Amazon has announced new features for Alexa. The new features include Automatic Lightning, Map View and much more.
Below are the new features that Amazon announced for Alexa.
Later this year, Alexa will be able to detect the brightness level and activity in a room, and intelligently decide to turn the lights on or off. So, you will no longer need to walk into a dark room and search for a light switch, or even ask Alexa to do it for you.
Users should look for motion and ambient light sensors that have the Works with Alexa (WWA) badge to enable this feature once available. Select Echo devices with motion and ambient light sensors will also support this feature soon, including the Echo Dot (5th Gen).
Also read: 5 key features of Amazon Echo Dot 5 launched in India
Explore with Alexa is a new conversational experience for Amazon Kids+ on Echo devices that combines entertaining facts and trivia questions to boost deeper curiosity and exploration. Soon, when kids ask Alexa a question about animals and nature, Alexa will respond with information adapted from trusted sources and encourage kids to keep exploring a topic.
Later this year, users will be able to initiate a single Routine in multiple ways. For example, users can initiate a Bedtime Routine that turns off all the lights, closes the blinds and begins playing sleep sounds when someone says “Alexa, goodnight” or every weekday at 10 p.m.
According to Amazon, calling friends and dropping in on household members
is a popular Alexa feature for staying in touch, so the company is making it even easier for users
to connect with those that matter most.
The Top Connections widget on Echo Show 15 allows users to easily see their favourite contacts and most frequently used devices within the household. Users can quickly initiate a call or drop-in with a single-tap. They will also be able to see birthday reminders. This will extend to Echo Show 5, 8, and 10 in the coming months.
Map View allows users to utilise compatible iOS devices to scan and create a digital map of their home’s floor plan and pin their connected devices to it. This lets users visualise their home at a glance, without needing to scroll through any device lists, remember device names, or open multiple apps.
Users can also use Map View to easily control their devices, like turning all the lights downstairs on and off in a single tap, or to check if the doors are locked after leaving home in a hurry. It will be available in the Alexa app later this year, and come to Echo Hub early next year.