With the library of Amazon Alexa skills growing, can they become a preferred option over smartphone apps? With more households owning Alexa smart speakers, a growing number of people will need to get used to how these devices work differently to apps on smartphones. Here's a closer look at the times when it might be better to use Alexa than a smartphone app.
With Alexa skills, homeowners can see an Alexa speaker as a viable alternative to using a phone to do certain things. For example, UPS released an app that allows smartphone s to track packages they are sending or receiving. This was the only means for s to this without a computer until the company also developed an Alexa skill. Rather than pressing a screen, s speak to an Alexa device to find out about their packages.
Consumers new to the smart speaker game should soon realize doing tasks without a handheld device doesn't exactly mean it is a better way, but simply a different way. There may be times in which a person will be more comfortable choosing one device over the other for specific services, occasions, or at different times of the day. Therefore, avid smartphone s, however, it can take a while to get used to using an Alexa skill, as the absence of a screen can create some problems, although there are benefits to compensate.
The Time When Using Alexa Is Better Than An App
The primary benefit of using a smart speaker over a smartphone is that the doesn't need his or her phone, making Alexa a more convenient solution. For someone working in their office or watching TV at home, they can simply talk to a nearby Alexa device rather than get up and retrieve their phone. In addition, s can also perform a task with Alexa while doing another task on a computer. This degree of multitasking can save s a lot of time and help keep them focused on a task or objective without getting distracted by the phone.
On the other hand, smartphones offer a familiar and reliable experience, with on-screen menus making finding other options even easier and quicker. Another perk of using smartphone apps over Alexa skills is the ability to take the app anywhere a goes. In contrast, smart speakers tend to be stationary units with consumers having to buy additional ones to add skills to more rooms. For those looking to get the best out of both apps and skills, it is often better to position an Alexa-enabled smart speaker in the room where the is likely to spend the most time during the day. The bedroom can be another viable place for a smart speaker to for those times when a phone is not nearby. For most other occasions, s can count on their phone and apps, including when away from home and out of reach of an Amazon Alexa speaker.