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Alexa Plus can now order food for you, if you have the right device.
privacy
What exactly is Alexa listening to, and how is Amazon using your voice recordings? I have A complete guide to Alexa privacy settings here Which you should read. Amazon has removed the ability to not send voice recordings for automatic analysis since Alexa Plus, but you can still adjust when recordings of your commands are automatically deleted, among other changes.
As for eavesdropping on Alexa, it’s not a big deal these days. Alexa only starts listening when the wake word is activated, and that rarely happens by accident — though sometimes casual conversation or some TV sounds can make the speaker think they’ve heard “Alexa,” though that’s rare in my experience.
Finally, today’s Echos and Echo Shows have shutters and handy buttons to turn off the microphones and cameras if you’re worried about someone using them remotely.
Type of smart home device
There are literally thousands of Alexa and Alexa-compatible devices you can buy on the market right now, from smart speakers and home security devices to smart lighting and smart thermostats. Before you make a purchase, think about how you plan to use your Alexa device so you can be sure to find one that suits your needs.
Alexa has some of the best compatibility on the market, but if you want to be sure, look at the product specifications to make sure it includes Alexa or Matter certification, which also means the device must be Alexa-friendly.
Alexa Plus looks significantly different, but it depends on how you use voice assistants in general.
Alexa Plus
Alexa Plus is the generative AI version of Amazon’s Alexa. It’s much more talkative, can connect to third-party services like Uber and Grubhub and is much more conversational — you don’t have to be as strict with your voice commands. Amazon has also included several different characters you can try out.
Overall, I like Alexa Plus, although it can get a bit cumbersome if you choose the more expressive modes. Like many chatbots, it will confidently lie to you about what it can do, so you’ll have to double-check some of the voice assistant’s claims.
If you’re interested, you can get Alexa Plus for free with an Amazon Prime subscription, or pay $20 a month without a subscription.
Installation and setup
Amazon makes installation seamless with the help of Alexa voice commands. Additionally, many of the best Alexa and Alexa-compatible devices offer a companion app to help install and control the device.
Before purchasing an Alexa device, consider your other smart home devices, too. It wouldn’t make sense to buy an Alexa device if your smart home already consists of an ecosystem of Google Assistant or Siri devices.
price
Cost is always a factor. The good news is that most of these Alexa devices are budget-friendly, ranging from $10 to $300, depending on the device. If you need a smart speaker to get started, you can find Echos for a budget of around $50.
location
Alexa devices with microphones designed to pick up voice commands should be close enough so that you’re not always yelling at them. If they have screens, like Echo Shows, you’ll want to orient those toward the center of the room so they’re easily visible. All Echo devices require a nearby outlet unless you want to experiment with battery packs that may misfire or fail.