Circle cameras, you can control them with Alexa. You can ask Alexa to start a recording, which is super convenient if you're away from home and want to check in on things.
To ensure your privacy, you can also ask Alexa to disable Privacy Mode. This is a great feature if you have family members or roommates who might accidentally trigger your camera.
Turning your camera on is as easy as asking Alexa to do it. This is especially useful if you have a guest coming over and you want to make sure your camera is recording.
New Home Tab
The new Home tab in the Alexa app has been revamped for better organization and customization. It's now divided into three distinct sections for smart home/Alexa control.
You can edit these sections to show only the items you want to see and use. No more random "most relevant" or "recently used" items cluttering up your screen.
The top row of the Home tab is now a scrollable list of shortcut buttons for smart home devices and Alexa tools. You can choose from around 17 different shortcuts, including Music, Shopping Lists, and Drop In.
These shortcut buttons can take you to a list of devices in a specific category, like lights or locks, where you can control them. The shortcut also shows the device's status, such as how many lights are on.
This feature is currently limited to users with less than 20 devices, but it will be expanded to "power users" soon.
Music and Entertainment
You can play music and control your smart speakers with Alexa. Try saying "Alexa, play jazz in the kitchen" to get started.
Alexa's music skills are quite impressive, and you can link Apple Music to your Echo speaker to access millions of songs. To enable Apple Music, say "Alexa, enable Apple Music" or visit the Alexa Skills Store.
Spotify is another popular music service that integrates seamlessly with Alexa. You can set Spotify as your default service within the Alexa app, which means any music you ask to be played will stream from Spotify automatically. Try saying "Alexa, play what's hot in [country]" to get started.
With the Sonos Alexa skill, you can control your entire Sonos setup using voice commands. Say "Alexa, enable Sonos" to get started, or visit the Alexa Skills Store to link your Sonos account.
Spotify
Spotify is the leading music skill for Amazon Alexa devices, and it gets pride of place on Echo speakers.
You can enable Spotify as your default service within the Alexa app, which means any music you ask to be played will stream from Spotify automatically. This is super easy to do.
To enable Spotify, simply say "Alexa, play [choice] from Spotify" or visit the Alexa Skills Store. I've tried this myself and it works like a charm.
You can also request songs, artists or playlists through Alexa, which she will then play through Echo's 360-degree omni-directional audio. This is a great feature if you have a specific song or artist in mind.
Try saying "Alexa, play what's hot in [country]" to get a taste of the latest music from around the world. This is a great way to discover new music and explore different genres.
Missing Show Issue
If your Echo Show is not showing up in the Alexa app, it's likely due to a simple issue that's easy to fix. You might have accidentally signed out of your Amazon account, so try signing in again on the Echo device.
A more common problem is using the wrong Amazon account credentials. If you have multiple Amazon accounts, make sure you're using the right ones.
Resetting your Echo Show device can fix the issue if you're using the wrong credentials. Try resetting your device and then re-setting it up using the correct credentials.
If none of these solutions work, the problem might be with the Alexa app itself. Try uninstalling and reinstalling the app to see if that makes your Echo Show device visible again.
Guitar Tuner
Guitar Tuner is a must-have for any guitar player. It's a simple skill, but as any musician will attest, a mighty useful one.
Alexa will sound out each note in turn, helping you to tune your strings. To enable it, just say "Alexa, enable Guitar Tuner" or visit the Alexa Skills Store.
The top command is "Alexa, ask the guitar tuner to tune note A."
Kids and Family
Amazon's Alexa app is a great tool for kids, with its excellent array of kids-specific content on Amazon's Kids+ platform.
Alexa can also entertain children with its child-friendly skills, ensuring there's never a dull moment.
With these skills, you can engage your kids in fun and interactive ways, making family time more enjoyable.
The Alexa skills for kids are designed to be both fun and educational, making them a great addition to your family's daily routine.
Amazon's Kids+ platform offers a wealth of content, including games, videos, and books, all carefully curated for kids of different ages and interests.
Whether you're looking to keep your kids entertained during long car rides or quiet time at home, Alexa has got you covered with its extensive range of kids' content.
Health and Fitness
Amazon Echo's health and fitness features are pretty cool. Alexa can be your personal trainer with its exercise and health skills.
You can ask Alexa about your sleep quality or daily step count without opening the Fitbit app. This is possible thanks to Fitbit's partnership with Echo.
Alexa is also built into the Fitbit Versa 2 smartwatch, making it easy to access your health data on the go.
Bedtime/Sleep
I've found that a consistent sleep schedule is key to feeling rested and refreshed. You can use Alexa skills to create a bedtime routine that's tailored to your needs.
Relaxing sounds can be a great way to unwind before bed. Alexa has a range of calming sounds, including the soothing sound of the sea.
If you find it hard to fall asleep, you can ask Alexa to turn off the sound in a set amount of time. For example, you can say "Alexa, turn this off in 10 minutes."
One-minute mindfulness sessions can also be helpful for clearing your mind before bed. You can enable this skill by saying "Alexa, enable Mindfulness" or by visiting the Alexa Skills Store.
To access the mindfulness skill, simply say "Alexa, ask Mindfulness for peaceful meditation." This can be a great way to calm your mind and prepare for sleep.
Exercise and Health
Amazon Echo is a great tool for tracking your fitness goals, with a range of exercise and health skills available. You can use Alexa to get motivated with its metallic tones and encouraging voice.
Alexa can even access your Fitbit data, so you can ask her how you slept or how many steps you've done without needing to open the Fitbit app. This is thanks to Fitbit's partnership with Echo.
The Versa 2 smartwatch also comes with Alexa built-in, so you can get all the benefits of these health and fitness skills on the go.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I connect my Alexa to WiFi?
To connect your Alexa to WiFi, plug it in, add your device, and follow the setup process as shown in our video. For detailed steps, watch our video and check the description below.
Is Amazon Alexa a free app?
Yes, the Alexa app itself is free to download and use, but some features and services may require additional subscriptions.
How do I get to my Amazon Alexa app?
To access your Amazon Alexa app, open the app store on your mobile device and install it. Once installed, sign in with your Amazon account to start using the app.
How do I download the Alexa app on Android?
To download the Alexa app on Android, go to the Google Play Store and search for "Amazon Alexa" to install it. After installation, log in with your Amazon account credentials to start using the app.
Sources
- https://www.the-ambient.com/best/best-amazon-alexa-skills-187/
- https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-use-the-alexa-app-in-windows-10/
- https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/1/23983920/amazon-alexa-new-app-ios-android-release-date
- https://www.lifewire.com/connect-echo-show-to-alexa-app-5193300
- https://www.pocket-lint.com/what-is-alexa-how-does-it-work-and-what-can-amazons-alexa-do/
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