Logitech ZeroTouch Brings Alexa to Your Car

Logitech ZeroTouch was created to keep everyone’s eyes on the road, not the Android-powered smartphone at the center of their daily routine. Now the accessory maker takes that task to new levels with a software update that lets anyone use what appears to be the most popular digital assistant available today: Amazon’s Alexa.

Logitech ZeroTouch devices allow users to interact with their smartphones in the same way as Amazon Echo and EchoDot devices at home. It actually seems like the easiest way to bring all the conveniences of Alexa with you in a car.

Logitech announced updates to its ZeroTouch app earlier this week. The software update, which adds Alexa and a few other features, is free. ZeroTouch docks come in two forms. One is for smartphone owners who prefer to dock their phones in their control panel. The other is for mounting your smartphone on a vent. The design that plugs into the vents is $59.99. It comes in red, black and white. The model, which attaches to the dashboard and allows users to position their screen at any angle, is $79.99. Both models are internet shop.

When paired with a compatible Android smartphone, ZeroTouch will now give users access to 8,000 Alexa skills. Skills are small pieces of code that allow users to add new features to Alexa. For example, there is an NPR One Alexa skill that starts playing the latest hourly news updates automatically. It is best when compared to apps that users download on a smartphone. Alexa in ZeroTouch can also work directly with other smart home products. For example, Logitech mentions checking thermostats in their press release for the software update. It is also mentioned that users can lock their doors with a voice command.

Traditional tasks where one can rely on Alexa are also supported. With ZeroTouch slots, users can add groceries to their shopping lists, get the latest news and order from Amazon. One thing the Logitech ZeroTouch hills don’t seem to do is let Alexa listen for a keyword. Users place their hands on their smartphone’s screen to have the system listen to your commands. It’s not quite as seamless as something like Google Assistant, but for those already heavily invested in Alexa, the sacrifice is well worth it.

ZeroTouch basically comes in several parts. There are magnetic disks that hold the user’s smartphone in place during car journeys, the mount itself, and the free ZeroTouch app available on the Google Play Store. Beyond Alexa integration, the contactless car system now reads emails aloud and allows users to reply to them. Text messaging is also supported. Both are great features to have if the inside entertainment system doesn’t support them.

Today, only ZeroTouch apps for the United States and the United Kingdom have Alexa integration. Amazon recently brought the personal assistant to the UK and Germany.

Logitech is the latest product in a long line of companies to take off with Alexa. Feeling that something was right, Amazon quietly worked with hardware manufacturers to bring Alexa to all kinds of devices. All this work seems to have paid off. Televisions, refrigerators, and fitness bands with Alexa were announced at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year. Huawei has announced that Siri will be integrated into Alexa’s Mate 9 smartphone, just as it is on Apple’s iPhone.