Alexa, Amazon’s virtual assistant, has become a ubiquitous presence in many homes. But beyond setting timers and playing music, what all can Alexa do? The answer lies in Alexa Skills, voice-activated apps that extend Alexa’s functionality in countless ways. This guide explores the vast landscape of Alexa Skills, showcasing how they can enhance your daily life.
Essential Alexa Skills for Everyday Life
Alexa boasts a massive library of over 100,000 skills. Here are some of the most useful and popular options:
best alexa skills
Safety and Security
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Alexa Emergency Assist: This subscription service transforms your Echo devices into a home monitoring system, alerting emergency services or designated contacts in case of trouble.
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Ask My Buddy: This skill notifies pre-selected contacts in emergencies when you can’t reach your phone.
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Find My Phone: Misplaced your phone? Alexa can ring it for you, even on silent.
Productivity and Organization
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Birthday Tracker: Never forget a birthday again. This skill tracks birthdays and provides timely reminders.
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Schedule a Meeting: Alexa can integrate with various calendar services to schedule meetings based on your availability.
Information and Entertainment
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Big Sky: Get hyperlocal weather forecasts with up-to-the-minute accuracy.
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Audible: Enjoy audiobooks hands-free through your Alexa device.
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NPR Hourly News Summary: Stay informed with 5-minute news briefings updated every hour.
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Play Music: Stream music from a multitude of services like Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.
best Alexa skills
Smart Home Control
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Control Your Thermostat: Adjust your smart thermostat’s temperature settings with voice commands.
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Turn Your Lights On or Off: Control your smart lights hands-free.
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Clean Your Apartment: Command your robot vacuum to start cleaning with simple voice instructions.
Health and Wellness
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Sleep Sounds: Relax and fall asleep to soothing ambient sounds like rain, ocean waves, or white noise.
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7-Minute Workout: Get a quick and effective workout guided by Alexa.
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Mayo Clinic First Aid: Access basic first aid information and instructions.
best Alexa skills
Unique and Fun Skills
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Have Alexa Talk to Your Plants: This whimsical skill lets Alexa whisper positive affirmations to your plants. It also provides helpful plant care reminders.
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Play Skyrim Very Special Edition: Embark on a text-based RPG adventure in the world of Skyrim.
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Make a Donation: Donate to your favorite charities using voice commands.
Exploring the Full Potential of Alexa
Beyond individual skills, Alexa offers features like:
- Calling and Messaging: Make voice or video calls to other Alexa-enabled devices.
- Multi-Lingual Mode: Communicate with Alexa in multiple languages.
- Alexa Answers: Contribute to Alexa’s knowledge base by answering questions she doesn’t know.
- Generative AI Apps: Experience innovative AI-powered apps like Character.AI for interactive conversations and Splash Music for creating songs with your voice.
best Alexa skills
Finding and Using Alexa Skills
Discovering new skills is easy:
- Alexa App: Browse the Skills section in the Alexa app.
- Voice Search: Ask Alexa, “What skills do you have?” or “Find a skill for [topic]”.
- Online Resources: Explore websites and blogs dedicated to Alexa Skills.
To enable a skill, simply say, “Alexa, enable [skill name]”.
Conclusion
Alexa’s capabilities extend far beyond basic functionalities thanks to the vast and ever-growing library of Alexa Skills. From managing your smart home to playing games and learning new things, Alexa can truly become a versatile and indispensable virtual assistant. Explore the world of Alexa Skills and discover how she can enrich your life.
