Amazon Alexa’s Echo Buttons now do a bit more than play games

The latest feature means you can trigger smart routines when you don’t feel like using your voice.

Published Nov 13, 2018

Amazon’s Echo Buttons accessory for its Alexa-powered smart speakers are now capable of doing things more useful than just playing games.

The companion device, which first launched in September 2017, has received an update allowing people to use the Buttons to activate smart home routines – meaning it could serve as a button to switch on the lights without using your voice.

A new option providing users with a choice of routines for the Echo Buttons has been added to the Alexa app, in Amazon’s latest boost to the smart home.

Amazon Echo Sub — Amazon recently added the Echo Sub to its line-up, a subwoofer that connects to existing Echos and gives an audio boost (PA/Amazon)

Playing music or announcing dinner are some of the other uses the update makes possible.

Earlier this year, Amazon announced that it was releasing a Gadgets Skills API, allowing independent developers to create their own uses for the Echo Buttons.

Alexa, the voice-powered virtual assistant behind Amazon Echo, recently celebrates its fourth birthday with a special recording of Harry Birthday sung by Michael Buble.