Having the biggest display isn’t enough of a value proposition to make consumers opt for a much more expensive gadget; the widgets on the Echo Show 15 are a real differentiator, and one that makes it a much more personal device. There’s a number of neat things you can do with one of the best smart displays (here are the 10 coolest things the Echo Show can do), but it feels like there’s an opportunity being wasted here. Apple knows the value in getting third-party buy-in from day one, which is why you always see a few app developers touting the benefits of its latest software or hardware at an Apple event. Usually, there are some third-party apps that you can start to use right away, too. I bet creating a widget for a smart display is a lot easier than developing a photo editor that works with a new operating system. Given that there are hundreds of thousands of Alexa skills, it’s hard to believe there isn’t similar interest in creating widgets for its smart display. Next: I got the Echo Show 15 and it’s great — except for this one flaw.
