7 Services Offered by Amazon Alexa That Make It the Best
Amazon Alexa has become one of the most widely used services in the Western world, especially in the United States. According to Safe at least statistics, 68.2% of users in the U.S. now use Amazon Echo and the Alexa personal assistant. These statistics date back to 2020, and with the COVID-19 lockdown, the demand for smart devices has only increased.
There are not many competitors to Amazon Alexa and its Amazon Echo devices. Even if there were competitors, they would struggle to take the top spot, as Alexa firmly holds the lead. Let’s explore the key services and features Amazon Alexa offers.
1. Control Other Smart Devices in Your Home
It’s obvious—Alexa is the mastermind through which you control all your smart devices. Once Amazon Alexa is installed and connected to any smart device (security cameras, door locks, lighting systems, smart machines, TVs, your smartphone, etc.), you can control them with voice commands. For example, just say, “Alexa, turn on the kitchen lights,” and it will execute the command instantly. This feature is especially powerful due to Alexa’s high compatibility with other Amazon devices.
2. Make Calls and Send Messages with Alexa Instead of Your Phone
Why would you want to do this? Imagine you’re taking a hot shower, or you’re in the kitchen with your hands full, and you need to make an urgent call or send a quick message. With an Amazon Alexa device, just say, “Alexa, call Ahmed,” and it will make the call via your smartphone. The same applies to sending messages, although the messaging feature is still somewhat limited. You can also receive calls on Alexa instead of using your phone.
3. Schedule Appointments and Create To-Do Lists
Amazon Alexa can act as your personal secretary, both at home and at work. Alexa’s system can organize lists for you. For example, it can create a daily task list or remind you to call someone at 10 AM. You can also set up daily tasks at home or work, such as cleaning the house, gardening, or grocery shopping.
Speaking of shopping, Alexa can also create To-Do lists. If you’re planning a trip to the supermarket, you can ask Alexa to note the items you need: some bread, milk, eggs… The system will remember and can even send the list to your phone once you leave the house.
4. Get the Latest Local and Global News, and Weather Updates
If you’re someone who likes to stay updated with the latest local or global news, Amazon Alexa is a perfect device. It has nearly replaced traditional news sources like TV or newspapers. Just say, “Alexa, what’s the latest global news?” and it will read headlines from top news sources. The same goes for weather updates, and you can even schedule daily weather reports.
5. Receive Helpful Suggestions While Performing Routine Tasks
Need dinner ideas but don’t know what to cook? Ask Amazon Alexa for recipes based on the ingredients you have. It’s not just meal suggestions; Alexa can offer ideas for video games, apps to install, and more. Whenever you’re stuck, simply ask Alexa for help.
It can also provide you with purchasing recommendations based on your budget. For example, ask, “Alexa, what’s the best smart light I can buy for under $100?” and you’ll get a helpful answer. This feature is incredibly useful in a smart assistant.
6. Answer Any Questions You Have
Amazon Alexa can answer common questions like, “Alexa, what’s the largest continent in the world?” It can also respond to logical queries like, “What’s 25×25?” Normally, you’d have to pick up your phone, open a specific app or Google the question. But with Alexa, a simple voice command gets you the answer instantly.
7. Monitor Your Health and Alert You to Potential Issues
For this feature, you’ll need a fitness tracker like Fitbit, an Apple Smart Watch, or even a Xiaomi Mi Band. Connect your smart band to Alexa, and it will monitor your vital signs. If there’s a health issue, Alexa will alert you.
While your fitness tracker can notify you directly, you may sometimes ignore the notifications. Alexa, however, will remind you multiple times until you take notice.