Now your Windows 10 laptop can double as an Amazon Echo Show

May. 06, 2021 05:23AM EST

Amazon has released a new piece of software for select Windows 10 computers, turning them into Echo Show smart displays.

Called Alexa Show Mode, the feature effectively turns your computer into an Echo Show smart screen, complete with Alexa voice assistant and all of the features you would expect.

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As with an Echo Show, the new Alexa Show Mode can be used to play music, view news headlines, show recipes, play games, set reminders and create to-do lists. You can also control your smart home devices by speaking to Alexa, and use the Drop In feature to communicate with friends and family through their Echo devices.

There are some limitations however. Alexa Show Mode is currently an exclusive feature for Lenovo computers and is limited to select Yoga, IdeaPad and ThinkPad models running Windows 10, at least for now. To get started, just say: "Alexa, open Show Mode" to your computer, or click on the Show Mode button in the Alexa app on your PC.

The feature is available to users of the aforementioned Lenovo computers now, in the US, UK, Germany, Japan, India, Ireland, Austria, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Australia and New Zealand. Crucially, Amazon says Alexa Show Mode "will become available on additional PC models later this year."

We like what Amazon is doing here, as this is a free and easy way to bring Alexa into more homes, and give Alexa users an idea of what Echo Show smart displays are like. We wouldn't be surprised to see users of Alexa Show Mode later decide to buy an Echo Show to deliver the same experience in other parts of the home.

"We are excited to bring Alexa's rich, visual ambient experience to PCs," said Aaron Rubenson, vice president or Alexa Voice Service and Alexa Skills. "Customers love the fact that Alexa is always accessible. With Show Mode, Alexa is helping make PCs more versatile and adaptive, enabling richer experiences throughout the home or wherever customers may take their PC."

Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) | HD smart display with motion and Alexa | Charcoal