Alexa is Amazon’s cloud-based voice controlled personal assistant available on more than 100 million devices from Amazon and several third-party device manufacturers. The Amazon Echo is a range of hands-free speakers and devices from Amazon that can be controlled with your voice. Alexa and Echo cannot be separated.
Alexa, the brain behind the Echo devices is a highly polished voice assistant available today. Using Alexa is as simple as asking a question—just ask and Alexa will respond. Alexa updates through the cloud automatically and is continually learning, adding new functionality and skills.
Contents
Here are some of the ways Alexa can make your life easier and more fun. These are just a few examples, Alexa is smart enough to understand things in a lot of different ways.
- Music and Entertainment
Alexa, play the latest pop music or play songs by XYZ artist or anything like, play me songs I haven’t heard in a while, etc. - News and Information
Alexa, read today news in brief or what will be weather tomorrow? or what is India’s score?, etc. - Communication
Alexa, call Mom or make a skype call, etc. - Help around the House
Alexa, remind me to call XYZ at 7 in the evening or set an alarm for 7AM, etc. - Smart Home
Alexa, turn on the AC or turn off the heater in 10 minutes, etc. - Shopping
Alexa, add tissues to my cart or reorder dish wash gel or you can ask what’s in my shopping cart. You can ask something like where’s my order?, etc. - Question & Answers
Alexa, who was the fifth president of India or how high is Burj Khalifa?, etc. - Fun Stuff
Alexa, beatbox for me, tell me a joke, or roll a dice, etc. - Alexa Skills
Alexa, help me meditate or help me lose weight, etc.
Another highlight is that Alexa can now also talk to you in the voice of legendary Amitabh Bachchan. Alexa now understands Hindi as well. it is so much improved that you can ask her any way and she will smartly get the context and execute the request. Example: Alexa, xyz gaana sunao, or xyz bajao, or xyx play kar do, all of these will play the requested xyz song on your device.
You don’t necessarily need the Amazon Echo devices, you can experience Alexa on your mobile devices or laptops. It works on both Android as well as iOS. You can even replace your already existing smart voice assistant with Alexa.
In my experience, I haven’t felt as if I was missing out on any features while using Alexa on my iPad. Paired with Echo Buds, it has been a great experience. Now that I mentioned about me using the Amazon Echo Buds, I also have an Echo Speaker setup in my home.
Let’s briefly check all the Echo devices currently available on Amazon:
Amazon Echo Flex
‣ Make any space smarter – This plug-in Echo device lets you use your voice to control compatible smart home devices and get help from Alexa in more places in your home.
‣ Echo Flex can bring Alexa to your speaker, and makes it a smart speaker that can stream music hands-free. Connect Echo Flex to your speaker via 3.5 mm audio cable or over Bluetooth.
‣ Built-in USB port – Charge your phone with the built-in USB-A port.
Echo Dot (3rd Gen)
‣ Echo Dot is a smart speaker that can be operated by voice, is compact and can fit in your favorite places.
‣ You can use Echo Dot as a Bluetooth speaker by pairing your phone to it. Or you can connect it to other speakers/headphones through Bluetooth/3.5mm jack.
‣ New features are automatically added to Alexa, the brain of Echo Dot
Echo Dot (4th Gen)
‣ Echo Dot (4th Gen) has a new spherical design and improved bass performance compared to Echo Dot (3rd Gen).
‣ Versatile usage: use Echo Dot as a standalone speaker or connect it to other speakers/headphones to enjoy audio on your favorite devices. Or simply pair your phone with Echo Dot and use it as a Bluetooth speaker
Echo (4th Gen)
‣ The all-new Echo delivers premium sound (powered by Dolby) and delivers clear highs, dynamic mids, and deep bass for rich, detailed sound that adapts to any room.
Echo Studio
‣ Immersive sound – 5 speakers produce powerful bass, dynamic midrange, and crisp highs. Dolby Atmos technology adds space, clarity, and depth, making Echo Studio the best-sounding Echo device.
‣ Adapts to any room – Automatically senses the acoustics of your space, fine-tuning playback to deliver optimal sound.
‣ Built-in smart home hub – Set up your smart lights and plugs from Philips Hue and Anchor without a separate hub – just ask “Alexa, discover my devices”. Also control other compatible smart devices from Oakter, Syska, TP-Link, Wipro, and more.
Echo Show 5
‣ Echo Show 5 is a smart speaker with 5.5” screen and Alexa that can be operated by voice and can fit on your bedside or coffee table.
‣ Your personal entertainment corner: Watch your favorite movies and TV shows from Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.
‣ Monitor your home remotely: Activate the built-in camera remotely to securely monitor your home using the Alexa app.
‣ Get started with Smart home: Setup smart lights, plugs or cameras with Echo Show 5 and control your appliances using just voice.
‣ Improved 2MP camera: Use the 2 MP camera to call friends and family who have the Alexa app or Echo Show devices. Use drop-in feature to check on your kids or parents – just like an intercom.
Amazon Show 8
‣ Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) with Alexa is an upgrade of our best-selling smart speaker with screen and comes with an improved 13 MP camera which you can use to make video calls to contacts having the Alexa app or Echo Show devices. You can control Echo Show 8 using only your voice. Alexa speaks English and Hindi.
‣ Your personal entertainment corner: Watch your favourite movies and TV shows from Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.
‣ Monitor your home remotely: Activate the built-in camera remotely to securely monitor your home on your Alexa app or on other Echo Show devices.
‣ Get started with Smart home: It is simple to make your home smart with Alexa and use voice to control lights, ACs, security cameras, TVs, geysers and more.
‣ Stay in frame during video calls: Make video calls with the upgraded 13 MP camera that pans and zooms automatically to keep you in frame. Simply ask Alexa to call your friends and family who have the Alexa app or Echo Show devices. Use drop-in feature to check on your kids or parents – just like an intercom.
Echo Show 10
‣ Echo Show 10 is the best smart speaker we have ever created with a revolutionary 10.1” screen that moves automatically to face you! The 10W speaker delivers loud and clear sound.
‣ Monitor your home remotely: Activate the built-in 13MP camera remotely to securely monitor your home using the Alexa app. You can look around the room through pan and zoom functionality. Use drop-in feature to check on your kids or parents – just like an intercom.
‣ Get started with Smart home: Setup smart lights, plugs or cameras with Echo Show 10 and control your appliances using just voice.
‣ Stay in frame: Make video calls with the upgraded 13 MP camera that frames and centers automatically. Simply ask Alexa to call your friends and family who have the Alexa app or Echo Show devices.
Echo Buds (2nd Gen)
‣ Truly wireless earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation, 3 mics and hands free Alexa.
‣ Compatible with Android and iOS.
‣ Dynamic audio- Premium speakers deliver crisp, balanced sound. Control the bass and treble from the equalizer in the Alexa app.
‣ Active Noise cancellation (ANC)- ANC limits background noise for an immersive audio experience and Passthrough mode lets you hear what’s going on around you. Switch between 2 modes by touching and holding either earbud for 2 seconds.
‣ Compact and comfortable- Echo Buds are small, light, sweat resistant and come with 4 different sizes of eartips. Take the ear-tip fit test in the Alexa app to get an optimal fit.
‣ Hands-free Alexa- Just ask Alexa to call your phone contacts, stream music, know battery status and much more. Access Google assistant and Siri through tap controls.
‣ Easy tap controls-Tap to Play/pause, skip tracks, turn on ANC/pass through, adjust volume. Configure the tap controls as per your preference in the Alexa app.
‣ Move your music- Just say “Alexa, move my music here” to move music from other Echo devices to your Echo buds and continue listening exactly where you left off.
‣ Long lasting battery- Upto 15 hrs of music playback with the charging case (under standard testing conditions, more details in tech specs below). A 15-min quick charge provides upto 2 hrs of music.
‣ Built with multiple layers of privacy controls, including the ability to mute the mics with the Alexa app.