Community projects are fantastic - just look at how strong Android's aftermarket community is, creating custom ROMs and launching entire operating systems and companies in the process. Now Amazon's getting in on the action, rebranding developer Sam Machin's Alexa in the Browser project as Echosim and bringing Alexa to everyone in the process.Echosim is a way to use an Amazon Echo directly in your browser. Built with JavaScript, it gives anyone the chance to question Alexa and experience the Echo platform without actually owning a device. This is all the more important in countries where the voice-enabled cylinders are not available, such as the UK, where I live. The system hooks into the Alexa Voice Service (AVS, an acronym very similar to AWS, Amazon's Web Services) to get the same experience as you'd get on a real, physical device. It just goes to show just how powerful the web is now.It's available for anyone to test, providing said person has an Amazon account. I've never used an Echo before, so it was interesting to ask it a range of different questions and get answers, or a 'I'm sorry, I don't understand' response. If you want to 'test your Alexa skills,' as Amazon adeptly puts it, log in with a developer account. Real-life Echo devices are available on Amazon for $179.99.Source: Amazon Mobile App Distribution Blog