Alexa Perform the Same Command Again

More than whatsoever other device, Alexa has become our closest approximation of bogus intelligence.

Amazon'south voice banana has a vocalisation and personality, and if you lot enquire the right question, it'll even get sassy with you. Users even refer to Alexa as "she." We usually prefer to say her name, rather than the name of the device itself, Amazon Repeat.

Recently, Alexa has made the news as it was reported that a Portland, Oregon couple's Echo recorded their conversation and sent it to a friend on their contact list. Amazon apologized proverb simply Alexa assumed the incorrect control was issued.

You lot might exist surprised at what Alexa has recorded y'all saying. My Repeat recordings included conversations that had no words even sounding like Alexa.

More:How to listen to what Amazon's Alexa has recorded in your dwelling

In fact, I recently released a special podcast virtually Alexa and how information technology records and saves conversations. Click here to listen now while you read this commodity.

Y'all can too make your ain Alexa questions and answers. I played a practical joke on my son.

I told him to ask Alexa, "Alexa, who is the best mother in the world?" She responded, "I searched the entire Internet and the unabridged history of the world. Best is subjective but the respond is articulate. The best mother in the world is Kim Komando. Now, go clean upwards your room." If you lot'd like to program certain questions and answers, click here for the steps. Information technology's a lot of fun!

For many owners, Alexa is more than than a mere virtual assistant; she has become something similar a domestic companion, a Rosie or R2-D2 that can also order takeout.

Here are 21 commands that even seasoned Echo users may not know. Many of them are useful, some are fun, and others give the illusion that Alexa is every bit cognizant as nosotros are.

1. Translate

Science fiction has long anticipated a "universal translator," and Amazon is working to brand that dream a reality. Alexa tin can already translate dozens of languages, from Spanish to Hindi, thank you to its Translated skill.

Start past saying, "Alexa, open Translated," then ask, "How do you say [phrase] in [language]?" Amazon is planning to develop a real-time translator, then stay tuned.

2. Play a vocal based on lyrics

You're pretty sure it's a band from the Nineties. You tin remember that the refrain goes something like, "the time of your liiiife." But you accept no thought what the other lyrics are, nor what the title is.

With this skill, all you have to do is say, "Alexa, play the song that goes [lyrics]." So Alexa volition say, "'Expert Riddance,' by Greenish Day," and you may exist shocked that you never knew the bodily title.

More:We asked Siri, Alexa & Google 40 music questions. How did they fare?

three. Calculate distance

It's easier to programme your day when you know how far you'll be traveling. You can go a much ameliorate sense of whether y'all can squeeze in a Costco run in betwixt meetings with clients and picking up your grandkids.

You'll have to give two different geographic points, such as recognizable landmarks (the Eiffel Belfry) or a clear street accost (221B Bakery Street). If Alexa knows where you live, you tin can likewise just say "home."

Just ask Alexa, "How far Costco is from home?" and Alexa volition use GPS to requite y'all the driving distance.

4. Weather

Your telephone has a basic weather report, and with apps similar Weather Cloak-and-dagger, you lot can cheque precise meteorological patterns. If you're sitting in your living room, just as well far away from a phone or an open window, you can say, "Alexa, what is the weather going to exist like this afternoon?"

5. Wind arctic

So again, the actual temperature means very little when in that location'southward an icy wind slashing through your light jump jacket. If it's l degrees outside only blustery, it can easily experience like 30 degrees.

If you want to know how the temperature is going to really feel outside, inquire Alexa, "What's the wind arctic?"

6. Dollars and cents

Without a reckoner, most of us can only remember the near basic arithmetics, which is inconvenient when we're calculating tips for the pizza commitment guy or we're trying to effigy out quarterly tax payments.

Conversions from English to metric can exist similarly tricky, especially when we're actively doing something, similar making measurements for a new IKEA couch.

Alexa tin can understand a range of mathematical questions, such equally: "Alexa, how much is $725 minus $48.34?" Or: "What is 324 miles in kilometers?"

7. Drive time

Ask how long it'll accept you lot to get from dwelling to your function and Alexa will tell you. This isn't just an approximation, either, information technology takes traffic conditions into business relationship. As with distance, you lot will have to give Alexa to recognizable locations, either an established "dwelling," or a designated street accost.

Case: "Alexa, how long volition it take to drive from home to 317 Parker Lane?"

8. Store hours

This tin can exist every bit unproblematic equally a Google search, simply you tin also just ask Alexa the time that Dwelling house Depot, Walmart and other stores open up and close. Alexa should know the nearest box stores, merely you may take to specify the location of an independent business.

Example: "Alexa, find business hours for Johnson's Hardware."

More:How to avoid a bad shopping trip on Amazon

9. Sunrise and sunset

With fireworks displays and movies in the park, it'southward prissy to know when the sunsets ahead of time. You might also want to know when to take that predawn run.

But this is especially useful when you travel, and sunrises and sunsets occur at unfamiliar times. Yous could say, "Alexa, what is sunset tomorrow in Albuquerque?"

10. Alarm

There you lot are, comfortably tucked into bed, and the light is out. Certainly, you retrieve: you have to wake up at 5 AM for an early appointment. You're not sure where your phone is, and you don't experience like setting the alarm clock beyond the room.

Example: "Alexa, wake me up at 5 a.yard."

Y'all can also fix similar timers for cooking and even proper noun a particular timer.

eleven. Flatter me

This is a novelty, but it may exist Alexa'southward most human being-like skill. She tin can aid you if you demand an emotional pick-me-up. "Alexa, flatter me."

The Flatter Me skill will search for a new compliment and it may be exactly what you demand to hear, such equally: "The people you lot honey are lucky to accept yous in their lives."

12. Meal ideas

Yous're not alone if y'all've run out of ideas for dinner. Yous've cooked the same meals over and over for and then many years that your family knows exactly what to await.

Well, surprise them and yourself. Alexa tin give you a recipe based on up to three ingredients that you lot accept in the refrigerator and pantry. This skill tin exist activated by proverb: "Alexa, open meal idea."

xiii. Best recipes

You lot may likewise accept a meal in mind, but you would like to search specific recipes. If you're thinking almost making lasagna, Alexa will requite y'all a list of ingredients to store for and then step-by-pace instructions.

Since recipes are more direct frontwards to read than hear, this skill is much easier with the Amazon Show, which can display the recipe on its screen.

14. Wine pairing

Of form, if you're cooking a prissy meal, you lot'll want to pair it with wine. None of us actually know which wine goes with which food.

Alexa's Wine Pairing skill can requite you a detailed explanation of which wines to cull for the food you're eating. The skill is called WineSomm (short for "sommelier"), and even if it doesn't rival an bodily wine expert, it might come up with compelling new labels.

Example: "Alexa, recommend a vino to go with Frois Gras."

15. Bitcoin value

You accept likely heard about Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency whose value has soared the by few months. Still, it'south exact worth has fluctuated considerably from day to 24-hour interval, much less the stock marketplace.

If you lot'd like to know how much Bitcoin is worth in dollars, enquire: "Alexa, what is the value of ane Bitcoin today?"

sixteen. Opening bell

Many smart devices are keyed into the stock market, making it like shooting fish in a barrel to check on investments. The skill Opening Bell gives you stock prices for companies that you follow.

Example: "Alexa, ask Opening Bell to give the price of Exxon." A like skill is TD Ameritrade, which responds to nearly identical commands.

17. Play audiobook

Ane of Amazon's most infectious subsidiaries is Aural, its audiobook distribution network. When Alexa has admission to the Audible app, yous can quickly inquire to resume a particular title from where you last left off.

Case: "Alexa, play 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.'"

18. Read Kindle book

This is a more sophisticated skill that enables Alexa to read a Kindle ebook in her own voice. Instead of merely playing the pre-recorded version, professionally produced by a publisher, yous can mind to the text read aloud. Not anybody volition want to hear Alexa read with her robotic inflection, only it can be handy, specially if yous're otherwise occupied. (Information technology's also a boon for people who are seeing-impaired).

Case: "Alexa, read me my Kindle volume." And then specify which title.

19. Bank check notifications

You've simply stepped out of a bath, and you don't desire to pick up your phone with wet hands. Or your eyes are weary and you simply can't bring yourself to expect at another screen. If you've connected Alexa to your phone or another device, you can enquire her to orate your notifications.  You lot could say, "Alexa, what are my notifications?" Or you could fifty-fifty say, "Alexa, what did I miss?"

20. Add events to calendar

Alexa is best known as a virtual assistant, and in many ways, interacting with Alexa is sort of like having a secretary follow you around your living room, clipboard in mitt, awaiting your adjacent appointment. This is helpful if you're forgetful, or yous just take your hands full.

Instance: "Alexa, add an event to my calendar." Later, when yous need to check on your daily activities, yous tin say, "Alexa, what's on my calendar for tomorrow?"

21. Skill finder

This is merely a sampling of the thousands of the xv,000 skills Alexa has at her disposal. Information technology tin can be helpful, in this body of water of options, to ask the source.

Say, "Alexa, new skills" and Alexa will tell you near iii new ones.

How to enable Amazon Skills

Did you lot find an Alexa skill that yous similar? Here's how you actuate information technology.

1.  Open up your Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet, tap the menu icon (the 3 horizontal lines on the upper left corner) then tap Skills.

ii.   Here you can browse or search for the skills you may want to employ.

3.   Tap on the desired skill, then tap "Enable." That'southward it!

Note: Some skills can as well be activated via voice command. Only say "Alexa enable" followed past the skill name and Alexa volition enable that skill automatically.

What digital lifestyle questions do you take? Telephone call my national radio prove and click here to find it on your local radio station. You can listen to the Kim Komando Show on your phone, tablet or computer. From ownership communication to digital life issues, click here for my gratuitous podcasts. Y'all can detect my "Komando on Demand" podcasts on iTunes, Google Play or where you get your podcasts.

Copyright 2018, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved.

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Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/komando/2018/06/09/21-clever-amazon-echo-alexa-commands-komando/675237002/