Amazon iOS App Gains Alexa Voice Assistant to Track Orders, Shop, and More

[MacRumors]

Amazon today announced that it will introduce its Siri competitor, Amazon Alexa, directly into the company's iOS app over the course of the next week (via VentureBeat). With the addition of Alexa, users will now be able to ask questions about the status of their orders, use their voice to initiate searches, play music, and start audio books from Audible.

Alexa's powers go beyond Amazon's shopping features -- users will also be able to use the voice assistant to search current news stories, check the weather, and even control smart home products. This means that iOS users who don't own any Amazon hardware can now gain access to Alexa's growing list of skills, which let users easily link multiple services together for quick voice control interactions.

Some users will begin seeing the Alexa update in Amazon's iOS app [Direct Link] starting today, but the rollout is expected to reach everyone on iOS by next week.

Article Link: Amazon iOS App Gains Alexa Voice Assistant to Track Orders, Shop, and More

 

[Carlanga]

are you saying the alexa from inside the app will be able to control smart home products?

 

[DotCom2]

WOW! Well this is cool!
I love competition and I also love my Amazon Dot!

 

[RightMACatU]

Yeah! Alexa will want access to it all on my iPhone, for better services of course /s

 

[RMo]

This sounds pretty neat. I often ask Alexa (in the form of my Echo) about the status of my Amazon orders, and I use both Siri and Alexa for home automation tasks (I have most devices working with both, whether official or not), which is most of what I do with both of them anyway. In fact, I'm so used to doing the same things with both that I sometimes have to remind myself that Siri can't track my Amazon orders--and she still can't, but at least now there's a way to do it with my voice from the phone.

It's a little inconvenient that you can only do it from the app, though. There are only a few apps that seem to use third-party Siri integration well, and this would obviously be incredibly convenient ("Hey Siri, ask Amazon where my package is" or "Hey Siri, ask Amazon to set my thermostat to 60" if you happen to have one that works with Alexa and not HomeKit), but I doubt Apple would allow this usage given that they are often seen as competitors in this area.

 

[Liamda1y]

Any idea if this is Amazon US app or also the Amazon UK app?

 

[44267547]

WOW! Well this is cool!
I love competition and I also love my Amazon Dot!

Alexa is growing all the time. Auto manufacturers were recently testing Alexa, of course there is the Echo/Dot, and now Amazon is expanding with orders. I think this trend is slowly growing, but it matters in the right area's.

 

[DotCom2]

I wonder if the app will be Apple Watch compatible?

 

[foxcub6]

I've bought a Amazon Echo Dot and find it amazing , far superior to home kit via Siri fed up shouting hey Siri for it to fall on def ears to put my lights on . Apple have missed the ship not producing one of these assistants in my opinion , really now thinking might as well cancel Apple Music and take our Spotify as I've tried it via the Echo and it's brill , apparently if I take out Amazon prime I can even order over the Echo
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I've bought a Amazon Echo Dot and find it amazing , far superior to home kit via Siri fed up shouting hey Siri for it to fall on def ears to put my lights on . Apple have missed the ship not producing one of these assistants in my opinion , really now thinking might as well cancel Apple Music and take our Spotify as I've tried it via the Echo and it's brill , apparently if I take out Amazon prime I can even order over the Echo

Sorry I forgot to say I had tried the App called reverb ( it's meant to be the same as Amazon Alexa only diff reverb didn't do anything for me apart sitting there thinking ) pretty useless

 

[coolfactor]

This sounds pretty neat. I often ask Alexa (in the form of my Echo) about the status of my Amazon orders, and I use both Siri and Alexa for home automation tasks (I have most devices working with both, whether official or not), which is most of what I do with both of them anyway.

"Hey Siri, ask Alexa to ask Siri to turn off the lights."
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Alexa is growing all the time. Auto manufacturers were recently testing Alexa, of course there is the Echo/Dot, and now Amazon is expanding with orders. I think this trend is slowly growing, but it matters in the right area's.

Yah, I honestly think Apple's annual (or more) release schedule for product and service updates is going to bite them where it counts very soon. Competition that can remain nimble and responsive will eat them for lunch.

 

[canadianreader]

I wouldn't be surprised if this will listen and record anything you say like samsung smart tv

 

[Aston441]

It can play music from Amazon Prime Music!!! The other iOS Alexa apps can't (because Amazon doesn't allow it, but whatever, it's their baby).

This is going to be SO useful when driving. Finally I don't have to fumble with a screen, I can just tell my phone what to play and it does. And unlike Siri it actually does what I ask lol.


It's just like a real Echo except it isn't listening all the time, I have to tap the mic button. It does control my house gadgets just fine too.

 

[Rickkardo]

are you saying the alexa from inside the app will be able to control smart home products?

Why would yo want toruin the security of your device and allow audio and video snooping on it. You see Google and Amazon both signed agreements with the Government for funding to help develop their Smart assistants. This agreement allows for the device to become a conduit for silent snooping. I understand they want to get the bad guy, but this opens the door, wide, for people to steal your personal information...think "Digital Wallets" and other information.

 

[zohaali146]

Isn't it cool!

 

[Carlanga]

Why would yo want toruin the security of your device and allow audio and video snooping on it. You see Google and Amazon both signed agreements with the Government for funding to help develop their Smart assistants. This agreement allows for the device to become a conduit for silent snooping. I understand they want to get the bad guy, but this opens the door, wide, for people to steal your personal information...think "Digital Wallets" and other information.

Lol you thinking apple doesn't... plus the app is sandboxed. Be more afraid of Siri than a personal assistant that lives inside a sandboxed app.