If you have an Alexa device, there’s a good chance that you’ve heard about all the ways it can help in your daily life. The voice-activated assistant has become popular for its ability to answer questions about everything from the weather to household chores, but did you know that using your Alexa device to stay informed is one of its best features? Here are some ways to get information from Alexa:
Get weather reports
- Ask Alexa for the weather.
- Alexa will give you a 10-day forecast and report the temperature in your location, humidity level, wind speed and more.
The weather report is available in the U.S., Canada, Germany, U.K., India, Australia and Japan.
Alexa can also provide weather-related information like sunrise and sunset times and the moon phase. You can also ask Alexa for information about your local area, such as rainfall levels or when it last snowed.
Set a timer
To set a timer, say “Alexa, start [name of timer]” or “Alexa, set [name of timer] for [duration].” If you want to stop the timer before it expires, say “Alexa, cancel my [name of timer].”
You can use your Alexa device to set timers for any activity–from cooking dinner to taking a break from work by meditating for 15 minutes. You can also create multiple timers simultaneously if you want to cook two dishes at once!
If you’re running low on time during your morning commute and need help getting out the door on time (or just need reminders throughout your day), try setting one with Alexa: “Alexa, start my morning routine.”
Get a news briefing
Alexa can give you a daily briefing on the latest news, or you can ask for a specific topic. To get started, say “Alexa, what’s in the news?” or “Alexa, what’s my Flash Briefing?” You’ll hear a summary of recent headlines from sources like NPR and Bloomberg along with other sources that are available in your region.
If you’d like more information about one of these stories, just ask Alexa to tell you more about it by saying something like: “Alexa who wrote this article?”, “Tell me about [the story]”, or “Read [the article]”.
The Flash Briefing is a personalized update of the day’s news, designed to give you an overview of what’s happening at a glance. You’ll hear stories from sources like NPR and Bloomberg along with other sources that are available in your region. If you’d like more information about one of these stories, just ask Alexa to tell you more about it by saying something like: “Alexa who wrote this article?”, “Tell me about [the story]”, or “Read [the article]”.
Have Alexa read a bedtime story to kids
If you have kids, Alexa can read a bedtime story to them. You can also have Alexa read the same story on repeat for kids who like to hear it again and again. If you’re interested in reading your child’s favorite book in another language, Alexa has that covered too!
You can ask Alexa to read the same book in Spanish, French, German and Italian. If you want to practice your own language skills, Alexa can also help with that!
Play music from your favorite streaming service
As a music lover, you probably have a favorite streaming service. Alexa can help you play music from that streaming service using just your voice.
- Play Music From Your Favorite Streaming Service
To use this feature:
- Say “Alexa, play [artist] on [streaming service].” For example: “Alexa, play Adele on Spotify.” To change the default music provider for each of these commands and add other services to Alexa’s library of supported providers (e.g., Amazon Music), see here .
To add a service to Alexa’s library of supported providers, see here.
There are lots of ways to keep up with the latest news using your Alexa device.
You can get the news, set a timer and read bedtime stories to your kids. You can also play music from your favorite streaming service.
-Keep the lights dim and avoid screens. Exercising in the dark helps you sleep better, and it keeps your eyes from straining. The blue light emitted by electronic devices can also keep you up at night because it suppresses melatonin production.
We hope this article has given you some ideas for how to stay informed with your Alexa device. If you have any other suggestions, please let us know in the comments below!
FAQ:
1. Q: How can I use my Alexa device to get the latest news updates? A: You can simply ask, “Alexa, what’s the news?” to get a summary of the latest news headlines from various sources. You can also customize your news sources in the Alexa app settings.
2. Q: Can Alexa provide weather forecasts? A: Yes, Alexa can provide current weather conditions, forecasts, and even specific weather details for your location. Just ask, “Alexa, what’s the weather today?”
3. Q: How can I listen to podcasts using Alexa? A: You can listen to podcasts by enabling podcast skills and then asking Alexa to play a specific podcast or genre. For example, “Alexa, play TED Talks Daily.”
4. Q: Can Alexa help me with my daily schedule and reminders? A: Yes, you can ask Alexa to add events to your calendar, set reminders, and even check your schedule for the day. Just say, “Alexa, add a meeting at 2 PM tomorrow” or “Alexa, what’s on my calendar today?”
5. Q: How can I use Alexa to get sports scores and updates? A: Alexa can provide live sports scores, game schedules, and updates for various sports. Ask, “Alexa, what’s the score of the latest football game?” to get the latest information.
6. Q: Is it possible to use Alexa for fact-checking and general knowledge queries? A: Yes, you can ask Alexa general knowledge questions, and it will provide information from reliable sources. For example, “Alexa, what is the capital of France?”
7. Q: Can I set up flash briefings to receive specific news topics? A: Absolutely, you can customize your flash briefing to include news topics of your interest. In the Alexa app, go to Settings > Flash Briefing, where you can add or remove news sources and topics.
8. Q: How can I use Alexa for educational purposes and learning new skills? A: Alexa offers various educational skills and apps that can help you learn languages, practice math, and acquire new skills. You can enable these skills and say, “Alexa, open [skill name]” to start learning.
9. Q: Can I use Alexa to read audiobooks and listen to music? A: Yes, you can ask Alexa to play audiobooks from Audible and stream music from platforms like Amazon Music, Spotify, and Pandora. Just say, “Alexa, play [book title]” or “Alexa, play my jazz playlist.”
10. Q: How does Alexa keep me informed about my Amazon orders and deliveries? A: Alexa can provide updates on your Amazon orders and deliveries. You can ask, “Alexa, where’s my package?” to get the latest status of your Amazon orders and expected delivery times.
