When you buy an Amazon Echo (or another Smart speaker) with the Alexa voice assistant, there are two main uses: listening to music and asking for the news of the day (or weather forecast or sports news). There are also many things that can be done with Alexa, including asking for curiosities and various types of information and it is also possible to create new voice commands and automatic routines.
In this guide, however, we try to go to the point and summarize a short list of the most useful commands and the most comfortable ways to use an Alexa device, to perform practical actions without getting up from the chair or without having to take hold of the smartphone.
Some of these commands must be configured in the Alexa settings before they can be used, for example by installing one of the Skills available in the Amazon store, those that activate new functions for the voice assistant. Prerequisite for these configurations is to install the Alexa app on an Android or iPhone smartphone.
READ ALSO: Functions of the Amazon Echo, what it is used for and what it does
1) Ask Alexa to make calls or send messages
Once the Amazon Echo has been configured and activated, there is the possibility to access the phone book on the Alexa app. Once you have given this permission, you can ask Alexa to call or send you messages. To make a phone call without using the smartphone, just say something like " Alexa, call dad ". If the person calling is using the Alexa app, the call will be free. To configure calls and messages with Alexa, you need to open the application and go to the Communication tab.
To expand the possibilities of calling with Alexa, you can go to the Settings of the app and then, in the Communication section, add the Skype account. Once connected, Alexa offers 200 minutes of free Skype calls to landlines and cell phones (but check the limitations). Saying therefore, Alexa, " Call dad with Skype ", you can phone dad without using the phone credit, but via the internet (free if dad has Skype or according to the Skype call rates).
2) Ask Alexa to turn lights and appliances on and off
Now that there are voice assistants, we can do as in science fiction movies and turn lights and other devices on or off just by saying it out loud. Of course you have to buy Smart sockets, compatible lights and devices that can be connected to Alexa, but then you can say, for example: " Alexa, turn on the living room fan " or " Alexa, start the robot vacuum cleaner " or again, " Alexa, turn on the TV ".
In other articles, we have seen the guides:
- how to connect Alexa to the lights
- How to control heating with Amazon Echo and Alexa
3) Set reminders and alarms
One of the most comfortable ways to use a voice assistant like Alexa is to set up alarms, alarms and quick reminders. Instead of opening the phone and setting the alarm, just say: "Alexa, wake me up at 7" to wake up at 7. Very convenient is also the function to remember to do something, such as: "Alexa, remind me to turn off the oven in 10 minutes "to receive a sound reminder.
4) Make announcements at home or in a room
The Alexa announcements feature allows you to send voice messages that will be played on your home's Echo speakers. Even when you are away from home, you can launch voice announcements to be listened to by those at home, with the announcements function found under the Communications tab of the application. You can also make the announcement heard to a particular Echo device, for example to call other family members who are locked in their room, without having to scream around the house.
5) Create shopping lists and things to do
It can be a nuisance to try to remember everything you need to buy in the supermarket and it becomes convenient, therefore, to use Alexa to make a shopping list. Instead of trying to jot everything down as quickly as possible, just ask Alexa to create a list to add new things to. When necessary, you can then ask Alexa to know what is on the shopping list, both through the app on the phone, and on an Echo.
You can also create to-do lists to remember tasks to complete for the day or week. For example, you can say " Alexa, add X to my to-do list " or " Alexa, create a to-do list called projects ".
6) Ask Alexa to bring the groceries home
For those who live far from a supermarket or simply don't want to move from home, they can use Alexa to order what you need by shopping on Amazon through the special Prime Now program (for Prime subscribers). To buy through Alexa, you must allow the purchase of vowels. To do this, open the app, go to Account settings and under Voice purchases activate the option Buy with voice . When ready, you can say " Alexa, I would like to buy hand soap " and the soap will be added to the cart; Alexa will then ask to confirm the purchases inside the cart. Obviously it will take some testing to make correct purchases, but it just becomes a matter of habit.
7) Receive notification when a package arrives
If you place orders on Amazon and Alexa is configured with the same account, you will automatically receive notifications on Amazon Echo when the package is delivered. This is very convenient if you live in a building with a concierge who is allowed to receive parcels. When you receive a notification on Echo, the ring flashes yellow.
8) Alexa can delete your voice recordings
You don't need to log in to the app to delete recordings every time you talk to Amazon Echo. After the controversy over whether Alexa could spy on users, it became possible to clear the history of voice commands by voice, saying " Alexa, delete everything I said today " or " Alexa, delete what I just said ". This function must be activated first, by going to the Alexa app and then, in the privacy settings, go to Review voice history to find the option that enables the deletion via voice command. In this way we can be more confident that Alexa can record everything we say and keep it.
Finally, remember that it is also possible to listen to free music on Echo and with Alexa, without having to make additional subscriptions.
READ ALSO: How to customize Alexa for a more interactive Amazon Echo
In this guide, however, we try to go to the point and summarize a short list of the most useful commands and the most comfortable ways to use an Alexa device, to perform practical actions without getting up from the chair or without having to take hold of the smartphone.
Some of these commands must be configured in the Alexa settings before they can be used, for example by installing one of the Skills available in the Amazon store, those that activate new functions for the voice assistant. Prerequisite for these configurations is to install the Alexa app on an Android or iPhone smartphone.
READ ALSO: Functions of the Amazon Echo, what it is used for and what it does
More useful things to ask Alexa
1) Ask Alexa to make calls or send messages
Once the Amazon Echo has been configured and activated, there is the possibility to access the phone book on the Alexa app. Once you have given this permission, you can ask Alexa to call or send you messages. To make a phone call without using the smartphone, just say something like " Alexa, call dad ". If the person calling is using the Alexa app, the call will be free. To configure calls and messages with Alexa, you need to open the application and go to the Communication tab.
To expand the possibilities of calling with Alexa, you can go to the Settings of the app and then, in the Communication section, add the Skype account. Once connected, Alexa offers 200 minutes of free Skype calls to landlines and cell phones (but check the limitations). Saying therefore, Alexa, " Call dad with Skype ", you can phone dad without using the phone credit, but via the internet (free if dad has Skype or according to the Skype call rates).
2) Ask Alexa to turn lights and appliances on and off
Now that there are voice assistants, we can do as in science fiction movies and turn lights and other devices on or off just by saying it out loud. Of course you have to buy Smart sockets, compatible lights and devices that can be connected to Alexa, but then you can say, for example: " Alexa, turn on the living room fan " or " Alexa, start the robot vacuum cleaner " or again, " Alexa, turn on the TV ".
In other articles, we have seen the guides:
- how to connect Alexa to the lights
- How to control heating with Amazon Echo and Alexa
3) Set reminders and alarms
One of the most comfortable ways to use a voice assistant like Alexa is to set up alarms, alarms and quick reminders. Instead of opening the phone and setting the alarm, just say: "Alexa, wake me up at 7" to wake up at 7. Very convenient is also the function to remember to do something, such as: "Alexa, remind me to turn off the oven in 10 minutes "to receive a sound reminder.
4) Make announcements at home or in a room
The Alexa announcements feature allows you to send voice messages that will be played on your home's Echo speakers. Even when you are away from home, you can launch voice announcements to be listened to by those at home, with the announcements function found under the Communications tab of the application. You can also make the announcement heard to a particular Echo device, for example to call other family members who are locked in their room, without having to scream around the house.
5) Create shopping lists and things to do
It can be a nuisance to try to remember everything you need to buy in the supermarket and it becomes convenient, therefore, to use Alexa to make a shopping list. Instead of trying to jot everything down as quickly as possible, just ask Alexa to create a list to add new things to. When necessary, you can then ask Alexa to know what is on the shopping list, both through the app on the phone, and on an Echo.
You can also create to-do lists to remember tasks to complete for the day or week. For example, you can say " Alexa, add X to my to-do list " or " Alexa, create a to-do list called projects ".
6) Ask Alexa to bring the groceries home
For those who live far from a supermarket or simply don't want to move from home, they can use Alexa to order what you need by shopping on Amazon through the special Prime Now program (for Prime subscribers). To buy through Alexa, you must allow the purchase of vowels. To do this, open the app, go to Account settings and under Voice purchases activate the option Buy with voice . When ready, you can say " Alexa, I would like to buy hand soap " and the soap will be added to the cart; Alexa will then ask to confirm the purchases inside the cart. Obviously it will take some testing to make correct purchases, but it just becomes a matter of habit.
7) Receive notification when a package arrives
If you place orders on Amazon and Alexa is configured with the same account, you will automatically receive notifications on Amazon Echo when the package is delivered. This is very convenient if you live in a building with a concierge who is allowed to receive parcels. When you receive a notification on Echo, the ring flashes yellow.
8) Alexa can delete your voice recordings
You don't need to log in to the app to delete recordings every time you talk to Amazon Echo. After the controversy over whether Alexa could spy on users, it became possible to clear the history of voice commands by voice, saying " Alexa, delete everything I said today " or " Alexa, delete what I just said ". This function must be activated first, by going to the Alexa app and then, in the privacy settings, go to Review voice history to find the option that enables the deletion via voice command. In this way we can be more confident that Alexa can record everything we say and keep it.
Finally, remember that it is also possible to listen to free music on Echo and with Alexa, without having to make additional subscriptions.
READ ALSO: How to customize Alexa for a more interactive Amazon Echo
