Amazon Is Adding Alexa to the Fire TV and Fire TV Stick

Alexa, the always-listening smart home assistant that lives in the Amazon Echo, is coming to the original Fire TV and the Fire TV Stick in the form of a software update.

Once installed, Alexa will be able to dig up movies to watch for you, and understand even more complex voice commands than the Fire TV already understands. Amazon said in an email to us that the update will bring these new features for your Fire TV:

• Alexa support to first generation Fire TV and Fire TV Stick devices.
  
• Improvements to Amazon Video add-on subscription service, including an easier way to sign-up, discover and access your Amazon Video add-on subscriptions.
  
• Bluetooth headphone support for Fire TV Stick devices (previously only on Fire TV devices), allowing for private listening while watching your favorite movies, TV shows or gaming.
  

That’s a bit short of Alexa’s capabilities in the Amazon Echo, so don’t expect your first-gen Fire TV or Fire TV stick to be able to turn on your Wi-Fi enabled lights, or control the temperature on your smart thermostat.

However, if you have a newer Fire TV—one of the ones released in September, Amazon said, you can already use it for those features and more, including local search, traffic and weather reports, and more.

Amazon says the update is rolling out “starting today and over the next few weeks,” but it’ll come down over-the-air for your device. If you want, Amazon has a guide to checking for updates on your device here.

via The Verge

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