A couple of months ago, Google blocked access to YouTube on the Amazon Echo Show because the device’s voice optimised interface violated their terms of use. I never got around to writing about it when it happened because I was busy attending to more important matters. Today, Amazon has restored access to YouTube videos on the Echo Show. While they were at it, they also added access to videos from Vimeo and Dailymotion.
If you ask “Alexa, show me [query] videos,” the Echo Show will display a list of videos matching your search using Bing. The results will be a mixture of YouTube, Vimeo, and Dailymotion videos. Selecting a video, either by tapping it on the screen or by saying “Play number [#],” will open what looks like the standard mobile webpage for the video service.
Prior to Google blocking the Echo Show’s access to YouTube, selecting a video on the device would begin playing the video in full screen. The new interface is much worse for a voice-first device like the Echo Show, but it’s the only way Google will allow access to YouTube videos.
When asking for videos, you can add “…from YouTube/Vimeo/Dailymotion” to the end of your request to limit results from a specific video service. Additionally, you can say “Alexa, play [query] videos” to start playing the first video that the search brings up, instead of seeing a list of videos. Amazon says that more video services will be added over time.
@AFTVnews
AFTVnews
Not in the UK yet….sadly
Wonder if that means an improved YouTube app for FTV’s?
Pretty sure the YouTube app is just a wrapper for youtube.com/leanback
Very good news for Amazon that’s important for the Show. Big congrats on Baby!
Wish I had full access to Silk Browser…since it’s obviously what they’d have to be using for YouTube Mobile. But yeah, YouTube for mobile isn’t ideal but it gets the job done. Just wish there was a way they could just implement YouTube for TV on the Echo instead. It’d be a slightly better, more optimized UI, for the Echo Show.
Any relation to the recent Chromecast support added in the last Amazon Music for Android update?
I am not a fan of this version. It is clearly a a touch implementation and not focused on voice. Simple things like “Alexa go full screen” would be super useful. Also “Alexa close that damn add” would be a delignt.
I’m sick of you ignoring the UK. Not only do you charge us more for devices you then refuse to release functionality here. WHY?????? When will we be getting this in the UK?
Do I need an amazon video subscription to view the videos Alexa show searches through bing? Cause whenever I try to play any video that it searches up it says video can’t be played and keeps switching to the next available video but plays none of them