Amazon has this week announced the roll-out of a new multi-room music feature to its Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Show devices. Enabling users to now synchronise their music playback across multiple Echo devices.
Streaming music from Amazon Music, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and Pandora, with support for Spotify and SiriusXM available shortly says Amazon. Using the Amazon Alexa App simply create groups of Echo devices and then simply ask Alexa to play on those devices.
For instance if you create a group of Echoes called “downstairs” you can then ask Alexa play your favourite playlist “downstairs”. Amazon is also rolling out new tools to enable AVS device makers to integrate with Amazon Alexa Multi-Room Music, which are expected to be available early next year. Amazon explains more :
These new tools enable device makers with connected audio systems to control music playback using Alexa. A customer can then use any Alexa-enabled device – for example an Echo Dot – to play music throughout their home on their connected audio systems. Amazon is excited to be working with leading brands on this offering, including Sonos, Bose, Sound United, and Samsung.
“Alexa set the standard for voice in smart homes, so working with Amazon to bring voice control to Sonos for the first time was an obvious choice,” said Antoine Leblond, VP of Software, Sonos. “This has been a close collaboration from the beginning as we’ve worked together to combine the magic of Alexa with the seamless multi-room audio capabilities that Sonos pioneered. We’re proud of the work we’ve done together as Amazon’s first multi-room partner – all you’ll need is an Alexa-enabled device and playing music out loud on Sonos will be as easy as saying ‘Alexa, play music in the living room.’”
“Sound United is constantly striving to provide consumers with the best possible user experience. With AI voice services simplifying how we control our home environments and products, we’re excited Denon, Marantz, and HEOS customers will be some of the first to experience Alexa multi-room audio compatibility and the power of voice control,” said Kevin Duffy, CEO and president, Sound United. “Soon, users will be able to play their favorite song, alter the volume, or change an input in any room where our connected products are placed, simply by asking Alexa to do so.”
Source: Amazon