Why You Don’t Need the New Amazon Echo Show
May 10th 2017: Amazon launched the new Amazon Echo Show today at a nominal price of $229.9, or so did Amazon think. Amazon Echo show is a tablet with a stand at its core with its biggest selling point being its video calling feature. It has the same exact features as any other tablet and even has the same functionalities.
Apple is soon supposed to come out with its own version of Amazon Echo Show and it is clear that this is another war of brands under the disguise of consumer electronics. No matter what Smart Home device you chose, you will be forced to adapt to that ecosystem by the means of proprietary software and features.
We as people need to realize the risk to our privacy also. A device like Amazon Echo Show is capable of 24-hour surveillance due to its inbuilt camera and microphone. Any malicious hacker can simply hack the device and gain control over the audio and video feed from the Echo Show.
And it is not just Amazon Echo Show, most devices with a built-in camera and microphone can be hacked and used for any kind of personal gain. The voice assistant/home assistant market has heated up a lot lately. With Google already in the market and Apple ready to enter the competition, it is only a matter of time before Amazon loses its monopoly to newer and better devices.
Even though the Amazon Echo Show offers free calling ability along with other tablet-like features, it is still a great risk to the personal privacy of you as a consumer. If you really want a tablet with a stand, I'd suggest you buy a stand for your older tablet.