Do me a favor and send unknown callers to voicemail. If it’s someone who really needs you, they’ll leave a message or call back.
Ask Kim: 'Can you help me choose an Echo device?'
I want to get an Amazon Echo Show, but can’t decide between the 8 or 10 or which version. Can you provide your recommendation?
Rodney in Nevada
Absolutely! First things first, here’s how I like to use mine:
- Video calls on the fly: Forget typing a text or making a regular call. The Echo Show lets you video chat with friends and family by asking Alexa. It’s face-to-face catch-ups made easy!
- Kitchen sous chef: Want to whip up something tasty but need a little guidance? The Echo Show can display step-by-step recipes or even play cooking videos. Now you’ve got a sous chef that won’t talk back.
- Smart home control center: Lightbulbs, thermostats, doorbells — you name it. If it’s a smart home device, you can likely control it through your Echo Show. Just swipe or ask Alexa, and you’re the master of your home tech universe. OK, that was a stretch, but it sounds good in theory.
Now, which one to get?
Both are totally solid, but I would go with the Echo Show 10. It’s bigger, faster and newer, and just about every spec is upgraded. The Echo Show 8 is certainly more affordable, but this is something you want to buy once and forget about for a few years. This model is already over two years old.
A nice in-between budget-wise is a certified refurbished version of the 10. You can return it if there are any issues, but it’s really in Amazon’s best interest to make sure anything refurbished is tested and ready to go. You can get the Echo Show 10 for around $145 this way.
No unexpected Drop Ins
Now that you have the perfect Echo Show let’s do a little cleanup when it comes to privacy.
Drop In connects you to another Echo speaker or display for an instant conversation. “Alexa, drop in on the kitchen Echo Show.” You can announce things through all your Echo devices at once, too. For example, to get the family to come for dinner, the command is “Alexa, drop in on all devices.”
But remember, the Echo speaker or display goes both ways. It lets someone immediately listen in or watch what’s happening in the room after 10 seconds. With the Echo Show, you don’t necessarily want someone with the ability to pop in and see what you’re up to all the time.
You can set permissions to enable or disable a specific device. Here’s how:
- Open the Alexa app, then tap Devices.
- Select Echo & Alexa, and then select your device.
- Tap the Settings gear in the upper right > Communications.
- Select Drop In, then select which permissions to enable or disable.
- Choose On to allow Drop In with permitted contacts only or My Household to Drop In only on devices on your account, or Off, which means nobody can Drop In.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Don't lose old voicemails - Steps to save them on iPhone and Android
We all know how comforting pictures and videos can be after someone passes, along with other mementos. I found my Mom’s car key ring the other day. I put my keys on it, and strangely, it makes me feel like she’s still near.
🔕 Respectfully, shut up: You’re in a meeting and your phone rings. Instead of hitting “Ignore,” press the volume down button to mute the ringer. Bonus: The person calling won’t get immediately sent to voicemail and think you’re ignoring them.
Get a call from an unknown number? Don't answer it
One in five Americans lost money to scam calls last year. Don’t be the next victim. Send all unknown calls to voicemail — here’s why.
The phone call etiquette battle: More and more folks insist on a “text-me-first” rule. The two sides (WSJ, paywall link): 1.) “Cold” calls are too intrusive, so text first, and 2.) Calling without a text first is totally fine. I always text before calling. I never leave a voicemail, either.
Operation Cookie Monster brought down a massive hacker marketplace - See if your info was there
Scammers never run out of tricks, and this one’s a doozy: They’re using AI to impersonate you. Here’s why you need to change your voicemail setting right now.
Getting ahold of your voice is one thing, but once a hacker gets into your computer, they can wreak all sorts of havoc and truly ruin your life.
Why you need to change your voicemail setting right now
Stop saying hello when you answer the phone. That might seem silly, but that’s the advice the Federal Trade Commission is giving. Why? Phone scammers are now using artificial intelligence (AI) to sound just like you or your loved ones.
Sorry I missed your call: Hackers can use your “voice fingerprint” to access voice-protected financial records or rip off your relatives. Pro tip: Delete your outgoing voicemail message if it uses your voice, and replace it with a generic robot-voiced default.
$17M Bitcoin blunder, Jeff Bezos' AI bet & lifesaving voicemail trick
Plus, it’s your pet versus AI — scientists reveal who’s really man’s best friend. Hear how Natalie Nasatka’s quick thinking with her Apple Watch turned life-saving. Also, Zillow’s latest report is out, and it’s the smaller towns, not big cities, that are grabbing the real estate spotlight.
The new smartphone etiquette
To leave a voicemail or not leave a voicemail? I answer the question, in 60 seconds.
Don’t lose important messages: How to save your voicemails
Life is short, and there’s more than ever to think about when it comes to the end of life. Tap or click for steps to decide who gets access to your accounts when you’re gone.
If you’ve lost someone, you know how comforting pictures and videos can be. Being able to read old text conversations is special, too. Tap or click for the best way to save your texts.
This phone scam fooled someone out of thousands of dollars
There are many ways for scammers to get their hands on your information and money. Text messages with malicious links are common, and some criminals use QR codes to harvest your data.
Others take a bit of a more hands-on approach, opting to call victims. These scammers can be persuasive, and it can be challenging to determine whether they are legitimate.
This terrifying phone scam uses a trusted phone number to trick you
Spam phone calls have been around for years and come at the most inopportune times, like when you’re sitting down for a family dinner. But they aren’t just annoying telemarketing calls these days. Now we have to worry about scammers trying to rip us off. Tap or click here for ways to silence spam calls without downloading any apps.
If you see one of these area codes don't answer — It's probably a scam
Email and text messages from scammers usually show signs that you’re dealing with a crook. There are spelling errors, threats to act now and suspicious links. It’s not always so easy to tell when a phone call is coming from a scammer, but we’re here to help. Tap or click here for five surefire phrases that you’re talking to a scammer on the phone.
Tech smarts: How to know if someone blocked your calls
I have a rule: If writing an email will take longer than a few minutes, I make a phone call instead. It saves me a lot of time.
What happens when you want to call someone, and you’ve misplaced their number or never had their number? Tap or click for smart ways to find anyone’s cell phone number.
Trick to avoid annoying callers: Assign a silent ringtone
When you do a lot of work on your phone, spam callers can be the bane of your existence. You’ll be in the zone, working hard and expecting a business call when the phone rings. When you pick it up, a robot says, “Hello. We’re calling to talk to you about your car’s extended warranty.”
How your voicemail greeting could save your life
Earlier this year, the nation held a breath when snowstorms zapped power across the central and southern states. Thousands of families shivered in the cold without water or electricity in their homes. Tap or click here to prepare for winter storms.
This great freebie from Google stops annoying robocalls and gives you a second phone number
Fun fact: Two of the most popular tips on my website over the years are all about blocking your number and revealing the identity of blocked or strange numbers calling you.
I get the curiosity. It’s not always a robocaller ringing you from a number you don’t recognize. Tap or click here for four ways to find anyone’s cellphone number online.
How to know if someone blocked your number
You dial a number, but you’re not getting through. You’re frustrated. Maybe you’re a little anxious. What’s going on? Maybe the person you’re trying to get in touch with forgot their phone, or the battery is dead or it’s on silent or turned it off for some reason.