30 August, 2017
Other systems like Google Home and Sonos already have these multiroom capabilities, but Amazon announced an additional feature in the works that paints the Echo as more of an accompanying device rather than just a competitor.
Amazon's new Connected Speaker APIs will enable users to control music playback on other connected smart speakers by using Alexa.
To get started, you'll need to have the Amazon Alexa app on your phone and be signed-in to it. This means you can now pump the jams from one Echo device, or a group of them, using simple voice controls.
Ever since Amazon launched the first Echo, people have been looking at Sonos - the biggest name in smart home speakers - and assuming that a competitor is coming.
Amazon also announced two sets of tools for third-party devices. Afterwards, you can simply say "Alexa, play Dave Matthews Band downstairs", and music will play from both speakers, fully synchronized so that you should have to worry about "echo" effects. Today is apparently the launch day for the Ocado Alexa app, which should be available through Amazon somewhere. It's arguably the leading brand in the sector, but doesn't now offer any digital assistant capabilities - save for a primitive workaround where users can plug in an Amazon Echo Dot to a Sonos Play:5 via an audio jack, of course. Either way, Alexa music controls are expanding and you may not need an Echo to take advantage for long.
Those who have a valid Prime Student program can sign-up for Amazon Music Unlimited at $6 for six months.
Does the feature support non-music content?
The online supermarket has moved away from traditional supermarket shopping with the help of Amazon's personal assistant technology Alexa, enabling customers to add or remove existing products in their baskets and recommending products based on what they buy.
