Review of Amazon Echo Show smart screen speaker launched in India
Have you heard about Amazon's 2nd generation Echo Show smart screen device launched in India with Dolby sound & HD display? Read this review to know everything about this smart gadget and latest offers available with this product.
Amazon has launched its 2nd generation Echo Show device in India. This smart speaker in the Echo line of products by Amazon is also designed around Alexa. The Echo Show, however, has a 10-inch smart display and is now up for sale on Amazon India by seller Cloudtail India. We will be letting you know everything about this Echo Show product below and explain its features and specifications. 
What is Amazon's Echo Show device?
Often known by its informal name Alexa, the Echo range of speakers also works as a personal assistant. Like we said earlier, the Echo Show is a smart display and also the first of its type in India. It sports a 10.1-inch HD display offering immersive entertainment. It also has a built-in smart home hub powered by ZigBee smart home protocol and Dolby speaker system.
As you might have heard, the Echo Show is another member of the Echo family that also includes the following:
The Echo Show is a premium smart home product that can be used for a number of entertainment services. This includes playing movies and TV shows broadcasted on Amazon Prime Videos. It also has app integration with Skype and online music services such as Gaana, Saavn, Hungama Music, Spotify, etc.
However, there is no native support for streaming services like Netflix or Youtube. But one can otherwise use them through a Firefox or Silk Browser. In fact, the web browser support can let you download any content on its large screen to view it with ease. For video calling purpose using Skype services, there is also a built-in 5-MP front-facing camera. It supports HD video calling and is a perfect hands-free option to talk with friends and families.
Being a smart device, it can be used to control your smart home using voice input. In other words, most devices in a smart home setup such as security cameras, lights, TV, power socket can be voice controlled. This can be easily done by a voice command like "Echo, discover my devices." It is capable of differentiating our voice from that of ambient sound using its 'far-field' technology & 8 microphone array.
The main advantages of using it are its inbuilt smart hub support that is often required by most smart devices to establish a Wifi connection. How is Echo Show different from a tablet?
A tablet device is generally a bigger smartphone. It has those bigger screens of 7-inches and above and can be used for multimedia and office works. But a product like Echo Show is a smart screen that is big, chunky and kind of heavy that needs to be plugged into a power outlet on the walls.
Even though it has a screen, it is definitely nothing like a tablet. It can also control other smart devices along with offering media entertainment, unlike a tablet. It is linked with music and video streaming services that increases content consumption.Echo Show - Review of its features
The device is available in two color options i.e. black and white color only. Packed in a blue square sales package are the unit itself and a 30W power adapter with 6ft. length cable and a quick start guide.
The product is little bulky with 10-inch screen on front and rubber grip on bottom base. On the back side, the material is fabric over the speaker with a panel for micro USB, power port and lock pin. On the top are the volume rockers with '+' & '-' sign and a power button. The bezels on the screen are a little bit bigger and easily visible. 
The Echo Show needs to be always powered by the adapter provided with the device.
Once powered up, the home screen of the Echo Show displays the time & weather and calendar events. On swiping right, it displays news recap titles on trending topics. Like an Android smartphone, it also has a top panel visible on sliding down. The default options are Home, Alarms, Lights & more, Routines and Setting icon towards extreme right. Further, there is a brightness adjustment slider and a Do Not Disturb icon on the second row of the top panel.
In the Lights & more settings, you can control your smart devices such as AC, Air Purifier, bulb, TV, and other compatible devices. All of these can be categorized under distinguishable groups such as "Living Room" or "Office". On the Settings menu, there are options for Bluetooth, Network, Homescreen, Display, Sounds etc.
You can make different changes as such and configure the smart screen to your liking. The audio output of the Echo Show is very good and it is audible even from another room which is quite impressive. The display is also crisp and clear and quite good for multimedia viewing.
It can be used as a personal assistant and you can call it 'Alexa' to ask for any information. You can set timers and bring it up for display for more convenience while doing certain time-bound tasks. When you ask for information or play a piece of music, it presents it in a very standard layout with thumbs and titles. 
Price of Amazon Echo Show in India
The device is readily available for ordering online from Amazon India. As an introductory offer, Amazon is also giving away a Free Philips Smart Bulb along with the Echo Show.
The device is available at a cost of ₹22,999/- as on the date of writing this article. One can also opt for EMI option offered by leading banks and financial institutions. The minimum EMI is ₹1,083/- as per the e-commerce site. There may be other offers as well such as cashback offers by CITI Bank credit and Debit cards and no cost EMI options too. One can also opt to buy together accessories such as an Echo Show Adjustable Stand available at ₹2,999/- only.
The device will also be available across different retails stores in the country.Our concluding thoughts
Amazon's Smart Echo is a unique gadget offering voice-based smart speaker and personal assistant feature. It can let you handle your home conveniently and help build your smart home more effectively. There may not be native Youtube or Netflix support but the workaround suggested above can still work. But for people who watch Amazon Prime Videos can get this one without a second thought. The Echo Show is very responsive and can understand the Indian accent quite well.
It responds instantly to the voice command and performs the desired action promptly. Being a home personal assistant cum smart screen, it is no big deal that it needs to be plugged to the power outlet all the time. Otherwise, a built-in battery would have been more convenient in case of a power cut or load shedding which is very common in a country like India.
So, did you ever use any Echo device from Amazon or the Alexa service? Do share your experience and your opinion on the new 2nd generation Amazon Echo Show device recently launched in India.
