Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

You can now scan bar codes for your grocery list with the Amazon Echo Show

 

Amazon.com announced their fourth-quarter sales are up 21% to $87.4 billion and, interestingly, they revealed that people talk to Alexa billions of times per week. While Alexa’s abilities haven’t reached the billions yet, they are now one feature closer. In addition to being able to give medication reminders and order refills, order pizza, pay utility bills, and purchase fuel at more than 11,500 Exxon and Mobil stations, the smart assistant can scan, too. Now when you need to add a new item to your grocery list, you can scan the item’s bar code by holding it up in front of your Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8. This new feature was announced in the What’s New with Alexa Monthly Roundup for January.

Barcode on a cookie pack
Alina Bradford/Digital Trends

To get started, all you need to do is say, “Alexa, scan this to my shopping list.” Then, just hold the bar code on the package up to the screen. Alexa may have some problems recognizing some private label products, but that isn’t a problem. You can still add the product to your list using voice commands.

Recommended Videos

When’s the best time to use the scanner skill? You’ll probably find it most useful when you’re trying to add an item that is very specific and hard to describe. It’s also a good choice when Alexa is being difficult and can’t understand your request.

This new feature will go hand-in-hand with the change that was made to Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market back in October 2019. Prime members get these services without the extra charge, giving more than 2,000 U.S. cities and towns free two-hour grocery delivery.

This isn’t the first time Alexa has been able to recognize products using an Alexa-compatible device camera. The Show and Tell feature that was rolled out in 2019 allows visually impaired users to hold up items in front of their Echo Show cameras and ask, “Alexa, what am I holding?” Once Alexa has identified an object it then announces verbally what it is. This feature can be handy for identifying medications, spices, and other items where bottles can be similar to the touch, but the contents can be very different.

Want to know about more cool Alexa skills? Here’s our list of the best Alexa skills.

Alina Bradford
Alina Bradford has been a tech, lifestyle and science writer for more than 20 years. Her work is read by millions each month…
Amazon’s Echo family expands with an on-wall hub, smart glasses, and more
The Amazon Echo Frames on display at the 2023 Amazon fall devices event.

Another year, another batch of new devices from Amazon's fall event. This year's showcase had plenty of newly announced gear and improvements to some much-loved Alexa-powered products. From an all-new interactive touchscreen display for controlling all your smart home devices to a fresh set of Echo shades, many of these cutting-edge gadgets are already available for preorder. Here's all the hardware we found out about today.
The all-new Echo Hub

 

Read more
What does the Amazon Echo yellow ring color mean?
Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) LED light ring

The Amazon Echo lineup now encompasses a wide variety of products. Some of these are large smart displays that fill up a good chunk of wall space, others are tiny companions designed for a nightstand or end table. But regardless of how they look, most Echo devices are equipped with an LED indicator light. This can flash a variety of colors depending on the status of your Echo device. But what does the yellow ring color mean on your Amazon Echo? It’s a question most users ask after seeing the light for the first time, as it’s not a common sight.

Thankfully, a yellow light on Amazon Echo isn’t anything to worry about. You can also get it to disappear with one simple voice command. Here’s a look at what the Amazon Echo’s yellow ring color means and how you can clear it.
What does the yellow ring look like exactly?
Your Echo device will pulse a yellow color that will die down for a few seconds, then pulse again. This may or may not be accompanied by an audio alert, one that's easy to miss if no one is around paying attention, which is why it’s common to be surprised by a yellow pulse from your Echo.

Read more
The best Amazon Echo tips and tricks
Echo 4th Gen on table.

Amazon Echo devices have only grown more popular over the years, with a long list of smart speakers and smart displays now gracing its catalog. These let you do all sorts of useful things, like check your calendar, control your smart lights, or automate other connected smart devices. And while most Echo users know the basics, there are a lot of useful features that are never fully explained while setting up your Echo. For example, you can create playlists through voice commands, enable secondary skills, and even change Alexa's name or tweak your privacy settings.

There are a lot of cool ways to use Alexa’s versatility. Here’s a look at the best tips and tricks for Amazon Echo, allowing you to make full use of its built-in smart assistant.
Change Alexa's name or create a nickname for her to call you
Once you've got your Alexa device up and running on your Wi-Fi network, there are still a few more things you might want to do before diving in, so be sure to head over to echo.amazon.com or download the accompanying smartphone app.

Read more