Tech Guide

How to get the most out of your new Amazon Echo

Key Points
  • If you bought an Amazon Echo on Prime Day, you should read our how-to guides.
  • We'll teach you how to access SirisXM or use your Echo to call other devices.
  • We'll even show you how to get a daily news briefing customized to you.

said the Echo was among its best selling devices during this week's Prime Day.

If you bought one, we'll give you some tips on how to get the most out of it.

In fact, we've been building a database covering some of the basics and even some of the new features that have launched for the Amazon Echo in recent weeks. If you have a new Echo, check out some of these.

Here's how to get daily news briefings from your Amazon Echo

Todd Haselton | CNBC

Follow this guide and you'll soon be able to ask Alexa, the Echo smart assistant, to read off your daily news briefing. Yep, that means you can wake up every morning and hear the top business headlines from news networks including CNBC.

Here's how to make calls with the Amazon Echo

Follow this guide and you'll be able to call other Amazon Echo units and smartphones with the Alexa app installed. You'll be able to leave voice messages or chat in real time. If you have an Amazon Echo Show, you'll even be able to video chat with other units.

How to add Sirius XM to your Amazon Echo

Next to Spotify, SiriusXM is my favorite music service. Support for the Amazon Echo was added just last month, and we already have a guide on how to add it. Follow along and soon you'll be able to say "Alexa, play Classic Vinyl on SiriusXM."

Ask CNBC for the latest news

Using the device's skills, which you can install from your Alexa smartphone app, you'll be able to activate new functions on the Amazon Echo. That includes using the CNBC skill, which we launched last year. Simply say "Alexa, ask CNBC how the markets are doing," or "Alexa, ask CNBC for the stock price of Amazon."