Amazon has finally announced the first Echo device to feature an integrated display. The Echo Show follows in the footsteps of the recently unveiled Amazon Echo Look, which combines smart camera and personal stylist functions. In addition, the Echo Show is unique to the ecosystem Amazon, as the company's previous gadgets were designed exclusively for voice interaction, but now users have the opportunity to receive information visually.
In short
What is it? The newest member of the Echo smart speaker series from Amazon
How much? $ 230 for one piece, $ 360 for a set of two.
When released? June 28 in North America and UK, preorder only first
Capabilities
Naturally, there will be a voice assistant Alexa, present in the now existing Amazon Echo and Amazon Fire TV. The new product also has a built-in display and a webcam, which, unlike past Echo devices, allows you to both receive and transmit information.
The 7-inch touchscreen is capable of displaying notifications, playing Internet videos, showing lyrics from Amazon Music, and communicating with other smart devices in the home, among other things. It will be interesting to look at the functionality of the Echo Show in the future when features such as the ability to make voice calls outside the home become available. The screen can also act as a hub and be used to view video from other locations in the home through compatible third-party cameras.
There is no exact information about the capabilities of the built-in front-facing 5MP camera, but presumably it will be able to perform the same functions as in Amazon Echo Look – that is, analyze your clothes, suggesting different outfit options – but all this with correction for the presence of a built-in screen. Other specs include Intel Atom x5-Z8350 processor, dual band Wi-Fi, and 1.7kg.
Buyers have a choice of two color solutions for the design of the case – in black or white. Compared to its predecessor, the new speaker will receive not only an advantage in the form of a display, but also compatibility with the entire library of voice commands Amazon, from calling a taxi through Uber to controlling smart lights, locks, garage doors, thermostats, etc. The Echo Show will have 8 microphones at once, which is one more than the regular Amazon Echo. Considering that 7 microphones are quite enough for more than excellent recognition of human speech, it becomes not entirely clear why another one is needed – however, this is still a pleasant innovation.
Finally, unlike the previous model, the Echo Show is equipped with Bluetooth, so if your favorite music app is not supported (for example, Apple Music), you can still listen to music on the Echo Show . Rumors that the trading giant is preparing a new device from the Echo line went on the Web a couple of months ago, then this was explained by the fact that “rival Google Home is developing too fast.”