Amazon Shows off its Latest Echo Products

As far as smart home tech is concerned, Amazon’s Echo range of devices are undoubtedly up there among the most popular products for many consumers, thanks to their relative affordability, in addition to feature-packed software offerings. With that in mind, Amazon recently showed off their latest Echo hardware and software, aimed at giving users the most of their smart home products. With that said, we finally got a good look at the Amazon Echo Show 8, Echo Hub, and Amazon’s new Adaptive Content feature. Let’s check them out!

Amazon Echo Show 8

First up is the Amazon Echo Show 8, which has received some much-welcome upgrades in terms of design and internal specs. Amazon says that it has upgraded the Echo Show 8 with a slightly-revamped look, incorporating a more industrial approach to its overall design. Of course, it retains the touch-compatible display which allows users to keep an eye on their content, notifications, and more. There’s also an improved audio system with spatial audio processing that allows for better sound clarity and a deeper bass sound, with room adaptation technology that allows the Echo Show 8 to adjust its sound depending on where it is placed.

Inside, the Echo Show 8 also packs in an improved processor for better and faster response to input, so users aren’t left waiting on account of device lag. Other functions include support for video calls, content streaming including videos and music, as well as quick access to Alexa.

Meet the Echo Hub

In addition to the Echo Show 8, Amazon also showed off the Echo Hub, which serves as an all-new smart home control panel giving users an easy and efficient way to control and communicate with their smart home products. Powered by Alexa, the new Echo Hub comes with a look that’s reminiscent of other Echo devices, including an 8-inch touch screen and a rather slim profile that allows it to be mounted wherever convenient for users. The touchscreen acts as the main gateway where users can manage their smart devices, assign them to groups, organise widgets, start routines, and more.

For users with home security devices, the Echo Hub can also tap into their camera feeds, providing a way to view live video footage, or review snapshots taken by security cameras. The Hub’s design also allows it to discreetly blend with the rest of a user’s home, with support for an idle screen that can be programmed to display personal photos, or quick access to information such as weather alerts and such.

Adaptive Content is Here

In addition to its new hardware, Amazon also unveiled a new addition to its software suite of services with Adaptive Content. Simply put, Adaptive Content gives users a more refined home screen experience, which runs using on-device computer vision technology – this means that based on a user’s distance to a device, a smart display will be able to show content that’s instantly visible, allowing users to spot important information and notifications right away.

For example, a device might display a shortened news headline for a user that’s seated all the way across a room, and will then be able to display more details once the user decides to approach the device. In addition to Amazon’s new announcements, Ring also showed off its new Stick Up Cam Pro, which comes enabled with radar-based 3D Motion Detection technology (more details on that here).