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What to use Alexa for

Getting to know Alexa? Here's some of the most useful things the virtual assistant can do...

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Alexa’s smart - really smart. She’s all about making life easier, so here are some of the most helpful things you can do with Amazon’s awesome virtual assistant - from cooking and scheduling to playing your favourite tunes and podcasts.

What can I do with Alexa?

Wake up to a perfect morning

Alexa can set your alarms and reminders – so you’ll never sleep through that 9am Zoom call again. Just say ‘Alexa, wake me up at 7am’ or ‘Alexa, remind me to get dressed before my Zoom call.’

Take charge of your smart home

Got smart devices dotted around your home? Alexa can dim the lights, adjust the thermostat and turn on the TV. You can relax and binge-watch your favourite show without ever lifting a finger. Just say ‘Alexa, turn off the lights’ or ‘Alexa, set the temperature to 20 degrees’.

Make phone calls like a boss

Who needs a personal assistant when you’ve got tech like Alexa? Call your friends and family in a cinch by saying ‘Alexa, call Mum’ or ‘Alexa, call Daniel’s mobile’.

Shop ‘til you drop

Alexa can order all your essentials – and you won’t even have to leave the sofa. Just say ‘Alexa, order toilet paper’ or ‘Alexa, reorder my last order’ and voila!

Navigate like it’s nothing

Need directions to the nearest coffee shop ASAP? No problem. Just say ‘Alexa, how do I get to the nearest Starbucks?’ and she’ll lend you a hand. Or if you’re trying to sus a traffic situation, say ‘Alexa, what’s the traffic like on my commute route?’ to make sure you get there on time.

Play games. Need we say more?

Yup, you heard right. Alexa has loads of games, from trivia to word games. Just say ‘Alexa, play Twenty Questions’ or ‘Alexa, play a game of trivia’ and get your game on!

Become your own weatherman

Alexa keeps up with the weather so you don’t have to. Just say ‘Alexa, what’s the weather like today?’ or ‘Alexa, will it rain tomorrow?’ so you don’t get caught without your umbrella.

Cook like a pro

Hosting an impromptu dinner? Alexa can help you find the perfect recipe. Try saying ‘Alexa, what’s a good recipe for lasagne?’ or ‘Alexa, how do I cook a steak?’

How can I play my music using Alexa?

Alexa is perfect for music lovers. Once your Amazon Echo is connected to the internet and linked to your accounts, it can easily play music from streaming services like Amazon Music, Spotify and Apple Music.

To play a tune, ask Alexa to play a specific song, artist or playlist. If you’re feeling indecisive, you can even ask her to play a certain genre or mood of music - think of her like a kitchen/living room DJ!

Now you’ve got your favourite tunes playing, you might be wishing the music could follow you from room to room. Well, obviously Alexa’s got a snazzy feature to do just that! Multi-room audio lets you play music on multiple Alexa devices at the same time. Just group your Alexa devices together in the Alexa app, then ask Alexa to play music on that group. Genius.

How to listen to podcasts with Alexa

Podcasts are in right now – they’re a great way to learn new things, stay entertained and keep up with current events. And obviously, Alexa doesn’t miss a trick – she’ll help you listen to the best podcasts hands-free.

To get started, you’ll need to enable the podcast feature on your Alexa device. Open the Alexa app and select Settings > Music & Podcasts > Link New Service. From there, choose the podcast service you want to use.

Once you’ve enabled podcasts, you can ask Alexa to play a specific podcast or ask for a recommendation. Even better, you can pause, play, skip ahead or rewind with your voice.

Found what you need?

If you have – great. If not – don’t worry. You can always chat to an expert in-store or via video call on ShopLive. They’ll be able to give you the lowdown on loads of great smart TVs and accessories.

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