Big Push From Amazon On Alexa Built-In And Alexa App Add-On?

[Jim Lewis]

Although I've owned my Lightning for a year and a half, today is the first day I've heard BLIP from Amazon about Alexa in my vehicle.

I got the following e-mail:

AFAIK I've never actively added my Lightning to my Amazon GARAGE (I didn't even know such existed).

If you follow the Get Started link in the e-mail I received, there is an impressive list of vehicles from many OEMs where Alexa either comes built into the vehicle or can be added via the Alexa app: Vehicles with Alexa | Amazon.com

I regularly use my Lightning's built-in Alexa to open and close my garage door via a Meross Wi-Fi garage door controller and, at night, to turn the outside garage lights on and off by voice control through a TP-Link HS200 switch. My wife always laughs at me as I cover my mouth when I recite the 4-digit pin necessary to open the garage door via Alexa.

Edit_Update: On checking past e-mails, I did find an Amazon reminder after factory resetting my truck on 6/4/24, thanking me for setting up Alexa (again) and reminding me that I could stream Amazon music in my truck via Alexa. Before that, all the notices about Alexa were from Ford about the advantages of Ford's Connectivity services, where Alexa connectivity was mentioned as a benefit.

 

[EvanM]

I have the same use case for Alexa, except the pin makes it kind of silly. By the time we’re done conversing about the pin, I’m home and in range for the physical button.

 

[Jim Lewis]

By the time we’re done conversing about the pin, I’m home and in range for the physical button.

I can open the garage door from anywhere, blocks away, if I want to. But I live in a cul-de-sac with a large island in the middle. I drive around the island against traffic to back up my driveway as the driveway meets the cul-de-sac circle at an angle. It takes me more time to back up the driveway than it does to open the garage door upon entering the cul-de-sac and preparing to back up. I don't have any physical button outside the garage door. A wireless opener of some sort is required.

 

[bmwhitetx]

I have the same use case for Alexa, except the pin makes it kind of silly. By the time we’re done conversing about the pin, I’m home and in range for the physical button.

It may be like door unlock - no need for a conversation. Try "Open garage door with PIN 1234". If you don't include the PIN in the original request, then yeah, she'll ask for that. That's the way door unlock and remote start work.

 

[Scorpio3d]

I only use Amazon Music on my iPhone/Carplay, even though I have Alexa at home and prime! I use the Home link on the truck for my garage door, but also have an app on the phone if needed. I try to spread out my data so nobody has too much info about me! Even though they are all listening and tracking anyway.

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