Alexa Is Now Available on Windows 10

Alexa
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Alexa

There is no need to buy the Amazon Echo or any Amazon devices since Alexa can now be downloaded on a PC.  The first pitch for the Echo was made in 2011 by Amazon executive Dave Limp. It has become one of Amazon’s hot-sellers. One of the reasons for its success is the company’s drive to make its virtual assistant feel like users were really talking to a human being.

The first Echo prototype was the shape of a hockey puck. The Echo Dot and Amazon Tap are two new products added to the list of electronics from Amazon. As the product evolved, they added cameras and larger speakers, for video chat and listening to music.

Users can find out the weather forecast, listen to music, and control smart home devices, and other tasks on the voice assistant. For now, some features are not available, for example, it is not compatible with Spotify or Pandora and it cannot be used use it to handle video or calls.

They came up with the Wizard-of-Oz experiment, which used human “wizards” to respond in real time to any question. Amazon emphasized its focus on Alexa’s quality because it would eventually be used with other devices.

Amazon Echo is an excellent tool to use is one has a smart home. It allows the control of lights in different rooms, it will operate garage doors, controls the temperature of thermostats.

The device will set a cooking timer when asked. Moreover, there is no need for a big cookbook, simply ask for recipes. It can respond to requests for measurement conversions.

Alexa has a lot of good benefits. Senior citizens have had difficulty with understanding technology. Certain tablets or phones are not senior friendly. With an Echo, they can put doctor appointments, family events, medication reminders.

If the name of a movie cannot be remembered, all a person needs to say is “Alexa play old rodeo movie from earlier 60s.” This makes easier for anyone to be more tech savvy.

Six Easy Steps to Get Started

  1. Head to the Microsoft Store and download the Alexa application.
  2. Open Alexa app once it is installed on the computer.
  3. Choose “Set Up, Alexa.”
  4. Respond “Yes” to allow Alexa to use the computer’s microphone.
  5. Log in the Amazon Account.
  6. Tap the Alexa button and speak after the sound of the chime.

Alexa is now available on Windows 10 computers so they may have the same benefits of owning an Alexa device. PC users can verbally set reminders, timers, and alarms; create lists; track calendar appointments; listen to podcasts and audiobooks. However, the feature on the computer does not launch movies or videos tied to an Amazon Prime account.

Having an up to date computer can allow the use of the hands-free feature. For anyone else, it is one click away by using a keyboard shortcut to activate the voice assistant. The app is available for Windows 10 PCs in the U.S., U.K., Germany, and will be coming to more countries in 2019.

Written by Javona Hamb
Edited by Cathy Milne-Ware

Sources:

Engadget: Amazon releases Alexa app for Windows 10
CNBC: You can now use Amazon Alex on a Windows 10 Computer – Here How’s
Tech Crunch: Amazon launches Alexa app for Windows 10 PC

Featured Image Courtesy of Mike MacKenzie’s Flickr Page – Creative Common License
Top Image Courtesy of Yoshina’s Flickr Page – Creative Common License

Share:

Send Us A Message