How to use the Amazon Echo

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A fun, simple, comprehensive guide to setup and start using your Echo. From start to finish, we show you how to get the most out of the Amazon Echo's features and her cloud based voice service Alexa.

Want to Buy One?

Hey what’s going on? This is Neha Joy with Howcast Tech.

So TODAY we got the Echo, Amazon’s smart-home device and its cloud-based voice service, Alexa. That’s really just a fancy way of saying “virtual assistant.” It’s like Siri, or Google Now, or Cortana, you get it. Entirely voice-activated, Alexa can tell you the weather,traffic, news, sports, schedule, shopping lists, and even plays music— AND she can do even more, if you’ve got a Prime account! Want her to play Prime music? Wanna order items directly from Amazon? You’ll wanna sign up for Prime. We’ll get to that later.

Included is the Echo. Power adapter. A Quick Set-Up Card. A “Things To Try” Card. AND... that’s it. Also you can scrap these last two, cause I got you covered.

Found on top of your Echo is the Light Ring. It tells you what Alexa, the virtual assistant, is doing. When it’s off— Alexa’s ready for requests. When it’s blue— she’s processing them. Also on top are its two and only buttons. The Action Button— Which wakes her up and silences alarms and timers. And the Microphone-Off Button— Which, YOU GUESSED IT, turns the microphones off.

This stops Alexa from answering your requests. When it is toggled, the Light Ring turns red. Finally, wrapping around the top is the Volume Ring. As you use it, the Light Ring turns white, showing you the volume level. Now all this said, the main way you’ll actually interact with Echo is through voice command— utilizing the seven built-in microphones AND its omni-directional speaker. You should also note, underneath the device, you’ll find the plug and Reset Button. That’s right— this sucker is NOT portable. If you want, you can press and hold that button for five seconds to reset to its factory settings.

So to use Alexa, first you say the Wake-Word, “Alexa,” followed by a voice command. Alexa, what time is it? Alexa, how do you spell nefarious? Alexa, Wikipedia Howcast.You get the idea. If you WANT, you can change the Wake-Word via Settings in the App. Wait is this right?

Alexa can make Shopping and To-Do Lists— Alexa, remind me to get groceries. Alexa, add gummy bears to my shopping list. ..oh and Mallomars too. ...and.. add.. gym sesh to my to-do list also. Great. We’ll see. Now she can read your lists aloud OR you can access them in the App. Why would you want to do that? Let’s take a look. When you first open the App, you’ll see the Home Screen— this shows your Request and Action History. Tap the Menu icon in the upper left to reveal, you guessed it— the Menu— where you’ll interface with all of Alexa’s features.

At the top are your Shopping and To-Do Lists. Though you can add items vocally, you can only edit them in the App. You can also access additional options— Shop for items in the Amazon App, search for them in Bing, or even move them between lists.

Alexa can also set timers and alarms. Alexa, remind me when it’s eight o’clock.Cannot.. miss... The Batchelor. When the Alarm goes off— you can either stop it or you can say, “Alexa, snooze,” which buys you another nine minutes of Z’s. I didn’t say Aziz— I said “of Zzzs”—
like sleeping. Because they’re smart and they can understand me.You can also adjust the volume of Timers and Alarms separate from Echo’s master volume in the App.

Another feature Echo has is called “Skills.” Amazon has partnered with developers to create various Skills or new abilities added monthly to Alexa’s repertoire.

Being that Echo is also a powerful wifi and bluetooth speaker, it comes with many options for playing Music and Audio Books. Included are seven content streaming services, Pandora, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Audible, Kindle, Prime Music, AND Your Amazon Music Library.

[slogans]

I just was given an Echo and this video explained it completely. Outstanding video! Fast, fun, informative and the presenter is amazingly talented.

[nysaem]

This video was really well edited for a Howcast video...

[RonRicho]

That actually was an EXCELLENT video. Not a bad product either.

[rfrancoi]

Wow. That was an EXCELLENT video.

Subscribers +1

[krombopulos_michael]

This was a surprisingly enjoyable video for a Howcast tutorial. Host and editing style were great.

[josephmcveigh]

Fantastic way to teach clear to the point and you are speaking to everyone’s level.
Thank you

[sunjy]

Been using Alex for a about half year, never regret having it. It is just so useful, and fun

[always_glad]

Thank you. I learned a lot. I just bought my echo and was trying to figure out how it works and what it can do. I enabled a bunch of skills. Thanks again.

[ChannelIO-VIDEO]

Neha, this is one of the VERY BEST instructional videos I have ever seen...Period!

-Professional
-Concise
-Quick (perfectly quick...but... you'll get hater trolls not very quick on the uptake complaining...ignore them...they usually go away....if they don't...get one of the spray bottles full of water you use to keep the cat from jumping up on kitchen counters and furniture... that USUALLY works...if not, pepper spray), ...
and actual detail descriptions are...
-Brief but informative
-Pleasant
-Funny...and...
-You aren't the hardest thing to look at either... OK...you're gorgeous!...but don't let that go to your head!

Did you use a green screen background or template?
YouTube workshop?

I have been looking for some indication that it wasn't a major broadcast production company and editor...OH!!??...Who edited it!
You should teach people to do this!
As gymnasts say when the get it perfect...Neha Joy STUCK IT!

Anyway...Just wanted to say ...THANKS!
I will now gladly give the remaining expendable capital that I haven't already given to Jeff Bezos and Amazon!

Do you think Jeff is an alien?
I mean he gets everything right (from a customer standpoint), which human run businesses mostly seem to miss it...

[PictureFit]

Alexa, tell Amazon to stop trying to take my money.

[knetik]

Great "how to" on Alexa, just bought one yesterday, this vid answered a few questions

[mansoryO]

alexa, tell Neha Joy that I love her eyes<3

[SixTheArctos]

Now I know how to use Echo's Alexa plus I got to stare at Neha Joy for 8:30😘

[archm]

Awesome tutorial! Had my hands on one, until I switched to the Lenovo Smart Display. I gotta say that it has a lot more features, love the camera feature the most! You should make a review on the Lenovo Smart Display as well!

[omoz]

Good video review Neha Joy my Amazon Echo is coming soon 😎👍

[GMatvk]

This video was extremely helpful! I did not expect that

[SpeedBump]

Totally awesome keep up the good work. Going out to buy one.

[anuraggoel]

Superb video on This is the perfect presentation of a product or service one can make to gain something. Sorry I am unlucky to watch it late otherwise I could have won the giveaway Alexa echo plus. In the I loved it.

[iseefine]

Fun, fabulous intro to the Echo!! Loved it!

[billybilly]

LOL, ...Thanks, just got her and enjoyed your presentation immensely!