The Amazon Echo, Amazon’s voice-controlled smart speaker, continues to get new features. Most recently, it added StubHub integration that will allow you to find what events are taking place in your area or other cities.
There are some other features you can add to the Amazon Echo, which is called Skills, which you might not be aware of. Here’s a look at how to add these skills to make your Echo’s digital assistant “Alexa” smarter.
Make Your Echo Smarter with Skills
Launch the Echo app (available on Android, iOS, and Kindle Fire devices) or the Echo web interface. Then in the left column click on Skills.
At the time of this writing, you’ll notice there are three cool features. StubHub which will tell you what events are going on in your area. Math Puzzles provides a series of numbers, and you have to guess what the next on in the sequence is. And Crystal Ball is a virtual Magic 8-ball toy that gives random answers to yes or no questions.
After enabling StubHub, you can ask “Alexa, ask StubHub What’s happening this weekend.” She will have you set up your home city first, and then let you know what’s happening. You can also ask what’s happening in other cities. Just say: “Alexa, launch StubHub.” and she will guide you through the process. For example, “Alexa, launch StubHub.” She will ask how she can help. Then say “what’s happening in Minneapolis this weekend.”
One thing to remember is you have to make Alexa launch the app or service before using it.
Keep an eye out for new features in the Skills section. As third-party developers add function to the Echo, you’ll find them here.
If you don’t have one, you can pick up the Amazon Echo for $179.99.
More on Using the Amazon Echo
Also, make sure to check out our article on how to make the Echo smarter out-of-the-box.
And we have even more! If you’re a new owner of the Echo, you might find some of the following articles of some interest in helping make Alexa smarter.
- Connect You Google Calendar to the Echo
- Set up Pandora with your Echo
- Amazon Echo Tip: Enable the Wake up Sound
- Pair a Bluetooth Device to Echo
Do you own an Echo? Leave us a comment below and let us know how you like it, and how you use it.
8 Comments
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diamondavid
August 19, 2015 at 11:00 am
I setup Stubhub, and was asked my City ,but Echo got the State wrong. How can i start over for correct city&state ?
Thanks!
DD
diamondavid
August 19, 2015 at 11:58 am
Found the Answer !
To change the city/state for Stubhub make the request like so:
“Alexa, ask StubHub to change my home location.”
This will allow you to change it.
Brian Burgess
August 19, 2015 at 12:30 pm
@diamonddavid:
Awesome! Thanks for the info.
Kelly B.
September 7, 2015 at 5:59 pm
Perfect :) I set the home city as my actual city (where Stub Hub doesn’t generally have events…) so this command allowed me to change it.
Thanks!
Joe Plati
August 19, 2015 at 2:23 pm
I have the Echo and like it very much. However, I have yet to do more than scratch the surface of its capabilities. Would love to use the shopping list feature more extensively but found that my Stop & Shop Supermarket has limited, very limited, WIFI capabilities etc., and I’m unable to access the app (shopping list) unless standing near the front door. I look forward to integrating it more and more into my personal routine as I learn more of what it can do. So, to that extend, I find your article very informative.
Jaaub
September 7, 2015 at 4:10 pm
Joe, I don’t know if you got an answer yet but there is an app on IFTTT.com that lets you have Alexia email your shopping list to Gmail. just open the email and there it is. Enjoy, Joe
sarah
August 27, 2015 at 2:13 pm
Is this designed by Echo Entertainment Group Ltd shs ?? If not who is the maker?
diamondavid
October 5, 2015 at 9:51 am
I sure wish Alexa would talk to you when you set a timer to go off GROWLS’ Example ” Alexa set timer for one two hours to pick up kids at School ” Then She would Beep and say Pick up kids from School ”
DD