Slowly but surely, Amazon’s been turning its Fire tablets into Echos. It started with push to talk Alexa function. Last year, the company added a hands-free mode for the voice assistant. Now, it’s adding Show Mode, which brings the same title card UI you get on the company’s screen-enabled smart speaker. Better still, Amazon’s introducing a Show Mode Charging Dock, a stand that effectively transforms the Fire into a makeshift Show. Place the tablet into a dock and it starts charging and automatically flips into Show mode, so you can do all of the standard Echo activities from across the room. The dock works with both the most recent Fire HD 8 and 10 (if I had to venture a guess, I’d say the 7 will probably be getting the functionality, as well). If you already have one of the devices, the feature will be coming through an over-the-air update starting July 2. Once it’s in place, it will play nicely with other Echos in your home, using Amazon’s ESP (“Echo Spatial Perception”) feature. I’d have to imagine a new, less bulky version of the Show is in the works. In the meantime, this is a pretty compelling alternative — and a chance for Amazon to be a bit more competitive with the numerous third-party devices Google unveiled back at CES. The tablet+dock package is ultimately a cheaper option than the Show’s $230 price tag (though that device is discounted to $160 at the moment). The docks themselves run $40 for the eight-inch and $55 for the 10 (both are discounted $5 for the time being). If you don’t already have the tablets on-hand, you can pick up a bundle for $110 and $190, respectively. Picking up this configuration also gives you a lot more flexibility versus just going in on the Show. As for what the Show brings to the table? Better built-in mics and speakers are the primary answer. Ultimately, however, I suspect Amazon isn’t really concerned about some of its devices cannibalizing others, so long as it gets more Amazon products out in the world.<doc-sep>Amazon wants you to think of your Fire tablet as not just a tablet but a full-fledged Alexa-enabled device -- or more precisely, a slimmed down Echo Show. It's called Show Mode, and it's coming as a free software update for current generation Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 tablets. Like the Echo Show, the new mode serves up full-screen visuals to complement voice responses from Alexa. Without touching your tablet, you can ask Alexa to see trending news, the weather report, calendars, camera feeds and more. Aside from the software update -- it'll start rolling out on July 2 -- Amazon is also introducing the Show Mode Charging Dock, a docking station for current generation Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 that includes a cover that magnetically adheres to the dock, fixing your device in place on the angled stand. Enlarge Image David Carnoy/CNET I got a chance to see an early demo of Show Mode and came away thinking it was it was a pretty nifty feature addition. If you already have a case with a built-in stand, you could just put your Fire tablet into Show Mode (you access the feature by swiping down from the top of the tablet to reveal the settings menu) and pretend your tablet's an Echo Show. The microphone array in a Fire Tablet isn't as robust as the one you get with an Echo device, but in a relatively quiet room, your tablet should hear your voice commands from several feet away. For even richer audio sound, Amazon suggests you connect your Fire tablet to an external speaker via Bluetooth. Enlarge Image David Carnoy/CNET The Show Mode Charging Dock simply creates a more elegant Show experience. The case has a short, integrated micro-USB charging cable that plugs into the USB port on the bottom of your tablet. To charge your tablet you set it in the dock and it charges inductively. Leaving the tablet in the dock for extended periods will not damage the battery, said Kevin Keith, General Manager, Amazon Devices. It's also worth noting that the dock has no additional microphones to enhance Alexa's listening capabilities. Enlarge Image David Carnoy/CNET Show Mode Charging Dock will cost $40 for the HD 8 and $55 for the HD 10, but Amazon is offering both at a $5 discount as part of a pre-order launch special. Show Mode Charging Dock will begin shipping on July 12. The accessory is also available bundled with a Fire HD 8 tablet starting at $110 ($10 savings) or bundled with a Fire HD 10 tablet starting at $190 ($15 savings). Enlarge Image David Carnoy/CNET In other Fire tablet news, Amazon has also announced a new Fire HD 10 Kids Edition. It comes with a "kid-proof" case, a year of FreeTime Unlimited and a two-year "worry-free" guarantee -- if the tablet breaks, Amazon will replace it, no questions asked. The Fire HD 10 Kids Edition is available for pre-order starting today for $200 and and ships July 11. It's available in three color options: blue, pink, and yellow. It joins the Fire 7 Kids Edition and Fire HD 8 Kids Edition. Amazon Fire TV Cube review: Alexa turns on your TV, and it feels like magic Amazon HQ2 dark horse? Inside Toronto's bid to draw tech giant to Canada<doc-sep>In advance of Prime Day , Amazon has discounted the Echo Show smart speaker to a all-time-low $160 (about £122 / AU$220). But, if that still sounds too high, just turn your Amazon tablet into a speaker instead. Back in April, Amazon updated its tablets to respond to Alexa voice commands. In Hands-Free mode, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th generation Fire tablets can respond to the same queries you’d normally ask your Echo speakers. Read more: Amazon Echo Show 5 Now, Amazon plans to roll out a new Show Mode for Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 tablets. It’s a full-screen, always-on UI that, as with the Echo Show, shows up-to-date times, news and weather, and will respond to voice commands with large graphics and text that Amazon claims can be easily read from across a room. Show Mode will roll out in a free update to Fire 8 and 10 HD tablets on July 2. Even more exciting, Amazon has opened pre-orders for the Show Mode Charging Dock. Drop your tablet into the Dock, and it will automatically charge and enter Show Mode; remove it, and the tablet will immediately switch back to its regular UI. Your Fire tablet will charge wirelessly, and magnets will guide your tablet into position | Credit: Amazon (Image credit: Amazon) With an adjustable kickstand and magnets to keep your tablet in place, the Show Mode Charging Dock follows the same principles as a Nintendo Switch , making it easy to switch between docked speaker mode and portable mode without having to tap settings. You can pre-order the Dock for the Fire 8 HD for $35 (about £26 / AU$48), or Fire HD 10 for $50 (about £38/ AU$68). Both prices will go up by $5 when it officially goes on sale on July 12. If you don’t own a Fire tablet, you can get a bundle with the Fire HD 8 for around $110 (about £84 / AU$150)—well below what you’d pay for an Echo Show—or the HD 10 for around $190 (about £145 / AU$260). A great Show alternative (with one caveat) You can’t carry your Echo Show around the house with you, watch movies on it, or do anything else you’d normally enjoy on any tablet. Combining speaker and tablet into one device is an exciting move for Amazon. The Echo Show - not so portable | Credit: Amazon Echo Show will still have an edge over these makeshift portable speakers, however. Built specifically for voice control, the devices have better built-in mics and speakers than Fire HD tablets. It’s actually a bit disappointing that the Show Mode Charging Dock doesn’t solve this; the product listing recommends you connect your tablet to Bluetooth speakers. So we’ll have to get our hands on a Dock this July and see how well and quickly our tablets register our commands, compared to an Echo Show built specifically for the job.<doc-sep>
Amazon introduced a new way to use your Fire tablet: as a fully functioning Echo Show. With the new Show Mode, your Fire HD 8 or Fire HD 10 tablet can turn into an Echo device with a screen, complete with a full version of Alexa. Amazon also introduced the $40 Show Mode Charging Dock to keep your tablet propped up and fully charged at all times. Amazon's latest product lets you turn your Fire tablet into a two-in-one device — but maybe not in the way you'd expect. On Thursday, Amazon unveiled Show Mode, a new feature for its Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 tablets. With Show Mode, you can turn your tablet into a fully functioning Echo Show, Amazon's Echo device with a screen. There will be virtually no difference between the Alexa in Show Mode and the Alexa that lives inside the Echo Show, regular Echo, or any of Amazon's other Echo devices. But rather than have separate devices, Show Mode lets you make your Fire tablet a dual purpose device. Here's how it works: By pressing the "Show Mode" button on the tablet's pull-down menu, you can switch to an "always on" screen like the Echo Show. The device will show you the weather, timers, your shopping list, and play your video flash briefings. Turning off Show Mode will let you use your tablet normally again to watch videos, play games, or read. If that sounds like a battery suck, it is, which is why Amazon created the Show Mode Charging Dock. The dock is a snap-on charging station which will prop up your tablet and keep the battery topped up at all times. The dock will cost $40 for Fire HD 8 users, and $55 for Fire HD 10 users, although anyone who preorders the dock will get $5 off. You can also get a bundled deal — a tablet and a dock together — starting at about $110. The dock will start shipping on July 12.