Amazon Alexa App for Xbox Appears on Microsoft Store, Will Let Users Launch Games With Voice Command

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The Amazon Alexa app for Xbox consoles has surfaced on Microsoft Store. As per the official listing, the app will enable users to launch a game, control music, or even switch on/off the console. The application, however, is not yet available to download, and the listing says “coming soon.” To control the Xbox console via commands, users would require an additional Alexa-enabled device or an Amazon Echo speaker. Notably, Microsoft’s Xbox One and Xbox Series X and Series S consoles already feature the built-in Alexa virtual assistant that supports basic voice commands. The new app essentially brings the complete Alexa experience to Xbox users.

As per images available on the Microsoft Store, the app will further allow Xbox users to view Smart Camera footage on the screen, in addition to managing a variety of Alexa tasks such as editing shopping lists and more. To launch a game, users can use the command “Alexa, launch [Game Name].” Other commands such as, “Alexa, turn on [Xbox Name],” or “Alexa, play a song by [artist name] on [Xbox Name]” can be used as well. To view security cam footage, simply say “Alexa, show me the front door camera on [Xbox Name].”

ALSO READ: Xbox Series S Console Sold Out on Flipkart But You Can Still Try Your Luck on Amazon India

Meanwhile, the Xbox Series X and Series S consoles that were launched last year remain unavailable across many parts of the world due to a shortage in supply of parts owning to the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2021, Microsoft had said that its flagship Xbox Series X console’s supply would continue to remain short until June 2021, months after warning about its short supply until April. Notably, the toned-down Series S console appears to be available on Amazon India, and its shipment will start from March 10. To recall, there is no disk drive on the Xbox Series S so the games will have to be downloaded via the Microsoft Xbox Store. The console runs on a custom 8-core AMD Zen 2 CPU and custom AMD RDNA 2 GPU. It can play games at 1440p resolution at 60fps.



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Amazon Alexa Gets Macmillan Altura Skill to Help Users Improve Their English: How to Use

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Amazon is collaborating with the UK-based Macmillan Education to launch Altura English on Amazon Alexa. Through the partnership, Alexa-enabled Echo speakers and smart display owners can learn English with Macmillan’s “interactive” curriculum materials. The Macmillan Altura skill offers curriculum grade English learning content in storytelling format, vocabulary building exercises, interactive quizzes on listening comprehension and English grammar structured in levels 1 to 5. The storytelling and interactive formats aim to help learners improve their English reading, listening, writing, and speaking skills. To get started, just say, “Alexa, open Macmillan Altura” or “Alexa, open my English reader.”

Users can also access Macmillan Altura skill on all Amazon Echo Show smart displays, Alexa mic on Amazon shopping on their Android smartphones, or Alexa app on smartphones. The e-commerce giant explains that Macmillan Altura skill uses curriculum grade English learning content and “is designed to inspire curiosity among learners.” The skill’s simple voice interface seemingly enables users to learn at their own pace and keeps learners motivated and engaged by awarding stars and badges.

Speaking more over the development, Rajesh Pasari, Managing Director- Macmillan Education India said that the availability of Macmillan Altura English Skill on Amazon Alexa is a major step towards building learner autonomy. “Harnessing the power of technology, it will give learners guided access to a bank of carefully curated resources, to explore the topics of interest. It will also encourage learners to build language skills without any kind of peer pressure,” Pasari in the statement added. Amazon Alexa India executive Puneesh Kumar lauded the partnership with Macmillan Education and said that the e-commerce company looks forward to feedback from Alexa users. “Learning English is an aspirational need for millions of learners across the country, and we are excited to introduce this innovation in Education,” he added.

Macmillan Education is part of Springer Nature, leading global research, educational and professional publisher. Springer Nature is one of the largest publishers of academic books and journals.



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