The Amazon Echo is filled with hundreds of thousands of Alexa skills that can help you carry out everyday tasks and entertain you. These include clocks, timers, alarms, reminders, playing music and the radio and controlling smart devices such as lights, sockets, blinds and heating.
To mark Alexa’s birthday on 6th November, I share 5 accessible Alexa skills you may not have considered before…
1. Audible audiobooks
Audible is an audiobook digital platform run by Amazon, where you can buy and download audiobooks onto a computer, kindle, phone, tablet or Alexa.
You can sign up to Audible via your Amazon account and either buy audiobooks at regular prices or get a membership subscription where you get monthly credits for a certain price, which you can use to purchase any title.
To read a book you’ve already started on your Amazon Echo, simply say “Alexa, read my book.” To read a different book, such as Harry Potter, just say “Alexa, read Harry Potter.”
2. My Thesaurus
The My Thesaurus Alexa skill is a great alternative to using a real thesaurus. To use it, simply say “Alexa, open my thesaurus” and then say the word or phrase you want to find synonyms for.
Alexa will then list multiple synonyms for that word you can then use when writing your work, article, blog, essay script, story or any other content.
3. Sleep sounds
Sleep sounds is an ideal skill for those who may have difficulty sleeping or need background noise while concentrating or meditating.
The skill includes several sounds and music to fit your mood and preference. Some of my favourites include:
- brown noise
- rain on tent
- harp
- medieval
- zen
- eternity
- electric guitar
- guitar
- relaxing piano
- orchestra
- flute
Many of these sounds are only available if you sign up for the free mailing list. You can sign up at sleepsounds.io.
4. BBC Local news briefing
You may already be aware you can get national and international news flash briefings but the BBC also provide local news briefings on the Amazon Echo.
For instance, I live in Hampshire, so I usually ask “Alexa, play BBC News for the south” and then a news bulletin from BBC Radio Solent will play.
This can be done in any region of the UK, whether it’s southwest, southeast, London, Midlands. Northwest, Northeast, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
You don’t have to specifically be in that area at that time. If you’ve gone away for business or leisure, you can check what is happening in your hometown or if you’re curious to find out the news in different locations, you can ask Alexa to play the news in different areas, wherever you are in the country.
5. Sports update
Sports update is an Alexa feature that allows you to access the scores and fixtures of your favourite sports teams.
I tend to use it to check the previous score and the future fixture of my favourite football team Portsmouth FC.
To set this up, go to the Alexa app > More > Settings > Sport > Add a team > then type a team name. The availability of certain teams and sports may vary.
Once set up, say to your smart speaker “Alexa, what’s my sports update?” and it will give you the result of the last match and the date and time of the next game.
Also, check out my blog 5 Recommended Alexa game skills to keep your brain active and entertained.
What other Alexa skills do you enjoy using and/or find accessible? Share your suggestions in the comments box or on social media.
