The Fire TV Cube is one of the most interesting devices that you can connect to your television, whether or not it is a Smart TV. Thanks to it, you can enjoy the advantages of Alexa, access a multitude of online content services and with a new update, you can also connect a webcam to make video calls .
Video calls from your Fire TV Cube
Amazon has released a new and interesting update for its Fire TV Cube that makes it and your television a much more attractive device even if possible, a giant Echo Show. And, thanks to the support of external webcams , the second generation Fire TV Cube will be able to make video calls to other smart devices with a screen that use Alexa, for example to other Echo Show.
To be able to use this new function, all you will need is to update your device, with an update that has already begun to reach users of a Fire TV Cube, and a webcam that meets a series of requirements for this small black cube to be able to detect it without any problem or inconvenience. These characteristics, as indicated by the company on its official blog, are the following:
- UVC compliant webcam
- Resolution of at least 720p
- Minimum 30fps capture rate
These are the minimum requirements, but if you want to get the best experience you can go to models that offer 1080p or even 4K capture resolutions . Of course, make sure that they also offer a wide enough viewing angle to capture your image in the best possible way depending on the distance you are from the camera and the television itself.
For the rest, to connect these webcams that normally make use of a USB type A connector, an adapter to micro USB will be necessary, like the ones we have mentioned on occasion. But if you think so, let’s see what the configuration process is like and what are the webcams that the company recommends for use.
Webcams compatible with the Fire TV Cube
The list of webcams compatible with the Fire TV Cube is quite extensive, but the company has selected a number of models that they have been able to test and are confident that they work without problem. These are in turn quite popular models for many users and from experienced manufacturers.
- Logitech C920
- Logitech C922x
- Logitech C310
- Aukey PC-LM1E
- Wansview 101JD
Any of these models have been verified by Amazon that they work and offer optimal quality so that the user experience is rewarding in every way.
How to connect a webcam to the Fire TV Cube
Once you have the micro USB to USB A adapter and the webcam that you are going to use with your Fire TV Cube, the installation and activation process is quite simple. There are two ways to do it, but first make sure you have seen a notification on the screen indicating that the webcam is ready to be used. If so, go ahead.
- The first thing is to activate the messages and calls, so go to the devices tab in the Alexa app
- Find your Fire TV Cube
- Activate the communication button and also the Drop In function
- Then link your contacts with the Alexa app
- From the communication tab, tap on the icon in the upper right corner
- Hit import contacts
- Ready
From now on you can use the video calling function from your Fire TV Cube. To do this, you only have to give the appropriate order to the Amazon assistant with some command type “Alexa, call Mom’s Echo” or “Alexa, answer the call” and automatically if it is a video call you can talk to that person.