SEATTLE – Amazon on Tuesday revealed its newest device, the Echo Show, its first smart speaker with a built-in touchscreen. The new device was announced just weeks after Amazon presented the Echo Look, its first Echo with a built-in camera.
While Echo devices have been all about using your voice so far, this new gadget should help the Echo and its voice assistant Alexa expand into many more areas that may have been too clunky or complicated for just spoken commands. For example, the Show’s 7-inch touchscreen can be used for voice-assisted shopping, viewing videos, weather forecasts, music lyrics and photos, and checking baby-monitor and security-camera feeds.
The device, which comes in black or white, is priced at $230 — buy two and you get a $100 discount. Preorders started Tuesday for its June 28 launch in the US.
Amazon also introduced a free voice-call feature, allowing anyone with the Alexa app or an Echo, Echo Dot or Echo Show to call or message anyone else with a supported Echo device or the Alexa app. The Echo Show’s front-facing camera can use this feature for video chats. Think Apple’s FaceTime app, but on your kitchen counter.
This story was provided by CNET.Com
