Lenovo recently announced that some of its computers and laptops will get Alexa Show Mode capabilities, which effectively makes these PCs and laptops respond to voice commands and display information as if they were Amazon’s Echo Show devices. The new, hands-free feature is coming to several Yoga and IdeaPad computers and is already available via an Android app for Lenovo's Smart Tab tablets.
Amazon’s Echo devices are very popular smart speakers that were among the first to widely bring voice interaction with a computer into the home. Being Amazon devices, they integrate with its online shop, making ordering more toilet paper as easy as telling Alexa to add it to the shopping cart. In 2017, Amazon introduced the Echo Show which adds on-screen information to the verbal interaction and has a built-in camera to enable video calling.
At the virtual CES event, Lenovo announced that several of its latest laptops and PCs will have a new capability called ‘Show Mode for PC.‘ This allows hands-free use of the computer using Amazon’s Alexa personal assistant. Anyone familiar with smart speakers will immediately feel comfortable interacting with Alexa and since there is a screen available, Lenovo worked with Amazon to bring many of the same features of the Echo Show smart display to these Lenovo computers. When in Show Mode, the device can respond to voice commands to answer questions, display weather, play music while showing song titles and album art, cycle through a sequence of other interesting and timely information, and give reminders of upcoming events or activities from a to-do list. Show Mode can be used by the whole family, so it can also help entertain kids and help with homework questions.
Show Mode Compatible Devices
Lenovo’s Show Mode for PC is expected to arrive in the second quarter of 2021. Initially, it will be available in the United States and Canada with some European and Asian countries later. Supported computers include Yoga Slim 9i, Yoga 9i, Yoga 7i, Yoga AIO 7, and the IdeaPad 5 Series. It’s worth noting that Alexa and Show Mode has been available for Lenovo Smart Tab tablets since 2018 with an app available in the Google Play Store.
Including Show Mode with Lenovo PCs and laptops is a nice added value and brings a new experience than what even Amazon’s Echo Show devices can offer. Since laptops and computers have much larger screens than even the biggest Echo Show 10-inch, the visual content provided with any Alexa interaction will be easier to see from a distance and could potentially provide more information at once. The largest Amazon Echo Show costs over $200, so those considering such devices and also in need of a new PC, laptop, or tablet could benefit from checking out what Lenovo has to offer.
Source: Lenovo, Google Play