Image credit: Amazon
In recent years, voice assistants have become an integral part of daily lives for many of us, making tasks easier and more convenient than ever before.
At the forefront of this technology is Amazon Alexa, the AI-powered voice assistant. One of the key reasons for Alexa's popularity is its extensive library of skills, which are voice-activated apps that enable users to perform a wide range of tasks.
You might be aware you can ask Alexa to play your favourite tunes or news headlines, but did you know that Alexa can also remember birthdays and even track parcels? Find out how with our list of the best Alexa skills available right now.
An Alexa skill is a specific feature or function that you can add to your Amazon Echo device, which is powered by Alexa's voice assistant. Think of it as an app for your Echo.
Just like how you can download apps on your phone to perform different tasks, you can enable skills on your Echo to expand its capabilities. These skills are created by developers and cover a wide range of activities and services.
There are countless skills you can download. They range from ordering food to controlling smart devices - we've selected some of our favourite Alexa skills to make your home smarter.
To use a skill, you first need to enable it. If you know what the skill is you’d like to use, just say, "Alexa, enable [skill name].”
If you’re unsure about what kind of skill you’d like, you can browse and enable skills via the Alexa app. Here’s how:
Launch the Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet. Make sure you are signed in with the same Amazon account that is linked to your Alexa device.
Tap on the More button at the bottom right corner of the screen.
Then, select Skills & Games from the menu that appears.
In the Skills & Games section, you can browse through featured skills or use the search bar to find a specific skill. Enter the name or keyword related to the skill you want to enable.
Once you find the desired skill in the search results, tap on it to view more details.
On the skills page, you'll see a Launch button. Tap on it to enable the skill for your Alexa device.
Depending on the skill, you might need to go through some additional setup steps.
Some skills may require you to link or sign in with an external account, such as a music streaming service or a smart home device.
Other information could include granting permissions or providing device-specific information.
NOTE: Some skills may require you to activate or subscribe to a premium or paid version for full access to all features.
Additionally, certain skills might be region-specific and may not be available in all countries, so check that out before you enable it on your smart speaker or display.
If you have an Echo Show, you can also enable skills directly from the device by using the Alexa voice commands or navigating through the device's on-screen interface. Once the skill is enabled, you can start using it with your Alexa device.
Simply say the wake word ("Alexa" by default) followed by a command or question related to the skill. For example, if you enabled a weather skill, you could say "Alexa, ask [skill name] for the weather forecast."
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