Bark like a dog to scare off introducers

You usually use Alexa from Amazon for play music, provide weather forecasts and respond to other household requests. But Alexa has just acquired a slightly unusual new skill: the ability to bark like a dog.

Alexa’s new grumpy comes along Alexa Guard Plus, a new subscription service launched by Amazon this week to help transform your Echo device in a home security system for $ 5 per month or $ 50 per year (after a one month free trial). Alexa Guard Plus may not be as advanced as a purpose-built security system, however the new service can help you to use better some of the smart home devices you already own.

For general emergencies, Alexa Guard Plus gives you access to a 24/7 helpline so you can ask for help by simply saying “Alexa, call for help.” That praise will forward your request to agents who can alert appropriate agencies or emergency responders.

In addition, by using the microphones built into Amazon Echo devices, Alexa Guard Plus can detect unusual sounds and create a alert on your phone and even play a siren on command. With Guard Plus, Alexa’s audio detection can even recognize specific sounds, such as smoke detectors, broken glass or carbon monoxide alerts, and then ping you over them. And in cases where an echo hears an unusual sound, you can play the recording or use the Drop In function to listen to what your echo hears in real time.

However, the real one Alexa Guard Plus party trick is that when your Echo is paired with additional smart lights or security cameras and it detects you’re not home, Alexa can turn your lights on and off to make it look like you’re really there, and even the sound of a barking dog to scare away potential intruders.

However, in addition to Alexa Guard Plus, there is a free version of Alexa Guard it lacks many of the advanced features available with a paid plan, including support for the emergency helpline, activity monitoring, and the ability for Alexa to bark or play a siren when motion or activity is detected.

In front of Subscribers to Ring Protect Plus, Alexa Guard Plus is included for free. And going forward, Amazon says Alexa Guard Plus will also be available through a number of home security partners, including Abode, Wyze, Scout Alarm and others.

So one on hand, Alexa Guard Plus can be thought of as another way for Amazon strengthen his monthly take. But at just $ 5 a month, the new security service could serve as a useful middle ground between having nothing to protect your home and installing an expensive dedicated security system, especially for home owners with multiple Echo devices.