More Americans own an Amazon Echo. Get the most from it with these 'Alexa' tips and tricks

One in 5 Americans surveyed say they own an Amazon Echo smart speaker (from $39), supported by new data published by Trading Platforms, a leading education and comparison platform for online traders. This is consistent with Edison Research and NPR's Smart Audio Report findings. Google Nest is its next closest competitor with roughly 8 percent of the U.S. market share, according to Trading Platforms. Considering how many of us are confined to our homes because of COVID-19, we may be using these devices more, too. "Before the pandemic, most people used their smart speakers for getting the weather and listening to music. But over the past year, they've become our meditation guides and yoga teachers, our homework helpers and bedtime story readers, the way we discover new recipes and local takeout spots – and so much more," says Katherine Prescott, Founder and Editor of VoiceBrew, which distributes an email newsletter devoted to smart speakers, Monday through Thursday.