How to notify user a new version of Alexa skill available? - alexa

I have an Alexa skill. If I upload new version my Skill to store, How can I notify existing users to update the skill? Is it possible to give custom notification message?

Unlike in mobile apps, skill user doesn't have to manually update the skill. Once a user enable your skill, that user will always have the latest version of the skill.
When you start working on the next version of your skill, you will have a live version and development version. Both the live version and the development version of your skill are shown on the developer console.
When you submit your new version for certification, both versions remain in your list until the new version is certified. Once the new version is certified, it becomes live and replaces the previous live version. All the existing users will have the live/latest version of your skill. A new development version is then created so that you can continue making updates.

At the moment, there is no way to send notifications to your users.

Related

How can I update alexa skill after publishing to skill store?

I wonder what happens behind the scenes when I publish my skill into the skill store.
Does it copy all my intent json to a different secure place ? Or does it still refers the intents in my alexa console ?
I wonder this because if I want to update my skill after I publish the skill, will the skill users be impacted ?
Can I use a different skill endpoint after I publish my skill ?
When your skill is published you will have a live version and development version. Both the live version and the development version of your skill will be shown in the developer console.
You can now make changes only to the development version of the skill like: change in the interaction model, endpoint change etc. Any change in the development version requires your skill to go through the certification process again before its live again.
When you submit your new version for certification, both versions remain in your list until the new version is certified. Once the new version is certified, it becomes live and replaces the previous live version. All the existing users will have the live/latest version of your skill. A new development version is then created so that you can continue making updates.

Alexa Skill is currently disabled in development stage when Simulate from Ask CLI [Alexa SDK in NodeJS]

I have created new Skill using Ask CLI.
And deploy both skill & lambda function.
Now I was trying to test skill using ask simulate CLI command but got an error message that Skill is currently disabled in the development stage. Please enable skill in order to call this API.
However, I was still able to test it in Alexa Skill Console (web)
I was used below command for testing.
ask simulate --skill-id amzn1.ask.skill.bc889dcf-fc17-4a64-bbb3-077f6a4f5e39 --text "my newcls
skill" --locale en-US
Did you install the skill?
Check your Alexa app for the list of installed skills to see if it is there. I don't think that creating a skill automatically installs it.
You may even need to reinstall it if a 'live' version was previously installed.

Alexa skill builder beta : builds forever

Under alexa skill kit, when I tried the Skill builder beta and configured the intents and utterances and finally clicked build mode, it builds forever and never stops. It keeps spinning and I am not able to opt out of beta version too. Anyone facing the same problem? Is there a work around.
One workaround is to delete your current skill from the skill kit and re-add. The first time you enter the interaction model step, you can put in your own JSON and not go through the beta builder.

How can I continue developing on my Alexa Skill while it is in 'Certification'?

I just submitted a new version for certification and would like to start developing on my next version with new features.
But somehow - since my skill is in certification mode I can not start a new dev-version.
Is there a way to develop on a new version while it is in this long (4-7 days) certification mode?
Currently you can't modify a skill that is under certification, in general there are three statuses:
Development: The skill is available only to you. If you have enabled it for testing, you can test it on devices registered to your developer account.
Certification: Amazon is currently reviewing the skill for publication. During this time, you cannot edit the configuration.
Live: The skill has been published and is available to users. You cannot edit the configuration for live skills. To start development on an updated version, make your changes on the development version instead.
Once your skill is published to end users (Live status), your skill’s status changes to live. You cannot change the configuration for a live skill. A new development version is automatically created in the developer portal. This version has the same information as the original live version, you can use this new version to continue to work on your skill to improve it and add features.
Taken from the Amazon Alexa documentation.
To clarify what Lorena Salamanca advised in the case of the Skill status being Live, to access the new development version in the developer portal you must click the little Play-type arrow next to the Skill name - this reveals the development version neatly folded underneath.
Jurik refers to the moment prior to the approval of the certification. At this point the best alternative is to generate a copy of your skill and rename it. If you work directly on the console you will not be able to edit your original skill.

How does providing updates to an app work in WP7?

If I build an app for Windows Phone 7 and release V1 they purchase it and download it from the app store. Now let's say there's a bug or I release a new version. How do I publish a new version of the app without them having to pay for downloading a new version of the app?
You publish the update via the marketplace in the same way that you releassed the original version. (Except you say that it's an update.)
Anyone with the app installed will be told that there is an update available and given the option to install it. You can't force the update.
You can't force the upgrade on users.
All updates are free.
If you wanted a paid upgrade/update this would need to be a new app in the Marketplace. You could also remove the old version if/as necessary.
More information at http://developer.windowsphone.com/Marketplace.aspx

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