Alexa brings hands free TV to more devices. Alexas latest trick is offering a hands free TV viewing experience, that will allow consumers to turn on or off their television, change inputs, fast forward, rewind and more, without having to first invoke a specific skill, or even press a button on their remote. Instead, makers of smart home devices are today adding new entertainment controls to their own skills, which allow customers to control a variety of devices, including TVs, as well as AV receivers, IR hubs and even connected speakers. Amazon says this new capability is today available via the smart home skills from Sony, Logitech Harmony, and Broad. Link, while others from Denon, Creston, LG and Pulse Eight are coming soon. The skills are first available to U. S. users, with support for U. K. and Germany arriving in the future. The companies are using an updated Smart Home Skill API to make the hands free TV and media player control possible. Because this API already uses Amazons standardized Alexa language model, the companies dont have to build out their own voice interactions for their existing skills, Amazon explains. Alexa will understand the users speech, convert it into a command, and then send it to the skill adapter that communicates with the device in question. For consumers, what this means is that youll be able to just talk to Alexa to control your TV or other entertainment devices without having to remember to invoke a particular skill. So, for example, you could just say things like, Alexa, turn on the TV, Alexa, fast forward, Alexa, make it louder, or Alexa, switch input to Blu Ray. This is not the first time that Alexa has been used for hands free TV. In May, Dish rolled out an Alexa integration that allowed its pay TV customers using either its Hopper or Wally receiver to search for programs, change channels, rewind and fast forward television, and more, just by speaking, in much of the same way. And of course, Amazons own Fire TV platform already supports the ability to use Alexa to launch streaming apps like Netflix, as well as do things like play TV shows, movies, and more. But by bundling this entertainment control feature into Alexas existing Smart Home Skill API, hands free TV becomes just another part of the larger smart home ecosystem, while simplifying the experience for end users. For example, previously, users had to say Alexa, ask Harmony to before issuing their TV related commands, when using Logitechs skill. Z78gs1jv5LQMSthXAGMHE_eM7p7QRolzVS2BoiXKS5OYvHG_qN0tjxEE3USEbEkGc=h900' alt='Dish Tv Remote Software' title='Dish Tv Remote Software' />Now they can just talk to Alexa directly. Third party devices arent the only ones getting a smart upgrade, it seems. As spotted by the blog Android Police, a Fire TV software update changelog implied that users with Alexa powered devices, like the Echo, would be able to control playback on their Fire TV, also just by speaking. Users could use phrases like pause, resume, fast forward, and next episode the same sort of thing that was already possible via the Alexa button on the Fire TV remote. The difference is that youd be able to now skip the remote and just talk to your Echo instead. However, after the news was published, the changelog page was apparently changed to remove the reference. Weve asked Amazon to comment on this, and will update if a response is provided. The big picture here is that Alexa is becoming an ever more centralized point of control for interacting with the smart home. But its also expanding beyond what some consider to be the more superfluous, geeky aspect of using smart home devices like video doorbells or colorful, dimmable light bulbs to instead control a more commonly used device your TV. Featured Image Tony CordozaGetty Images. I/41-H%2BTCk2lL.jpg' alt='Dish Tv Remote Software' title='Dish Tv Remote Software' />If You Switch From Dish to Direc. TV, Does Dish Need to Be There for the Install It Still Works by Paula Mc. Cullough If youre changing from Dish Network to Direc. TV, a Direc. TV installer will install a new satellite dish on the roof of your home. You will also need new receivers to attach to your televisions. The Direc. TV installer will set up these receivers for you during installation. Theres no need for a Dish Network installer to be present. Dish Network Dishes. The Dish Network dishes installed on the roof of your house dont need to be removed before Direc. TV installs its new dish. Removing the Dish Network dishes will be up to you. Theres a piece on the Dish Network dish that needs to be removed and given back to Dish Network and you can easily remove this piece. When you call Dish Network to cancel your service, the representative will explain what needs to be removed and give you simple instructions on how to do this. Ever since Fire TV software update 51. Fire TV Stick software update 54. Ive been hearing from readers who have been having blank screen issues with. If You Switch From Dish to DirecTV, Does Dish Need to Be There for the Install by Paula McCullough. View and Download Dish Network 322 user manual online. Dish 322 User Guide. Receiver pdf manual download. Direc. TV Satellite Dish. The Direc. TV installer will place the new dish on your roof right along side your Dish Network dish. The Direc. TV dish is larger than the Dish Network dishes, but only one will be required rather than two as is often required when using Dish Network. Make sure the installer properly braces the new dish, especially if you live in an area prone to high winds. Setting Up Receivers. DIRECTV DISH Sports Channels ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, NBA TV, NBC Sports Network, FOX Sports 2, NFL Network, MLB Network, NHL Network, Tennis Channel and Golf. Once the new dish is in place, the installer attaches receivers to your televisions. The installer will program the remotes to control the televisions that they will be operating. Games Onet Portable Oxygen. Youll need to return the Dish Network receivers to Dish Network. When you cancel your service, Dish Network will provide you with an address of an office near you where you can return the receivers and other equipment. Acquiring a Signal. The Direc. TV installer will work with the dish to acquire the necessary satellite signals. He may appreciate a second hand to inform him of the signal strength shown on the television as he makes adjustments to the placement of the dish. Once a strong signal has been acquired, the installer will finish the setup on each receiver and give you a quick tutorial on using the remote. Ask the installer for his cellphone number in case you have issues shortly after he leaves. About the Author. Paula Mc. Cullough began freelance writing in 2. With experience in accounting and business, she writes for various online publications. Mc. Cullough holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in accounting from Chapman University. Photo Creditsphotocamera. ThinkstockComstockGetty Images.