In the last few months, my nine-year-old has found a new bench partner during her online classes — my wife and a one-kg friend. In the kitchen the oven hasn’t dinged as much in three years as it did in the last three months. Nat King Cole’s Fascination and The Girl From Ipanema waft through the house like it did when the turntable worked overtime every evening decades ago. And Nani, the person inseparable from my daughter, talks more often than she ever did.

Away from the weirdest of moments our generation (if not generations) has seen, a few bright spots mark my personal space, one being the family of three (actually four if a furry member is counted) is appreciating togetherness like we never did and the other being the Amazon Echo Show 8, which chats, connects and plays, offering everyone something to enjoy.

Alexa, the voice assistant from Amazon, has been breathing life into the company’s smart speakers for years now while in India she is almost three years old. The shape it takes has changed with the many Echo devices that have launched in India. The Echo Show 8 takes a shape that can’t be faulted.

Command and you will be heard

Unlike the Echo Plus from 2017, which resides in the bedroom, the Show 8 is bang in the middle of my family’s work-from-home zone, and for a good reason. This is a device that can sit on the desk, on the countertop or on the table.

In the last three months a problem staring at most has been loneliness. Many haven’t come to terms with the fact that we still don’t know when the next meeting with relatives would be. Many have lost sense of date. Thumbing through digital photo galleries of happier times have become second nature. Listening to music comes naturally. And then there is always the rush to rustle up something that would sparkle. In all of these activities, the Echo Show 8 can have a role to play. It is no longer a device you ask two questions and then forget about it for weeks.

The first big feature that deserves a mention is voice-activated video calling, which makes so much sense now than dropping a few text messages. The closer one can get to live interaction, the better. The video quality is as good as the audio, something that was lacking in earlier generation Echo devices. The Show 8 comes with two far-field microphones for hearing voice commands. There has hardly been an occasion when the smart speaker missed a voice command. Agreed there is no subject tracking feature but that’s not something we truly miss. Simply stand in front of the device and let the camera roll.

Going back to the bit about how it helps children, the Show 8 helps to gather information during classes. Frankly, I didn’t know that the Caspian Sea is the world’s largest inland body of water, something my daughter’s GK class taught. Between classes, the 15-minute breaks can be enjoyed playing short games, moderated by Alexa.

Privacy is paramount

Since the Show 8 is kept in the study, we didn’t have to worry about security. But then one shouldn’t worry even if the device is kept in the bedroom. There is a shutter which can be manually closed, disabling the camera. So the device cannot see you... if that’s something you are worried about!

What the Show 8 offers is hands-free voice and video call for the little one in the family. Instead of clinging on to a smartphone and trying to squeeze in people, a big stationary camera works so well.

What Amazon has done in the last few years is get more and more users on its platform. Some may use Google Duo. Some may Skype. For some, it’s FaceTime. With more Amazon accounts and devices out there, things are improving.

The only issue one may have is the absence of group chats. Show 8 video calls are between two devices, so it’s not possible to get people from multiple locations on a call.

Let the music flow

Owning a Show 8, chances are that you won’t buy a Bluetooth speaker to play your favourite music inside the house. The sound quality shines; it’s the same speakers that one can get in the 10-inch model of the device. Ours is an old-fashioned house but the speaker is loud and clear enough to fill the space. By default the bass may sound a little too much but that can be tweaked using the equalizer settings on the Alexa app. Compared to the Google Nest Hub, it’s a much fuller show on Show 8.

On a personal note, the sound quality helps a lot. While taking short 10- or 20-minute breaks, I like to make full use of my Prime account, which means a whole lot of streaming of the Amazon special The Grand Tour with Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. The screen is the right size and resolution for short-viewing sprees while the sound is just right to hear the likes of Audi R8, McLaren 720S and Bugatti EB 110 roar away.

Making the display win brownie points is the software running the Show. The fonts and icons are big and information can be captured at a glance.

The angled display, like with the other Echo Shows, looks like a speaker from the rear. But it’s this angle which makes video viewing a pleasure.

On the back is a 3.5mm headphone jack if you want to keep the sound to yourself. And there is a microUSB port for servicing, which doesn’t really have any use!
Setting it up

Yes, you do need to keep the device connected to a power supply all the time. While setting it up is easy. Log in with your Amazon account and then connect it to Wi-Fi. Voila!
Is it for you?

Amazon has managed to tackle security concerns with its Echo Show devices while delivering what can be considered the centerpiece in one’s study. It’s great for listening to music, watching videos, making video calls or asking all sorts of questions. Hands-down, the Amazon Echo Show 8 effortlessly puts up a big show anywhere in the house.

Spotify now on Alexa

On the Echo Show 8 there is a shutter which can be manually closed, disabling the camera. So there is no way the device can see you. The mic can also be switched off manually The Telegraph

Spotify’s premium and free tier users in India can now enjoy music and podcasts on Amazon Echo devices, Fire TV and other Alexa built-in smart speakers. Users will be able to request music by artiste, album, track, genre, curated and personal playlists, as well as podcasts from their Spotify accounts by giving requests to Alexa in English, Hindi or Hinglish.
Things to try with Alexa

• Night light on your table stand: “Alexa, open night light”
• Find your misplaced Phone: “Alexa, open Phone Genie”
• Help your dog relax when you’re away: “Alexa, open Relax My Dog”
• Get a random dog bark once in a while, to deter intruders in your home: “Alexa, open Guard dog”

At a glance

• Device: Amazon Echo Show 8
• Size: 7.9”x 5.4”x 3.9”
• Display: 8-inch touch screen
• Camera: 1MP camera with built-in shutter
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
• Processor: MediaTek MT 8163
• Language: Alexa speaks English and Hindi
• Price: Currently Rs 9,999 on Amazon.in