Logitech has announced a new Amazon Alexa skill that allows the virtual assistant to work with its Harmony Hub to control all your smart home gadgets.
The Harmony Hub will now link with Alexa-enabled devices such as the Amazon Echo or Echo Dot, which means you’ll be able to use voice commands to start and stop Harmony Activities and control your entertainment devices.
Voice commands include “Alexa, turn on the TV,” or “Alexa, turn on Netflix”, but since Logitech’s device works with all manner of smart home products, including Philips Hue lights and Nest devices, you’ll also be able to control other aspects of your smart home.
Related: Logitech Harmony Elite review
What’s more, the virtual assistant will work with Logitech’s Activities, allowing you to control multiple devices with a simple command.
For example, you can programme a set of different actions to occur when you say “Alexa, turn on my evening activity,” allowing you to dim the lights, turn on Netflix, and adjust the temperature all at once.
It should make controlling smart home products that much easier, and won’t involve any IFTTT-type coding.
The new functionality works also works with the Amazon Dot
“This new capability is both practical and fun for our users,” said Renee Niemi, General Manager of the smart home business at Logitech.
“We’ve been working closely with Amazon to deliver robust voice control of your smart home using a Harmony hub-based remote and an Alexa-enabled device – and if you don’t have Harmony yet, just say ‘Alexa, order a Harmony Hub’ and have one delivered.”
Related: Amazon Echo vs Amazon Dot vs Amazon Tap
The new Alexa support will arrive in the US this week, while us Brits will have to wait for it to launch “in the coming months”.
To use the new functionality, launch the Alexa app on your smartphone and select Smart Home from the left-hand navigation menu, then Get More Smart Home Skills, and search for ‘Harmony.’
You’ll need a Logitech hub-based remote such as the Logitech Harmony Elite or Logitech Harmony Companion to get things working.
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Let us know if you’ll be using the new capability in the comments.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
