Configure Alexa From Afar for Mom

An under-reported feature of Amazon's Echo is its potential as a game-changing device for seniors and the disabled. My 90-year-old mother is among those that loves her "Alexa" and the freedom voice control brings for someone whose eyes aren't what they used to be. However, if a new feature requires configuration, that can be a problem for family "helpers", like myself, that are not nearby.

This is where Alexa's web app can be a godsend - enabling remote Echo configuration.

The problem: it was a challenge for Mom to keep track of her schedule of varying homecare assistants and doctor appointments. Wouldn't it be great if she could just ask Alexa what was on her calendar? Alas, this requires using the Alexa app to link a Google Calendar account to Echo. I wouldn't be able to set this up until my next visit in several weeks.

Thankfully, I discovered the web version of the Alexa configuration app. I was able to create a Google Calendar account for mom and, using the Echo web app, link it to her Alexa. My wife and I can now update her Google calendar with doctor appointments and homecare schedules, and mom can simply ask Alexa what's on her calendar for a given day! We were able to set it up that day, not wait until our next visit.

The big downside of this: it requires knowledge of your family member's Amazon logon credentials. The first step of the Web setup app requires logging onto their Echo, using their Amazon ID/password. That's an awful lot to ask - it means the family member has to trust you will not abuse the use of that information.

Dear Amazon - an idea: management permissions for Echo, authorized by the owner. It would be better if my mother could authorize my Amazon ID to make changes for her through the Echo app - without having to share her credentials. This feature would enable seniors and others to get an occasional helping hand while still maintaining necessary privacy.

Web-based Alexa App to Control Your Echo from Laptop or Desktop

There is a web-based version of the Amazon Alexa app, a little-known, power user feature.  Here’s the scoop how to control Alexa over the web.

Amazon’s Echo is usually controlled by voice, but the Alexa App is necessary for setup and configuration of various features, and can be handy for selecting music, etc. 

The typical way to use the app is via your phone or tablet. But the web app can be useful.

You can access the web version of the Alexa app at alexa.amazon.com.  Make sure your Echo has been initially set up, is part of your WiFi network, and is logged onto your Amazon account.

You will be asked to sign in with your Amazon credentials.

You'll then see a web version of the same Alexa app available on your phone or tablet.  The web app gives you the same control you have over your Echo using the device app. 

Change settings.

Control what music is playing. 

Enable skills. And more.

This shows control of Amazon Echo is truly cloud-based. I had thought maybe the device-based app was going through Bluetooth or local WiFi requiring proximity.  But no - when you use the Alexa app you're communicating with the cloud - which then governs your local Alexa. This is what makes web-based control possible.

The Alexa web app can be quite handy. If I'm working on my laptop, it's much easier to switch to the Alexa app window and check something out, vs. pulling out my phone and using the app there. You gotta love a 24 inch desktop screen for convenience if you're at your desk anyway. The web app also enables control of Echo from a remote location, say for an elderly relative.

Control of Alexa via the web is another useful feature of the Amazon Echo.

Linking Your Calendar to Alexa

You can link your calendar to Amazon Echo and then ask Alexa about your upcoming schedule.  She can guide you as to upcoming events and time, for today or a specific day in the future.  For non-specific requests, such as "What's my schedule this week?" or "What's on my calendar?", she'll provide the next few events.

Why do this?  Well, it's certainly not top-of-the-list for usefulness, but it can be easier than pulling out your phone to check.  And if your hands are full, in the middle of something, hands-free can be just the thing.  And, as with all things Echo, for the elderly and disabled it can be a game changer.

First off, you do have to have a Google Calendar with your events.  This is the biggest drawback.  Google Calendar can sync with other calendars, such as your iOS Calendar, but these synced events are not picked up by Alexa in my tests.

Google Calendar is easy to use.  Here is a link to a tutorial.

Assuming you have a Google Calendar (or plan on setting one up shortly), here are the steps to link Echo and your calendar. 

Start by opening your Alexa app. Tap on Settings and choose Calendar.

Note you have no Google Calendar linked.  Tap the Google Calendar white box.

You'll see your name.  Tap "Link Google Calendar account".

Sign in to Google with your Google email id and password.

Tap Allow to give Alexa permission to interface with your Google data.

That's all there is to it!  You can now query your calendar by voice.

Alexa defaults to your Music Library

I was puzzled by my Echo's selection of music when I first started using it.  I wanted to sample the New Age music genre, of which there are dozens and dozens of songs amidst Amazon's Prime Music.  But when I would ask Alexa to "Play New Age", only one song, the same song, would ever play.  How odd.

Then I realized what was happening.  I assumed "Play New Age" meant play new age songs from Prime Music.  But no.  If you have a music library on Amazon (I did) that's the first place Alexa looks unless you tell her otherwise.  I had exactly one New Age song in my music library, and that's what kept playing!  Echo's default, unless you specify otherwise, is your own music.

When I told Alexa to "Play New Age from Prime" she pulled music from the intended place - Prime Music.

Moral of the story: if you have overlapping artists/genres, etc between your library and Prime Music, you may have to add to your verbal request where the music should come from. Otherwise if you have one Adele song, even though Prime may have 99, "Play Adele" will get you pretty sick of your one song...

How to Use Alexa for Amazon purchases

You can make Amazon purchases with your Echo device, merely by telling Alexa what you want. This is a cool feature, but it's hard to find good documentation on how it works. Here's my experience from a few tests.

This feature only applies to reorders -- purchasing again something you have ordered in the past -- i.e. the item can be found in your Amazon Order History.
If you try to order something new this is what happens:

Me: "Alexa, reorder Purple Shoes"
Alexa: "I didn’t find that in your past orders, so I've added Purple Shoes to your shopping list."

First test

To test a valid reorder, I decided to order again this shoehorn:

Me: "Alexa, reorder a Long Metal Shoe Horn."
Alexa: "Long metal shoe horn - the order total is $13.99."
Alexa: "Should I order it?"
Me: "Yes"
Alexa: "OK, order placed. See the Alexa app for more details."

The Alexa app then shows the result of the order, and it will also be in your Amazon order history looking like any other normal order.

Second test

To test a slightly more complicated request, I asked for a reorder of contact lens solution. First, I didn't use the complete product title, only a few words from the title. Secondly, I had multiple orders of this item in my past order history.

Here's the item:

Here's how she handled it:

Me: "Alexa, reorder Optimum Cleaning Solution."
Alexa: "I found several matching items in your order history."
Alexa: "First matching item: order total is $12.24. Should I order it?"
Me: "Yes"
Alexa: "Order placed."

I found this to be a practical, useful Echo function, albeit with the reorder limitation. And if you know what you want, it's quick and easy.

Changing Echo's Weather Location

Setting up my new Amazon Echo was pretty straight forward, except for one thing.  After Echo was all set up, I asked her: "Alexa, what's the weather?"  She then gave me the weather for...Kirkland, Washington.  Which would be fine if I lived in Washington, but doesn't do me much good in the San Francisco Bay Area.

It took a little rooting around to fix this.   I figured for sure it would be under Settings,  and settings does have listings for Sports Update, Traffic, Calendar - but no Weather.

Well it's there, but mysteriously, to update Weather, you have to click on your Echo's name, in my case "David's Echo".

Then, it's an easy-to-change location setting.  I typed in my address and zip, saved it, and Alexa now correctly reported my local weather.

Where's the Amazon Echo?

I wanted to get an Amazon Echo around Christmas time - good luck.  Amazon itself was out of stock for the next three weeks!

One option was other retail locations.  My brother found one at Home Depot of all places. 

Amazon's list of retail locations for the Echo:

• ABT: 1-888-228-5800
• Bed Bath & Beyond: 1-800-GO-BEYOND (462-3966)
• BJ's Wholesale Club (Members Only): 1-866-425-7932
• Brookstone: 1-866-576-7337
• Fred Meyer: 1-800-576-4377
• Fry's: 1-408-350-1484
• HH Gregg: 1-800-284-7344
• Home Depot: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (466-3337)
• P.C. Richard & Son: 1-877-727-1909
• Radio Shack: 1-800-843-7422
• RC Willey: 1-888-584-5156
• Sears: 1-800-697-3277
• Staples: 1-800-STAPLES (782-7537)       

This doesn't mean they are universally available at these stores.  When I called Bed, Bath & Beyond, they had never heard of the Echo.

Although the stores may be out, sometimes their online outlet may have an Echo.  I ended up getting mine at Staples' online store, three weeks ahead of when I could get it from Amazon.