You can also do audio calls with non-screen Echo devices. That’s handy for quick check-ins between rooms of your house, for example, or keeping tabs on family – especially if you bought a Show or Spot for a parent or relative. You won’t be able to use adaptive brightness, if so, but that’s a small trade-off for a sense of personal security.Īs with the Echo Show, the Echo Spot can be used for video calls between Show and Spot devices, as well as with anyone using the Alexa iOS and Android apps. If you’d rather disable the camera permanently, you can do that within the settings. You’ll probably want to do that before disrobing, or spending a little quality time with your partner. Thankfully, Amazon saw this hang-up coming from a mile away, and there’s a small button on the top of the Echo Spot that turns off the camera and microphones with a touch. Wait, you’re not keen on that? Surprise, surprise. Video calling is the one big exception to that rule – assuming you’re cool with the idea of having a camera peering at your bed. ![]() And the smart home perks can be incredibly handy, especially pulling up a video feed from a connected camera.īut for the most part, Alexa still acts like an aural assistant first, and the visual benefits are small and used sparingly. It’s nice to be able to flip through movie listings when you ask for times, see ingredients and instructions for recipes in the AllRecipes skill, and view the items you’re ordering from Amazon. Just like the Echo Show, however, the screen still doesn’t feel like an integral part of the Alexa experience. Games are easier to follow now, with Jeopardy displaying clues to each question. Beyond requesting alarms and timers, you can ask for sports scores and movie times, stream music via Spotify and other services, create a grocery list, get the weather, control compatible smart home devices, and even hear a joke or a story. It’ll do in a pinch, but if you’re buying a smart speaker with a screen, chances are good that you’re already packing some gadgets in your home – stick with your phone, tablet, laptop, or TV for any serious video needs.Įven with the screen, Alexa remains the most compelling part of the Echo Spot experience, and she works the same as she does on a standard Echo. You can tap to fill the screen, but then you’ve cropped off half of the video. Given the circular dimensions, the widescreen Star Wars: The Last Jedi trailer only filled about half of the display. ![]() Pulling up a movie trailer or watching Amazon Video content, on the other hand? Surely you’ve got several other gadgets for such a thing. It’s great for watching Amazon’s flash briefings, for example, which show you a quick news blast of the day’s top stories, because what you’re hearing is arguably more important than what it’s showing. With the screen, you’ll also be able to watch videos at your bedside – but much like watching videos on a smartwatch, it’s not the most ideal experience. You can also ask Alexa to set alarms and have her play music from your Amazon library to wake you up, plus she can set quick timers as needed. And at nighttime, it’ll automatically dim and simply show the time on a black backdrop. You can choose between a handful of analog and digital face options, and even customize a clock face with a photo (via the Amazon Alexa smartphone app). ![]() Left on default settings, it’ll cycle through some headlines, the weather, and any alerts you might have – but primarily, it’ll show you the time.
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