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Amazon Will Soon Release Echo Dot Kids Edition The Echo Dot Kids Edition will differ from earlier Dot models and come in a colorful case, along with an updated Alexa voice assistant. “FreeTime on Alexa” will reply differently and reward children for politeness. It will also allow parents the ability to schedule when the Echo can be used. Alexa will also deliver more child-friendly content, like give access to over 300 children’s books from Audible, as well as family radio stations from iHeart Radio and trivia games from Disney and National Geographic. Children won’t be able to shop with Alexa or place phones calls. They also won’t be able to link with other apps. The Echo Dot for Kids launches May 9 for $80 and a year of “FreeTime Unlimited costs $2.99 a month for Prime members.

Media: Wibbitz

NEW YORK (AP) — Alexa's new missions: encourage kids to ask questions more politely, and get them to bed on time.

The voice assistant that lives inside Amazon's Echo speakers will soon thank kids for shouting out questions "nicely" if they say "please." The new response is part of a kid-friendly update that's coming next month, giving parents more control over the voice assistant. Adults can set Alexa to go silent at bedtime, block music with explicit lyrics and even call kids down to dinner.

"Gone are the days of shouting up the stairs," Amazon said in a statement Wednesday.

In addition, Amazon will sell an $80 Echo Dot aimed at kids that comes with colorful cases and a 2-year warranty, promising to replace the device if it breaks. Echo Dots typically sell for $50.

  • The voice assistant that lives inside Amazon’s Echo speakers will soon thank kids for shouting out questions “nicely” if they say “please.” The new response is part of a kid-friendly update that’s coming next month, giving parents more control over the voice assistant.” KEEP CLICKING TO SEE TRICKS & TASKS ALEXA CAN DO  FOR YOU==> Photo: Elaine Thompson, AP / Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Photo: Elaine Thompson, AP
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The voice assistant that lives inside Amazon’s Echo speakers will soon thank kids for shouting out questions “nicely” if they say “please.” The new response is part of a kid-friendly update that’s coming next month, giving parents more control over the voice assistant.”

KEEP CLICKING TO SEE TRICKS & TASKS ALEXA CAN DO  FOR YOU==>
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The voice assistant that lives inside Amazon’s Echo speakers will soon thank kids for shouting out questions “nicely” if they say “please.” The new response is part of a kid-friendly update that’s

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Photo: Elaine Thompson, AP
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Photo: Elaine Thompson/ AP
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Amazon Echo - Jam out
Ask Alexa to play some jazz, or tell her you want to space out and listen to the Grateful Dead and she'll start streaming music from the Amazon Prime library of tracks. It can also use Spotify and Pandora when asked. Alexa will also connect to the radio if wanted, via the TuneIn app. 
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Amazon Echo - Jam out
Ask Alexa to play some jazz, or tell her you want to space out and listen to the Grateful Dead and she'll start streaming music from the Amazon Prime library of tracks. It can also use
... more
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives
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Amazon Echo - Read books for you

Don't have time to read "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"? The Audible and Kindle apps will dial up an audiobook for you to listen to.

Amazon Echo - Read books for you

Don't have time to read "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"? The Audible and Kindle apps will dial up an audiobook for you to listen to.

Photo: Xx
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Amazon Echo - What is Jeopardy? 
If tell Alexa to enable "Jeopardy" she will start asking you questions not unlike what are asked on the hit game show. Just answer in the form of a question. 
Amazon Echo - What is Jeopardy? 
If tell Alexa to enable "Jeopardy" she will start asking you questions not unlike what are asked on the hit game show. Just answer in the form of a question. 
Photo: HONS
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Amazon Echo - Start a timer 
Alexa will start a timer for you. Maybe it's for a certain naughty kid's timeout or you are trying to keep tabs on a dish cooking in the oven. 
Amazon Echo - Start a timer 
Alexa will start a timer for you. Maybe it's for a certain naughty kid's timeout or you are trying to keep tabs on a dish cooking in the oven. 
Photo: Courtesy Of Big State Home Buyers
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Amazon Echo - Call other Alexas
You can call other Alexas with the Echo. This could be a lot of fun or very annoying. Note: Google Home can do this too...
Amazon Echo - Call other Alexas
You can call other Alexas with the Echo. This could be a lot of fun or very annoying. Note: Google Home can do this too...
Photo: Houston Chronicle
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Amazon Echo - A friend in the kitchen
Forget a simple recipe? Alexa will walk you through a recipe. It won't even yell at you for licking the spoon. 
Amazon Echo - A friend in the kitchen
Forget a simple recipe? Alexa will walk you through a recipe. It won't even yell at you for licking the spoon. 
Photo: Hero Images/Getty Images/Hero Images
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Amazon Echo - Get fit
Ask the Alexa to start a seven-minute workout and it will put you through your paces. Since it doesn't have eyes it won't see you running to the fridge for an extra piece of pie. 
Amazon Echo - Get fit
Ask the Alexa to start a seven-minute workout and it will put you through your paces. Since it doesn't have eyes it won't see you running to the fridge for an extra piece of pie. 
Photo: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle
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Amazon Echo and Google Home - App-friendly 
With an array of apps these devices can be paired with your smartphone to control things like lights, air conditioning, and audio. Note: these things need to already be smart-technology enabled. 
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Amazon Echo and Google Home - App-friendly 
With an array of apps these devices can be paired with your smartphone to control things like lights, air conditioning, and audio. Note: these things need to already
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Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, STF
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Google Home - Wake you up in the know 
Users can say 'good morning' to the Google Home and it can give you the daily headlines, weather, and even the traffic conditions to your next destination. 
Google Home - Wake you up in the know 
Users can say 'good morning' to the Google Home and it can give you the daily headlines, weather, and even the traffic conditions to your next destination. 
Photo: KARL-JOSEF HILDENBRAND, AFP/Getty Images
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Google Home - Play music 
Just like the Echo, the Google Home can also play music on demand. It won't even judge you. 
Google Home - Play music 
Just like the Echo, the Google Home can also play music on demand. It won't even judge you. 
Photo: Waring Abbott/Getty Images
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Google Home - Find your phone 
Ever been at home and can't find your phone? Tell Google to call your phone and it will ring it so you can retrieve, hopefully no worse for wear. 
Google Home - Find your phone 
Ever been at home and can't find your phone? Tell Google to call your phone and it will ring it so you can retrieve, hopefully no worse for wear. 
Photo: Keri Blakinger
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Google Home - Go back in time 
Ask the Google Home to tell you about the news on a given date in time and it will scan a New York Times page -- dating back to 1851 -- and tell you who was bombing who or who was topping the box office. 
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Google Home - Go back in time 
Ask the Google Home to tell you about the news on a given date in time and it will scan a New York Times page -- dating back to 1851 -- and tell you who was bombing who or who was
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Photo: NBC, Joe Lederer/NBC
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Google Home - Answer any question for you 
According to many users the Google Home is smarter than the Alexa, able to answer most any question within a flash. Get ready to settle some bets and finish homework assignments. 
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Google Home - Answer any question for you 
According to many users the Google Home is smarter than the Alexa, able to answer most any question within a flash. Get ready to settle some bets and finish homework
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Photo: Richard T. Nowitz/Getty Images/age Fotostock RM
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Google Home - Play '20 Questions' 
An excellent time waster, users can play '20 Questions' with the machine. Yes, it might be kind of creepy. 
Google Home - Play '20 Questions' 
An excellent time waster, users can play '20 Questions' with the machine. Yes, it might be kind of creepy. 
Photo: HANDOUT
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Google Home - Keep you laughing 
Had a rough day? Tell the Google Home to tell you a joke. Don't worry, it can take a tough crowd. 
Google Home - Keep you laughing 
Had a rough day? Tell the Google Home to tell you a joke. Don't worry, it can take a tough crowd. 
Photo: Tim Bullard, © Houston Chronicle
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Google Home - Finder of lost objects, not just the phone 
Say you want to hide something important but don't want to forget. You can tell the Google Home where, say, your prized 1989 TV Guide is or maybe your passport are located in the home. Later, ask the Google Home where it is and it will cough up the location. 
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Google Home - Finder of lost objects, not just the phone 
Say you want to hide something important but don't want to forget. You can tell the Google Home where, say, your prized 1989 TV Guide is or maybe your
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Photo: YouTube
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Google Home - Learn new voices 
Google Home can learn the voices in the home and restrict things from unauthorized users. This could keep your mischievous 8-year-old from ordering a pizza when your back is turned. 
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Google Home - Learn new voices 
Google Home can learn the voices in the home and restrict things from unauthorized users. This could keep your mischievous 8-year-old from ordering a pizza when your back is
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Photo: DreamWorks Animation, HONS
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Amazon's hope is that the changes will get more parents to put Echo speakers in their children's bedrooms. Amazon and others have targeted kids before to cultivate the next generation of customers: Amazon has sold kid-friendly tablets for years and Fitbit will soon start selling activity trackers for 8-year-olds and older.

Seattle-based Amazon.com Inc. said the free updated software, called FreeTime, will start to roll out May 9.