Key Points
- Alexa now supports hundreds of new voice commands across smart home, media, and productivity tasks.
- Users can control lighting, thermostats, locks, and scenes with natural language.
- Voice control extends to Fire TV, Echo Show displays, and Echo Auto for in‑car use.
- Integrated third‑party skills enable ride‑hailing, restaurant searches, and more.
- Alexa can manage shopping lists, reorder items, track orders, and find deals.
- New conversational features let users issue implied commands like adjusting temperature.
- All Amazon Echo and Fire TV devices benefit from the expanded command library.
Broadening Voice Control
Amazon has added a massive collection of voice commands to its Alexa assistant, allowing users to interact with almost every aspect of their digital and physical environment. From simple tasks like setting alarms and timers to more complex actions such as ordering groceries or controlling multiple smart‑home devices, the new commands aim to make everyday interactions smoother and more intuitive.
Smart‑Home Integration
Alexa now works with a wide array of smart‑home platforms, including SmartThings, Philips Hue, Wink, Insteon, Lutron, and Belkin WeMo. Users can turn lights on or off, dim them, change colors, adjust thermostats, lock doors, and even trigger scenes like “Movie Time” or “Bedtime.” The assistant also supports Bluetooth pairing and can locate lost phones through compatible skills.
Media and Entertainment Management
Through Echo devices, Echo Show displays, and Fire TV products, Alexa can control playback of music, podcasts, audiobooks, and videos. Commands let users play specific songs, artists, or playlists, move audio between rooms, set volume levels, and even request movie trailers or showtimes. Integration with Fire TV enables voice‑controlled searching, launching apps, and navigating channels.
Productivity and Daily Tasks
Alexa assists with calendars, to‑do lists, shopping lists, and reminders. Users can add events, move meetings, create tasks, and ask for upcoming appointments. Shopping commands let customers reorder items, track packages, add products to carts, and inquire about deals. The assistant also supports messaging, calls, and “Drop In” video chats between Echo Show devices.
Third‑Party Skills and Services
By enabling third‑party skills, Alexa extends its capabilities to ride‑hailing services like Uber and Lyft, restaurant reservations, wine recommendations, and even trivia games. Skills can be activated simply by asking, and Alexa will automatically enable them when needed.
Device Coverage
The expanded command set works across the full range of Amazon hardware, including Echo Dot, Echo Show, Echo Auto for cars, Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Cube, and compatible smart‑TV platforms. Users can also interact with Alexa via the mobile app, Windows computers, and even Cortana when the skill is enabled.
Natural Language and Conversational Features
Alexa’s new conversational abilities let users phrase requests more naturally, such as saying “I’m chilly” to adjust the thermostat or “Play music everywhere except the baby’s room.” The assistant can store personal information for future use, like frequent‑flyer numbers, and recall it when asked.
Source: cnet.com