Amazon lets users control Fire TV with Echo speaker

With an update, Amazon is adding a feature to its Fire TV set-top box and Fire TV Stick to control videos via voice commands that a connected Echo speaker can pick up. The feature works with the Echo and the smaller Echo Dot.

Common commands such as Play, Pause, Resume, Rewind, Fast Forward and Next Episode will work through the Echo speakers, Amazon’s update page shows. In addition, users can call up digital assistant Alexa through a speaker to search for movies or series on a Fire TV. It is also possible to start an app on a Fire TV via a voice command.

Amazon thus creates a link between its products for the home. Competitor Google has been doing this for some time. The Google Home speaker has been able to play videos via a Chromecast on TV since its release. The Fire TV update will arrive automatically to users, according to Amazon, and will be version numbered 5.2.4.1 or 5.2.4.2, depending on which product it is.