Amazon Echo Show 15 and Alexa Voice Remote - Bringing Back Small Screen TV

In today's world of TVs, we're constantly being told bigger is better. In most cases that's true. When watching HD, 4K or even 8K content - for me, the home cinema experience has become far more enjoyable than actually going to a theatre; especially with a quality surround sound setup attached.

In saying that, I still have fond memories of watching smaller tellies. I remember watching the cricket on a 14" CRT TV when my parents used to take me camping as a kid. When I got married (over 26 years ago) a friend of ours gave us a similar-sized set for the bedroom. You may not think a couple of newlyweds would have much use for a TV in the bedroom but inevitably, watching something before went to sleep soon turned out to be part of our regular routine.

I think you can make the argument there's still a gap in the market for a half-decent smaller screen. I don't know about your kids but mine certainly seem to watch a large percentage of content (their terrible, terrible content) on their laptops or tablets. In fact, one of them even insists she prefers to watch things that way - she finds the big telly too large and disorientating somehow.

I feel I have failed as a parent.

The point is, the demand for a smaller screen definitely exists. And Amazon has noticed.

Amazon already has one of the biggest ranges of small screens around and what's more, many of us already have one or more in our homes. I'm talking about the Echo Show Alexa-enabled smart speakers. The latest of these, the Echo Show 15, is a slight departure for Amazon. The largest Show yet, it no longer looks more like a speaker than a screen - in fact, the speakers (as good as they are) are concealed behind its picture-frame-like facade so you can't see them at all.

However, this isn't really a review of the Echo Show 15... I've already done that one. The exciting news here is it now also works as a Fire TV. As long as you've updated to the latest OS, you can now access Fire TV from the home screen (or simply ask Alexa to open it) and you'll have access to all your favourite streaming apps, just as you would if you were using a standalone Fire TV dongle plugged into your telly.

Of course, if you were using a Fire TV dongle, you'd have a remote to control it with. Thankfully, Amazon sells those remotes separately and it's a pretty straightforward process to pair one with your Echo Show 15.

At this point, not only can you instantly launch apps like Netflix and Disney+ with a push of their shortcut buttons but you can also play, pause and adjust the volume. Using the 3rd Generation Alexa Voice Remote, you can issue vocal commands too - although this is a bit of a double-up as the Echo Show 15 is always listening for your instructions anyway.

As an added bonus, once you've paired a remote to your Echo Show 15, you can use it to play and pause your music too. I know this may seem a little counter-intuitive, given the whole point of an Alexa device is to be voice-controlled only. However, we've all experienced the frustration of being ignored by a virtual assistant - for any number of unknown reasons - therefore sometimes having an actual, physical button to press can solve a lot of needless shouting at your speaker.

So how does the Echo Show 15 perform as a little TV? Surprisingly well.

The picture is bright and sharp and obviously, the sound is vastly superior to what you'll usually find built into a TV of this size. Typically you'll find an Echo Show like this set up in the kitchen or adjacent to the dining table - both ideal locations for catching up on the latest episode of your favourite show while you're making dinner or eating it.

The other common location where you might spot the Echo Show 15 is in the bedroom. (Yes, here we are, back in the bedroom after all these years) Although it's probably a little large for the bedside table, many users have theirs installed on a dresser or some other shelf or table in the boudoir - which is bound to be a much better viewing position anyway.

Be it TVNZ+, Netflix or Disney+ - everything works just as would on a full-sized TV. The only exception I've come across so far is Apple TV+ - you can install the app but it won't open, presenting me with an on-screen message claiming the device needs to be updated to a later version of the "Fire TV software." I'm assuming this bug will indeed be resolved with a future update.

Unfortunately, as with other Fire TV devices, there's no easy way to cast to the screen from your phone or tablet but as I say, there's a full range of apps available for installation - including my favourite media server, Plex - so I haven't found the inability to cast to be a major drawback.

Interestingly, because the stand I use for my Echo Show 15 displays it at a slight angle, I've noticed it does tend to pick up quite a bit of dust and other airborne detritus - as you might have noticed in my pairing picture above. Still, a 15-inch screen is a lot easier to wipe down than a 65-inch one, let me assure you of that. It's also much easier to move about if you decide you'd rather have it somewhere else.

Ultimately, one of the niftiest features of the Echo Show 15 is also one of the best things about using it as a TV - it looks like a picture frame. That means wherever you set it up, when you're not watching anything you can display photos instead, effectively "disappearing" your TV altogether.

Best of all, if you already own an Echo Show 15, all this is now available to you for free. Yes, the addition of an Alexa Voice Remote makes navigating Fire TV a lot easier - but it's not actually compulsory. Using a combination of voice commands and on-screen gestures, you'll still be able to use it. The remote is not expensive though and I'd recommend it if you think you're likely to be using Fire TV on your Echo Show 15 on a regular basis. And why on earth wouldn't you?

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Amazon Echo Show 15 with Fire TV built-in bundled with Alexa Voice Remote (3rd Gen).

Apple Music Sing - Get Your Party Started

It's been a funny old summer. One minute hot and sunny, the next minute everything's being blown upside down and flooded out.

I was lucky enough to have a good long break and given it seems like years since we've been able to do some proper socialising, we had a few get-togethers - 'twas the season and all that.

At the risk of being caught in a humble brag, I'd have to say the do's we hosted were pretty successful... partly thanks to the great company, partly thanks to my creative cocktail menu and perhaps most surprisingly, partly thanks to Apple.

Specifically, Apple Music Sing; a new service now included with your Apple Music subscription, assuming you've updated your device to the latest OS.

While some other music streaming providers allow you to display lyrics on-screen when listening to your favourite sing-along tunes, Apple Music has now taken things a step further, essentially transforming your iPhone into a karaoke machine in your pocket.

And as usual, with all things Apple, it's simple. While using the Apple Music app, select the little speech bubble icon at the bottom to get the lyrics scrolling up your screen. These are highlighted exactly in sync with when they should be sung. If the song is a duet or there are backing vocals, these lyrics will show on the other side of the screen or in a smaller font.

But the clever bit is what happens when you touch the microphone icon. Then a slider appears to give you full control over the level of vocals in the track you're listening to. If you're a confident singer (or you've tried my cocktails) you can turn the original vocals right down. On the other hand, if you're a bit nervous about attempting to sing every part of Bohemian Rhapsody yourself (seemed like a good idea at the time) you can leave Freddy and the lads wound up at full volume - or perhaps halfway in between.

Amazingly, this tech seems to leave the rest of the track unaltered, the band literally playing on regardless. This means you end up singing to the original music you're used to, not some weird, plastic-sounding karaoke track that doesn't have the genuine, crowd-pleasing guitar solos or thumping bass riffs.

With this kind of D.I.Y. home entertainment, I find bigger is better. While you can play your favourite Apple Music Sing playlist from your iPhone through whatever sound system it will connect to, it's not much fun for everyone else in the room if they can't sing along too. Frankly, having everyone gathered around a tiny phone screen to read the lyrics is a bit restrictive when it comes to busting out your best moves.

Luckily, Apple Music Sing works even better on the much larger iPad screen and even better still using Apple TV. At this point, with the lyrics flashing up on your giant telly and the tunes rocking through your home theatre, the urge to join in and belt out your favourite ballad becomes irresistible and your party is guaranteed to be an instant success.

Only one problem; by amplifying Apple Music Sing to this grand, almost arena-like scale, nobody can hear you anymore. Fortunately, there's a musician living in my house so I have access to things like microphones and amps. I'm pretty sure you could hear us from your place. It'd be more streamlined if you could just plug a mic straight into the Apple TV box or even better; maybe Apple should bring out its own wireless mics that pair with Apple TV automatically. Yes, do that immediately, please Apple. That'd be amazing.

Oh, if you were thinking there's only a limited set of songs optimised for Apple Music Sing, think again. Apple has curated a host of different "Sing" playlists, divided into different styles, genres, decades - or you can just ask Siri to play the song you want to sing with and go from there. Over Christmas, we chose to dip into the Festive Favourites playlist - but all the latest hits are on offer along with thousands of "Family Favourites," "Epic Choruses" and even "Air Guitar Classics."

The best thing about it is it's so easy. When you're in the middle of a party the last thing you want to be bogged down with is figuring out how to get the karaoke working. Apple Music Sing is as simple as opening the app and pushing play.

If like me, you've been starting to find your existing music streaming service a bit stale and you're looking to try something new, the "Sing" feature on Apple Music is a damn fun reason to give it a try. Your next party will thank you for it.

    

Click here for more information on Apple Music Sing.

Belkin USB-C 11-in-1 Multiport Dock - One Cable; All the Ports

By now you should have everything you need for your work-from-home, hybrid office.

We're all agreed, right? Being chained to your laptop for multiple hours a day is not a practical solution. At the very least, you deserve a full-sized, external keyboard and a mouse.

Preferably, you've also set up a larger monitor - if not two. And obviously, there are major benefits to a hard-wired ethernet connection over the choke-point of your home Wi-Fi network.

That's just the beginning. The basics. How's your laptop set up for external storage? I bet there aren't exactly limitless USB slots available and chances are no card reader either.

While it's true many of these devices can be plugged in when you get your laptop back to your desk - either directly or via a combination of external hubs and adapters - probably not all of them at once.

And certainly not via just one cable.

The Belkin USB-C 11-in-1 Multiport Dock doesn't take much explanation; it's an elegant-looking, compact, well-constructed stand to raise your laptop (and its screen) to a slightly more ergonomic angle. But its real beauty is all at the back; ten very useful ports and slots you can leave connected to a wide range of external devices - everything from monitors, storage drives, keyboards and mice to speakers and that all-important Gigabit ethernet connection.

Not only is this Multiport Dock compact enough to be practically invisible when placed beneath your laptop or tablet, but the sheer number of connectivity options also brings a desktop level of accessibility to your device, even if it only has a single USB-C input.

In fact, my laptop boasts just two USB-C's and a headphone jack. Yet once connected to the 11-in1 Multiport Dock I can leave the lid closed - instead using an external monitor, keyboard and mouse. The freedom of full-sized USB-A ports and card readers means I'm no longer constantly unplugging and plugging in a host of accessories and adapters.

While many hubs and similar peripherals offer an HDMI connection, only a few are retro-fitted with a VGA connector and I've never come across one that has a DisplayPort slot as well. There are certain limitations to how many monitors you can connect at which resolutions and refresh rates - and monitor configurations are also dependent on whether you're Windows or MacOS - best to consult the helpful guide on the Belkin website if you're planning some ambitious, multi-screen array.

The Multiport Dock supports up to 100W of pass-through charging, although 15W is required to power the docking station itself - that's good news though as it guarantees superior data transfer speeds, up to 5Gps - essential if you're planning to use this accessory to plug in an external backup drive.

It's hard to imagine a connection option not on offer here... maybe an extra USB-C port would be nice - not that I've personally had the need for it.

Perhaps one of the Belkin USB-C 11-in1 Multiport Dock's most useful attributes is easily overlooked; it's also a laptop stand. I'm a relatively recent convert to the concept of laptop stands and rises - it wasn't until I tried them that I began to appreciate how they could enhance my everyday computing experience. By simply raising the back of your laptop - even a little - the keyboard becomes more comfortable to type on and the screen is lifted to a better height. And there's one more benefit you may not have considered but yet again, it's especially relevant in my case.

Although my laptop is quite powerful, especially since I upgraded its SSD, when it's being pushed to its limits - gaming for example - things start getting pretty hot and the cooling fans really start to kick up a gear. In circumstances like these, having your computer sitting on your lap is about the worst place for it. Not only does it end up overheating you as well but your legs will inevitably block any cooling vents or grilles built into the underside of your device. Therefore, using a stand like the 11-in-1 Multiport Dock on a flat surface creates a decent buffer underneath your laptop giving it more breathing room and yes, actually helping it work better.

The only big downside of this particular design is the length and position of the connecting USB-C cable - at just over 16cm, the cable is nowhere near long enough to connect to your laptop if the required slot is on the right-hand side - opposite to where it is on the dock itself. Admittedly, most laptops I've used recently seem to locate their Thunderbolt USB-C slots on the left but if you're using this accessory with an iPad for example, the sole USB-C input is halfway along the right edge - assuming you're working in landscape, which is likely if you're connecting it to this dock.

While my laptop does charge from its lefthand port, it'll only connect to external displays from the righthand one, again making it somewhat incompatible. Or almost. Although Belkin has designed the 11-in-1 Multiport Dock with a long rubberised strip on top to rest your device on and two shorter rubber strips underneath to act as non-slip feet, guess what? It all still works pretty much just as well upside-down. That means I can then plug into my righthand port after all - although I don't get the benefit of the passthrough charging capability. That's more a limitation of my laptop than of the dock though.

And that's why I love this docking station; it takes the limitations of my laptop and eliminates them completely, providing a full desktop experience and effectively making me forget I'm using a laptop at all.

    

Click here for more information on the Belkin USB-C 11-in-1 Multiport Dock.