5 clever ways to use your Echo and Alexa that you’ll wish you knew sooner
When cooking, it’s easy to say, “Alexa, remind me the cauliflower pizza is done in 15 minutes.” That’s one of the most useful and basic ways to use the Amazon-owned smart assistant.
The downside is that it can pick up conversations we’d rather it didn’t. Tap or click for steps to listen to and erase any errant recordings. I do this regularly. That’s not the only vital privacy step if you have an Echo or more at home. Tap or click here to ensure your smart speakers are locked down correctly.
Let’s jump into five clever ways Alexa can enhance your life.
1. Get an alert if glass breaks or an alarm goes off
Alexa Guard is like a pair of ears you leave at home. Your Echo device will listen for glass breaking, smoke alarms or carbon monoxide alarms. You’ll get an alert on your phone if these sounds are detected.
Alexa Guard can also automatically turn any connected smart lights on and off to make it look like you’re home. Handy!
Here’s how to set it up:
- Open the Alexa app and tap the More icon in the bottom right, then Settings.
- Tap Guard > Set up Sound Detection.
- Toggle the alerts you want to activate, and tap Confirm.
To enable Alexa Guard, put it into Away mode by saying, “Alexa, I’m leaving.” Turn it off when you get home by saying, “I’m home.”
Pipe down! This Alexa trick solves one of the Echo’s most annoying problems.
2. Look in on your home when you’re away
The built-in screen gives you another helpful security feature if you have an Echo Show. You can turn on the camera from anywhere to ensure everything is OK at home.
How new Alexa features can help care for the older people in your life
It can be challenging when caring for an aging loved one. There aren’t many tools to make the job more accessible, and with COVID-19 around, face-to-face meetings are difficult.
But when you can’t physically be with your loved ones, companies like Amazon attempt to make the world a smaller place. Through initiatives such as Alexa Together, the service can send you daily check-in alerts or dispatch emergency services if a fall is detected.
Amazon's new Together service is a smart way to keep track of your elderly loved ones
If you have been looking for an effective way to keep tabs on family or loved ones without being intrusive, Amazon might have a solution for you. First announced earlier this year, Alexa Together allows you to lend a hand even from far away. Tap or click here to see new features with Amazon’s Alexa.