If you're like me, and have dozens of the best smart home devices in your house, it can be a PITA to manage them all from a crowded list in the Alexa app. Amazon's new Map View feature makes finding and controlling these gadgets easier by using your phone's camera to accurately scan your home and create a digital floor plan from the Alexa app. You can then drag and drop your devices (represented by pins) atop this map to mark their exact placement in your rooms to control them with a tap.
Map View's streamlined interface feels fresh and is easy to use — giving Alexa an edge over the device grids you'll find in Google Home and Apple HomeKit. With Map View I don't have to scroll through text or guess which smart light "Bulb 7" is — I can simply tap on the specific bulb I want to operate and dim its brightness instantly. And when I need to view a live security camera feed I can click on it to open directly into it.
