Amazon unleashed a number of new devices in fall 2021,with one in particular designed for kidsages 3 to 9. The product is especially useful for kids in remote learning or distant communication situations. The Amazon Glow is an Echo-like device with a focus on engaging activities and digital communication. Let’s take a look at everything it can do and how to find one if you’re interested in trying it out.
Amazon Glow basics
The Glow is made of two important parts. The first part is an 8-inch touchscreen device and smart speaker, a bit like a vertical version of anEcho Show, and like that model, the Glow includes mics and a cam. The Glow device also features a downward-facing projector, which leads us to the second part of this setup: A 19-inch “projected space” that appears on an included mat that kids can interact with. If you have seen those touch-sensitive projected spaces used at museums and zoos, the principle is largely the same. The Glow can project all kinds of images onto the space, and kids can initiate activities, move things around, and generally interact with it in many ways. It’s a kid-friendly solution that avoids the risk of breaking expensive screens while still offering many of the benefits of a large tablet.
Glow is specifically designed for video chatting with other people, from teachers and classmates to friends and family, and must be parent-approved.UnlikeEchos, the Glow is not an Alexa device and doesn’t useAlexa’s voice commands.
Smart activities
Alright, so the Glow is a touchscreen for video chatting, with interactions and a project space — but what can it actuallydo? Let’s take a look at some of the current highlight capabilities.
Smart communication
As we mentioned, Glow can also offer video chat options for friends and family. Many of the activities we talked about, like playing games, scanning objects, or using Glow Bit kits, support interaction with other people via the touchscreen. Kids can play games with or against others, solve puzzles together, share art with others, and more. Again, kids can only call and interact with pre-approved contacts. Contacts do not need an Amazon Glow themselves to video chat, but they do need a compatible device, which includes Android and iOS tablets and smartphones — plus the free Glow app.
Controls and privacy
The Glow includes all the parental controls on the Amazon Kids+ platform. That includes controlling the content they can access in the kid-friendly store, as well as seeing a history of activities and who kids have been contacting on the Amazon Parent Dashboard. Parents are responsible for adding contacts for their kids. Anyone they interact with will need to have an Amazon account and sign in with the Glow app to participate.
The platform is also ad-free and separate from the greater internet (aka a “walled garden”). The cam on the Glow has a privacy shutter that you may close at any time, which also automatically disables the included microphones.
Pricing and availability
Currently, the Glow has limited availability with an early access price of $250. The full launch price will be $300. That includes the Glow, the mat for its projection, the Tangram Bits, and a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+ (which is basically necessary for the Glow to work and costs $3 per month). There’s also a two-year warranty that can replace the Glow if it breaks.
If you are interested in getting a Glow early, you canvisit this Amazon Glow pageand chooseRequest an Invitationto begin.
Are there other Glow Bits?
The Tangram Bits puzzle game comes with the Glow. Parents will be able to purchase other Glow Bits as add-ons, although none are available quite yet.
Can you use the Glow to talk to people abroad?
Currently, you can only use the Glow and the companion app in the U.S.
What if I already have a subscription to Amazon Kids+?
When you activate Glow, your active subscription will be automatically replaced, and you’ll receive one free year of Amazon Kids+ from that time. When the year ends, you’ll need to continue to pay the $3 subscription fee.
