What is Alexa?
If you’ve ever used voice assistants like Apple’s Siri or Google Assistant, then you’ll be familiar with the basic concept of Alexa. Put simply, Alexa is a cloud-based voice assistant that allows you to interact with your Amazon Echo speaker using natural language.
With Alexa, you can ask questions, play music, get news and weather updates, control smart home devices, and much more. And since the Echo is always connected to the internet, it’s always getting smarter and adding new features.
To use Alexa, all you have to do is wake her up by saying “Alexa” followed by a command or question. For example, you can say “Alexa, play some jazz” or “Alexa, what’s the weather like today?”
If you’re new to Alexa, we recommend checking out our complete guide to getting started with the Echo. Once you’re up and running, be sure to explore all of the different things you can do with your new voice assistant.
Using Alexa as a Speaker
One of the many benefits of having an Amazon Echo is the ability to use it as a speaker. You can connect your Echo to any Bluetooth-enabled device and use it to play music, audiobooks, podcasts, and more. Here’s how to get started:
First, make sure that your Echo is within range of the Bluetooth device you want to connect it to. Then, open the Alexa app on your mobile device and go to the settings menu. Under “Connected Devices,” select “Bluetooth Devices.” Here, you’ll be able to see a list of all available Bluetooth devices. Select the one you want to connect to and follow the prompts.
Once you’re connected, you can start playing music or other audio content on your Echo by saying “Alexa, play [name of song].” You can also adjust the volume by saying “Alexa, turn up/down the volume.” If you want to stop playing audio, just say “Alexa, stop.”
