Echo Show (2nd Gen) – Stay in touch with the help of Alexa – White

My gorgeous Echo Show arrived on the worldwide launch date as expected. I'm seventy years old, but still an early adopter of new technology. For those who don't know, the Echo Show is Amazon's newest Alexa incarnation. The ever-present helper now has a ten inch screen and she can not only read you the news but show you CNN's Kate Balduon delivering it. Plus it contains a web browser so you can access BBC iplayer, YouTube, etc via the built-in Firefox or Silk browser. I was a little disappointed in Flash briefing to find that only CNN provides video playback. Sky and BBC have audio only, which seems a waste of a lovely screen. It was an easy set up, apart from the fact that the instructions were slate grey on black, so I couldn't see where to fill in my user name and password initially, and therefore set-up kept failing. I soon worked that out, and the first thing I did in Settings was raise the brightness level to three-quarters. The touch screen is as sensitive as the one on my iPad and Alexa has understood everything I've asked her to do, whether setting an alarm and reminder, playing 'Pride and Prejudice' on Audible, setting the Hive thermostat or re-visiting the latest 'Doctor Who' episode. All the Prime videos play flawlessly, but I have had some issues with iPlayer. This is the major glitch, for me. After around ten minutes of watching a show, playback stops. The device defaults to the home screen and I have to go through the palaver of hitting a browser, navigating to the iPlayer site and re-starting the show. This doesn't happen with Prime video content or with audio books. My theory is that the device doesn't realise a web page is playing a video, so it assumes the machine is idle and therefore it defaults to stand-by. If anyone else has been having this problem and has solved it, please comment below. No other major issues although it took me a while to work out how to get photographs on the device. In the end I had to upload what I wanted to my Amazon Photo account, and then the device could 'find' them. You can also use the browser to navigate to your flickr or facebook pages and download individual shots that way. Problem solved. Overall, I'd give this nine out of ten. Now I get to watch TV or listen to the radio or Audible in bed and I don't have to ask Alexa what time it is in the middle of the night, as I invariably had to do in the past. The time is right there on the display as is your alarm time, if one has been set. Even with the minor glitches, I'm loving it. EDITED: Yay. As of yesterday the Echo Show no longer returns to the Home Page after five minutes of watching iPlayer. I thought I'd give it a try as there'd recently been a software update and was delighted to find that I could now watch an hour-long show via the iPlayer site. No more glitches.

Now if you have already brought into the Echo family and are looking for a new device or are wondering if to try the new show...go for it, it is by far the best sounding device from all the family and it is a big improvement on the old one. Now i thought the sound on the old show was good but this is much better, there is more depth to the sound and it really does fill the room a lot more...no longer does it sound like the music source is just coming from the front of the device....true room filling sound at a really good price. Of course it is not as good as the Sonos speakers but hey those speakers can not do half of what alexa can - yes i have both so although i am not really using the show for the sound alone it really can stand on its own if you wanted. As for the screen, it is so much better - do not be put off by the size, yes it is a big screen but the device sits almost the same size as the old one, just with all screen rather than the ugly speaker design of the previous gen 1 version. The screen is crystal clear and very sharp and looks stunning when scrolling through photos on the worktop. Videos from amazon and the web really pop! One thing i will say is the font that they are using for this new update is a little soft and the text can be quite soft but this is not as issue as most of the text on the screen is large enough due to the size of the screen. The smart home integration is much better handled on this device and it remembers popular commands you call such as 'lounge lights off' and offers them in the pull down menu. It also shows you on the screen the current percentage setting for the room so you know how bright the lights are and can either call to change the brightness or do it by sliding it where you want it - offering touch and voice control with the ability to see what setting the room is on. The response seems to be much better also...she hears commands from across the room even with music playing or tv...much better response rate and acuracy of commands seems to be improved to and this might be due to slightly more microphones embedded and better equality components used. The integration with ring is perfect, the echo show can announce when someone is at the front door and a tip is if you say 'alexa talk to the front door' she will automatically show the feed with the mic enabled whereas if you say show the front door you need to click the mic icon to talk. This works for all the ring cameras as long as you say talk to... It will work! Perfect and no lag! Overall it is a well made device and amazon's best echo yet...if you are after something that sounds great, looks great and offers slightly more than the standard echo speakers then go for it...you will not be disappointed. If you are thinking...'why do i need a screen'...buy this device and then two weeks later you will be saying 'how did i ever live without a screen on my echo'!!!

The second generation Echo show is a very good addition to the Echo family. It brings a 10 inch touch screen, which is great, but it could do a bit more than it offers, but what it does do is very good indeed. The first thing to impress me was the sound quality, a good bit of bass and a lot more power than the average Echo. The screen makes you think tablet, but that is not what it is. From the Echo, you can do everything a normal Echo will do, like play music (the lyrics appear on screen), you can ask the weather forecast and you are read the forecast, whilst details appear on the screen. Your flash briefing is in video (in my case BBC news). You can call up your shopping list, which can be read and amended on-screen. The screen allows for a web browser, but not everything is supported, such as Netflix and 4OD - the Echo Show invites you to download apps, that cannot be installed. What you do get is BBC iPlayer in a browser and you get a really neat Amazon Prime video capability - there are reviews here that state you can only control Amazon Video via your voice, this is no longer the case, there is a great interface to browse through your Prime videos. The screen provides perfectly reasonable viewing with the 800 pixel screen, 1080 would have been a bit of polish that would be on my wish list. There is a lot to offer here and indeed to like. Being that this is an Amazon product, you can rely on updates and new features arriving in the months and years to come. The main ingiredients are here to build further greatness upon, the screen is clear & responsive, the sound is full, but a little bit too much bass - there is a setting to tone it down in the app. There are a couple of weaknesses that I would like to see addressed, it needs Netflix, 4oD, 5 on Demand & ITV Player. Streaming of live TV would also be great. The next version of hardware must be 1080 or higher in resolution. In summary a very welcome addition to my kitchen, a great device. Update ====== The bug/issue/limitation that causes this Echo to jump to the home screen after about 15 minutes on the iPlayer website has hit me. Initially, I could get hours of iPlayer without the bug hitting me, but that has now changed. This is a significant limitation and in my view, it needs to be fixed for my review to remain a 5 stars.

This review is for the Fantastic Echo Show 2nd Generation which I am rating @ well deserved 4.5*. This item was purchased from and delivered on the 18th November 2018 by Amazon. The hardware is part of the deal where you buy 2 x shows & 2 x Philips hue bulbs for the total of £339.98 inc VAT @ 20%. If you have read my previous reviews you will see I have had 2 x first generation units so I can complete a comparison, I have also owned echo dot units. The screen & unit in general are notably larger than gen 1 and of course an update with a HD screen, so if your looking for a smaller compact unit then maybe gen 1 units may be for you given the smaller size. Sound wise...This is mostly the reason I refreshed my hardware & purchased Gen 2 models... so that I can improve on sound given that 70% of my usage is listening to music. Although the gen 1 units do have excellent sound, the gen 2 have much better quality sound which is fantastic for me. Cosmetic looks is really down to personal preference when comparing but I do like the fabric at the back of the unit. The only down fall is this will be harder to clean. I will in the future spot test say a mild 'foam based' solvent free shoe cleaner on it. For the screen you really cant beat Lidl W5 wipes designed for glasses...I even use them on my PSVR lens they are that good. Moving on to the features....not much to compare really vs the older model...well here in the UK anyway. This device has the same skill set as all the other echo devices except echo show & echo spots have a screen. Recent updates have enabled the show to play youtube videos 'finally' via the two Web browsers on offer via touch screen input. Other apks & services; Like its little brother include IFTTT compatibility allowing you to cross brand other smart home services. To date I have used alexa/ echo show with Hive, Sonoff via ewelink apk, ring doorbell and as mentioned above IFTTT all with around 90% uptime. What I dont like: The alexa app on Android devices is slow, buggy and in need of further development. This can also be said with the available skills for alexa (this unit should be able to do far more than it does/ or is allowed to do). The same goes for the AI personality I think alexa could have a character on the screen much like Jibo along with a similar personality in speech response. Maybe this is being held back for Amazons 'Vesta' project.... Who knows? Would I recommend... Yes I would this is a fantastic product with improvements on hardware such as being able to hear & understand you better (MIC) Excellent Sound (SPEAKERS), screen is larger with HD quality & with a cosmetic design I like. Bravo Amazon & thank you for a great product I look forward to your future developments. **Please note I am not an Amazon Vine reviewer yet so my comments are based on products I have purchased with my own hard earned cash.

The photos on Amazon really don’t do this justice. I was so pleased with the first version of the arch Show that I turned my nose up at this new one when it came out. It’s expensive, looks not much different to the first version and the flimsy plastic stand for an extra £30 appears to show that Amazon are lining you up for a big rip off. To add salt to the wound they dropped the price of the first version to make the new one even less appealing. Anyway, they’ve knocked 25% off for Christmas now which makes it only twice as expensive as a Spot or a Mk 1 Show. It’s still ever so pricey. £169 vs £89 for the spot, £89 for the Mk1 show and £99 for the Google Home. But I have to say I was really pleasantly surprised. It’s soooo much better than the first version. Basically it’s the size of an iPad with a set of really high quality speakers at the back. The sound quality is far superior to version one but not quite as good as a Bose Sounddock - if that helps anyone? It’s very good. The screen size is big enough to enjoy watching tv or YouTube (YouTube is back!) whereas the old one was there to display video to accompany the sounds but a bit small to sit and actually watch comfortably. The old one was the same size as the Google Home but with the speaker under the screen. Ive posted a picture so you can compare the sizes of the different devices although it does nothing to show off the brilliant screen and upgraded sound. Overall, I am very impressed.

I'm really impressed with my Echo Show (2nd Gen) in Black! It's become an essential part of my daily routine. The screen is bright and clear, making it perfect for video calls, watching recipes while cooking, and catching up on the news. Alexa is incredibly helpful, from setting reminders and timers to controlling my smart home devices with just my voice. The sound quality is fantastic too – I love using it to play music and listen to podcasts. The Echo Show also adds a touch of modern style to my living room. It's sleek and looks great on my shelf. Overall, I'm very happy with this purchase. It's a versatile, high-quality device that makes life easier and more enjoyable. Highly recommended!

At long last, Skype comes to Alexa, and this is the device you need to make the most of it. But the Echo show isn't just a Skype tool (though it's a very good one). It's also much better sounding than the original Echo show, and seems to get commands easier too (the old Echo show would often ignore me, whilst an Alexa else where in my house would hear me and respond - and that's really odd to unpick when it happens!). Sound is now provided from two speakers facing downwards and a passive bass radiator - and it sounds good. As good, I'd say as the cylindrical Echo units, which means a lot, lot better than the original Echo show. The screen is bright and sharp - there have been some software glitches (and Alexa downloads its own updates so just watch the settings if you are still on a metered connection), but the whole device is streets ahead of the previous generation. What you get is basically a 10-inch HD tablet, at the front of a trapezoidal box which holds the speakers, acts as a stand and gives a bit of bass resonance (or support) where it is needed. The unit can act as a hub to control your smart home devices in the same way Echo Plus can. The screen is angled slightly upwards, which is inconvenient for Skype in a domestic (non-desk based setting), and Amazon do sell a stand, but I found a bit of foam under the back does exacty the same job for a couple of pennies. It's now a mature unit, very capable on the voice commands, and a great deal of fun. For the first time, it now has a sound to match the potential of the system.

I bought this kind of on impulse, but I had thought about one, and when the price was reduced during Black Friday sales, went for it! I have a first generation Echo Dot, which I've had for some time, which works fine, but this is a whole different level. Voice and word recognition (on the earlier Dot could be a bit hit and miss, but this is superb. It can even pick up when whispering if nearby - superb. Although you can use for streaming Prime Video etc., that's not what I use for. I have in the bedroom and it doubles as an alarm clock, music player, news and weather station, and lots of other stuff, including controlling lights and sockets. Sound is absolutely superb, definitely up there with higher end sound bars etc. Absolutely no niggles with this, it was easy to set up, and quite easy to get the hang of. One very minor point: The device comes with power supply as you would expect, but there is no internal battery, so you couldn't use as a portable device as such - e.g. say in the garden. Perhaps if the Power Supply was via a USB connecting cable, you could at least use with a power bank. Mind you, possibly more trouble than it would be worth anyway. Love it though, that's for sure. Well done to Amazon also, since when I ordered, I didn't see the listing where it included a Philips Hue bulb for the same price. I contacted Amazon and had a gripe, they responded straight away with a credit so I could order one separately (which of course I did). Top Marks!