See what Alexa can do
After over 2 years since the first Echo Show was released we get a new device with a shiny new exterior and a bigger and better screen. And that unfortunately is as much new and exciting about this product as I can say. The software, and all of the frustrations that have fallen on deaf ears, remains the same. The home screen is still mostly just a big useless empty space, unless you want to switch on the news and updates that are hand-picked by Amazon to remind you constantly to ask Alexa to try something you either already know about or have no interest in. The so called ‘news’ items bear no resemblance to real world news and why can’t we have the date on the screen – they added it to the Show 5 – why not this? The option to display weather, reminders and upcoming calendar events is quite useful but like everything else on this device it is presented in a very basic way – in fact as the screen constantly scrolls through these sections you are left wondering why can’t I just have it all on the one home page, along with other questions such as why doesn’t my calendar display the location of the event or the end time and why can’t I link my Big Sky Skill to the home page?
I’ll admit that some people will love this device for its ability to connect to security cameras and to make video calls but I think for most people its quicker just to get up and answer the door and the phone is sufficient for calling friends and family (also for my kids at least Skype has been replaced by either Face Time or WhatsApp). Music has always been the Echo’s biggest plus point across all devices, but here again it’s a very hit and miss experience in terms of the screen application. I used to be an Amazon music subscriber but switched to Apple as I found Amazon’s library limited – they also have a habit of removing tracks and albums from playlists and they decided to remove the best feature of being able to upload tracks not available in their library. That aside the price I pay for not being loyal to Amazon’s music service is that the Echo Show won’t show me my Apple playlists and it won’t display lyrics. Same restrictions for Video also – I do have a Prime account but I don’t really want to watch films and boxsets while pottering about in my kitchen – I want to have background TV on. It is possible to watch BBC iplayer on the browser but none of it is well executed and it offers no voice control. I have tried streaming freeview TV from other web sites and I can watch the likes of ITV and Channel 4 but only for 5 minutes, after which time the browser times-out and returns to the home screen. I can restart the browser but that’s not really ideal. I logged this issue 2 years ago and was told it was being looked into - I logged it again this week and got told the same thing – I am not holding my breadth and I can only assume Amazon are deliberately choosing when the screen times out and when it doesn’t to help increase their Prime subscribers. Netflix and Sky Q would be nice but I think we can assume that will never happen but some kind of Freeview skill is surely possible – they have a Freeview skill on the Fire TV stick so why not on the Show? We do get You Tube but despite Amazon and Google apparently patching up their difference we still have a basic looking version that sits in the browser. It is possible to open You Tube with voice and you can search with voice by clicking on the search option first and then clicking on ‘Return’ to action the search – all very clunky and half-baked.
Some functions I do like which take advantage of the screen are the ability to view and display my photos (via my Amazon Prime account), I can also search images online but unfortunately it uses Bing (despite setting the browser search engine as Google) – it doesn’t always work (try ‘show images of Ellen Page’ and you get images of pages). This is also frustrating as Amazon signed a major deal with Getty Images but these only appear occasionally which feels like a missed opportunity. The online video recipes and how-to’s is also good but you quickly find limitations with what it has to offer – a decent cooking skill is needed although a proper YouTube skill would fix that. I do also like the ability to search and watch music videos (but again You Tube skill could do that and better). I also like being able to view movie times and trailers and the TV Guide skill is probably one of my most and only used skills (but of course you can’t link that to any ability to watch the current TV programme – in fact 99.99% of all skills are useless – Amazon used to promote skills enhanced for the Show – they don’t do that anymore which tells you everything you need to know. And that is the main issue here - for a device that is supposed to be all about the screen there is just so little it does well. Here is just a few other examples of things I feel are missed opportunities:-
- Most radio players on Show wont disaply the track that is playing (but it will tell you if you ask)
- There is no enhanced skill to browse and play Podcasts
- Amazon Music will show your playlists but it doesn’t understand “show me new albums” or “show me the most popular albums” or “show me <genre> albums”
- Most people use screens to interact with e-mail or Social Media but other than the flaky browser there is zero voice activated skills linked to social media or e-mail accounts
- Online banking skills are non-existent
- IMDB is owned by Amazon and doesn’t feature as a fully-fledged skill
-Twitch is owned by Amazon but is not available for UK customers
-You can view and buy products on Amazon but you cannot read reviews of those products
-You can get an address of a hotel or restaurant but you cannot view it on a map, you can’t get detailed directions and you can’t read reviews
This is not a small device and for me to have such a large screen doing so little seems a waste of space on my kitchen counter - I also didn’t appreciate the power cable taking up almost an inch of extra depth at the back which limits placement against a wall – how hard would it have been to make it angled or flush? I have returned it for the Show 5 which has a decent speaker, gives me today's date and shows me my timers or album artwork – that’s all I need because that’s pretty much all the Show offers me that is useful. Maybe one day Amazon will get it right and make a Show the majority of customers want and need but at the moment there seems to be very little desire from Amazon to do that and judging by the instant price drop on the 8 they are only really interested in signing up new Prime subscribers.
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Simple to set up and use
Compare Echo devices
| Price | From: £74.99 | From: £119.99 | From: £239.99 | From: £239.99 |
| Ratings | (27,312) | (12,936) | (3,726) | (1,394) |
| Alexa built in |
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| Screen | 5.5" with 960 x 480 resolution | 8.0" with 1280 x 800 resolution | 10.1" with 1280 x 800 resolution | 15.6” with 1920 x 1080 resolution |
| Motion |
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| Speakers | 1 x 1.6" | 2 x 2.0" | 2 x 1.0" tweeters + 3.0" woofer | 2 x 1.6“ |
| Camera | 2 MP | 13 MP | 13 MP | 5 MP |
| Visual ID personalization |
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| Built-in Zigbee smart home hub |
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| Wall mountable |
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| Orientation | Landscape | Landscape | Landscape | Portrait or Landscape |
| Camera controls | Built-in camera cover and Microphone/Camera Off button | Built-in camera cover and Microphone/Camera Off button | Built-in camera cover and Microphone/Camera Off button | Built-in camera cover and Microphone/Camera Off button |
| Dimensions | 148 x 86 x 73 mm (W x H x D) | 200 x 135 x 99 mm (W x H x D) | 251 x 229 x 170 mm (W x H x D) | 402 x 252 x 35 mm (W x H x D) |
Technical details
Echo Show 8
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Size |
200.4 x 135.9 x 99.1 mm |
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Weight |
1037 g |
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Display |
8” touch screen |
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Camera |
1 MP camera with built-in cover. |
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Wi-Fi connectivity |
Dual-band Wi-Fi supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi networks. Does not support connecting to ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) Wi-Fi networks. WiFi 6 (802.11ax) is not currently supported. |
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Bluetooth connectivity |
Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) support for audio streaming from your mobile device to Echo Show 8 or from Echo Show 8 to your Bluetooth speaker. Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) for voice control of connected mobile devices. Hands-free voice control is not supported for Mac OS X devices. Bluetooth speakers requiring PIN codes are not supported. |
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Audio |
2” (52 mm) neodymium speakers with passive bass radiator. |
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System Requirements |
Echo Show 8 comes ready to connect to your Wi-Fi. The Alexa App is compatible with Fire OS, Android and iOS devices, and also accessible via your web browser. Certain skills and services are subject to change, may not be available in all areas and may require separate subscriptions or other fees. |
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Alexa app |
The Alexa app is compatible with Fire OS, Android and iOS devices. A list of supported operating systems can be found here. |
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Setup technology |
Amazon Wi-Fi simple setup enables customers to connect smart devices to their Wi-Fi network in a few easy steps. Wi-Fi simple setup is another way Alexa is always getting smarter. Learn more |
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Processor |
MediaTek MT 8163 |
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Accessibility features |
Alexa Captioning for subtitles, magnify the screen, toggle colour inversion and choose between colour correction options. You can also enable the VoiceView screen reader to navigate the screen and hear feedback about the items you select. Learn more about Echo with a screen accessibility and Alexa accessibility. |
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Warranty and Service |
Amazon Echo Show 8 is sold with a 1-year limited warranty provided by the manufacturer. If you are a consumer, the limited warranty is in addition to your consumer rights and does not jeopardise these rights in any way. This means you may still have additional rights at law even after the limited warranty has expired (for further information on your consumer rights, click here). Use of Amazon Echo Show 8 is subject to the terms found here. |
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Included in the box |
Echo Show 8, power adaptor (30.0W)/cable (1.5 m), Quick Start Guide and Things to Try card. |
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Privacy Features |
Wake word technology, streaming indicators, Microphone/Camera Off button, built-in camera cover, the ability to view and delete your voice recordings and more. Visit the Alexa Privacy Hub to explore how Alexa and Echo devices are designed to protect your privacy. |
Customer reviews
Echo Show: The Best Thing I've Ever Bought & Brilliant for Music Lovers.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 November 2019
The Echo Show 8 (1st Gen) has stereo speakers and an 8 inch High-Definition screen. The processor is apparently the same as in the original Show 5, but the software is slightly different between the two. In 'do not disturb' mode, whether online or offline the Show 8 does display a bigger clock* at bottom left of the screen (if you want it to), but you can't change the clock face style like you can with the Show 5 and the Show 8 has its own new background photo themed collections to choose from or you can still set your own photos; also this Show 8 only has the same basic 3 band graphic equalizer, I think perhaps a bigger band equalizer would be a good upgrade for all the Show devices, just to have more detailed sound settings to tweak, but overall the bigger Show 8 is your perfect every day hub or for at your bedside.I bought the new Show 8 for my kitchen diner, mainly to listen to music. If you have Amazon's 'Music Unlimited' this Show 8 and the Show 5 are just perfect because Alexa will play almost any album or song you ask her to play. She will also play song collections from any year you choose, she'll show you albums from any artist and when you hear a song you like you can ask Alexa to add it to one of your personal playlists, which is just brilliant and most songs display lyrics, plus you can listen to all of your favourite radio stations. I've tried listening to music through the new stereo speakers, which do sound great, but I prefer connecting my expensive Bluetooth headphones so I can listen from all over the house when I need to, and I've had no sound degradation or cut-outs with wireless headphones connected, audio quality is great! The HD screen looks good too, I won't be watching movies on this device, but what music videos I've seen on it definitely look sharp and detailed.I've only just bought into these Alexa devices, I recently bought a Show 5 which is perfect as my bedside alarm clock and so much more. ..when I saw just what Alexa can do I was amazed and immediately wanted to have another Show in other rooms, I now have 4. If you haven't tried an Alexa Show device yet, then I would say 'buy one' without hesitation! The Echo Show 8 and the Show 5 are two of the best things I've ever bought. Alexa is the future! /;¬, Highly recommended.*just above the clock the Show 8 now displays Weather, Temperature, Day, Date and Month.I now use my Show 8 with the optional stand, not only dose it look better, also it actually makes the audio direct from the speakers sound much better: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07T6BLSPT/?coliid=I1F1ABBCZ1CXH&colid=2WZU6YXIE7DUR&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it_im
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 November 2019
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