display

There are devices the purchase of which should be discussed with all members of the household.

The new Echo Show 10 from Amazon is definitely one of them.

Because it can not only get very loud with its sound.

It also has a certain scary effect.

In the test, the family members first had to get used to it.

Or to put it better: it took a bit of persuasiveness to be able to set it up in the apartment.

Amazon has already had Echo Show devices on offer in the past.

This is a touch-sensitive display with a loudspeaker that has built-in the digital voice assistant Alexa.

So far, however, the devices were made of one piece and had the shape of a small television.

This is different with the new Echo Show 10.

It looks like a loudspeaker in the form of a short cylinder on which a tablet hangs.

The display follows its user

display

That's what you call functional design.

The 10.1 inch display (25.6 centimeters) and the loudspeaker are able to rotate 360 ​​degrees, which is the most striking innovation in the Echo Show in addition to the appearance.

And this is exactly where the horror effect sets in.

Because the display follows its user, as one would expect from a stalker, even silently thanks to the brushless motor.

It's unusual - and innovative.

The Echo Show 10 uses a combination of audio-based localization via the microphone and computer-based image recognition via the camera - according to Amazon only on this device.

The motion function has great advantages.

On the one hand, the two tweeters in the device are always optimally aligned with the listener in this way.

A woofer in the Echo Show 10 provides the bass.

Together they emit an excellent sound, especially since it automatically adapts to the environment.

This is important because every room has different reflective surfaces that affect the sound.

display

On the other hand, the user always has an optimal view of the display.

There are several situations in which this is very helpful.

If the Echo Show 10 is playing a recipe video, the display always remains in view while cooking, even if the cook is moving through the kitchen.

Of course, this also applies to a film on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video.

The motion function is even more useful in a video chat.

A 13-megapixel camera is attached above the display, which then also follows the caller through the room and is even able to zoom in and out when the user approaches or moves away.

This even works with several people in the room.

Of course, Amazon knows that this follow-up function is unlikely to be entirely comfortable for many users.

That's why there are several ways to turn it off.

This can be done in the settings of the device, where it can be activated for all applications or only for telephone calls and multimedia applications.

Alternatively, it can also be completely deactivated.

It is also switched off if the microphone or camera on the device is deactivated.

The camera can also be controlled remotely

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Users can also use their Echo Show 10 for home surveillance.

Because the camera can be activated remotely via the Alexa smartphone application and can also be controlled to the left and right.

A communication channel can even be set up here so that you can hear what is happening at home - and can also speak through the loudspeaker.

But you should clarify this beforehand with the household members so that they are not scared to death.

This function must also be activated before use - for security reasons - directly on the device by entering the Amazon password.

Conclusion:

With the new Echo Show 10, Amazon is adding another function to its smart display.

It is questionable whether the skepticism of the users should not be too great.

There are situations where having a clinging screen makes a lot of sense.

A display on the echo loudspeaker is always helpful when information can also be presented visually.

This applies to the weather forecast as well as to recipes.

The screen is even big enough to watch movies on.

Unfortunately, there is still no application for YouTube.

Amazon and Google still don't seem to have reached an agreement on this.

The sound has improved significantly again with the Echo Show 10, even if it is not as voluminous as with the Echo Studio.

The movement function is largely reliable, it only fails in low light.

Unfortunately, group calls are only possible via the Alexa app, other providers such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams are not available.

The Echo Show 10 costs 250 euros.

If you can do without the follow-up function and get by with an eight-inch display, you should better use the Echo Show 8, which is currently significantly cheaper at 110 euros.

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