Ever since Amazon unveiled its key hardware player, the Amazon Echo, people went crazy. There wasn’t quite anything like it, especially in the smart voice-enabled wireless speaker category. Fast forward two and a half years since first Prime and invited members laid their hands on it and there is a new sheriff in town. May 2017 brought us Amazon Echo Show, a brand new Echo device that almost acts as a second-gen Echo. It works just like its older brother for the most part, albeit with one major distinguishing feature.
With Echo Show, Amazon gives Alexa, its digital assistant, the touchscreen it needed to make it complete. Not that anything was wrong with Echo – it’s a fine piece of modern tech craftsmanship. Still, there was always this feeling it was missing that visual aspect to fully utilize Alexa. While saying that a speaker is missing a touchscreen sounds absurd at first, Echo is no ordinary speaker. In that regard, neither is the Echo Show and certainly not “just” an Echo with a display. No sir/mam, which is why we’ll touch upon how the device works and what it brings to the table. Literally.
Amazon Echo Show Features
As mentioned before, Echo Show works in much the same way as the original does. Hence, those familiar with how the entire Echo line works will feel at home with Show. For those that lack those insights, here’s a quick tour. To get started, you simply say the “wake word” and then speak to Alexa naturally. The device is set to respond to the wake word “Alexa” by default, but you can use the Alexa app to change it at any time. And don’t worry – Amazon improved the voice tech behind Alexa to better recognize your voice only. There might be an occasional activation from a “third-party person” if the name Alexa comes into play, but those are now very rare. Plus, that’s why there is an option to change the wake word and minimize such situations.
At the first glance, it’s obvious the built-in screen adds lots of new functionality. Understandably, the visual aspect is the main selling point of Echo Show. The 7″ touchscreen display will provide users more information upon their Alexa commands then just listening to the audio report. For instance, a full weather report will be displayed with details for each period you select. Or, a particularly interesting tech article on that website you like. Of course, Echo Show can serve as a video player to show news briefings and content from supported services like Amazon Video and YouTube.
What To Get An Amazon Echo Show For
It’s easy to distinguish a product that has one clear advantage over the previous one. In that regard, Amazon went with the video calls option, highlighting it as the main feature of Echo Show. The promo video is all about the feature: grandmother is calling in to say hi to kids, a mother uses Alexa app to call from the road, Grandpa is busy showing off a mural he painted with his granddaughter, etc. We can gather that you can audio call anyone who uses the Amazon Alexa app or a supported Echo device. Echo Show isn’t a necessary requirement in this case. In addition, you can also send and receive text messages, with both Alexa calling and messaging free of charge.
Apps that have a visual element, such as baby monitors and related camera feeds, are second in line in terms of Show’s functionality. Hence, users can check their video feed with commands like “Alexa, show me the baby room door.” There’s not much information regarding the supporting hardware nor how that will work placement-wise (we’ll get to that later).
Naturally, the Show works best with the rest of Amazon’s products and services. That way, the screen can pose as a digital photo frame which relies on Prime Photos. Amazon Music, along with services like Spotify and Pandora, is in charge of streaming music and showing lyrics as the tune goes. Even the calls go through the native app as there is no support for Skype at the moment. There is also a new “Drop In” feature. This allows previously designated contacts like friends and family to reach you at any time. You then have a 10-second window to reject a Drop In call or switch it to audio-only. Not sure how much this interphone-like feature will be used, but it’s there.
As for the pure specs, the Show comes with an extra microphone compared to Echo, tallying the total to eight. The 7” touchscreen has a front-facing five-megapixel camera and a pair of dual full-range 2” speakers. Because of its shape and primary functionality, Show won’t have the omnidirectional 360° audio Echo is famous for.
Where To Place Your Amazon Echo Show
So far, everything points out that Echo Show will be a killer product. One thing that is vital to the whole story is the actual, in-house placement. Where do you put this? After all, this is a different beast from the rest of Echo family because of the visual side to it. If you opt for the bedroom and put it on your nightstand, you can monitor the baby, for instance, but will hardly make calls from there. Your work desk is already occupied by your PC so that’s kinda an overkill. Your living room might be too loud of an environment. The kitchen seems like the most practical solution as your hands will be full or dirty for most of the time. Without the 360-degree sound, you will probably have to place Show near a wall or in a corner, rather a table.
Still, there are two more things to consider. First, the camera won’t be able to follow you around so once you set it up, that’s it. Second, and more important – Echo Show doesn’t have a battery. It probably will in the near future, sort of a Tap-like version for portable calls. You start a conversation in one room and finish it elsewhere. For now, the AC power adapter and the 6ft cable limits its “movement”. It seems like the placement will be the biggest challenge for the prospective buyers. Otherwise, things look pretty sweet.
Amazon Echo Show Release Date
For a more direct hands-on approach, we’ll have to wait just a little bit longer. Amazon Echo Show will enter the retail world at a price of $229.99 on June 28th, 2017. Initially, the device will only be available in the United States, with a gradual widespread release expected in the following months.
Closing words
With Echo Show, Amazon takes one step further into the smart home department. Along with the now standard things like asking Alexa queries or commanding it to do things like dim your connected lights, play music and more, users can now see things as well. Considering the fact fixed phone line connections are almost extinct, Amazon has an opportunity to put in a new device to take that place and crown it as the 21st century equivalent of a landline phone. Perhaps even more evident is the potential behind Show and the technology that powers it. The latest Echo device isn’t that far away from a larger device that can truly take a central place in your home, perhaps replacing the TV set.
It remains to be seen how much of Echo Show’s functionality will be available from the start. There are still some uncertainties, like what the resolution of the screen will be. With what we know so far, the main feature is the form of next-level FaceTime with bonus video capabilities to some of the Echo’s trademark talents. Add in the fact that Alexa is really fast in learning new Echo skills and this just might be the one smart home device you want and need. However, it will be a focused buy too as the price tag of $229.99 reduces any chance of an impulse buy. Still, the chances are it’ll be worth it.