Alexa announcements are newly improved
Check out 2 amazing updates to this popular Alexa feature
But first, some background about announcements. When you say “Alexa, announce that dinner’s ready,” an announcement in your voice is broadcast across every Amazon Echo in your home (with a little dinner bell sound effect, too!).
Announcements are great for getting your family on board with whatever is next on your schedule — and 2 recent updates to this feature make it even more helpful!
Upgrade #1: You can now say “Alexa, reply” to announcements
If your kid needs a few extra minutes to finish her homework, she can just say “Alexa, reply” and broadcast her response to your dinnertime announcement.
Upgrade #2: Get announcements via the Alexa app on your phone
Now, every phone connected to your account will receive a push notification with a transcript of the announcement! You no longer have to have an Echo in every room to get the word out to your household 🙂
Pro Tip #1
You can tap the push notification to hear audio of the announcement and respond back with your own announcement right from your phone. Pretty cool 🙂
My favorite way to use announcements: in a dinnertime routine!
When I say “Alexa, it’s dinnertime,” Alexa executes the following:
- Alexa announces “It’s dinnertime”
- She reminds me to shut off the oven
- The smart lights lower
- My favorite dinnertime playlist starts playing
This simple Alexa routine is truly delightful
I no longer go room to room shouting it’s dinnertime. I no longer end up double (and triple) checking whether I turned off all the appliances (just to be certain!). And we actually listen to lovely music every evening over our meal 🙂
Pro Tip #2
Need a refresher on how to set up a routine? Tap/click here for a basic step-by-step
Pro Tip #3
To add an announcement to your Alexa routine, tap “Add action” > “Messaging” > “Send Announcement.” (It’s a little confusing that it’s under “Messaging.”)