The big upgrade the new Echo Show 8 got from its predecessor is its camera. The new device has a 13MP camera with auto-framing, a jump up from the 1MP sensor in the original Echo Show 8. It appears to be the same camera used in the latest Echo Show 10, but without the motorized tracking feature. The Echo Show 8’s 8-inch display is fine for one-on-one video calls, but is too small to comfortably use for group calls. Also, while you can see messages posted to a chat, you cannot type your own messages on the Echo Show display; all participation in a Zoom call can be done by voice, but you can say “Alexa, open Zoom” on the Echo Show and then use the Zoom app It is much easier to call up the Zoom app by saying “Alexa, open Zoom” in the Echo Show and entering the conference code or starting the conference yourself from the touch screen.
