Amazon is bringing a slight and exciting feature in its Alexa companion app for iOS and Android; in a couple of days, you don’t have to tap the blue Alexa button in your display to say a voice command. Sadly, the brand new “hands-free” mode apparently solely works in case you launch the app and constantly maintain it open on your telephone. For me, it doesn’t seem to be very helpful till I can use Alexa on my iPhone without unlocking and launching it first.

Should you actually need a phone that permits you to use Alexa as your smartphone’s voice assistant, Amazon sells a bunch of co-branded “Alexa-Built In” in smartphones the place it companions with Android producers OnePlus, Motorola and Sony to allow you to wake Alexa with just your voice. Should you’re like me and don’t wish to ditch your iPhone, you may trick Siri to launch the Alexa app: first say “Hey Siri, open the Alexa app,” unlock your iPhone, after which it’s best to be capable to ask Alexa to do issues. You don’t have to touch your iPhone in case you’ve bought Face ID; simply give it a fast look to unlock.

Arms-free voice instructions present comfort to shoppers who multitask or have their arms full as well as giving to individuals with mobility or motor impairments an extra accessible manner to make use of their gadgets. On Windows computers, Alexa has been hands-free since the final 12 months; Amazon’s Music App additionally has had a hands-free mode since 2017, permitting you to ask Alexa to play music utilizing solely your voice.