What looks and acts like a TV is now a real TV. Thanks to a new software update, the Echo Show 15 is now compatible with Amazon Fire TV, allowing you to watch your favorite shows from a variety of streaming services.
Platforms like YouTube, Disney Plus, and Paramount Plus have a new home in the Show 15 interface. If you don't mind smearing the 15,6-inch Full HD screen, you can use the new virtual remote to navigate the menus. This is especially useful because not all video apps are touch sensitive. However, if you plan to use or already have the screen in your kitchen (Amazon already knows this (opens in a new tab)), it works with the XNUMXrd generation Alexa Voice Remote so you can keep it burr-free. Or you can use the Fire TV app; it's all the same.
In addition to Fire TV support, the Echo Show 15's audio gets an upgrade, adopting the company's "bespoke spatial audio processing technology" from the Echo Studio. That doesn't mean the Show 15 gets spatial sound itself, as the display probably can't. Still, any upgrade is worth it if it means more immersive sound. The device's audio performance, including lackluster bass, is one of its biggest drawbacks.
None of the smart home features are cut short in any way. You can still use the original smart home features of the Echo Show 15, like controlling other devices or tracking packages.
a glimpse into the future
What's interesting about the Echo Show 15 is that in September, Amazon revealed that more than 70% of device owners (opens in a new tab) use it to watch something on Prime Video. With that in mind, it could be argued that Amazon has given the screen a more lasting purpose amid difficult financial times for the company.
If you don't know, Amazon's Worldwide Digital unit, part of the company that runs Alexa and Echo devices, is poised to lose $10 billion, according to a Business Insider report (opens in a new tab). Apparently the devices are not selling well enough. They're popular with their audience, but there aren't enough interested consumers beyond that core group.
These tests don't mean the Alexa or Echo hubs will stop working overnight. Away from. If anything, we could see Amazon doing everything it can to ensure these devices continue to receive support or potentially new buyers. More people may pick up the Echo Show 15 because of the Fire TV compatibility. Either way, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for Alexa and the devices that support it.
If you're interested in an Echo, be sure to check out TechRadar's recent collection of the cheapest Amazon Echo deals for December.