Have you received an Alexa device as a gift? Or are you thinking of buying one? For example, an Amazon Echo , headphones, or a TV. Here's a short getting started guide on how Alexa works so you can focus on enjoying your device.
We'll try to explain it to you concisely so you don't waste too much time figuring out what Alexa is and what a multitude of tasks you can do with this device.
We'll begin this article by explaining exactly what this Amazon program is, simply put. Then, we'll briefly cover some of the assistant's main features so you can start asking questions. While it's always best to focus on discovering new commands and functions, you might be surprised by everything it can do.
What is Alexa?
Alexa is a virtual assistant created by Amazon. The assistant works primarily through voice commands, so you can ask it a question and it will give you an answer . If you want to know the weather where you are, you can ask it what the weather is like and it will reply.
Another feature of the assistant is that it allows you to control accessories and other devices with voice commands . To that end, Amazon has been working with other manufacturers to create a range of Alexa-compatible devices, from smart speakers to televisions, light bulbs, and other types of accessories.
So it's a very versatile assistant that you'll find on various types of devices, allowing you to control them all. Furthermore, it will work with the same voice commands across all devices, although some may have screens that offer the additional capability of displaying images in addition to voice responses.
How does Alexa work?
Like other voice assistants, Amazon's assistant works using voice commands . You have to say a specific command to ask a question, although some information requests may have multiple commands. The goal is for these commands to be as natural as possible, since we don't always ask questions in just one way.
But the important thing is that we have to use a specific formula, and depending on how precise we want the result, we have to be more specific. For example, we can ask about the weather to tell you that it has detected the weather in your location, but we can also ask what the weather is like on a particular day and in a particular city.
For these commands, you must always add another activation command. On some devices, such as smart speakers, the speaker will always be listening, but the assistant will only activate when you start asking a question using an Alexa command. However, it also gives you the option to change the name if you prefer another name, for example, Antonia instead of Alexa.
The assistant centralizes your information through a personal Amazon account , so you'll need to link your Amazon account. Additionally, depending on the device you're using, it may require other permissions, such as access to your location or microphone to listen to you. But the best part is that, since the same account is used across all your devices, Alexa will recognize you and provide the same information on every device.
What is the difference between Alexa and Google Assistant?
Unlike Google Assistant, Alexa doesn't focus your searches on a specific search engine or use it as a resource. This means that if it can't find the information you've asked for, it will tell you it doesn't know, although it will always try to provide some information about any data you've requested, including the score of your local basketball game.
How to install Alexa
Setting up Alexa is easy. Although everything is centralized in your Amazon account, you first need to download the Alexa app on your phone, which is available on Google Play for Android and the App Store for iOS. In this app, you can configure your Alexa-compatible connected devices.
What is needed for Alexa to turn on the TV?
The first step to connecting Alexa to your TV is figuring out how Alexa works with your existing home setup. If you have a Smart TV from LG, Sony, Vizio, or Samsung, setup is as simple as flipping a few virtual switches. Otherwise, you can use an Amazon Fire TV Stick or Roku device to control your media.
Additionally, some TV tuners offer built-in smart control features, such as the Verizon Fios VMS 1100 and IPC 1100, the DirecTV Genie and Genie Mini, and many Dish Network Hopper set-top boxes. Here's how to set up Alexa with your smart TV and various streaming tuners: choose the option that best suits your current setup.
Connecting a Fire TV or Roku device
- Open the Alexa app on your iOS or Android device.
- Select the tab More at the bottom of the screen.
- Click on the option Configuration.
- Scroll down and select TV and video.
- Choose the Fire TV o Roku that matches your streaming device.
- For users of Fire TV, Select Link your Alexa device.
- For users of Roku, Select activate to use.
- Provide Alexa with the necessary login information to complete the process.
Connecting to a Smart TV
- Open the Alexa app on your iOS or Android device.
- Click on the tab Devices at the bottom of the screen.
- Select the button (+) in the upper right corner, then select Add device.
- Scroll down and select TV.
- Choose the brand of your Smart TV.
- Follow the specific instructions in the Alexa app to complete the setup process.
Connecting a decoder
- Open the Alexa app on your iOS or Android device.
- Click on the tab More at the bottom of the screen.
- Choose skills and game.
- In the search bar, look for your cable provider (for example, Movistar +, Vodafone TV, Orange TV, Agile TV, Euskatel TV, Tedi TV).
- If available, select your provider from the list provided.
- Click on Enable to use and sign in with your carrier details.
Once you connect your TV, set-top box, or streaming device to Alexa, you can start controlling your media center with your voice. Not all TVs and set-top boxes use the same commands, so check the manufacturer's support site for the most up-to-date information. However, here are a few commands you might want to try with your media setup:
- “Alexa, [turn on/off] [TV name].”
- “Alexa, volume up/down [up/down] on [TV name].”
- “Alexa, mute [TV name].”
- “Alexa, change the input to HDMI 1 on [TV name].”
- “Alexa, [play/pause] on [TV name].”
- “Alexa, look How to defend a murderer on Netflix.”
These are just a few basic Alexa tricks, but it's also useful for playing music in multiple rooms simultaneously, protecting your purchases with a voice PIN , using it as a speaker to play music from your smartphone, or even locating your phone. I hope you found this information helpful, and if you decide to buy an Alexa device, we'd love to hear about your experience.
