App, skills, voice commands, speakers and tests

March 26, 2020

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What is Amazon's voice assistant Alexa?

Anyone who buys an Amazon Echo speaker or an Alexa speaker from another manufacturer must know that the voice assistant is not stored or installed in the intelligent speaker. Artificial Intelligence Alexa lives in the Amazon Cloud, where the knowledge of the system is constantly growing. Updates are gentle and imperceptible. With the growing community, the skills of the voice assistant improve as the software can react more flexibly to Alexa voice commands. This makes Amazon Alexa a little bit better every day and learns over time. Alexa is a brain in the cloud, so to speak, with microphones and loudspeakers built into the devices as mouths and ears.

Tip: Just ask Alexa if she is in love or likes chocolate. You can find many more suggestions for talking to Alexa in our article 55 funny Alexa Easter Eggs.

Amazon Echo Dot (3rd generation), anthracite fabric 

Order now: Better sound and new design – the next generation's most popular voice assistant from Amazon.

The 3 system components of Amazon's voice assistant Alexa:

  • Artificial Intelligence Alexa in the Amazon Cloud

  • The intelligent speaker as a human-Alexa interface for recording questions and instructions as well as playing Alexa's answers. At the same time, the speaker serves as a link between Alexa and Alexa-compatible devices

  • The Alexa app for smartphone, PC and tablet for personal Alexa settings

Alexa comes with its own basic functions, such as playing music, creating reminders, a timer function and a wake-up function. These free Alexa functions are e.g. can also be used via the Alexa app, since only the fees for the Internet connection are incurred. Since almost everyone uses an Internet flat rate these days, they can be neglected.

If you also purchase an Alexa speaker, you can enjoy many practical additional functions such as drop-in. Via drop-in Alexa users can leave voice messages to each other. In addition, he does not have to dig out his cell phone every time and start the app manually to control another device by voice command.

Summary: Alexa has a basic package of entertainment, communication and assistance functions right from the start, so that users can get started right away. Amazon services such as Amazon Kindle and Amazon Music are of course perfectly integrated.

Amazon's voice assistant Alexa is constantly learning through the microphones in the echo speakers

(Amazon) 

How does Amazon's language assistant Alexa constantly learn?

You learn from mistakes – a wisdom that not only accompanies us humans, but is particularly prevalent in the digitized world. Systems capable of learning, machine learning, algorithms: these terms describe in the digital world that devices also store certain things, remember them and, based on them, become increasingly intelligent. They gain in functions, can differentiate better and adapt individually to the needs of their users. Alexa also works according to this principle. Their intelligence does not come from "somewhere", rather the user plays an important role – as a mentor. With the activation word "Alexa", he turns directly to the voice assistant and gives her the identifier: A command follows.

In the past, it was common for speech recognition to be set so fine that Alexa responded even when the sound of the words was similar to the start command. In people it happens that Bea looks up when it actually means Lea. The system has developed the ability to differentiate by also feeding in false detections and pronunciation variants. The data for this was provided by the first users of the voice assistant. Amazon Alexa is also continuously updated via a cloud and equipped with new capabilities. Ergo: The more users have Alexa, the more sophisticated their functions will be – and the "smarter" it will be.

Amazon Echo Dot (3rd generation), anthracite fabric 

Order now: Better sound and new design – the next generation's most popular voice assistant from Amazon.

Amazon Alexa: The story of the virtual voice assistant Alexa

Amazon Echo devices were launched in the United States at the end of June 2015, and have been sold in Germany since the end of October 2016. But the story started earlier. Here is a brief historical outline of the development of the language assistant:

  • 2013: Amazon takes over the Polish start-up Ivona, which deals with text-to-speech solutions

  • 2014: Amazon Prime members in the U.S. gain access to Amazon Echo in November

  • 2015: Market launch in the USA in mid-June

  • 2016: Amazon introduces Echo Dot in several countries, the market launch in the UK at the end of September and in Germany at the end of October

  • 2017: Amazon is researching voice authentication technology

  • 2018: Amazon Alexa is available on smartphones and PCs

  • 2019: More and more Amazon displays are coming onto the market

The computer of the spaceship Enterprise served as a model for Alexa. The voice recordings, which were to serve as the basis for Alexa's later voice, were made in Gdansk, Poland.

The first Amazon Echo speakers were operational in 2014 and available to Prime members in the United States

(Amazon) 

Amazon Echo (3rd gen.), Anthracite fabric 

Smart speaker with 360-degree premium sound and voice control with Alexa

How Amazon's voice assistant Alexa technically works

The process from a user's voice command to an action by Amazon's voice assistant Alexa is technically very simple. The intelligent speakers, such as the Amazon Echo series, exchange information via WiFi or Bluetooth with the Alexa cloud and the Alexa-compatible devices. Communication then takes place e.g. B. centrally via Amazon Echo, the control via Alexa, which acts practically as a kind of cloud-based operating system. No complicated command is required for voice control. You only have to call the digital assistant by name: "Alexa!" This activation word brings the system out of standby and gives users the option of asking for a variety of services.

This is how a command to Alexa to switch on a lamp works in 4 steps:

  1. The user gives the command to switch on a lamp by voice command: "Alexa, switch on the living room lamp"

  2. The intelligent loudspeaker hears the activation word Alexa via its microphone, and the voice assistant exits standby mode

  3. Alexa checks whether 'living room lamp' is an Alexa-compatible lamp that is smart health connected to the loudspeaker via WLAN

  4. If Alexa has found the smart WLAN lamp, she switches it off. If Alexa has not found the lamp, she will inform the user via voice output via the loudspeaker.

Alexa speakers: Echo Spot, Echo Plus, Echo Dot, Echo Show and Echo in the Review

If you want to buy an intelligent speaker with the voice assistant Alexa, you are spoiled for choice because there are not only the Echo speakers from Amazon itself, but also from third-party manufacturers. The selection therefore depends heavily on individual preferences. If you like to use the original, you have the choice between five Amazon speakers.

  • Amazon Echo Plus: Amazon's flagship is Amazon Echo Plus, which has an integrated smart health home hub and masters the ZigBee standard. However, many devices used in the smart health home can also be controlled via WLAN, which all other Amazon Echos also master. The advantage would be to save yourself the purchase of a ZigBee hub from a third-party manufacturer on which its smart health home devices depend. Unfortunately, this is only partially correct: For example, if you want to control the Philips Hue lighting system without the necessary Philips Hue Bridge with Amazon Echo Plus, you will have to do without some convenience functions. For example, Philips installs function updates on its own Philips Hue Bridge, which is missing with Echo Plus. There is more information about the Amazon Echo Plus here.

  • Amazon Echo: Amazon Echo is a streaming speaker with voice control that is optimally matched to Alexa and also delivers good sound. The large echo is ideal for rooms in which music is to be played and at the same time the voice assistant Alexa is required, for example to answer questions, remind you of appointments or read out stories. This makes Amazon Echo suitable for almost all rooms. Thanks to WiFi and Bluetooth, Echo also controls all WiFi-enabled smart health home devices by voice command, provided that they are Alexa-compatible. Click here for the Amazon Echo Review.

  • Amazon Echo Show: If you're looking for a smart voice assistant to get information without consulting a search engine, consider Amazon Echo Show. The device does not impress with its modern design, but of course it is in the eye of the beholder. The Echo Show has an integrated display and thus combines the advantages of a tablet with those of voice control. So users of an Echo Show can have their shopping and task lists displayed or watch series and videos. In the kitchen, Amazon Echo Show then becomes an intelligent kitchen television. Detailed information in the Amazon Echo Show Review.

  • Amazon Echo Spot: The small spherical speaker with display, Amazon Echo Spot, is the youngest device in the Echo family. Echo Spot can communicate via WiFi and Bluetooth and has a small 2.5-inch display. In appearance, Echo Spot is somewhat reminiscent of a round clock radio, the developers certainly had a use in the bedroom on their list. More information about Amazon Echo Spot.

The selection of Amazon Echo devices is now large and covers different target groups. If you just want to get a taste of the world of the voice assistant Alexa, you won't go wrong with Echo Dot. If the demands on audio reproduction increase, Dot can be smart health connected to a Bluetooth speaker later.

Alternatives to Amazon Echo speakers: models, areas of application and tests

In addition to the intelligent echo speakers from Amazon, manufacturers of audio devices in particular offer their own speakers with integrated voice assistant Alexa. These speakers have all the functions that Alexa comes with and also support Alexa skills. However, the alternatives are aimed primarily at users who have high demands on sound reproduction or are looking for a mobile speaker for outdoor activities. So if you are looking for a portable speaker for outdoors and want to use an intelligent speaker with Alexa voice control at the same time, you do not have to spend money twice. Popular alternatives include:

  • Echo alternatives Ultimate Ears BLAST and MEGABLAST: The Alexa speakers from Ultimate Ears offer powerful sound and are wireless – perfect for the sound reinforcement for a barbecue party or for relaxing on the beach. The Echo alternatives offer splash protection, a robust design as well as the powerful bass used by Ultimate Ears. More information about the Echo alternatives Ultimate Ears BLAST and MEGABLAST.

  • Echo alternative iLuv Aud Click: The intelligent and portable Alexa speaker Aud Click is aimed at buyers who value privacy. With Aud Click, unlike Amazon Echo speakers, Alexa only accepts voice commands if you press the top of the device, which is used to activate voice control. In addition, the loudspeaker can also be controlled via the smartphone app. More information about the Echo alternative iLuv Aud Click.

  • Echo alternative Medion P61110: The intelligent speaker Medion P61110 is a portable alternative to Amazon's Alexa speakers. It has a built-in battery and can therefore be taken from one room to another. Another positive feature: Medion P61110 allows access to your own music library on mobile devices or NAS. Further information on the Echo alternative Medion P61110.

  • Echo alternative KitSound Voice One: The speaker with integrated Alexa looks like a shelf speaker, has a dirt-repellent nano surface and is aimed primarily at music lovers. The speaker communicates with other devices via WLAN, Bluetooth or audio cable. Thanks to multiroom functionality, a multiroom environment can be set up with several KitSound Voice One speakers. More information about the KitSound Voice One.

  • Echo alternative Sugr Cube: High fidelity audio system manufacturer Sugr brings a real eye-catcher into the health home with the intelligent WLAN speaker Sugr Cube. The intelligent Alexa speaker is cube-shaped and has a wooden speaker housing. Inside, neodymium magnets are used, which deliver excellent sound quality. Users have the choice to operate their Sugr Cube using an integrated battery or using a power supply and socket. More information about the Sugr Cube.

With the wireless mobile speakers with Alexa, it should not be forgotten that an internet connection is required for the Alexa functions so that Alexa can establish a connection between the cloud and the speaker. This can be established either via an open WiFi network or by connecting to an internet-enabled smartphone. The number of intelligent speakers with an integrated Alexa voice assistant is growing continuously.

Amazon Alexa app: the control center for smartphone, tablet and PC

The intelligent voice assistant Alexa can be installed and personalized using the Alexa app on a tablet or smartphone (iOS|Android) or via the Alexa website done on the PC. For example, the Alexa app enables users to manage their smart health home, all smart health connected devices and Amazon Alexa. Processes and schedules can be viewed, changed and the system managed within the app.

The most important settings of the Alexa app include the following areas of application:

  • Connect Alexa to a music streaming service: In order to make Alexa play music by voice, she must first be smart health connected to the account of a music streaming service. Suppliers like Spotify, Amazon Music or TuneIn are supported. In the article How-to: Connect Spotify to Alexa, we show how it works. The instructions can be transferred to other music streaming services.

  • Connect a calendar to Amazon’s voice assistant Alexa: If you want, Alexa can inform you about upcoming appointments, birthdays and meetings. To do this, Alexa can be smart health connected to the Google Gmail and G Suite calendar, the Microsoft Office 365 calendar or the Microsoft Outlook.com calendar. In our Alexa guide, we explain how to link calendars to Alexa.

  • Connect Alexa to devices: The selection of Alexa-compatible devices is now huge. One of the most used is probably the connection of an Alexa speaker to an external Bluetooth speaker. In our Alexa How-To Connect Bluetooth Speaker to Amazon Echo we explain how to do it.

  • Alexa's skills expand with skills: Third-party providers can also teach Amazon's voice assistant Alexa new skills. This is done using the so-called skills, which can be activated via voice control, Alexa app or in the web browser. Our article Activating and using Alexa Skills gives the corresponding instructions.

Amazon Alexa already works with a variety of applications and understands many voice requests. For this purpose, the smart voice assistant not only uses the microphones in Echo, Echo Dot or other Alexa speakers, but also binds other hardware – for example the Fire TV or the Fire TV Stick from Amazon.

With the Alexa Skills Kit, developers can integrate the voice assistant Alexa into devices

(Amazon) 

Amazon Echo (3rd gen.), Anthracite fabric 

Smart speaker with 360-degree premium sound and voice control with Alexa

Alexa Developer Germany: Skills Kit for Amazon's language assistant

Amazon takes great pains to spread its voice assistant Alexa. This is also reflected in the developer scene for Alexa Skills. So Amazon keeps z. B. for developers German developer services ready, such as events, workshops, tutorials and help or developer actions.

Overall, the skill application areas for developers can be divided into three core areas:

  • Add Alexa functions: Basis for skill development for Alexa. The Alexa Skills Kit (ASK) enables developers to add new language functions to Alexa.

  • Integrate Alexa into a device: This is where Alexa Voice Services (AVS) come in, with which Alexa can be integrated directly into products.

  • Connect Alexa to devices: The third use case relates to the addition of Alexa voice control to existing smart health home devices.

Anyone who wants to develop language-based skills for Amazon's language assistant Alexa can do so with the Alexa skill kit (ASK) do. Amazon's ASK includes a collection of self-service APIs, tools, documentation, and code samples.

If you want to integrate Alexa Artificial Intelligence into a device, you can do that with the Alexa voice service (AVS) do. The products thus have a new interface that enables operation by voice command. In AVS, the manufacturers of smart health home peripherals have the option of integrating their own commands and processes into their products. For example, Alexa users can also control Philips Hue lights by simply asking that the lights come on. Amazon Alexa also masters one AVS to API servicewith which it is also possible to connect older devices to a smart health home.

API (API and the Smart health home) is the easy way for developers to bring new commands and processes into the Smart health home. Thanks to a lively developer community, there are already thousands of special skills that Amazon Alexa is supposed to make everyday life easier.

Amazon Alexa and Amazon Music, Prime Music, Music Unlimited and Prime ehealth

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One of the main uses for the voice assistant Alexa is streaming music. Alexa supports multi-room installations, so you can listen to the music on several speakers in the house at the same time – from one source. This source is a linked streaming service at Alexa. For this purpose, Amazon provides several of its own offers, which of course work best with Alexa. The flagship is the Amazon Music Unlimited offer, for which there are three tariffs alone:

  • Amazon Music Unlimited for one person. Offers more than 40 million songs and live broadcasts of the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga matches as well as selected football matches from European competitions. Cost: about 10 euros per month.

  • Amazon Music Unlimited for Echo: If you own an Amazon Echo speaker, you can get Amazon Music Unlimited for 3.99 euros per month. The subscription is bound to the Echo device and cannot be used on any other device.

  • Amazon Music Unlimited for families: Up to 6 family members can use the Amazon Music Unlimited offer here. Price: 14.99 euros per month.

If you are already an Amazon Prime customer, you can use Amazon Prime Music with its intelligent speaker and Alexa. We have compiled an overview of all music streaming services that are compatible with Amazon Alexa in the article These streaming services are compatible with Alexa. These include providers such as Spotify, Pandora or TuneIn.

Alexa can also control intelligent kitchen appliances

(Amazon) 

Overview: Alexa-compatible devices for smart homes and cars

Countless devices from the oven to the multiroom system can already be controlled with Alexa. For some, an Amazon Echo or Dot has to be bought. The Alexa software is directly integrated into others. For example, the smart vacuum robot from Neato can interrupt its work when the phone rings – or the coffee machine starts while the Alexa user is still on the way to the bathroom. Amazon Alexa also works with classic smart health home devices, including the intelligent light control Philips Hue or IKEA TRÅDFRI. These are all standard functions that other smart health home hubs also fulfill and their operation is rather a must.

With TRÅDFRI, IKEA turns your health home into a smart health home. The TRÅDFRI light control scores with a very good price-performance ratio and compatibility with Alexa, HomeKit and Google Assistant.

Buy Gateway from 29.99 euros and start!

 To IKEA 

If you want to control a smart health home with Amazon Alexa, you no longer need a user interface that has to be operated manually. Alexa-compatible products such as WLAN sockets or adapter plugs can be controlled via the voice assistant using a voice command. After the intuitive touch control, this is the next step in everyday device operation.

The range of functions of Amazon Alexa is not only limited to classic household appliances. It can also operate garden tools or control smart health connected cars. Panasonic Automotive recently announced at the Consumer Electronic Show 2018 in Las Vegas that they are working with Amazon to integrate Alexa into vehicle infotainment systems in the future.

So if you are wondering at the breakfast table whether you should refuel quickly on the way to work, you can easily check the level of the tank filling on Alexa with some car models. Our large overview shows which devices can be controlled with Alexa: These products can be controlled with Alexa.

Socket with consumption display and app control, works perfectly with Amazon Echo and Google health home

Alexa Skills: upgrade Alexa with the best new skills for free

With the so-called Alexa skills, the skills of Alexa can even be expanded. The skills are available on the Amazon marketplace in Alexa Skill Store. Thousands of skills for German-speaking countries can be activated in 22 categories. The skill categories range from education & reference books to news or productivity to business & finance. The skills are activated either directly in the skill store by pressing the activate button or by voice command to Amazon Alexa, provided the user is within earshot of the intelligent speaker.

In our article Top Alexa Skills in the Overview, we present the best skills that are worth activating. There are five of them here:

  • Alexa Skill Green Thumb: Spring is coming soon and with the Alexa Skill Green thumb gives Alexa valuable advice and support for the care of plants.

  • Alexa skill brain jogging: Solving arithmetic problems is fun, at least if you are a math student or with Brain jogging skill wants to keep his gray cells busy.

  • Alexa Skill night light: If you have to go out often at night, you will find out about the Night light skill happy that the Amazon Echo lights up for up to 90 seconds. Requires an Amazon Echo speaker.

  • Alexa skill ice hockey: The Ice hockey guru skill answers questions about the German Ice Hockey League (DEL).

  • Alexa Skill waste calendar: Knowing when the bin will be emptied – that's with the Waste Calendar Skill no longer a problem for Amazon Alexa.

With the Amazon Echo Show, Alexa can also initiate ehealth phone calls

(Amazon) 

Compact 5.5-inch smart display with Alexa for ehealth calls, smart health home controls or step-by-step recipes.

Amazon Alexa: privacy and data protection or "data spy" and "bug"

Alexa often has to deal with the allegation of espionage. From the perspective of data protection experts, the intelligent loudspeakers with Amazon's voice assistant Alexa are of course not entirely unproblematic. Because Amazon Alexa works like a neural network in which every household offers an opportunity to learn. As a result, the cloud-based system learns better with each smart health connected house how it has to act with the residents to become the perfect assistant. Amazon Echo is always active and can potentially always listen. However, the Echo speakers have a mute button that can be used to turn off Alexa microphones for better privacy. Consumer advocates also see a high data protection risk with the handling of the user data obtained for commercial purposes. In the ehealth below, our smart health home expert Sven Häwel guides you through the existing discourse:

The extreme functionality of Alexa contrasts with data protection concerns: Amazon Alexa offers a completely new and almost futuristic level of interaction.

If you need more information about Amazon Alexa and data protection, you can find a detailed report in our article How seriously does Amazon take data protection at Alexa? There we interviewed experts and show what consumer advocates think of the data collection behavior of Amazon's voice assistant.

Amazon Alexa: Amazon's voice assistant will soon be everywhere

Amazon has long been more than just a department store on the Internet. With its prime services, the platform offers enormous connectivity, makes television and music, and connects retailers around the world. With Amazon Kindle and Amazon Fire TV, Amazon has long been offering solutions for consumers to be more involved in the ecosystem without being tied to a specific brand.

This is exactly the strength of Amazon Alexa: Echo and Dot are pure interfaces to connect users to the cloud. The voice commands are processed there and translated for the smart health home. This works with a variety of devices and services that are expanded almost every day thanks to the easy-to-create skills. In concrete usage scenarios, it is sufficient, for example, if the user sits on the sofa and asks Alexa via the Fire TV remote control to switch on the Fire TV App Tagesschau. This makes Amazon Alexa much more open than comparable systems and extends its feelers in all possible directions.

The voice assistant Alexa meets the need for convenience

(Amazon) 

Convenience is key – Amazon and Alexa play it out

Amazon Alexa offers the decisive advantage of convenience, because users no longer have to search for their smartphone or boot their computer, for example to search for information on the Internet. A simple spoken command near the echo is sufficient, the microphones are always running and are just waiting for the magic word "Alexa".

Who should buy a smart speaker with Alexa?

Alexa is an intelligent assistant. So far, the world has certainly turned without it. With the increasing spread of intelligent voice assistants like Alexa, voice support is becoming an added value that device manufacturers are integrating into their products. As with the advent of color televisions, there will probably be no escape in the long run. Since language is the natural form of communication among people, an intelligent loudspeaker with the voice assistant Alexa is suitable for everyone. And if only to never have to fumble with alarm settings again in life or to tune in to a radio station. Old and visually impaired people benefit from voice-controlled device control, reading functions or other amenities.

Pricing and availability from Amazon's voice assistant Alexa

Amazon Alexa is in the Amazon speakers Echo (99.99 euros), Echo Dot (59.99 euros), Echo Plus (149.99 euros), Echo Show (219.99 euros) and Echo Spot (129.99 euros) as well as integrated in Alexa-compatible intelligent speakers from third-party manufacturers and at Amazon available.

Amazon Echo Dot (3rd generation), anthracite fabric 

Order now: Better sound and new design – the next generation's most popular voice assistant from Amazon.

Amazon Echo (3rd gen.), Anthracite fabric 

Smart speaker with 360-degree premium sound and voice control with Alexa

Compact 5.5-inch smart display with Alexa for ehealth calls, smart health home controls or step-by-step recipes.

Further information on Amazon Alexa:

Alexa skills and featuresAlexa Skills: The best free Echo features at a glanceAlexa app: use Amazon Echo effectively

Alexa devicesAmazon Fire TVFire Tablet 7, HD 8 and 10 in the Review overviewAmazon Echo Dot 3rd generation in the Review and comparisonOverview: These (household) devices can be controlled with Amazon Alexa

Alexa How-Tos:Connect Spotify to Alexa – Here's howControl TVs with Logitech Harmony Hub and AlexaReset Amazon Echo in case of problems – how it worksAlexa FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the use of Amazon Echo and Alexa

More information and smart health home news

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