Amazon’s new Echo Auto puts Alexa in your CAR – letting you make calls, play music and even order a pizza
AMAZON has finally launched Echo Auto in the UK – letting you put Alexa in your car.
It means any car without the digital assistant built-in as standard can get an upgrade for just under £50.
Amazon's Alexa virtual helper is usually confined to stay-at-home speakers.
But the Echo Auto connects to your car, with all the same tricks as Alexa proper.
She's powered by your cars 12V power outlet or USB port.
And Alexa hooks up to your speaker system using a 3.5mm audio jack or Bluetooth.
- Echo Auto at Amazon for £49.99 –
That means it won't work on older cars without a way to link it up to your car's speakers.
You'll also need to link her up to the Alexa app on your smartphone, so she can gain access to mobile internet.
The Echo Auto launched last year in the US, and is already heavily discounted – with a 40% sale currently over there.
But Brits will pay the full £49.99 when the gadget launches today.
Some cars already come with Alexa built-in, so this is a great option for anyone with an older model – or one without the fancy Amazon tech.
"Customers tell us they want to take Alexa with them everywhere they go," said Amazons Eric Saarnio.
"We're delighted to offer them an easy way to add Alexa to the car they already own."
What is Alexa?
If you've never heard of Alexa, here's what you need to know...
- Alexa is an "intelligent" personal assistant built by Amazon.
- You can find her on several different devices, including Amazon's Echo speakers.
- Alexa responds to voice commands, and can talk back to you.
- She can perform thousands of different tasks, including telling you about the news or weather.
- But she can do more complex things too, like ordering a pizza or arranging an Uber taxi pick-up.
- To activate Alexa, you need to say "Alexa" to an Amazon Echo speaker.
- Alexa currently only works in English and German languages.
- Because she's powered by artificial intelligence, Alexa is constantly getting smarter.
- Alexa will also get more used to your voice, and better understand what you want her to do over time.
Just like regular Alexa speakers, the Echo Auto can tell you about the news or weather, make appointments and play music.
She can also use third-party Skills, like letting you order a Domino's pizza – or even turning the smart heating on at your home.
Another handy trick that would work well in the car is Alexa's ability to play audiobooks.
She can play back proper audiobooks, or read your Kindle books aloud in her own voice.
Amazon says that the Auto comes equipped with a custom eight-microphone array, which is designed to pick up your voice in the awkward and loud vehicle environment.
The Echo Auto is available right now on Amazon's UK website.
But you can also bag it from Argos, Dixons and Very for the same price.
- Echo Auto at Amazon for £49.99 –
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