Amazon Fire TV and Alexa team-up!

UPDATED: Amazon has announced 4 new Echo devices this week! Yes, you can still use Fire TV with Alexa. Click here to read up on the new devices. Read on for updated news on Alexa and Fire TV

Amazon issued an update shortly after releasing Fire TV that allowed users to control their Amazon Fire TV with Alexa, and vice-versa. Fire TV has been re-released in a smaller package, but rest assured, Alexa can still control Fire TV.
The original update happened without much hooplah, but it was a move that quietly boosted sales. For tips on how to take advantage or the pairing, Click here to check out the official Amazon How-To. Or read our detailed Guide on how to use Alexa and Fire TV here.

All you need is a new Fire TV or one updated to Fire OS 5 and an Alexa voice remote.

Unfortunately, the first generation voice remotes for Fire TV don’t work with Alexa. But at just $40, a brand new Fire TV with Alexa Voice remote bundle is pretty affordable. And seeing as how an Alexa Voice remote alone is $30, if you need the remote, it’s totally worth it to just spring for the a brand new bundle.

Update: This October, Amazon will be releasing the Echo Plus, a redesign mid-range Echo, Echo Spot a sidekick to the bigger Echo Show, and Echo buttons along with an all-new Fire TV. Read rundown of the new features here.

The ability to tell Alexa to play Music, or display Wikipedia on your TV seems somewhat underwhelming and perhaps explains why Amazon neglected to publicize this update. However, the other side of this coin presents new (money-saving) potential for the Amazon Echo, and may hint at Amazon’s future plans for the future smart-home market.

In addition to displaying shopping lists, or playing audio books on your tv, the new update allows your Fire TV voice remote for controlling Alexa. This provides relief for many people who keep their Echo in a different room from where they typically spend their home time, or who live in a multi-level home. Using your Fire TV remote to control Alexa saves users from having to buy the Echo remote separately. This new functionality also provides the potential for Alexa to be easily accessed from any virtually any room in the home.

With Alexa’s ~~budding~~ pretty much well-proven utility as a smart home hub, Echo devices and Alexa seem poised to continue dominating the market. Enjoy your Fire TV and Alexa. I know what I”m getting for the Holidays!