Alexa can no longer control whatever you've got plugged into your Echo speaker's AUX port.
Amazon sent an email to Echo owners this week announcing the change, according to a screenshot shared by a Reddit user. The email reads: "This is a reminder that as of today, voice commands to control your Echo device's Aux input are no longer available. Requests like 'Alexa, play from line in' or 'Alexa, set aux input' will no longer work." An Amazon spokesperson confirmed the change to Ars Technica. Amazon has not explained publicly why the feature was removed.
It's a minor feature, but it's a useful reminder that voice commands bolted onto a smart speaker aren't permanent. Amazon can switch one off remotely, with no hardware change and no say from the owner. Anyone who used the AUX jack to patch in a turntable or an old CD player now has to get up and press a button, which rather defeats the purpose of owning a voice assistant in the first place.
It's a small cut, but on hardware people paid for and keep plugged in, it's one more reminder of how little control owners actually have over features they already bought.