Things To Do With The Echo Show 5 – Skills, Tips & Guide

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The US company Amazon is the market leader in smart home systems with its Echo Smart Speakers and the Alexa voice assistant. One of the most popular products on offer is the intelligent loudspeaker Echo Show 5*. 

What is the Echo Show 5?

The name already gives you a hint. The Echo Show 5 is a speaker of the Echo series, which not only has speakers and microphones but also has a 5.5-inch display. It is the smaller version of the Echo Show 8* and Echo Show 10*. 

The Echo Show 5 is often referred to as a multi-talent because of its versatile application possibilities. In the following guide, you will learn what you can do with the Smart Speaker. 

The Echo Show 5 – Small Speaker with Great Possibilities

Amazon released the Echo Show 5 as a compact alternative to the larger Echo Show 8 with its 8-inch display and the Echo Show 10 with 10 inches. You can order the speaker in black or white. As with every Echo loudspeaker, the Show 5 comes with the intelligent voice assistant Alexa. 

Here are the advantages and disadvantages of Echo Show 5 at a glance:

Nevertheless, all in all the Echo Show 5 is a good device. Especially its small size is an advantage because you can use it everywhere in the house. 

What are the Possibilities of the Echo Show 5?

The number of possibilities is almost infinite. There are thousands of skills. These are the names of the useful little programs from Amazon. The best thing about the skills is the fact that new ones are constantly being developed. So your Echo Show 5 is constantly learning. 

What can the Echo Show 5 do in the Bedroom?

There the little one cuts a good figure. He makes an excellent alarm clock. On the display the time is clearly visible. For waking up the show can choose 5 different methods:

• Alarm sound:
  You can be woken up with an annoying noise.
• Light alarm clock:
  At the set time the display becomes brighter and brighter and simulates the sunrise. 
• Radio Alarm Clock:
  The Echo Show 5 can receive web radio and wake you up with the program of your favorite radio station. 

If you like to sleep a little longer, you will certainly enjoy the snooze function. A light touch on the top is enough to pause the alarm. After 9 minutes it will sound again. 

Do you have problems falling asleep in the evening? Alexa likes to read you an audio book. The timer switches the function off after a certain time. 

Echo Show 5 – Star of Every Kitchen

The Smart Speaker also proves to be very versatile in the kitchen. You can use it for example as a kitchen radio or for streaming music. But other echo speakers can do that as well. 

The Show 5 can be used very well as a timer. You can ask Alexa to start the timer. The countdown is shown on the display. Do you want to cook according to a certain recipe? No problem. The Echo Show 5 will show it to you on the display. 

In the kitchen, voice control is a real advantage. You don’t have to wash your hands every time you use the speaker.

Echo Show – the Entertainer and Communicator

The Smart Speaker offers a wide range of possibilities in these areas. If you have an appropriate account, you can use the Echo Show 5 to watch Amazon Prime Videos. Also all TV channels that stream for free on the Internet can be received with the Show 5.

Did you know that the little Echo Show can also do Karaoke? If you ask Alexa to play music for you, she will also fade in the lyrics so you can sing along. With the Alexa app you can connect compatible mobile devices like tablet PCs or smartphones to the speaker. 

It has a hands-free system. If you grant Alexa access rights to the contacts in your phonebook, she can make calls for you or show incoming SMS or MMS on the display.

Video Chats with the Echo Show 5

The Smart Speaker has the technical prerequisites for this, as it has an integrated camera. Although it only has a resolution of 1 MP, this is quite sufficient for video chats. Videotelephony is possible:

• Between all Echo Show devices
• Between mobile devices that are synchronized with Echo Show 5 and have the Alexa app installed. 
• About Skype

If the chat takes a little longer, it is advantageous that the speaker has a footprint. You have your hands free when talking. 

What can Alexa do?

The clever voice assistant is of course one of the highlights of Echo Show 5, and as with the other Echo speakers, it is already integrated into the device. 

The artificial intelligence (AI) with the sympathetic voice is one of the reasons why Echo loudspeakers are market leaders in the field of a smart home. It is activated with the command Alexa:

• it tells you the date and time 
• reads the news, weather, stock market reports or sports results
• tells you jokes
• plays music to you
• informs you about the current traffic situation
• calls numbers from your address book or writes and sends SMS
• answers questions from the area of general knowledge
• tells you which supermarkets, pharmacies or other stores in your area are open for how long
• reads the TV program to you

You can even have a real conversation with Alexa. Ask her if she wants to go out with you or what she thinks about Siri or Bixby (AIs from Apple and Samsung)? The answers are sometimes very funny. 

Alexa can do much more. The small programs are called skills. In the beginning, only a few skills are preprogrammed. But you can always download more and make Alexa even smarter. There are thousands of skills for Alexa and the number is growing. 

Echo Show 5 and your Smart Home System

The voice assistant Alexa can control your smart home devices via your Echo Show 5. In fact, this is probably the real purpose of smart speakers. In comparison, the other functions are more or less just gimmicks. 

The Lighting

One of the most common functions controlled by Alexa is lighting. You can switch the light on or off by voice command and, depending on the type of light, also dim it. 

You can program your Echo Show 5 to turn on the lights in your kitchen and bathroom when you wake up. Controlling the lighting can even be integrated into the safety features because the light is switched on and off even when you are not at home. This feigns presence. 

Alexa and Security

A video camera at the entrance door can be perfectly integrated into the home security system. You can have the image from the camera sent to the Echo Show 5 display and always see who is ringing your doorbell, even if you are busy in the kitchen or lying in bed. 

You can activate your alarm system by voice command. If a door or window is opened, an alarm will sound on the Echo Show 5. You can also combine this with motion detectors, which can switch on a bright outdoor light or sound a siren. This will make even hardened criminals flee!

Alexa and Heating

Smart thermostats make your heating system intelligent. The system can be programmed with Alexa so that the heating is turned on at a certain time during the week. When you get up, the kitchen and bathroom are cozy and warm. As soon as the last occupant has left the house, the heating is turned down and only turned up again in the afternoon. If a window is opened, sensors register the sudden drop in temperature and reduce the heating. 

With these measures, your Echo Show 5 with Alexa can save you up to 30 percent heating costs per year. The purchase price is often amortized within the first year. 

Control Electrical Devices

Even this ability is mastered by your Echo Show 5 via smart sockets. These are plugged into the normal power outlet and the device to be controlled is connected to it. This could be a washing machine, the television, the dishwasher or a coffee machine.

You can then either switch the devices on and off with a voice command or program them to switch on or off at a certain time. 

Shopping with the Echo Show 5

You can order products from Amazon via the loudspeaker at any time. You just have to say it out loud. Alexa carries out your order automatically. You will even be informed when your order arrives soon. 

How does Echo Show 5 Control the Devices?

In addition to the Smart Speaker, you need a central hub (interface) that connects all devices of your home network and Echo Show 5. The programming is done via the display. Wiping from the right edge of the display to the left opens a menu with shortcuts to important functions such as video, music, communications and routines. 

Here is also the shortcut to the Smart Home area. There you can see all devices connected to your Echo Show 5 and you can make settings. The connected devices are controlled via wifi. 

The Most Important Specifications of the Echo Show 5

• Dimensions: 14.8 x 8.6 x 7.3 cm
• Weight: 410 g
• Material: plastic, glass
• Color: black or white
• Display size: 5.5 inch (14 cm)
• Resolution: 960 x 480 pixels
• Camera: 1 MP
• Microphones: 2 
• Speakers: 4.2 cm diameter, 4 W
• Power supply: mains power 220 V, 50 Hz

Frequently Asked Questions

What Programming Options are Available?

You can turn all devices associated with the speaker on and off by voice command. An automatic switch is called routine. Here Echo Show 5 controls the devices according to a pre-defined sequence. 

What is an Example of a Typical Routine?

Alexa wakes you up early with soft music. Before, the heating has already been turned on and the lights in the kitchen and bathroom, as well as the coffee machine, have been switched on. When you get up, the bathroom is warm and the coffee is ready. 

What about Data Security?

Amazon attaches great importance to this. You can switch microphones and camera on and off with a switch. In addition, you can cover the camera with a slider. When prompted, Alexa will delete all your voice entries. 

Isn’t such a Smart Home System Very Expensive?

No, because you build it up bit by bit. You start with the Echo Show 5 and maybe 2 or 3 smart lamps. Then you add smart sockets and smart radiator thermostats and gradually expand the system. 

Conclusion

The Echo Show 5* is a true all-rounder. It can play music, switch on the light or the coffee machine and many other things. 

The secret of its versatility is that the Smart Speaker connects to the other devices in your smart home network via wifi. Small programs called skills are used to control it. 

But almost every day new ones are added, so your Echo Show 5 is getting smarter and smarter. Once you have it connected, you should first look at the direct functions such as streaming music or reading messages aloud. 

You can discover the Smart Home functions bit by bit. When buying accessories, make sure that they are compatible with the Echo series.

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Attention: When installing electronic equipment, please be sure to observe the manufacturer’s safety instructions. You have to take care of your own safety. The information on this site only helps you to learn.
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