Amazon Alexa was initially created as a voice platform to let users order items from Amazon.com through the Internet-connected Echo device. Now it seems as if Amazon planned a much greater future for Alexa. As time goes on and technology evolves, this amazing virtual assistant is getting smarter and smarter adding new skills and features to its bag of tricks.
- Sep 09, 2019 Microsoft Launcher on Android touts To Do integration as well. And thanks to the Alexa-Cortana crossover, you can add tasks created on Echo speakers and other Alexa-powered devices.
- The convenience of Alexa, now on your PC. With Alexa on your PC, you can simplify your life and use your voice to get more done. With hands-free functionality enabled you can use your voice to just ask Alexa to set reminders, control your smart home, play music, answer questions, read the news and more, without having to turn your attention away from that important email - even when the app is running in the background or minimized.
Previously I was able to create lists in Alexa, with the same name as the ones in Microsoft todo, and they would all sync fine. 'Tasks in Hand' only syncs the Alexa out of the box lists: To-Do: syncs todo to Microsoft's default todo list; Shopping: creates a new list in Microsoft todo as ':shoppingcart: Alexa shopping list' and syncs to it.
Since its inception, Alexa has supported Google calendars and now it’s Outlook’s turn. Just recently Amazon updated Alexa so that it can sync with Microsoft’s Outlook allowing you to add, change and review events on your Outlook calendar with the help of your virtual assistant.
How to make Alexa add events to your Outlook calendar
After Alexa is synced with your Outlook account, voice commands can be used so as to make Alexa add events to your Outlook calendar. For instance, “Add [event] to my calendar for [day] at [time]” will allow you to add an event on a specific day and time. However, you should keep in mind that she only adds events to the calendar page and not to the app.
How to connect Amazon Echo with Outlook
In order to connect Amazon Echo with Outlook, start by launching the Alexa App, then logging in. Then go to settings > Calendar. On the following screen in order to link the account, choose the Microsoft Option, sign in with your Microsoft account, and check the box “Keep me signed in.” After you are signed in, Alexa will ask permission to access your Microsoft profile, calendar and other information. Once this is complete, you are ready to go.
What you can do with your Outlook calendar using Alexa
In addition to adding new events to your calendar through voice commands, users can check their calendar using simple commands like “What’s on my calendar?” Also, ask her to tell you what is next on your calendar and check your planned events on a specific day and time.
How sync Outlook with your smartphone
If you are an Outlook power user, and want to increase your productivity, managing your calendar with Alexa may not bring your productivity to a whole new level. To be more productive you should switch to managing your schedule and tasks from your smartphone. If you previously did this in Outlook, you should certainly try syncing it with your smartphone, and one of the best ways of doing that is with AkrutoSync.
Our software is tailored to meet the needs of Outlook users, enabling them to synchronize contacts, calendar, notes and even tasks with the native apps of their smartphones. Data security is one of our key priorities. That is why we designed AkrutoSync to be fast, secure and reliable software for hassle-free syncing of Outlook with any iOS or Android device currently available on the market. If you need more details on syncing Outlook data with your specific device, refer to our iOS with Outlook sync guide or Android to Outlook sync page.
Alexa Microsoft To-do Order
What ToDo (Toe Doe)
Does Alexa Work With Microsoft Todo
I have used several planner like tools out there, Outlook Tasks, ToDoist, Wunderland and Microsoft ToDo but after several years of use and playing around I have settled on Microsoft ToDo. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles as some of the others but it gives me everything I need, its free, I can share lists, and it allows me to manage and plan those tasks.
Integrate with Alexa
Several of these apps are integrated with Amazon Alexa which adds the benefit of being able to speak my list and they automatically get added to my app. I had used this functionality with ToDoist and Alexa’s shopping list. This allowed us to call out to Alexa to add stuff to our shopping list and then when we went shopping we had the list on our phones. Unfortunately MS ToDo does not have that capability embedded so I needed to add it myself.
There are several ways of doing this. I can write an Amazon Alexa skill application to integrate with the shopping list and MS ToDo, but I really don’t have the time right now to spend trying to get my head around Microsoft API (convoluted) and security. The alternative is to use some work flow orchestration tool. I have used several in the past for some other functions so I thought why not apply it here.
What did I use?
To be honest it is not one step and your done and really it is a work flow that only a hardened developer like myself would do. It works and it is keeps me from having to change my ToDo. I use IFTTT, Microsoft Flow, Gmail, and of course Alexa.
Now the video
Take a look at the video to see how I did it. I provide slides and all :). This is my first Facebook live video so please forgive the noise and newby of it all.
Have fun and be sure to like, or comment. Especially if you want more stuff like this.