The best apps and skills for the Echo Show family

To some, Amazon’s first Echo smart displays might have seemed like an expensive gimmick — it’s not like smart speakers were inherently missing something. But a few years on, the Echo Show lineup has expanded considerably, in no small part because of a variety of apps and skills that take advantage of the format.

Read more: How to use Amazon Alexa

Skype and Zoom

One of the more obvious benefits of a smart display is video calling, which used to be the stuff of science fiction, but for many of us has become integral to daily life. Beyond meetings and interviews, it’s how friends and loved ones keep in touch from thousands of miles away. Putting the technology on an Echo Show can be freeing, since you no longer have to hold up a phone or sit in front of a computer. The cameras on more recent models (like the upgraded Echo Show 8) can follow you as you walk around a room.

Though Amazon has its own video calling platform, it’s limited to people with an Echo Show or the Alexa app. Skype and Zoom interact with a broader number of platforms, and are de facto in some business and social circles.

You’ll want to sign up for the services elsewhere. Once that’s done though, it’s relatively easy to log in and make calls. You can ask Alexa to call anyone on your Skype contact list, while Zoom takes advantage of Alexa calendar integration to join meetings automatically with the phrase “Alexa, join my Zoom meeting.” You can also hop into meetings manually, although this way you can’t enter alphanumeric meeting IDs.

Reuters TV

If you want to watch the news and not just hear it, Reuters TV is one of the best options on an Echo Show. The news agency offers five minutes worth of headlines, available through US or international skills and updated throughout the day. Even if you live in the US, you might want the international edition to see stories local outlets skip.

There are two ways to trigger Reuters TV on an Echo Show. The first involves making it a part of your Flash Briefing using the Alexa app. That lets you combine it with other news sources, such as NPR, and run everything in order with the command “Alexa, play my Flash Briefing.” Alternatively, you can just say “Alexa, play Reuters,” and your Show should start streaming the latest update.

If there’s any complaints, it’s that Reuters doesn’t change its stories much until the next day, and that the last headline in each update is usually a fluff piece.

Netflix

A smart display might not seem like the best way to watch movies or TV, and certainly David Lynch would agree. But if you like falling asleep to video, or putting something on while you work in the kitchen, office, or garage, an Echo Show can sometimes be the most cost-efficient option. A Show is certainly better for the bedroom than a TV if you want to avoid disturbing other people, both in terms of sound and light.

Netflix comes preloaded on the Echo Show, so all you have to do is swipe right-to-left from the right side of your screen, tap Video, then Netflix. If you’re not already signed into your subscription, you’ll be prompted to enter your login.

See also: Everything you need to know about Netflix

Wyze

Wyze’s security cameras are popular for the simple reason that they’re cheap, offer free cloud recording, and are often just as good or better than cameras three times the price. With the Wyze skill enabled, you can stream video from any of your Wyze Cams on an Echo Show, the one exception being the Wyze Cam V1. You’ll need the Wyze mobile app to view cloud recordings, use intercom features, or manage settings.

The skill also links Alexa with other Wyze accessories, such as bulbs, plugs, and locks. But it’s the cameras that steal the Show, so to speak — a Wyze Cam and an Echo Show 5 would make for a great baby monitor, or just a way of watching your doorstep for that expensive delivery.

Related: The best smart security cameras you can buy

Recipe services

An Echo Show offers recipes you can follow without getting grubby hands all over your phone or tablet, although you’ll probably need to wipe off your Echo, when all is said and done. It’s also worth making sure you have a well-stocked pantry before you start.

When you’re armed and ready, asking Alexa to “show me a recipe for [blank]” will display content from Food Network, Recipedia, or Allrecipes. You can say something like “Alexa, ask Recipedia for a [blank] recipe” to choose a specific service.

Either way, you’ll get a list of ingredients, and buttons to start instructions or add items to your shopping list. At least some recipes are available as videos, though there should also be step-by-step text instructions in case you want to avoid pausing for each step.

If you’re subscribed to Food Network Kitchen, you can access live on-demand classes with chefs like Rachael Ray and Guy Fieri. This does cost money after a free trial period expires, however.

See also: The best cooking apps and recipe apps for Android