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Amazon Debuts Revamped Alexa App That's Rolling Out to iOS Users Soon

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Amazon today unveiled a new version of its Alexa mobile app for iOS and Android users, which as TechCrunch explains, is designed to offer a more personalized experience that provides better instruction on when and how consumers can use Alexa.

amazonalexaappredesign.jpg

There's a new home screen with a large Alexa button at the top that encourages users to tap the button or say Alexa to get started. Amazon recommends tasks that can help users get more out of Alexa, such as linking a Spotify account or using video call features.

Suggestions are personalized based on how customers have used the app in the past and what Amazon services they take advantage of, such as Amazon Music, Audible, reminders, shopping lists, and more. First time users will see more suggestions and tips on what can be done through the mobile app.

The redesign de-prioritizes the third-party voice apps or skills as many Amazon customers weren't using this feature, and Skills & Games can now be found in the "More" tab alongside Reminders and Routines. Amazon's first-party offerings, like shopping and media playback, are now the focal point of the home screen.

The new Alexa app will be rolling out worldwide over the course of the next month on iOS, Android, and Fire OS devices, and should be available to everyone by late August.

Article Link: Amazon Debuts Revamped Alexa App That's Rolling Out to iOS Users Soon
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/07/27/amazon-revamped-alexa-app-ios/
C

C DM

macrumors Sandy Bridge
Oct 17, 2011
51,390
19,458
luvbug said:
Jeff can now accurately capture *every* detail of your life! And it's FREE!
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Newbie67 said:
And remember kids.. when it’s FREE, you’re the product!
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NickName99 said:
“Alexa, please sell all of my personal information to advertisers and pass the money to Amazon”
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Is that really something unusual or new when it comes to many many things on the internet that practically everyone has been using since pretty much the beginning?
 
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C

C DM

macrumors Sandy Bridge
Oct 17, 2011
51,390
19,458
NickName99 said:
“We've been doing it this awful way for years, don’t question it”
Click to expand...
No one said anything about not questioning it, but that it's been how a lot of internet and a lot of what most people have been using has been working for decades now and isn't something that's somehow new or surprising.
 
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seecoolguy

seecoolguy

macrumors 6502
Nov 28, 2007
256
34
I just haven't found Alexa to be that helpful or useful. I'm rarely in a situation where I want to know the type of trivia info that Alexa provides. I just started to use the Prime Video stuff a little more, but not by much. It sure would be great if they focused their efforts on providing multiple languages and subtitles like the other services do.
 
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L

lsutigerfan1976

macrumors 68030
Sep 14, 2012
2,751
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seecoolguy said:
I just haven't found Alexa to be that helpful or useful. I'm rarely in a situation where I want to know the type of trivia info that Alexa provides. I just started to use the Prime Video stuff a little more, but not by much. It sure would be great if they focused their efforts on providing multiple languages and subtitles like the other services do.
Click to expand...
I’m the opposite. I find I can do more with Alexa vs Siri. Also, Spotify works much better with my Alexa speakers. Compared to Apple Music.
 
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G

gbc204

macrumors 6502
May 9, 2011
356
383
Ursadorable said:
Apple's HomePod has been such a disappointment that I ended up going with Alexa to turn on and off my lights, fans, etc.

Hopefully this version allows for custom alarm tones rather than the MEH ones that it comes with.
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When we moved I never hooked the Alexa devices back up, and have been relying on Siri on my home. Alexa really IS so much better for basic stuff like turning lights on and off, but i can't bring myself to plug it back in.
 
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magicman32

magicman32

macrumors 6502
Dec 25, 2007
377
653
And it begins...

I don’t know why I tortured myself even looking at the comments here. I just had to see how deep the faux indignation and hypocrisy ran, and it got off to a great start in the first few comments.

A group that couldn’t be more on the grid, tech savvy people, allegedly, attacking these devices, again. Some probably even Google users, all carrying these personal tracking devices in there pockets and at every corner of the internet they go.

Privacy... in this country... in 2020... God some of you are so cute. The naivety (and aforementioned hypocrisy) is so quaint and adorable.

Ok, well, have at it. I can find my way out.
 
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burgman

burgman

macrumors 68030
Sep 24, 2013
2,669
2,256
C DM said:
Is that really something unusual or new when it comes to many many things on the internet that practically everyone has been using since pretty much the beginning?
Click to expand...
True but it’s edgy and cool to make such comments. Pretty funny coming from people who typed it on a device that tracks them, On a browser or worse an App that tracks them, through a cell company or ISP that tracks them, through many more hops that each tracks them, then this website that you guessed it. Most through Google analytics, Amazon But there are hundreds of others. Oh but I have blockers and VPN’s and other ways to hide. Yeah ?‍♀️
 
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A

Aston441

macrumors 68030
Sep 16, 2014
2,603
3,931
hope the music player part of the app is better

right now it's SO BUGGY i haven't seen such poor coding... ever. like when when i was learning to code as a little kid my software was better
 
MattG

MattG

macrumors 68040
May 27, 2003
3,863
439
Asheville, NC
Cool, does it include Widget capability??? Too many layers to go into the Alexa app and trigger a routine. I want to be able to trigger routines via the Widgets area.
[automerge]1595932720[/automerge]
 
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GreenPixel

GreenPixel

macrumors regular
Aug 21, 2014
174
1,238
LeeW said:
People that believe just because they use Apple they cannot be tracked by anyone or have information captured, ok then.
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Where did anyone in this thread say that? What people here generally beleive is that Apple is better than Google or Amazon when it comes to privacy. And there isn't much argument for the contrary.
 
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x-evil-x

x-evil-x

macrumors 603
Jul 13, 2008
5,566
3,227
Ursadorable said:
Apple's HomePod has been such a disappointment that I ended up going with Alexa to turn on and off my lights, fans, etc.

Hopefully this version allows for custom alarm tones rather than the MEH ones that it comes with.
Click to expand...
Ursadorable said:
Apple's HomePod has been such a disappointment that I ended up going with Alexa to turn on and off my lights, fans, etc.

Hopefully this version allows for custom alarm tones rather than the MEH ones that it comes with.
Click to expand...
you don’t like HomeKit? What kind of lights do you have you have problems with? HomeKit is awesome. Way better than my Amazon or my google home.
 
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