The Tech Update
If you're still rocking an older Amazon Echo device with a 3.5mm aux input, you might notice things acting a bit sus. Reports are circulating that Alexa is losing the ability to control devices connected through that port. Specifically, voice commands to play or pause audio coming from a "line-in" source are officially biting the dust.
While this feels like a major L for those of us using our Echos as a wired hub, it’s not totally game over. You can still plug your device into the port, and apparently, you can still fiddle with the settings inside the app. However, the convenience of just telling Alexa to stop the music or resume your external audio is disappearing.
Why it matters
Real talk: Amazon hasn’t given an official explanation for why they’re deep-sixing this feature, and they’ve been pretty quiet when asked for comment. It’s definitely a reminder that when you rely on cloud-connected smart home gear, companies can pull the plug on features whenever they feel like it. Since Amazon hasn't put a 3.5mm port on a new Echo in years, they're lowkey nudging us toward a wireless-only world, whether we want to be there or not.
