Connect with us

CNET

Echo Show 8 2021 reviewed: Fancy video calls with a dash of disappointment

The much-improved camera on the second-gen Echo Show 8 will follow the action during video calls and track your presence to trigger routines. We take a close look at these new features to figure out if this smart display measures up to the competition. 0:00 Intro 1:07 The Basics 1:39 Sound Quality 2:25 Video Calls…

Published

on

The much-improved camera on the second-gen Echo Show 8 will follow the action during video calls and track your presence to trigger routines. We take a close look at these new features to figure out if this smart display measures up to the competition.

0:00 Intro
1:07 The Basics
1:39 Sound Quality
2:25 Video Calls
3:05 Camera Tracking Test
5:37 Camera Quality
5:51 Checking In Remotely
6:33 Smart Home Advancements
6:57 Recommendation

Subscribe to CNET:
CNET playlists:
Download the new CNET app:
Like us on Facebook:
Follow us on Twitter:
Follow us on Instagram:

Continue Reading
Advertisement
16 Comments

16 Comments

  1. Auto Hunter

    June 8, 2021 at 1:01 pm

    Congrats to anybody who is early and who finds this comment useful. ????????????????tr

    • NoHomework16

      June 8, 2021 at 1:36 pm

      This is the most useless type of comment and should be enough to issue a 30 day ban

  2. stickonatree

    June 8, 2021 at 1:05 pm

    Amazon is going for that shotgun approach to home tech.

  3. JogBird

    June 8, 2021 at 1:06 pm

    its ‘affordabel” because it is constantly harvesting data from you

    • Michael Corcoran

      June 8, 2021 at 3:35 pm

      Yeah that and it’s also constantly upselling you

    • Ravi Teja KNTS

      June 8, 2021 at 4:10 pm

      Yeah, any service that relies on machine learning have to deal with it.

  4. Michael Corcoran

    June 8, 2021 at 3:35 pm

    Definitely not worth an upgrade if you already own an Echo Show. At least wait till your current one dies

  5. Michael Hughes

    June 8, 2021 at 6:07 pm

    You can now look at a live view of your camera on the old Show 8. And you can automatically record videos up to 1 minute (or take a photo) which is saved in Amazon Photos by adding a customized action “Alexa, take video” or “Alexa take a photo” when a contact or motion sensor is triggered.

  6. Jai Shyam

    June 8, 2021 at 7:44 pm

    The design has not changed. An upgraded camera and updated processor. Why can’t these companies make these products last longer? People keep laptops and tablets for 3-5 years. We should be keeping these devices for that long at least. Otherwise we are just going to keep dumping old devices in the landfill. The 13 megapixel camera should have been in the first version. Then no upgrade would have been needed. Just a software one.

  7. sixthday creation

    June 8, 2021 at 9:21 pm

    Nobody mentions testing out the iron man suit impact resistance?

    I would! And describe how it felt when my toe broke ….
    Just saying.

  8. Way

    June 9, 2021 at 1:36 am

    In a world of smart phones and tablets, I don’t understand why these devices even exist.

    • Scrufboy!

      June 9, 2021 at 7:37 pm

      The one plus…. No battery that will eventually die… A device on your desk, kitchen or nightstand that won’t deplete your smartphone or tablets battery cycles. Not perfect and probably not enough to sell some folks, but I can multi-task with laptop, phone and tablet and these things can handle the overload and play music, episodes of The Expanse or another show, news, weather… Video intercom… I hear these new ones can do zoom too. But you know… Like you said, cuz you’re right… They’re not for everyone. I love the deep sleep ambient tracks I can play on spotify

  9. Becky east

    June 9, 2021 at 7:03 pm

    Is it worth for your money

  10. Scrufboy!

    June 9, 2021 at 7:32 pm

    Wow… Incredibly ridiculous comment on the octa-core… Saying nothing of any consequence or value… How about comparing the speed and responsiveness of the 2 gens? You know, like a real reviewer would. SMH. Thankfully I’ll be able to do that myself before the day is over… Thanks for nothing!

  11. Christian Guevara

    June 9, 2021 at 9:59 pm

    I would bet my life CNet was going to recommend an Amazon product.

  12. Max SMoke

    June 9, 2021 at 10:29 pm

    I have never, and will never, use the Echo for video chatting. I might as well weld that camera shutter closed. It sounds like the best bet for non-video chat users is the older 8.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CNET

iPhone Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8

It’s a battle of passport foldables 👀 #galaxyzfold8 #versus #iphoneduo #allthingsmobile #foldable

Published

on

It’s a battle of passport foldables 👀 #galaxyzfold8 #versus #iphoneduo #allthingsmobile #foldable

Continue Reading

CNET

How to Choose a Treadmill in 2026: Types, Budget and Specs Explained

Shopping for a treadmill can be overwhelming with so many choices on the market. In this video, we break down everything you need to know to find the perfect treadmill for your budget, space and fitness goals. Whether you’re looking for a heavy-duty running machine, a compact walking pad for your under-desk setup, or an…

Published

on

Shopping for a treadmill can be overwhelming with so many choices on the market. In this video, we break down everything you need to know to find the perfect treadmill for your budget, space and fitness goals. Whether you’re looking for a heavy-duty running machine, a compact walking pad for your under-desk setup, or an immersive entertainment-focused tread, we’ll go through it all. Special thanks to NordicTrack for making this content possible.

You can find the products mentioned in this video linked below
NordicTrack Commercial Series Treadmills for Home | 1250, 1750, 2450
Aviron Summit Treadmill, 4.5 CHP Commercial
BowFlex T16 Treadmill for Home with 16″ HD Touchscreen, 3.5 HP Motor
*CNET may get a commission on these offers

Read more about treadmills on CNET.com
The 5 Best Expert-Tested and Approved Treadmills for Runners
Run Toward Your 2026 Fitness Goals With These 4 High-Impact Treadmill Workouts

Timecode Chapters:
0:00 – Intro
0:33 – Types of Treadmills
2:30 – Treadmill Budgets (Budget, Mid-Tier & Luxury)
5:56 – Space & Safety Considerations
7:00 – Summary & TL;DW Recap

Video Credits:
Host & Video Editor: Wes Ott
Producer: JD Christison
Camera: Jon Gomez & Dillon Lopez
Thumbnail Designer: Zooey Liao

Add CNET as a trusted news source
Never miss a deal again! See CNET’s browser extension 👉
Check out CNET’s Amazon Storefront:
Subscribe to CNET on YouTube:
Follow us on TikTok:
Follow us on Instagram:
Follow us on Bluesky:
Like us on Facebook:
CNET’s AI Atlas:
Follow us on X:
Visit CNET.com:

#health #fitness #nordictrack #workout

Continue Reading

CNET

Dell XPS 14 Battery Life: Can It Last a Full Workday Unplugged?

Sponsored by Dell. Learn more about the Dell XPS 14: Can the Dell XPS 14 last a full work day on one charge? In this morning-to-evening run, the 14-inch Copilot+ PC stayed unplugged from 8:32 AM to 7:30 PM through 4K video editing, video calls and a 40 GB file transfer and finished with more…

Published

on

Sponsored by Dell.

Learn more about the Dell XPS 14:

Can the Dell XPS 14 last a full work day on one charge? In this morning-to-evening run, the 14-inch Copilot+ PC stayed unplugged from 8:32 AM to 7:30 PM through 4K video editing, video calls and a 40 GB file transfer and finished with more than 25% battery left.

BATTERY CHECK-INS
8:32 AM: 100% (4K video export in the park)
10:57 AM: 85% (video meeting)
1:45 PM: 75% (40 GB file transfer)
4:25 PM: 65% (nearly 8 hours of editing, file transfer and meetings)
7:30 PM: 45% (end of workday)

DELL’S BATTERY RATINGS
Up to 31 hours of video streaming (2K display, 250 nits)
Streaming-only ratings run longer than mixed workloads like editing and video calls, so real-world battery life depends on how you use the laptop.

WHO IT’S FOR
Choose the Dell XPS 14 if you want a 3-pound, 14-inch laptop that can handle 4K editing, video calls and large file transfers through a full workday away from an outlet.

DELL XPS 14 SPECS
Weight: about 3 pounds
Thickness: 14.62 mm
Screen size: 14 inches
Processor: Intel Core Ultra with Windows 11
AI: Copilot+ PV with NPU for on-device tasks
Webcam: 8MP 4K
Ports: 3 x Thunderbolt 4, charging on either side
Dell-rated battery: up to 31 hours of video streaming (2K display, 250 nits)

#DellXPS14 #LaptopBatteryLife #DellPartner #Shorts

Add CNET as a trusted news source
Never miss a deal again! See CNET’s browser extension 👉
Check out CNET’s Amazon Storefront:
Subscribe to CNET on YouTube:
Follow us on TikTok:
Follow us on Instagram:
Follow us on Bluesky:
Like us on Facebook:
CNET’s AI Atlas:
Follow us on X:
Visit CNET.com:

Continue Reading

Trending