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12 Ways to use your Alexa Echo without Amazon Prime
If you are considering purchasing an Amazon Echo, then it may seem as if there is not much you can do without also paying for Amazon Prime. However, this does not need to be the case. There is actually a lot of things that you can get your Echo to do as you do not need Amazon Prime to use the Alexa function. The most popular of these functions are listed below.
Play The Radio…
There are a large number of radio stations that you can listen to on your Echo, and so you are sure to find one that suits your musical taste. Just say ‘Alexa play (radio station)’ and the station should start playing.
Give The News…
Alexa will be happy to provide you with news from all over the world. If you say ‘Alexa, what’s the news’ she will give you the headlines for that day. You can also ask her what the weather is in your area.
Make Phone Calls…
You can also connect your phone to your Amazon device in order to make phone calls. If you say ‘Alexa, call [name]’ she will call that person and you can use the device as a speaker phone.
Create Shopping Lists…
You can use your Amazon Echo to create a shopping list and you can even order the whole list from Amazon using Alexa. There are parental locks that you can put in place to stop your children using this feature.
Set A Reminder…
You can set a reminder for a specific event for free with an Amazon Echo. If you ask her to set a reminder then she will ask you what the reminder is for and when you want to be reminded.
Connect To Devices…
You can also connect devices around the home to your Amazon Echo for free including lights and your heating system. You can then ask Alexa to turn on the light or turn the heating up or down. You can also control these devices through the Alexa app on your phone when you are not at home.
Provide Help When Cooking…
Alexa can be a real help when you are cooking, and there are many features which are available for free. As well as being able to provide you with recipes, she can also set a timer so you know when your food is ready.
Play White Noise…
If you have trouble getting off to sleep, then white noise can really help. You need Prime to be able to listen to this continuously, but you are able to listen for up to two hours every day for free. Many people put it on as soon as they are ready to go to sleep and just let it play until the two hours are up.
Tell A Joke…
If you are need of a little light relief, then you can ask Alexa to tell a joke. The jokes that are available may not be the best jokes that you have ever heard, but some of them are so bad they are actually good. It is also a good way to keep any children in the home entertained.
Sing Happy Birthday…
Alexa will also sing to you on your birthday. You will have to ask her to do this, but it can still get your birthday off to a good start. If you are not a fan of your own singing voice, you can ask her to sing Happy Birthday to anyone else in your home.
Create An Intercom…
If you have two Echo devices in different rooms, you can use them to speak to people in these rooms. Just say ‘Alexa broadcast to [room]’ and then speak your message, which will then be played on the other device. It is a good way to avoid shouting up the stairs to someone who is in the bedroom.
Turn On Whisper Mode…
If you need to be quiet when using Alexa for any reason you can ask her to turn on whisper mode. This means she will talk to you in a whisper instead of her usual volume. If you whisper to her first, she may ask you if you would like to turn whisper mode on.
Messages from Santa…
This one is great for Children! Simply ask Alexa “How Many Sleeps Until Christmas” for a message from Santa everyday until Christmas!