Amazon announced that starting today, all compatible Fire TV devices across the United States will receive a free upgrade to Alexa+. The new version of the voice assistant works without a separate app, subscription or Amazon Prime membership.
What Alexa+ adds
Unlike the original Alexa, which required fairly direct commands, Alexa+ can handle natural‑language conversations and follow‑up questions. Users can describe the type of movie they want, refine results without repeating the request, and receive personalized recommendations that the company says are chosen more than 40% of the time.
Beyond entertainment, Alexa+ can control compatible smart‑home devices, display Ring camera feeds, and answer general questions while you watch TV. The feature is built into Fire TV Sticks, Fire TV Cubes and select smart‑TV models that support far‑field voice detection.
How to use Alexa+ on your Fire TV
For Fire TV Sticks, press and hold the Alexa or microphone button on the Alexa Voice Remote, speak your request, then release the button. Hands‑free control requires a linked Echo device. The Fire TV Cube includes a four‑microphone array that hears the wake word from across the room, allowing true hands‑free operation.
Smart‑TV models vary; some support native hands‑free Alexa while others rely on the remote or a paired Echo. When Alexa+ appears, there is no special mode to enable—just start talking.
Privacy controls
Amazon provides settings to manage voice recordings, transcripts and smart‑home device history. Users can delete stored data or set it to auto‑delete after three or 18 months. A microphone‑off button or switch disables the built‑in microphones, and the remote’s microphone can still be used for intentional voice commands.
Follow‑up Mode, which lets you issue multiple requests without repeating the wake word, can be turned off via device settings or by saying, “Alexa, turn off Follow Up Mode.”
Device options
The latest Fire TV Stick HD supports Wi‑Fi 6 and HD streaming, while the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus adds 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos. Both rely on the Alexa Voice Remote for voice control, with hands‑free functionality available only through a linked Echo. The Fire TV Cube remains the best choice for users who want true hands‑free Alexa without reaching for a remote.
For more details on compatible models and how to manage Alexa privacy settings, visit Amazon’s support pages.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
