Amazon’s Echo line of speakers gets a facelift with its newest addition, the Amazon Echo Show.
This new device is Amazon’s fourth Echo branded speaker, since its conception in 2014. The biggest change to this new iteration of the Echo is the inclusion of a touchscreen interface, which adds a lot more utility and functionality from the original smart speaker. Like prior releases of the Echo, the Echo Show uses Amazon’s Alexa virtual assistant through an app on the user’s phone to deliver a seamless and natural experience. Alongside the 7’’ touch screen, the new Echo Show includes a front-facing camera that will allow users to make video calls by syncing their phone with the new device.
The Echo Show is IoT compliant, meaning that it will play nice with a range of other devices right of the box, including Netgear’s range of Arlo smart home cameras, which when paired, will allow users to ask Alexa to view their home surveillance systems by simply using their voice. The new Echo Show is expected to ship to U.S customers on June 28, 2017, with an asking price of $230 USD. Currently, Amazon has not said anything about a release in other parts of the world.
