Alexa on your Amazon Echo device can do more than you think. You can use it to protect your home, get traffic information, set reminders and more. Here’s how to get the most out of Amazon’s virtual assistant.
1: Control Alexa from your desktop or mobile
If you don’t already know, you can control various Alexa features from your desktop computer, iPhone, or Android smartphone. This allows you to change various settings options for your Echo without requiring access to your device. You can control everything from reminders and alarms to connected smart home devices.
Amazon Alexa website. On your desktop, you can use the Amazon Alexa website to do this, but it’s worth noting that the web implementation isn’t as powerful as it used to be. You will have a better experience using the official Alexa mobile app on iPhone and Android. RELATED: How to Control Amazon Echo from the Web (Instead of a Cramped Smartphone App)
2: Block Alexa from listening for text
Alexa keeps her ears open all the time so she can hear your wake-up calls and answer your questions. However, this can be a problem if you have someone or something named Alexa around you. You’ll end up accidentally triggering Alexa (the virtual assistant) from time to time. Luckily, you can make Alexa stop listening for prompts. To do this, on your Echo device, press the Mic button. Alexa will no longer listen for wake-up calls.
Press the Mic button on the Amazon Echo. To make it listen to text again, press the same Mic button on your Echo device.
3: Change the Alexa script
“Alexa” isn’t the only name you can use to describe this virtual assistant. Amazon lets you choose from different names and methods you can use to call your virtual assistant. These terms include “Amazon”, “Echo”, and others.
Change the Alexa script. You can change the text of your device using the Alexa website on the desktop. When you’re done, you can go back to the original script if you want.
4: Make Alexa speak faster or slower
If you find that Alexa’s speech is slow or slow, you can ask her to change her speaking speed. Just say “Alexa, speak slowly” or “Alexa, speak fast” and it will obey your command.
Join 425,000 subscribers and get daily tips, news, stories and trivia. This will allow you to listen carefully to certain words or to speed up everything if you like to get your information quickly.
5: Get quick answers using short terms
Sometimes Alexa’s answers to your questions are too descriptive. He may be saying little things that annoy you. Fortunately, there is a way around this.
Enable “short form”.
Enter the short mode, an Alexa feature that allows the virtual assistant to keep its responses short. When this mode is turned on, Alexa doesn’t speak as much as it normally does. You can enable the mode by visiting the Alexa website, going to Settings > Alexa Voice Response, and enabling “Short Mode.”
On the same page, you can ask Alexa to tell you the answer by activating the “Question Response” option.
6: Get the traffic details of your trip
Alexa can let you know what kind of traffic you’ll encounter on your way to your office. As long as you’ve defined your address in To and through Alexa, you’re only one request away from getting your travel directions.
If you haven’t already, you can configure your To and From addresses in the Settings > Routes menu on the Alexa website.
7: Use Alexa as a reminder app
It is easy to forget your important duties in this busy life. Setting reminders for each of your tasks on a mobile reminder app is also tedious.
Luckily, you can use your Alexa assistant as a reminder. Just ask Alexa when you want to be called back and what to do, and she’ll make sure to send you a notification at the appointed time.
For example, you can ask Alexa to remind you to drink water at two o’clock in the afternoon, and she will send you a notification when it’s time.
8: Multitask and do things
It’s easy to use Alexa to do one task, but what if you want your virtual assistant to do one task with one command? Fortunately, there is a way to do this.
Enter the Alexa schedule, a feature where you can set up multiple tasks. Then you can ask Alexa to do this task, and she will do all the tasks added to your system. The best use of this feature is for your bedtime routine. You can ask Alexa to lock your door, turn off the lights, and even play soothing music so you can sleep.
9: Get updates at home when you’re away
Alexa offers a security feature called Guard to help you monitor your home while you’re away. This feature listens for certain sounds, such as glass breaking and smoke detectors going off.
When Alexa detects these sounds, you’ll get a notification and a short beep of the sound, letting you know you’re feeling bad so you can take action. Tap “Security” and “Settings”.
You can enable Alexa Guards from the More > Settings > Guards menu in the Alexa mobile app. You can purchase the Guard Plus plan for a fee if you want emergency services to be notified when these sounds are playing in your home.
10: Use your Echo device as a Bluetooth speaker
Finally, you can use the Amazon Echo of Alexa to help you as a Bluetooth speaker. This way, you can connect any Bluetooth device to your Echo and listen to your favorite music.
You can use this feature when Alexa doesn’t support your favorite music app or when you want to listen to music on your phone or desktop. You can connect your phone or desktop computer to Amazon Echo by asking “Alexa, pair”.
And here are some Alexa features you can use to make your Amazon Echo device more useful. We hope this list is useful.
