Jordan O'BrienThose in the UK and Germany without an Amazon Echo or Echo Dot now have another way to interact with Alexa, with the voice assistant officially rolling out to the Amazon Fire TV.
In the US, Fire TV owners have been able to interact with Amazon’s AI since September 2016, although the functionality was left off of the UK and German models. Amazon also opted to not release the Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote in those markets, although that too is now available.
Alexa functionality is officially rolling out as part of the 5.2.4.1 software update, which not only brings Alexa, but also numerous other features. Those who own the first-generation Amazon Fire TV will see the biggest change, with the new user interface now officially rolling out to those devices. YouTube now also supports voice search.
Using Alexa on the Amazon Fire TV should be a familiar experience for anyone who has used the voice assistant before. It’s still possible to control smart home devices, activate skills and ask random questions – although it’s now also possible to see contextual information on the screen. For example, those asking what the weather is will not only receive a voice response but will also see a 7-day forecast. Alexa can also be used to control TV playback – a big feature of Google Home.
Speaking of Google Home, the device officially launched in the UK yesterday – making the timing of Amazon’s launch incredibly convenient. Those who would rather interact with the Alexa assistant, however, now needn’t go out and purchase multiple Echo or Echo Dots. In fact, the new Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote undercuts the Echo Dot by £10 – costing £39.99. Of course, it lacks the always-listening functionality boasted by the Echo Dot, but it does make up for that by offering a full smart TV interface.