Amazon Alexa : big update of the application!

News July 28, 2020 3 minutes
UpdateJuly 28, 2020

Amazon just announced a major overhaul of the application Alexa. And, for once, while it has just been announced yesterday in the United States, the update is already effective in France! More than a little facelift, the teams ofAmazon have strongly redesigned the UX or user experience - the user experience in French - of our favorite application. Let's take a closer look!

Don't go for the Play Store or the App Store, this is a server side update. Alexa, we remind you, is in the cloud. The update is being rolled out gradually, it will appear on its own ... if you are wise!

Alexa : a welcome redesign of the application

The app has evolved a lot in two years, to say the least, but we haven't seen anything like it for 18 months. Be careful, you risk being a little lost, only at the beginning because, as you will see, the application is much more pleasant to use!

Here are the new features:

  1. Complete your tasks on the home page: add items to your shopping lists, see upcoming reminders in the blink of an eye, a side swipe lets you delete items. It's super practical!
  2. Discover the possibilities ofAlexa : our voice assistant is constantly learning and the new home page will keep you informed of news, after Les Alexiens of course…
  3. Plus menu: this is howAmazon name it, this new menu always brings you more information, we will come back to it ...
  4. Button Alexa : it now takes place at the top. If this may seem impractical at first, it is not because it is not used much since the application offers Alexa hands-free!

Better thought-out and more efficient navigation

After a few minutes of use, we are totally convinced : navigation is much smoother because it is more natural, not to say logical.

The traditional "Hamburger menu", usually placed at the top left, disappears and gives way to the "Plus Menu" located at the bottom right. Those who, like us, use a smartphone large enough with one hand will appreciate: no need to use both hands anymore.

The little extra is undoubtedly the slide to the left, or swipe left in original version, which allows delete an event with a gesture, a timer, etc ... The "things to try" are relegated to the bottom of the main screen, which will no longer bother the "old". Indeed, if this reminder is welcome when we discover Alexa, it is quickly limited, especially since a simple search on the web allows you to discover everything about your new assistant thanks to our home automation tutorials with Alexa. We advise you, if you have not already done so, to start by reading our guide Alexa et Amazon Echo !

A lot of work has been done on the UX: the application is simple to use, the functionalities easy to find, we no longer get lost in the menus… Bravo to the teams ofAmazon ! Those of Google would do well to take the seed ... Nevertheless, something is still missing: a "Light mode" and therefore a clearer version, why not white and blue, of the application Alexa. If, at Les Alexiens, we are rather fans of "Dark modes" much more relaxing for the eyes, it is indeed a strong demand on the community of users ofAlexa and a criticism often made to this application which for some remains too dark.

 

Tags
Alexien Modo
More
Fascinated by Alexa since the day I received it in beta test, I gradually became passionate about the subject, before deciding to go further by creating a site with Jean-Christophe. An activity that allows me to quench my thirst for new technologies and share my discoveries about the nicest of communities: Les Alexiens.