Update: These features will be rolling out over the next several weeks. Not all customers will have these capabilities on their Fire TV Cube right away.
Today Amazon announced that they have added Alexa Communication features to the Fire TV Cube. This means you can now use Alexa Announcements, Multi-Room Music, Follow-up Mode, and the Apple Music skill on the Fire TV Cube. You will also be able to use the Fire TV Cube to answer and make calls just like you would with an Amazon Echo.
“On Fire TV Cube there are audible and visual notifications to inform you of incoming Communications activity—both when the TV is on and off. If you are using the Fire TV Cube input when a call comes in, you will be notified with a ringtone and green visual light on the device, along with Alexa hint for how to answer. If you answer the call, it will pause or mute playback for the duration of the call and Fire TV Cube will leverage the connected external speaker for the duration of the call or Drop In. Once you are finished, media playback will resume automatically for most providers. If you answer the call while on another input (i.e. cable), it will switch to the Fire TV Cube input for the duration of the call and your media will not pause. To switch back to what you were previously watching, you will need to change the input.” Amazon said in a statement sent to Cord Cutters News.
This makes the Fire TV Cube a far more powerful Alexa speaker. In the past, it was very limited and now increasingly the Fire TV Cube can do everything an Amazon Echo can do.
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