Barking like a dog to scare the introducers

You usually use Amazon’s Alexa for play music, provide weather forecasts, and respond to other household requests. But Alexa just got a new somewhat unusual skill: the ability to bark like a dog.

Alexa’s new look comes in handy Alexa Guard Plus, which is a new subscription service launched this week from Amazon to help convert your Echo device in a home security system $ 5 a month or $ 50 a year (after a one-month free trial). Alexa Guard Plus may not be as sophisticated as a dedicated and specifically designed security system the new service can help you make better use of it some of the smart home devices you already have.

For general emergencies, Alexa Guard Plus gives you access to a 24/7 helpline so you can request it. for help simply by saying “Alexa, ask for help”. That praises will direct your request to agents who can alert the appropriate agencies or first aid.

In addition, by using built-in microphones on Amazon Echo devices, Alexa Guard Plus can detect unusual sounds and send a alert on your phone and even sound a siren on the remote. With Guard Plus, Alexa’s audio detection is even able to recognize specific sounds like smoke alarms, glass breakage, or carbon monoxide warnings, and then ping them. And in cases where an Eco makes an unusual noise, you can play the recording or use the Drop In function to hear what your Eco hears in real time.

However, the real thing Alexa Guard Plus The party trick is that when your Echo is paired with smart lights or extra security cameras and detects you’re not home, Alexa can turn the lights on and off to make it look like you’re really there and even play sound of a dog barking to scare away possible intruders.

In addition to Alexa Guard Plus, however, there is a free version of Alexa Guard it lacks many of the advanced features available with a paid subscription, such as emergency telephone support, activity monitoring, and Alexa’s ability to bark or sound a siren when motion or activity is detected .

To Ring Protect Plus subscribers, Alexa Guard Plus is included for free. And in the future, Amazon says Alexa Guard Plus will also be available through several home security partners, including Abode, Wyze, Scout Alarm and others.

So one of the hands of Alexa Guard Plus could be seen as another way for Amazon strengthen your monthly take. But at just $ 5 a month, your new security service could be a useful point of interest between having nothing to protect your home and install an expensive dedicated security system, especially for homeowners with various Echo devices.