Amazon Fire TV Cube Gets Multi-Room Audio And Follow-Up Mode

Amazon is releasing an update for its Fire TV Cube, bringing multi-room audio and more to its entertainment device. The features are arriving this week and include the maker's Follow-up Mode, which eliminates the need to repeatedly say "Alexa." The model is also getting Alexa announcements, the ability to adjust TV volume using voice commands, and more.READ: Amazon Fire TV Cube Review: Alexa, hide the remote

Amazon detailed the new update today, saying that with it Fire TV Cube owners will be able to play multi-room audio via the device. The Multi-Room Music feature can be used with speakers in various rooms to play audio in more than one part of the house.

In addition, the updates bring Alexa Announcements, a feature that enables users to broadcast a message to one's entire home. Amazon calls this a "cooler version of an intercom," and it can be used to, for example, let everyone know that dinner has arrived or a movie is about to start. Users can trigger the ability using phrases like, "Alexa, announcement," and, "Alexa, tell everyone."

Users can also now use Fire TV Cube to adjust the TV's audio by using commands like, "Alexa, volume up," as well as playing and controlling audio. Users can, for example, tell Alexa to retrieve a certain playlist or play a specific song. Amazon is working to expand the number of apps that can be controlled using voice commands; the company says it will support more than 30 apps by the end of the year.

As mentioned, the Fire TV Cube update is also bringing Follow-up Mode, which enables users to say multiple commands without using the "Alexa" command every single time. This could be useful for something like triggering a content search, then simply saying commands like "show more" and "play" without repeating "Alexa."