2nd Generation Amazon Echo Show 8 Review: Camera resolution 13x, video calls get better

The second-generation Echo Show 8, which was just released in Japan on June 9th.

Compared to the original Echo Show 8, the camera has a much higher resolution from 1 megapixel to 13 megapixel, and a new automatic framing function that automatically pans and zooms the movement of the user within the angle of view during a video call is installed. And especially the features for video calls have been significantly upgraded. Here's a review by Florence reporter from Gizmodo, US, on how the 2nd generation Echo Show 8 was actually used.

Everyone has a complicated relationship with their parents, but once they have a child, it's a good idea to have an open way for their daughter to talk to Grandpa and Grandma (even if they don't want to talk that much). I came to think about it. My daughter is only 16 months old, but I can understand that someone in the box is talking to her. Recently, the number of smart display products with cameras for children is increasing, so it seems that I will inevitably use it when my daughter can talk.

Amazon's latest product, the second-generation Echo Show 8, is a smart display designed to help people communicate more often. It's $ 130 (14,980 yen in Japan), but it has a kids mode as well as Alexa's rich features (not included in the Echo Show 8 available in Japan). However, the main feature is the addition of an automatic framing function that automatically pans and zooms the movement of the user within the angle of view. Considering that it can also be used as a surveillance camera to check the situation at home, I think this price is a bargain.

This time, my mother also tried the video call function of the 2nd generation Amazon Echo Show 8 on the review terminal. She notices her daughter talking to her grandma in the Echo Show 8, sees her smile, and confesses that I've been healed to melt my heart. .. It was such a thrilling experience to forget the fact that the Echo Show 8 makes it possible to connect with Amazon's controversial "Sidewalk."

2nd Generation Echo Show 8

What is this? : Alexa-equipped smart display

Price: $ 130 (14,980 yen in Japan)

Favorite place: 13 megapixel camera with automatic framing function. Just the right 8-inch display. It is one of the best choices for a smart home controller.

What I don't like: There is no easy casting function. Not all streaming services are available. It vibrates at high volume.

14,980 yen

Soft and stylish, smart display

The bulbous curved design of the 2nd generation Echo Show 8 is cute and modern. It's similar to the soft design of Google's Nest Hub, but the Echo Show 8 has more rounded corners. However, the cloth cover on the back, which is used for both the Echo Show and Google Nest Hub, is difficult to clean, and if something spills and stains, it is almost impossible to replace it, so I would like you to use a different material. I am thinking.

The Echo Show 8 is 14 cm wide and 7.3 cm deep, with two 5-watt stereo speakers, and an octa-core processor inside. The Echo Show's 8-inch HD display is very bright and vibrant. When I uploaded the edited photo and displayed it as wallpaper, I immediately realized that it was better to re-develop it in Adobe Lightroom.

At the top of the unit, there is a camera cover, volume button, and microphone mute button. The power supply is plugged into the back, but if the power adapter is big and you're plugging the adapter into a power strip (like me), you need to be creative. There is also a microUSB port on the back, which allows for a wired internet connection.

I totally like the exterior design of the Echo Show 8. The Glacier White body that Amazon sent for review matches the "Kawaii" taste that is popular in my office. There is also charcoal (black) for color variations. Also, as a genuine Amazon option, you can purchase an angle adjustment stand for $ 15 (2490 yen in Japan).

Let's help your neighbors, "Sidewalk function (not implemented in Japan)"

The Echo Show 8 setup is generally normal or standard. Set up your device from the Alexa app on your smartphone, or perform login authentication on your screen.

When you link your account, you'll see an "Amazon Sidewalk" disclaimer where you can choose to enable or disable it. Amazon describes this technology as a "shared network that improves device behavior." (Sidewalk is not installed in the Japanese version of Echo Show 8)

The reason why you shouldn't enable this is explained in the Gizmodo article, including the well-known fact that Amazon is full of suspicions about privacy. When this Sidewalk is enabled, Amazon will use it to "expand" the smart light "Ring" and trackers that track pets and things. Sidewalk also said, "We will use a small portion of your internet bandwidth to provide these services to you and your neighbors."

In addition, another screen will be displayed prompting you to "find something on Sidewalk", but if you enable this, "you can help your neighbors find pets and important items connected to Sidewalk". It is listed. I want to be a collaborative person and live in the suburbs, so it's important to help each other in case of trouble. So I enabled SideWalk. I don't know if my neighbor is using a tracker compatible with Sidewalk, but if my neighbor's kitten is gone, I'll always be able to find it. However, this requires a trade-off with privacy.

The sound feels good

The Echo Show 8 speakers have a lot of sound, and when you play low-pitched buin-buin music such as hip-hop, the sound resonates well. When you play music at a loud volume, you will feel vibrations when you are in a light place such as a thin board shelf. I often play music at a quiet volume during work, but even with the lowest volume setting, I was able to hear the chill hop voice firmly. It's also nice to be able to pair additional Echo devices as subwoofers.

The Echo Show 8 works well in places where you want to keep something flowing as a background, such as a children's room or a small office (for example, like the revival version of "Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Eternal" distributed on Netflix. Even in an anime full of action). The Echo Show's 8-inch display looks and sounds great, but the subtitles are small and hard to see on a screen of this size, so I saw the English dubbed version.

My biggest complaint about the Echo Show 8 is the poor content compared to Google's devices. Of course, Google and Amazon are competing ecosystems, but if you compare them side by side, you can see the difference. I usually watch Youtube TV and cable TV services, so I didn't really want to see anything on the Echo Show 8. Also, popular streaming services such as "Pluto TV" and "Discovery +", as well as the more recent attention "Paramount +", are not currently available on Echo Show devices. The same is true for music and podcasts, but apps like Pocketcasts allow you to sync sound playback in the cloud.

Personally, I also find the open Google casting feature more convenient. When you see a small Chromecast icon on your video, it's easy to see that it's available, no skill search required, and you can watch your video regardless of platform.

Alexa, call her grandma

A new feature of the Echo Show 8 is the automatic framing feature during video calls. It is on by default, but you can disable it if you wish. I've tried this feature with my mom and it only works with the default Alexa calling feature. (With Echo Show 8, you can also make video calls with Skype and Zoom.) At the time of the announcement of the 2nd generation Echo Show 8, reaction functions and AR effects were also announced, but they are not currently available.

My daughter still can't talk enough. That's why I thought the camera that automatically pans and zooms is the best. While her daughter is talking, she moves around. My mother gave me a peek-a-boo while going in and out of the angle of view of her camera during a video call. The Echo Show 8's camera doesn't pan left or right, and the camera keeps chasing her mother in the frame, always focusing on her mother's body. With the characteristic of a 110-degree wide-angle camera, I was able to play with an exquisite field of view effect. During the 30-minute video call, they were slightly out of alignment, especially when the mother and daughter's heads were in focus. According to Amazon, the camera's "digital framing technology" may have interpreted each person as a thing because the person was too close to the frame.

One of the best smart home gadgets

Before writing this review, I had used the Amazon Echo Show 8 for a short period of time, but I knew that many people prefer Alexa to the Google Assistant. Alexa app skills and routines are very easy to access. In addition, all settings can be done from the device itself, which is not possible with Google Nest's smart speakers. And when new smart home-ready gadgets are added to your network, Alexa will be proactive in displaying them.

The point of dealing with Alexa depends heavily on the skills you have enabled, so if you haven't trained your voice assistant, you may find it difficult to master and frustrate.

In the case of Google Assistant, it is necessary to program to some extent from the smartphone before issuing complicated commands. Devices like the Echo Show require you to program and get used to your voice assistant. It may be appreciated by those who want to interact with a digital entity without the hassle of maintenance, but it can be rather annoying to those who are particular about a particular third-party service.

People who care about the privacy of Amazon products will throw away Amazon products, and they won't buy a device with a camera or microphone connected to the internet in the first place.

If you already have the original Echo Show 8 and are wondering if you should buy a new one, you probably don't need to buy a new one unless you're interested in a new camera or video call. The auto-framing feature during video calls is a minor feature that you won't immediately notice. However, I think it's a big thing that the resolution during video calls has improved dramatically from the original 1 megapixel camera to 13 megapixels this time. Unfortunately my grandmother wasn't good at using Google Duo, so it's interesting to see if she can use the Echo Show 8 to communicate with her grandchildren.

For the time being, the 2nd generation Echo Show 8 is the best way to do "Peek-a-boo".

14,980 yen