There's a new face for Amazon Alexa, and boy is it a handsome one. On the 23rd of May, Amazon revealed their newest device, the "Echo Show", a smart-speaker solution with built-in touchscreen and tons of tech. The latest update to Amazon's shining portfolio arrives just weeks following Amazon's "Echo Look" presentation, the first Echo with a camera built-in.
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Amazon Echo Show[/caption]
Up until now, Echo devices have been all about voice, but Echo Show is set to take Alexa and Echo up to the next level of communication and collaboration, in areas that might have been too complex for just voice commands. The Show's touchscreen feature (7") can help with voice-assisted shopping, weather forecasts, viewing videos, photos, and even checking security cam or baby monitor feeds.
Amazon Echo Show Review
The Amazon Echo Show comes in either black, or white, and is priced at $230 (approx £180 at current exchange rates) each. However, if you buy two, you will get $100 off - which is a pretty great deal. Pre-orders started on the announcement date, ready for the release in the US on June 28th.
Amazon also announced their "free voice-call" feature, which will permit anyone with an Echo, Echo Show, Echo Dot, or the Alexa app to message or call anyone else that owns a supported Echo device. The front-facing camera on the Show can use this feature for video chat purposes. For instance, imagine the FaceTime app for Apple, set out on your kitchen counter.
Last month, it was reported that Amazon would probably announce a new built-in screen product during May, and the Echo Show delivers just that. Right now, Amazon is betting on its suite of Echo devices to dominate the smart-home market. So far, the strategy is going well, with 71% of all smart speaker customers in the US buying Echo devices. The latest Google Home speaker only has 24% of the market.
The new device now enables video as part of the Flash briefing that is already a key part of the existing audio-only Echo range. "Show my calendar" and '"Alexa, show the front door camera" are additional commands available to Echo Show users with the second command of course requiring existing or additional hardware.
Perhaps the most compelling feature for all Echo users is the ability to say "Alexa, call Dad" and make free voice calls as long as Dad also has an Echo of some sort - even an Echo Dot. If dad has another Echo Show, or the Alex app, you can make free video calls!
The new messaging service also includes a "Drop in" feature which allows people to connect more efficiently with family and friends who own an Echo Show device. Users can choose to whitelist people for the Drop In and can reject calls when necessary.
What Features Does The Echo Show Have?
The Echo Show comes with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, two 2" Dolby stereo speakers, and an Intel Atom Processor. Watch content from YouTube, see music lyrics and browse photos on the 7" touchscreen.
