Amazon Echo Show 8 3rd gen and Echo Hub smart home devices announced
Amazon has launched a bunch of new products including Fire TV Stick 4K 2nd gen, and new Echo devices. Let's see what the Echo Show 8 and Echo Hub have to offer.
Amazon Echo Show 8 3rd gen
The new Amazon Echo Show 8 smart display has an 8-inches HD touch screen. The 13 megapixels camera has been placed centrally, which, combined with the background noise minimization, should be useful for video calls. The device has a faster processor that displays responses quickly. Alexa has been optimized, and can process common home requests locally, which results in 40% faster performance when you request it to turn on a smart light, switch, plug, etc. It works with Bluetooth, Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Sidewalk, etc.
The Amazon Echo Show 8 3rd gen supports Spatial Audio processing, and room adaptation technology. The device has a new home screen experience that supports Adaptive Content. The new feature uses an on-device computer vision technology to detect when you approach the device. When you are in close proximity to it, the screen changes automatically to display various content. For example, if you are across the room, the Echo Show 8 will display new headlines, but when you walk close to it, the screen will switch to a more detailed view which is touch-friendly. The adaptive home screen will also display shortcuts to your most used widgets. It also supports visual ID for personalized recommendations such as recent playlists, or news articles from your preferred website.
The best part is that Adaptive Content is not exclusive to the new device, the feature is coming to the Amazon Echo Show 8 2nd gen and 3rd gen models next month. It will also be rolled out to other Echo Show devices in 2024.
The Amazon Echo Show 8 3rd-gen has been priced at $149.99. It comes in 2 color options: Glacier White and Charcoal. It will start shipping on October 25th. An Echo Show 8 adjustable stand with a USB-C charging port is available separately for $34.99.
Amazon says that another version of the device, called the Echo Show 8 Photos Edition, will be available in Fall 2023, and that it would cost $159.99. The only differences between it and the regular model is that the Photos Edition unlocks a photo-forward mode, which lets you use personal photos as the rotating content (every 30 seconds) of the ambient screen. It also gives you 25 GB of cloud storage on Amazon Photos.
The device will come with a free six-month PhotoPlus subscription, and will renew at $1.99 per month when the plan ends. Users may cancel the subscription at any time.
Amazon Echo Hub
The Amazon Echo Hub is a smart-home control panel, with an 8-inch screen. It has a customizable dashboard that you can use to manage your smart home devices such as a security system, fans, lights, etc. It even lets you view multiple camera feeds at the same time. The device is compatible with over 140,000 devices, including those that use Matter and Thread. The Amazon Echo Hub is powered by Alexa, and also supports Adaptive Content using infrared technology to detect a user's proximity. The device can be mounted on a wall, or placed on a desk or counter with a stand.
The Amazon Echo Hub has been priced at $179.99, and will be available later this year. A stand for the device will be sold separately for $29.99. Amazon will also be selling decorative frame accessories made of wood, metal, or paintable white for $19.99.
Amazon says that both the Amazon Echo Show 8 and the Amazon Echo Hub come with privacy-friendly hardware controls such as a camera shutter, a microphone on/off button. The company also mentioned that users may access or delete their recordings at any time.
