7 Can't-Miss Tips for Your New Amazon Echo (Or Other Alexa Device)

Amazon's Echo voice assistants have gone from expensive parlor trick of a gadget to the perfect stocking stuffer, so you probably weren't surprised to see one of these smart home speakers wrapped up with your name on it. Well, maybe be a little surprised. The Echo is a perfect first step or addition to a smart home, and taking advantage of some of its lesser-known features could take you from smart home skeptic to convert faster than you think. Thankfully if you have a friend or family member with a name that sounds anything like "Alexa," you can change the "wake word" that activates your new voice assistant. Download the Alexa app to your smartphone, then navigate to the Devices tab.