Echo Tips

Learn how you can get your reminders sent to your phone via a text message! Great for folks who don't have a smartphone.

Want to save a buck or two? Learn how your Amazon Echo can give you notice that an item in your wish list or cart is about to go on sale. [Revision: An Edit was added to this episode on 4/13/2022 at 9:45am EST, highlighting that this feature is advertised as a Amazon Prime feature.]

Trying to diet? Learn how your Amazon Echo can help you with food facts, so you know what you're eating!

Learn how you can join Zoom Meetings on a modern Amazon Echo Show.

In this episode we discuss the new "Notify When Nearby" accessibility feature. Ever missed a notification on your Amazon Echo; can't see the yellow ring spinning to indicate you've missed something. If so, this feature is for you and really anyone who doesn't want to miss their important notifications. 

In this episode learn how your Amazon Echo can help connect your symptoms to possible causes.

Learn some of the verbal commands you can use with your Echo Show 10 with Motion. You can easily toggle this feature on and off; and a whole lot more.

In this episode learn all about the "Alexa Answers" service and how it can aid Alexa to answer those odd-ball questions. Also how you can be a contributor and make Alexa smarter. To learn more, check out the website: https://alexaanswers.amazon.com/

In this episode learn how you can control for how long your Amazon Echo retains voice recordings in the cloud and whether human curation is allowed, to make Alexa smarter. In episode 181 we cover additional privacy controls, so if you missed that, please go back and give that a listen.

Move over Hal 9000, Alexa is going to space! Learn about how Alexa is going to the moon on an upcoming NASA mission, and how you can stay in the loop on what's happening with the mission.

We dive into privacy controls for your Amazon Echo, that you can interact with purely by your voice.

Are you trying to keep up with the Olympic Games? If so check out this episode where we demo several different ways to stay informed.

Learn how to make Alexa less chatty, especially with home automation tasks. In this episode we test the Brief Mode on the Amazon Echo using a smart plug.

The Blue Ridge Reading skill serves Virginians who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise can't access print reading materials by reading local newspapers, magazines and other publications. Use this skill to access the live stream, hear the daily schedule or listen to recent programs or podcasts. The Blue Ridge Reading Service Alexa Skill is provided by WVTF and New Vision at Goodwill®. WVTF is a non-profit that relies on volunteers and financial donations. New Vision at Goodwill® is proud to aid WVTF in supplying this service. Goodwill Industries of the Valleys is a non-profit organization serving Central, Southwest, and Southside Virginia. New Vision at Goodwill seeks to promote independence and equality for people who are blind and visually impaired. We educate, inform, and provide resources, so people with visual impairments can live their fullest lives. To learn more about our other services see the website.www.goodwillvalleys.com/newvision

Learn how your Amazon Echo can learn from your food preferences so it can better recommend recipes that fit your diet! That's right Keto, Vegan, Kosher, and More!

In this episode we demo two different Alexa Skills that can aid you in Bible reading from various Translations and Versions. We also discuss how you could listen to a Kindle or Audible version of the Bible.

Many folks are buying or being gifted a New Amazon Echo this time of year. In this episode we revisit some of the basics of setting up an Amazon Echo and how it varies from an Echo to and Echo Show device.

Are you a new Amazon Echo owner? If so learn about these five musts for any Echo owner to know. From changing your Echo's voice to setting a weekly reminder to take out the garbage! 

Amazon announced its all new Alexa Together service this past fall. We'll look at the cost and new features that go beyond that of the original CareHub. Alexa Together provides new features for seniors and caregivers.

In this episode we tackle some new pharmacy integrations highlighted in the Amazon Monthly Round Up for the month of November. At this time this seems to be a U.S.A. only feature, sorry international listeners!