Roger Fingas
Amazon has brought a YouTube app back to the display-equipped Echo Show, apparently resolving a conflict with Google over terms of service.
In its restored form, the app more closely resembles YouTube's Web interface, Voicebot noted on Tuesday. Before service was interrupted in September, Amazon had implemented a custom interface adapted to the Show's 7-inch touchscreen and voice controls.
It's this non-standard layout which led Google to withdraw support, drawing ire from both Amazon and existing Show owners. While the device has other video functions — such as calls, watching security cameras, and Amazon Video — YouTube had been an important draw.
The Show now also supports Vimeo and Dailymotion, Amazon said in a statement. Asking Alexa to search for a YouTube video will still display results in the old style.
Apple is due to enter the smartspeaker market next year with the HomePod. The $349 product is mainly focused on high-end audio, with Siri support taking a backseat.
Charles Martin
Malcolm Owen
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10 Comments
... and it should also be noted that searching for a YouTube video uses Bing as the search provider. LOL! My guess is that Google and Amazon still don't see eye-to-eye.
YouTube has been getting pretty bad with the ads these days.
Amazon Echo ....does anyone actually buy these things???