Amazon Echo speakers finally get Apple Music support

We reported at the end of last month that Apple Music support was hitting Amazon Echo speakers. The feature arrives earlier than it was scheduled to come (which was December 17). And now users can head to the Alexa app on iOS or Android to add Apple Music to the list of supported music streaming services. Once you’ve linked your Apple Music account to Alexa, you can even set it as your default streaming service. Apple Music subscribers can then ask Alexa to play songs from their personal playlists, their entire library, or any of the service’s curated playlists or radio stations. Again, we need to emphasize that the feature is currently only available to Echo speakers and not third-party, Alexa-enabled speakers.

Source: The Verge

Amazon wants Bluetooth accessory makers to use Alexa, opens SDK for all developers

Jabra

Amazon wants its Alexa voice assistant to reach as wide an audience as possible. This time around, it’s targeting makers of Bluetooth headphones, headsets, and wearables. The company just made its Alexa Mobile Accessory Kit tool widely available to developers. Qualcomm even came out with a US$299 smart headset with Alexa reference design to help interested manufacturers and developers get started. Amazon is looking to bring Alexa to hands-free devices, so you can use it while exercising or doing other day-to-day activities when your hands are full. The software development kit first supported wireless Bluetooth headphones from Bose, Jabra, and Sony, but now the company wants it to support other Bluetooth devices like smartwatches and portable speakers, as well as traditional headsets.

What the SDK brings is letting these devices communicate with the Alexa app for iOS and Android without the need to build an app or Alexa skill on their own. “By leveraging the Amazon Alexa App that is readily available for Android and iOS, device makers accelerate product development, software integration, and testing time, while reducing product support costs,” explains Alfred Woo, a principal product manager for Alexa Voice Services. “After launch, their products are automatically updated to include new Alexa features and functionality when they arrive in the Amazon Alexa App.”

Source: The Verge

Tidal comes to Amazon Echo

If you’re using Tidal and own an Amazon Echo device, you’re going to love this new update. The Jay-Z-owned music streaming service is now available on Amazon Echo devices. You can access it via an Alexa skill, and, of course, you need a Tidal subscription for it to work. Tidal comes to the service using Amazon’s recently introduced Music Skill API, the company was able to build support for Alexa without needing to rely on Amazon’s help (which other streaming services had to do). Now, you can set it as your default Echo streaming service. However, of course, you’ll lose the optional hi-fi audio quality Tidal is known for because of the hardware limitations of the Amazon Echo. But who knows if a hi-fi version of the speaker comes out in the future? For now, Tidal is hoping you’ll love its curated playlists and this integration for you to stick with the service.

Source: The Verge

Alexa to let you use voice commands to add smart home devices to groups

Smart home devices are designed to make living easier for you. Setting said smart home devices? Not-so-smart. Or rather, it can be a tedious, complicated process. But looks like Amazon and its Alexa assistant wants to ease things a bit for you. Appearing on the Echo newsletter, it looks like you can create device groups and add smart home devices to it simply by using your voice. Here’s the description for it: “‘Alexa, add the lamp to the living room group.’ Organize your smart home devices into groups and control them all with one command. Just ask to create a group or add and remove devices from your smart home group.”

There is no information for this yet on the help page for creating device groups but it might show up soon. If you do have access to it, let us know what you’re experience has been like. Was it easier to setup your smart devices?

Source: Android Police