Amazon announces Amazon Fire TV (1 Viewer)

[Mark-P]

So this outputs 1080p, but Amazon Instant Video content is still 720p right? Just upconverted through Fire TV?

 

[schan1269]

So...Roko, ATV and this, comes up to $300-ish...Still have to pay to use apps that have free versions on a computer, sad.The new $265 Lenovo IdeaCentre for me.My old one(5 years old) only supports 2.0.

 

[[email protected]]

Flixster app is in the first batch Mike.http://www.amazon.com/Flixster-Movies-by/dp/B004HXHVZ8/ref=sr_1_1?s=mobile-apps&ie=UTF8&qid=1396568563&sr=1-1&keywords=flixster

Well that is a plus. If this is going to be an open platform we will see lots of new apps coming including Vudu. Better for the consumer. I will re look then...

 

[Sam Posten]

If it takes more than a month for HBO Go to come to this platform I will eat a (cake filled) hat. It is already supported on Tablets so it's a no brainer for them and they likely weren't part of the secret beta.

Vudu has chosen not to support Kindle Tablets but I think you can get the app by sideloading from Google Play. I believe sideloading is supported on the TV but we're not 100% sure yet and formatting could be funky.

 

[Sam Posten]

Don't have mine yet but I think this dude's preconceived notions are more of the cause for his terrible review than actual device issues:
http://readwrite.com/2014/04/04/amazon-fire-tv-review-hands-on-impressions#awesm=~oAttrps8XNgHf9

 

[Sam Posten]

WAT.

Dave Zatz ‏@davezatz 9m
Fire TV YouTube isn't an app. It's a web page. pic.twitter.com/gWk5BskuRu

 

[Sam Posten]

Tv showed up and is running great, it was pre-registered to me, all I had to do was plug in power and hdmi and give it my wifi pass code and it foound all my stuff..One issue: There doesnt seem to be any way to turn it off! Wouldn't be a big deal if it was using rechargeable batteries but the remote and controller both use regular ones.The controller is a LOUD piece of junk. Avoid.Sev Zero is a dog of a game. If I hadn't gotten it for free with my controller I'd want my $6 back. Avoid.App choices are otherwise still limited. Pandora and Amazon media work great tho. I have not tried surround sound and likely will not, this is hooked right to a flat panel.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Looking forward to hearing further comments about your Fire TV, Sam.

 

[[email protected]]

Is there an app store on this box like the Roku or is it more what you see is what you get like apple tv?

 

[Sam Posten]

Full app store on device as well as web

 

[KeithAP]

One thing I found out about the Fire TV that's a TAD sneaky, especially considering the jabs Amazon made at Apple for being a closed eco-system:The voice search feature only delivers results for movies you can purchase through Amazon. It doesn't search across other services (such at Netflix) like the Roku does.Roku FTW

At first I didn't realize how bad this is. I just read that if you do a voice search while using the Netflix app, it only shows results for Amazon's content even if the the title is also available in Netflix. I am surprised Netflix would allow their service on Amazon's device with that going on.

-Keith

 

[Sam Posten]

More good Prime choices:
http://recode.net/2014/04/23/amazon-makes-a-big-move-snags-older-hbo-shows/

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

I may get one of these for my mother-in-law who is apparently so tech-illiterate that she couldn't get the hang of using a Roku LT to access Amazon Prime streaming. The voice search (and speed) will probably help a lot in her case... or so I'm thinking.

She's not doing NF at this point, so don't need voice search for that (so far) -- mainly just Amazon Prime content.

And then, I'll swap w/ her for the Roku LT to be used somewhere in our house instead -- we don't have any dedicated streaming boxes ourselves (and mainly just use a BD player for some Amazon Prime streaming in our livingroom HT).

_Man_

 

[Sam Posten]

Dongled:http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/27/7077481/fire-tv-stick-amazon-announces-streaming-stickhttp://techcrunch.com/2014/10/27/amazon-fire-tv-stick/http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/27/amazon-fire-tv-stick/If you are a prime subscriber you can get one for $19. I never use my Amazon TV and yet I just bought a dongle. I'm dumb.

 

[[email protected]]

Still no Vudu??

I'll pick one up for $19 though. It can sit in the box next to the chromecast...lol

 

[Citizen87645]

I couldn't pass up the $19 price. If anything, I can attach it to the TV that we usually have to hook a laptop to in order to watch something online.

 

[DavidJ]

I just got a Fire TV a few weeks ago for my birthday. I probably wouldn't have bought it myself, but I've enjoyed having it. I have an Apple TV on our main set and the Fire TV in the bedroom. I'm kind of bummed to see they have made it essentially obsolete this fast.

 

[Patrick Donahue]

2 things that are stupid about this...1) The free month of Netflix is for new subscribers only, and there is ALWAYS a free month of Netflix offer for new subscribers...2) Instead of getting it for $39 then getting the free month of Prime, sign up for a free month of Prime then get it for $19. The end result is the same but you just paid $20 less.Real slick, Amazon

 

[Patrick Donahue]

...and now it's not shipping until Jan 16th. Nice.

 

[Jacksmyname]

I picked up the Fire TV stick last week at Best Buy for $25. I bought it primarily for Amazon Prime. So far, I'm very pleased with it.Prime streaming works perfectly, no buffering.I've also installed the apps for Prime music, Netflix and Crackle. I have it connected to my receiver (Yamaha). Picture and sound quality are excellent. I'm watching a movie now as I post this.I don't use it for games, so I can't comment on that aspect of it.As I mentioned above, I bought it for Prime. I have a Logitech Revue that I was using for Prime. While the Revue is still a fun gadget, it's slow when using the browser for Prime. For me, the Fire TV stick was worth the purchase just for Prime alone, even if I had paid the regular $40 price. At $25, it was a no-brainer.I installed the Netflix app for the 30 day free trial. Content will determine whether I continue a paid membership.Again, I'm VERY pleased with the Fire TV stick.