Do you know Alexa?
Alexa is “the friend” with many benefits.
Amazon devices are out in the marketplace en masse and the competition for the home automation market is fierce.
Amazon is trying to gain ground by getting Amazon services integrated into your thermostat, TV, speakers, and mobile devices cheaply. And if it’s not integrated, they have their Echo Show, Show 5 (5″ screen), Plus, Dot, Sub, and Fire Tab/TV to ensure that you’re well taken care of.
There are as many ways to call Alexa for help as there are for Google Assistant, and as many opportunities for Amazon to provide value for your home.
However, there is one significant caveat when comparing Amazon devices to the rest of the marketplace. In order to make use of the full value of Amazon’s devices, you will need a Prime Membership.
Alexa can connect you to all Amazon has to offer, however, your account with Amazon needs to be Prime in order to access them. The cost is approximately $12.99 USD per month or $119.99 USD per year.
Let’s talk more about Amazon Echo Show and Echo Show 5 further!
Prime Membership
Amazon is all about Prime. In order to experience the variety of Amazon’s offerings, you’ll need Prime. Here are a few product offerings:
- Amazon Online Shopping Free One/Two Day delivery
- Reading (lots of books are free)
- Drive (cloud storage)
- Prime Video
- Music
- Unlimited Photo Uploads to Amazon Cloud
- Twitch Prime (for video game enthusiasts)
- Comixology (for comic book fans)
- Amazon Prime Day (special deals for Prime Members only).
The list keeps going; you’ll have to go to Amazon.com and scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the rest of the Amazon fleet – it’s tremendous.
Echo Show and Echo Show 5 – Getting Value
If you’re thinking of buying the Echo Show or the Echo Show 5, you’ll need to realize its full potential. This device can be the centerpiece of information in your kitchen, bedside table, living room, or office.
In order to access the services we talked about earlier (Photos, Reading, Online Shopping, etc.) you’ll need a Prime membership.
Let’s be clear: You can still use Alexa and make requests to change the temperature in the house, turn on lights, or ask for more information on something. You can still order things and listen to some music. However, when it comes to making full use of your Echo Show or Echo Show 5 (5″ screen), you’re probably going to come across Alexa asking you if you want to continue with or without Amazon’s Prime services.
For example, to view photos, you’ll need a Prime membership to store your photos on the Amazon Photos service. To read (out loud) books for free, you’ll need your Prime membership to access the large selection of free books. To see your favorite movie, you may need a Prime account to view it on the Show
What is Echo Show 5 used for?
The Echo Show 5 can be used as a bedside clock and also an alarm for your morning routines. You’ll like the display at night because it’s pretty dim but not as dim as the latest Nest Hub. (You should keep that in mind when you’re sensitive to light when sleeping.)
I didn’t have any problem setting up the Echo Show 5. I like that it can still hear me from across the room despite the ambient noises. Overall, setting it up was a smooth experience!
Check out the video on how to set up the Amazon Echo Show 5!
Can the Echo 5 play Netflix?
You’d be happy to know the Echo 5 can play Netflix!
With the Echo 5, you can stream series and movies on Netflix. However, the 5.5″ screen may not be suitable for a long Netflix marathon but sufficient for watching TV in bed.
Unfortunately, the Echo 5 isn’t designed for streaming as a smart display with speaker but as a practical helper for the bedside table and desk. I’d say it’s good for looking at kitchen recipes. But movies and series? Not sure!
Can you watch TV on Echo Show?
You can watch live TV on Echo Show using certain streaming services such as Hulu + Live TV subscription.
If your streaming service is unavailable on Echo Show, you can still access it using the Amazon Silk browser provided with the Echo Show.
If you want to upgrade to Amazon Echo 8 in the future, check out this article!
Final Say
The Amazon Echo Show and Echo Show 5 are great Amazon automation tools that you should have.
Both can be used as a streaming device or a speaker system and can make your everyday life a lot easier and more relaxed. Just bear in mind that you need a Prime membership to enjoy the Amazon Echo Show and Echo Show 5!
Hope this article helps you understand how you can make the most of the Echo Show or Echo Show 5.