Amazon is making it possible to use Alexa "hands free" from within its Alexa mobile app for iOS, reports TechCrunch.
Up until now, you had to tap the blue Alexa button at the bottom of the screen before you could issue a voice command.
After updating the app, users will be able to simply speak to Alexa to make lists, control smart home devices, and more, without having to touch their iPhone.
While Amazon calls it "hands free," it's not like you'll be able to invoke the company's digital voice assistant if your phone is locked or when you're in another app.
What users will be able to do, however, is ask Siri to open the Amazon Alexa app, and then they can start using the new hands-free experience from there.
After updating the app, users will be presented with the option to enable the hands-free detection and can then begin to use the feature. According to TechCrunch, a setting is also being made available that will allow users to turn the feature off at any time.
Amazon says the feature is rolling out over the next several days to users worldwide on both iOS and Android.
Top Rated Comments
Alexa is the automation in my life, my music, my everything.
Siri is completely useless.
Apple should just pay for the rights to Alexa and swap out Siri until it's ready for prime time
I’d much rather for Amazon to rebuild the app from the ground up because, as it is right now, it’s got to be one of the worst experiences about the Alexa ecosystem. I love Alexa (she’s infinitely better than Siri) and I love my Echos. But I loathe the app.
Google Assistant still hasn't figured out handoff at all. For example, I have a couple of Google Nest Hubs in my home and my Motorola. All Assistant-powered. I ask my phone Assistant 'hey Google, text Lisa'. Since my Nest Hub is close by, it answers, my phone says 'answering on another device' and the Hub claims 'Text messaging isn't supported yet'.
Google still hasn't figured this one out!!!
Used to have my home filled with Echo Dots. Still got them, actually, just boxed up. Problem with it was I'd talk to one, which would do what I asked, but had to deal with at least two-three others nearby saying 'Sorry, I don't know that one'. Don't even get me started on using 'Computer' as a wake word and watching Star Trek. Chaos ensues. One will think it heard a song request, and start playing. Another would assume I wanted all my lights on. instant light show.
The last straw was one or more Dots spontaneously talking usually in the middle of the night for no apparant reason. I live alone. No dog or animals. I woke up twice to my bedroom Dot just up and saying 'Hi. My Name is Alexa. What do you need help with?'
I said nothing period to it. I found out that's one of its responses to 'what's your name?' or 'Introduce yourself'. Nothing in the app showed any log of the event. Was downright creepy. Another time a dot in the living room started having some type of conversation with itself around 3AM. I thought I heard my TV going and went into the living room to see the Dot's blue light ring lit and Alexa chatting away some sort of trivia. I told it 'Alexa! Stop!' and it turned off. After that, I pulled their plugs.