Do you own an Echo Show smart speaker from Amazon? Does something look a little different? Amazon is rolling out new and improved information cards.
These new cards include improved graphics and make it easier to give feedback on what kind of content you like. You will find the option to give thumbs up or thumbs down to a particular story more prominently placed next to the title. This gives you the ability to help teach Alexa what topics you are more interested in.
These new cards seem heavily focused on improving the look of your Echo Show as Amazon tries to make it the centerpiece of your smart home.
Here are some examples of what these new cards look like.
The weather cards have also been updated to focus on the hourly weather forecast instead of the daily forecast. Here is what the weather forecast now looks like.
Amazon is looking for ways to make Alexa more profitable and in 2024 a paid version will be released. Exactly what features will be under the paid version remain to be seen.
Amazon said the current version of Alexa will remain free for now. However, customers still need an Amazon Prime membership to use the device. Dave Limp, formerly with Amazon, did not outline a schedule for when fees may come but ventures “it’s not decades away,” according to ARSTechnica, citing Bloomberg. Still, changes are already starting for some users.
Amazon has already shut down Alexa Guard and Alexa Guard Plus features, which cost $4.99 a month or $49.99 for a year-long membership. Instead, as of October 31, people could subscribe to Alexa Emergency Assist for $5.99 a month or $59 annually. The price is locked in for a customer’s current billing cycle and an additional year after switching over.
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