Skip to content
Bramble

Technology

Amazon ends Alexa voice control of AUX input on older Echo speakers

Amazon has disabled Alexa voice commands that controlled the 3.5mm AUX input on some older Echo speakers. The physical port still works, and Amazon gave no reason for the change.

2 outlets · 2L · 0C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: Ars Technica
Image: The Verge

1 / 2

The story, neutrally told

Left · 1Amazon has disabled Alexa voice control of devices plugged into the AUX port of some Echo smart speakers. Left · 2Users reported receiving an email from Amazon saying that voice commands such as “Alexa, play from line in” or “Alexa, set aux input” would no longer work; a Reddit user shared a screenshot of the email. Left · 2Ars Technica reported that an Amazon spokesperson confirmed the change, while The Verge said Amazon gave it no on-the-record statement.

Left · 1According to Ars Technica, the change affects only older models with a 3.5mm port: the Echo Plus 2nd Gen (2018), Echo 3rd Gen (2019), Echo Studio 1st Gen (2019) and Echo 4th Gen (2020). Left · 2The physical AUX inputs still work, and users can still enable or disable the input in the Alexa app; Bluetooth connections are also unaffected. Left · 2Amazon’s spokesperson said very few people use voice commands for AUX audio, but did not answer Ars Technica’s questions about why the feature was removed or how many users are affected; the email gives no explanation either.

Left · 1Ars Technica suggested the removal may make Alexa easier to maintain as Amazon invests in the subscription-based Alexa+; this is the outlet's inference, not Amazon's stated reason. Left · 2Both outlets noted that Amazon removed another Echo feature last year, the option to stop voice recordings being sent to Amazon.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left2 outlets

Framing
Both outlets treat it as another instance of Amazon taking away a feature from devices people already own, with no stated reason. Ars Technica leads; The Verge follows and credits it.
Emphasis
Lack of explanation, the earlier removal of the voice-recording opt-out, and that the physical port and app control still work.
Leaves out or plays down
Neither gives Amazon's reasoning beyond the claim that few users are affected; neither quantifies affected users.
Charged language
“kills”“enshittification”
For example
“it’s frustrating to see a company remove a feature from purchased devices that users may have relied on for years and without a stated reason.” — Ars Technica
“The message does not include any explanation for why the feature was removed.” — The Verge

Centre0 outlets

No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.