Amazon Echo Show: First Dedicated Stand Alone Digital Assistant Device with a Screen

Richard Hay, Senior Content Producer

May 9, 2017

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Amazon Echo Show: First Dedicated Stand Alone Digital Assistant Device with a Screen

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OK, so I know that our phones and computers both have screens and access to the current lineup of digital assistants on the market which technically means we have had stand alone devices for sometime that give us visuals alongside the assistance we get from these assistants.

However, those devices are not actually multi-use. Although we have access to all of these digital assistants including Alexa, Siri, Cortana, Google Home, and even Samsung's Bixby, our laptops and phones are not dedicated to the service.

This past week the discussion around digital assistant based devices has heated up quite a bit with Apple's Phil Schiller stating that a screen is needed to use them and then Microsoft unveiling with their partner Harman Kardon, the upcoming Invoke speaker that will use Cortana but, according to forecasts from EMarketer Inc, Amazon is well out in front and it is their battle to lose.

That does not mean the other companies are going to stop their moves forward to expect this market to heat up very quickly. I mean senior executives in big tech companies do not say things without purpose so it would not surprise me to see Apple creating a new product in their hardware lineup that features Siri on a stand alone screen based device in the near future.

That means Microsoft and Google will be behind Amazon and Apple in this area and needing to play catchup to get a new device on the market with an integrated screen to compete with these other offerings.

Amazon's Echo Show ($229.99 on Amazon.com) has an expected availability date of 28 June 2017 and can be pre-ordered beginning today. This unveiling today shows the possibilities with a screen based digital assistant that ties into your smart home but one limitation that jumps out at me is they are only offering calling through the Alexa app.

I have been testing the Amazon Echo for the past few months and it is has quickly just turned into a way to play music in my home office. I am not sure that adding a screen to the device changes that use case for me but I guess we will see once it is on the market.

By the way, I recommend you take a look at the video included on the Echo Show product page at Amazon.com to see several usage scenarios in action.

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But, wait...there's probably more so be sure to follow me on Twitter and Google+.

 

About the Author

Richard Hay

Senior Content Producer, IT Pro Today (Informa Tech)

I served for 29 plus years in the U.S. Navy and retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer in November 2011. My work background in the Navy was telecommunications related so my hobby of computers fit well with what I did for the Navy. I consider myself a tech geek and enjoy most things in that arena.

My first website – AnotherWin95.com – came online in 1995. Back then I used GeoCities Web Hosting for it and WindowsObserver.com is the result of the work I have done on that site since 1995.

In January 2010 my community contributions were recognized by Microsoft when I received my first Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Award for the Windows Operating System. Since then I have been renewed as a Microsoft MVP each subsequent year since that initial award. I am also a member of the inaugural group of Windows Insider MVPs which began in 2016.

I previously hosted the Observed Tech PODCAST for 10 years and 317 episodes and now host a new podcast called Faith, Tech, and Space. 

I began contributing to Penton Technology websites in January 2015 and in April 2017 I was hired as the Senior Content Producer for Penton Technology which is now Informa Tech. In that role, I contribute to ITPro Today and cover operating systems, enterprise technology, and productivity.

https://twitter.com/winobs

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