New updates on Echo devices will enhance the holidays for customers everywhere. Whether you’re having a virtual Christmas party with the help of Alexa Group Calling, or watching your favourite Christmas film on Netflix, you can use the latest updates to make this winter break more enjoyable.
Netflix is now available on Echo Show
Customers now have access to the full Netflix catalogue on their Echo Show devices to voice control search, browse, pause, resume and stream films or TV shows, including Netflix Originals such as The Queen’s Gambit, Jingle Jangle and The Crown.
A record-setting 62 million households chose to watch The Queen’s Gambit in its first 28 days, making it Netflix's biggest scripted limited series to date. pic.twitter.com/TVC3p4i5Bv
— Netflix (@netflix) November 23, 2020
We’re excited to bring Netflix to Echo Show devices, giving customers more video options to choose from. Now more than ever, customers are turning to their Echo Show devices to stay entertained, with audiences watching more than twice as much video content on their Echo Show compared to this time last year from streaming services* like Prime Video.
Whether it’s tuning in to how-to videos on YouTube or streaming your favourite Christmas film and TV shows, our goal is to make it easy to engage with the content you love.
Alexa makes searching and browsing for movies and TV shows simple and hands-free – so customers can spend more time enjoying content rather than searching for it.
Just say things like, “Alexa, show me comedy films on Netflix” or “Alexa, find action films on Netflix,” to find something to watch.
“Customers tell us that they love the convenience of Alexa and being able to use voice to browse and control the content they watch on Echo Show and Fire TV” said Heather Zorn, Director, Alexa Entertainment. “We are excited to add Netflix to our content providers on Echo Show and bring the convenience of Alexa to even more Netflix members.”
Netflix is available to customers in the UK on Echo Show. Simply say, “Alexa, open Netflix” and log into your profile to get started.
New features to help you choose what to watch
In addition to adding more content to choose from, we want to make it easier than ever to search for your next show or movie. We recently introduced a new video home page to provide customised recommendations for what to watch next — simply say, “Alexa, open video home.” The new video detail pages also offer more information on a selected series or movie at a glance.
Listen to Spotify podcasts easily with Echo devices
The new updates aren’t only about viewing, Alexa customers in the UK are now able to listen to podcasts available through Spotify as well as Amazon Music Podcasts and Apple Music on their Echo devices too.
You can enable Spotify by linking your account in the Alexa app, and once enabled, you can start listening on your device. It’s easy to find and play your favourite podcasts with Alexa—all you have to do is ask for the podcast you want to hear. Pause the episode you’re listening to on one Echo device and continue listening from where you left off on one of your other Echo devices, or on Spotify (web, mobile, desktop), by asking Alexa to resume the podcast by name.
Get listening with these suggestions:
- Alexa, play The Receipts podcast on Spotify
- Alexa, play the latest episode of The Receipts podcast on Spotify
- Alexa, resume The Receipts podcast on Spotify
- Alexa, fast forward 30 seconds
- Alexa, next episode
You can set your preferred podcast provider as your default podcast provider in the Alexa app. To do so, open the Alexa app, go to Settings, select Music & Podcasts, and link/manage new services. Then, each time you request a podcast, we’ll prioritise playing it from your preferred provider if it’s available.
Stay connected with Alexa Group Calling
Video calling with Alexa has been more popular this year than ever before. Now, up to seven friends or family members can join a hands-free video or audio call. Simply say, “Alexa, call my Family,” for example, to connect from supported Echo devices, such as an Echo, Echo Dot, or Echo Show. Only one customer needs to create and name a group in their Alexa app, and then any member of that group can start a group call by saying, “Alexa, call my [group name].”
Many of us may not be traveling this holiday season, and features like Group Calling can help bring loved ones together, no matter how far we’re physically apart.
* Subscriptions may be required