Review: 2021 Amazon Echo Show 8 2nd generation

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Amazon has made another update to its Echo Show lineup with the new Echo Show 8 2nd generation. This smart speaker and digital assistant has all the standard capabilities you’d expect, but in this case the device has been upgraded to perform a bit better and give you more options for staying in touch and communicating around the house. I’m Erin TGC and In this review I’ll look at these newly upgraded features and test them out to see how they work.
I won’t be going into detail on the basics of setting up the Echo Show . For that, check out my blog and video, “10 things you can do with an Echo show that will change your life”.
I’ll assume for now you already know you can play music, make appointments, listen to news, adjust smart home gadgets and watch videos and TV on a Show.
The Echo Show 8 is Amazon’s smart speaker has a 8” HD touchscreen, hence the 8 in the name. It’s all set atop a stereo speaker and inside is a better processor (now Octacore). The looks, styling and speaker power is about the same as the first generation… what’s new here is all about the cameras and video capabilities.
The all-new Echo Show 8 features a more powerful 13-megapixel, wide-angle camera that digitally pans and zooms to keep you in frame during video calls, unlike the Echo Show 10 3rd gen which actually swivels and follows you around the room. The key difference here is while the camera will follow you you do have to stay mostly within range.
Amazon wants you to use Alexa as a communication hub, using it to make phone calls, as an intercom, and for video calling. I will say this is not intuitive and using it for these things is not easy to get set up… so I won’t go into it in this video.
I will though have separate videos and blogs on each of these topics so you can drill down to how to set up and use these features. Just look for the links on screen or search them on my channel.
But here’s the simple gist of what you can do:
Dropping in is a feature of Alexa devices that let you use them as kind or a two-way intercom, voice, or video chat system. Dropping in lets you open that two way conversation from one of your Echo devices to another, or from the Alexa app to an Echo device.
Announcements are yet another feature, not unlike Drop In. But with announcements, these are simply recorded messages of your voice that are broadcast to your selected Alexa devices within your home after an alert bell. These are geared more to quick broad communications meant for the whole family.
Making Alexa Video call using Drop In
Video calls can be made to anyone with the Alexa app or another Echo Show device. It’s important to note video calls are called Drop In… in case you’re new to the device.
To make Alexa voice or video calls you have a few options:
Ask Alexa to call a contact by name (you must have synced your contacts list for this)
Ask Alexa to dial a phone number
To further confuse things you can also “call” your Echo devices. Calling is different from Drop in, because it has to be physically answered on the other end. But you don't need to set up calling in advance like you do with dropping in.
You DO however need to have your person added as a contact inside the Alexa app and for them to have done the same with you, so you can reach eachother on your Echo devices
The new camera on the Show 8 helps keep you in frame --the new camera frames and centers you automatically. Within reason of course since it's on a static base.
You can use the new Echo Show 8 as a pseudo-smart home security camera. While its range is obviously limited because the device doesn't swivel or pan like the Echo Show 10, this can still give you a wide view over some rooms. Naturally, this feature can be toggled off and the camera physically shuttered so that you don't have to worry about privacy.
This also needs to be set up.
Find the full instructions here on the channel
Alexa lets you control thousands of Alexa-compatible smart home products, including security cameras, lights, thermostats, and more, with just your voice. “Occupancy Routines” use the camera to track your presence in the area and will then allow your Show 8 2nd generation to do things like turn the lights on, play music or whatever… when you approach.
Overall, I’m not as thrilled by the new Echo Show 8 2nd generation as I am with the new swivelling Echo Show 10. The improvements here feel kind of marginal, and while this device is supposed to be all about video, and communication, it is not easy to get a lot of this stuff set up and I think particularly older or technophobic folks will really struggle to make the most of this device. I also think the design, which hasn’t changed in years, is pretty heavy, clunky and dated looking, and I do much prefer the new Show 10.

[@varinder.s497]

Can we install apps in it actually no one ever mentioned it so I have no idea about it .... 😬😬 I know we can have few apps but can we install other apps also ?

[@LoneJoe_hadley]

IM 70 years old and like my ES 8. I use it to view blink cameras, drop in. I'm trying to get my wife to drop in with app when she's at the grocery store

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thanks for watching!

[@royeastham5277]

Drop in on her...😂😜

[@radhemohannaamhai]

She is a very good reviewer!!

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

She thanks you for the kind words!

[@bb.cute.channel]

Amazon Echo Show 8 needs to have a NATIVE KZbin app, not one that is loaded in the Silk browser. So that we can cast to KZbin from iPhone to the Echo Show 8. 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@maybethistimenow]

Brilliant video!Thank you, Erin.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thank you for watching!

[@leonz2562]

Does it allow you to download major communication apps like WeChat or line and then voice control it for the video and audio calls? Thanks Erin!

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Not as far as I know...

[@clydeosterhout1221]

I didnt hear you mention it’s ability to make and receive Skype calls, or its ability to use Zoom.

[@damonknight5335]

Thanks great review 😊

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thank you!

[@LongTopCoLtd]

Good video,i learned much from it.Thank you Erin!!!

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@10OF9OFBORG]

👍🏻👍🏻 Thanks for sharing Erin!

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

You are so welcome!

[@royeastham5277]

My Echo Show 10 3rd Gen stopped working on Cox...😭

[@billfong7861]

Good review. I know one of the engineers for the Show 10. I will let her know your opinion of the Show 8.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Thanks Bill! And you can let her know I like the Show 10 better. :)

[@jvcex]

thanx for review Erin

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

My pleasure 😊

[@cradlecat4179]

Uh... Can I access another echo devise for dropping intercom within my house with out wifi??? Lol silly question but just checking 😝

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Good question... you do need WiFi, yes.

[@ronm6585]

Thanks.

[@snanghatatv4914]

Can i buy from Bangladesh?

[@W8ASA]

Older or technophobic folks will struggle with this device? I'm 75 years old, and got it set up quickly to do everything I want it to, including turning on my Fire TV, looking through my Ring, and much, much more. Don't pick on people merely because of their ages, please.

[@CRANEREVIEWS]

All the previous versions had terrible microphones, urgh

[@paulhill1379]

👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

:)