Back to school Amazon version - geeks and com '

Back to school is often synonymous with routine.When we talk about organization, we often think of agendas, morning awakenings, etc.Recently, I was lucky to be able to test the Amazon Echo Show 5.I integrated it into the morning habits of my children.Also, we had the chance to test the children's tablet as well as the latest Fire Stick.com these products can help you in everyday life?

Echo Show 5, the luxury morning alarm clock

My boys were lucky to be able to use several types of alarm clocks morning.The first one we used is a Lenovo product.Also put on the test bench, the Nest Hub 2 of Google was less all the rage than the others.And the most appreciated?The Echo Show 5 tied with the Lenovo.

I emphasize on the Réveil-Matin function and the integrated assistant, because they are essential functions to organize well.Google integrates the Lenovo and the Nest Hub, then Alexa takes care of the Echo Show 5. An advantage marked for Amazon is the integration of alarms into the Alexa application.It is much better than that of Google.Admittedly, you can watch videos on the Nest Hub or the Echo Show 5, but I never really made it given their small size.The use of voice assistants to learn about the weather or school subjects is ideal.

In the end, for use in a bedroom or for homework, the Echo Show 5 wins the battle with a hair.The display of the weather or the answers to the requested questions is a plus on the Lenovo.What I appreciated once again is to be able to manage the alarms of my boys at a distance.With the family hubbub, I have forgotten to program it during the dodo routine, but I was able to activate it later without returning to their room at the risk of waking them up.The Nest Hub is a beautiful product, but expensive for its usefulness.And a small bonus, the Lenovo even has an integrated night light.

Fire HD 10 and Fire HD 10 Kids Pro

These texts come from our tests carried out a few weeks ago.

Amazon regularly offers quality products to us.I saw it during the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro test.This time, I give you my impressions as a main user.An additional tablet was provided to me so that I can live the experience in my turn.Is the Fire HD 10 (2021) the best tablet for its market price?

Fire OS on Fire HD 10 (2021) is a derivative of Android 9. The environment created is user -friendly and efficient.If you already have a Fire Stick, you will be in known field.We immediately recognize the Amazon look.Otherwise, this is not a big change of scenery with Android for tablets.

We browse between the personalized home screen and the main one.Also, you will find the application bookseller on the right.Simple, right to goal, Fire OS is efficient.You can access the settings by sliding from top to the middle as on Android OS.

One of the functions that I appreciated the most is the Splitcreen.Not always user -friendly under iOS or Android directly, it is really put forward on the new HD 10 Fire 10. Whether on the physical keyboard that I will talk about below or on the low menu buttons, it's easy toConfigure.You can also customize the display size of the two open applications.For example, I used a quarter screen to Messenger, and the other, to read the news.

Well, let's face it, the Amazon App Store is limited.It is focused on Amazon's services and it is correct like that.Nevertheless, it may very well be that you are not satisfied by what is possible to do with the latter.In this sense, it is possible to install the Google play store in a few steps.*** Read the warnings below.

Once it is done, you will have access to the press + for example.This is mainly what I was missing on my side.I love reading this newspaper in the morning.I also installed Google Chrome.

*** The installation of APK (Android programming files) is not recommended by Amazon.However, these are legitimate APKs from Google.

*** I recommend that you read the site well (in English) before you start

Amazon offered me two cases for this test.The first, Denim color, is expensive ($ 49) for what it offers.Unfortunately, I do not recommend it.It does not hold very well and does not fulfill the functions that we expect.

For the second, wow!I am really surprised by the quality for $ 55.99.You can see it in the image below.It is a Bluetooth keyboard built for the Fire HD 10. The shortcuts are designed to operate on Fire OS.I have a clavored case for an iPad Pro at home, and it has nothing to be ashamed in front of the latter for a fraction of the price.I highly recommend it.As a bonus, the screen can detach from the keyboard if you don't need it for a while for example.

After a few weeks with the Fire HD 10, I can assure you that you will not be disappointed if you buy it.If you don't want to install the Play Store, know that some applications are not available on the Amazon Store.Nevertheless, it is very complete and you should be able to manage well.If, on the contrary, you are installing the Google Application Store, you will have access to all available Android applications.

This is the latter option that I chose and I am satisfied.As much as the Fire OS environment is efficient, as much that of Google completes the gaps of the Amazon Store.The Fire HD 10 is a competition table for $ 199.99.Besides, Amazon puts it back a few times at $ 159.99.If you are the least familiar with the company, I suggest it well before those of competitors and even the entry -level iPad.It is also possible to combine a year from Office 365 with the Fire HD 10 in the productivity combo.

The productivity combo is really well suited for school work with the Office suite.

Too often, we buy a tablet for our children according to the low price or the brand that we know well.I fell into the panel a few times.When I received the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro, I immediately understood that Amazon is the expert in the matter.They designed the product with a specific objective in mind: the ease of use for children.

On these premises, I unpacked the tablet and installation.I did it in the presence of Lucas, my seven year old boy.I quickly linked my Amazon account and create my own password for its HD fire.So I can connect on it without the Kids software layer.This allowed me to configure accessories and make sure everything was for my taste.Now, after a few weeks of use, Lucas and I deliver our impressions.

The Fire environment

We all have one day or later browsing Android or iOS.Fire OS is closer to Android than iOS.If you have already subscribed to the Amazon Prime service, you will find yourself in known ground.The system works well, but we need a few minutes of adaptation.Indeed, Amazon separates the home screen from the Kids version in three sections: the latest applications used, the different categories and main applications and finally, those downloaded.

I used Android for a year and my current devices are running iOS.My son is used to Apple too.From the first moments with her tablet, Lucas quickly understood how she works.I was surprised.I remind you that everything is done to ensure that the children are doing alone.Mission accomplished for Fire OS Kids.

The possibilities of the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro

Amazons Kids + is offered free for one year to buy the tablet.The digital offer is compared with the local library for example.Here, in exchange for a monthly or annual subscription, you have access to educational content, games and children's shows.It’s very simple to start again.Even once the free offer has passed, the monthly cost of $ 3.99 with a premium is really interesting.There is a ton of French -speaking content available.If your child is like mine, he will also be involved in consulting English -speaking content to learn.

I did not know Amazon Kids + before receiving the tablet.It’s a good combo with a bonus and there’s a good chance that I keep it in the future.The subscriptions add up and end up being expensive.This is why I find it reasonable that Amazon provides a year of service to purchase.You will have ample time to see if it is necessary or not for you.Otherwise, you can buy content separately as usual.

Parental control

Often the unloved of parents, parental control becomes your friend here!I recommend that you do like me.You can install the Kids app on your Android iPhone or phone.In my eyes, parental control is mainly used to show the use of the tablet to your child and not exercise control in the figurative sense.

Regularly, I show my children their use statistics.Whether on Nintendo Switch or on the HD fire, they are then made aware of the total screen time in a day/week for example.Also, in the case specific to Amazon, you can see the content available and recommend it.Lucas likes to read and it happened to me more than once to suggest books.

As you can see on the right screenshot, my son played mainly in a soccer game and another educational during his last session with his fire HD 10 Kids Pro.There are a lot of educational content.It was by himself that he found these two games and I am happy as a father to see that there is one of the two allows him to develop his knowledge in mathematics.

The most recent version of the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro for children impressed me.Everything is designed for them.From packaging to configuration, it's simple.I even wondered if I had forgotten a few steps.In addition to being accompanied by a guarantee against accidental damage, the tablet comes with a very resistant case.For having tested several models from other competitors, I am ready to recommend it first.However, there is a downside.The Amazon Fire environment is more rigid and you will not find 100% of your usual applications.

If you are a premium subscriber, it's for you.Otherwise, I invite you to consult the service offers.Using Kids mode, an additional protection layer is added, but some options are also removed.In the end, my children found the majority of their favorite applications and discovered others.There is a great effort for putting forward games and educational books.Finally, Alexa will become the ally of your children and amuse him as she discovered.

The Firestick

Within the market for continuous broadcasting devices, there are several competitors.Having tested most, I can confirm that Amazon impresses me with its Fire TV Stick.It's shot, but the packaging is good and the product is beautiful.The installation is simple and quickly, we have access to all popular applications (YouTube, Disney+, Netlifx, etc.) So here is my impressions of the new generation of the flagship device of Amazon.

Installation

For installation, you will need to create an account.If you already have one, just enter your information.Once the key is plugged, you will connect the micro-USB cable to the power supply.Subsequently, start your television at the HDMI port to which the Fire Stick TV is connected.

This follows the connection of the Amazon account and then of the Wi-Fi network.You can select the favorite applications you want from the start.Here we go !No more complicated than that.

The environment around Alexa

What distinguishes the different devices most is the integrated vocal assistant.On the market, several are available and engage in fierce competition.Alexa and the Google assistant are the best.On the Amazon side, they even put a team at work to ensure that our Quebec accent is well understood.For my part, I have always made myself well understood.

So how can Alexa really help you?We're going to say, nothing is more complicated than having to enter text using a remote control or even looking for an element.This is where the vocal assistant comes into play. You can ask him to play your favorite show or even set your smart lights.If you have an Echo smart speaker, you can ask him directly.Otherwise, you will have to press the microphone of the Alexa remote control.Only downside, the latter displays our query tightly when we have finished speaking.Thus, it is possible to be wrong.Nevertheless, as she understands us very well, it should not happen often.

The performance of the Fire TV Stick

The Amazon Fire Stick TV is very fast.I had the opportunity to test the Chromecast with Google TV from Google at the same time.I tilted from one to the other to compare the units.The Fire Stick TV is gaining hands down.Again, it is my eyes as a columnist who notice it.As a user, I really don't mind.I still have to mention it.

The tested version is the one that only offers Full HD without Dolby Vision.As most of the televisions sold are now 4K and Dolby Vision, it is disappointing to find that Amazon still sells a 1080p version.To this end, Google only offers 4K now.The difference is only $ 10 between the two for the Fire Stick TV 4K and the regular.It therefore seems more interesting to buy 4K directly, even if it means not to use all the video functions offered immediately.

Daily use

From another angle, the Fire Stick TV can very well replace all the cable devices that you already have.Bell offers alt TV on the device.You can also install Netflix, Disney +, here Tou.TV, CBC Gem, Twitch, etc.What to occupy your children and yourself for a long time.Without forgetting Amazon Prime which is very well integrated.

I appreciate the provision of recommendations and applications on the home screen.It is easy to navigate with the Alexa remote control.The latter is programmed with your TV during the initial configuration.So you will not need another remote control to adjust the volume.

Also, you can connect Bluetooth headphones to watch your shows discreetly.It’s very practical when the household is lying.The Fire Stick de Branche using an HDMI key.If it is too fair, there is also a flexible adapter that is supplied by Amazon.

For a rare time, I will be unanimous.You will not be disappointed with the Fire Stick TV.Before even considering competitors, you can buy this product.It is fast, efficient and pretty.The price is more than reasonable.In addition, if you are a premium member, integration is very easily done within your account.Unless you are convinced that you don't need the 4K version, buy the Full HD version.Otherwise, I recommend the Fire Stick TV 4K so as not to have to change soon.

The essential features of techno devices

The offer is quite complete these days.For having tested most technos environments, that of Amazon and Google stands out.Even if I have several Apple at home, there is nothing comparable at the moment.What's more, the Google Home and Alexa apps work on iOS.

The Fire tablets support the Office suite and all the software for the office automation.On the entertainment side, the Firestick does exceptional work.Finally, to manage the morning routines well, I recommend the Echo Show or even the Lenovo Smart Clock.