Amazon FireTV

[bearxor]

Not sure if I should put this here or in A/V&HT. Move if necessary.

New Amazon FireTV looks amazing.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CX5P8FC/...pf_rd_i=507846

http://www.theverge.com/2014/4/2/5573818/amazon-announces-fire-tv
http://live.theverge.com/live-amazon-tv-video-event/

TechCrunch hands on:
http://techcrunch.com/2014/04/02/hands-on-with-amazons-new-firetv-media-player/
Engadget's Hands on:
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/02/an-afternoon-with-the-fire-tv/

Unboxing video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk0aX3nR9Ho

iFixit Teardown:
http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Amazon+Fire+TV+Teardown/23856

REVIEWS!
http://www.theverge.com/2014/4/4/5581290/amazon-fire-tv-review

Specs:

Quad-core Krait 300, Adreno 320, 2GB RAM, 8GB Storage
Dual-band Wifi, Bluetooth 4.0
HDMI 1.4b, TOS Link, 10/100 Ethernet, USB 2

Quad-core, 2GB of RAM. $100 available today, $40 game controller. Comes with Netflix, Hulu, Youtube and Amazon Prime, obviously.

Wonder what access it will have to the overall Amazon App store. Haven't really read that yet. If it can apps like Plex or if HBO will publish HBO Go for it, this looks to be my new favorite streamer, especially if/when Plex hits.

Multi-tasking as well. Listen to Pandora while playing a game.

 

[SAWYER]

No xbmc=do not care


I am sure this will sell well though

 

[bearxor]

No xbmc=do not care


I am sure this will sell well though

Isn't there an XBMC Android app?

 

[bearxor]

Looks like Plex is already available for FireTV. Yep, this just went to must-purchase unless there's a massive AppleTV leak that hints at an app store.

 

[cronos]

Ha. This looks great. Competing directly with Roku 3, I think.

Plex seems to be one of the apps supported so why did you say if/when?

*obviously typed this before your post above. lol.

 

[bearxor]

Ha. This looks great. Competing directly with Roku 3, I think.

Plex seems to be one of the apps supported so why did you say if/when?

*obviously typed this before your post above. lol.

Yeah, sorry, still taking it all in. Editing OP to pull stuff off Amazon's new product page.

What I'm wondering now, is that they have an image of their voice search feature on the product page. They search for Game of Thrones and it shows the season results. Wondering if a HBO Go app isn't that far behind, especially as they already have the Showtime Unlimited app.

Promotional videos also show GoT clips. Not aware of any place to stream GoT other than HBO Go. I'm thinking the HBO Go app just isn't ready yet.

 

[smitbret]

I don't see any mention of UPnP or DLNA anywhere. I have my doubts about local media playback. Looks like they want you to run everything through that stupid Cloud again.

Also, the remote is bluetooth so it looks like my Logitech Harmony won't work with it.

If they overcame both of these obstacles, I'd be ordering now.

I'm chatting with "Jenn" about it right now, but I think I might as well be discussing Quarks and Neutrons. She wants to know if it's something related to Amazon Prime On Demand.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Interesting, but I already have three Roku devices. What would this give me over them?

 

[s44]

This has all the hardware features Chromecast doesn't. No Play Music/Movies, though. I wonder if it works properly as a DLNA renderer out of the box.

 

[Red Storm]

Chromecast has my needs covered, but it's nice to see more competition in this area.

 

[bearxor]

Interesting, but I already have three Roku devices. What would this give me over them?

Depends on what you want to do, I think.

Looking forward to games with a controller. Would be interested to see if Steam Streaming support could come to it. Onlive, possibly. The Plex interface on Roku is absolute trash, so looking forward to something a lot better.

Other than that, it looks to have a really nice centralized interface for everything. It's something Roku's tried to do, but it doesn't work very well in my experience.

Can't wait to get it and run through it for the weekend.

 

[bearxor]

Chromecast has my needs covered, but it's nice to see more competition in this area.

The one thing that kills me on Chromecast is the 2.4ghz only wifi support.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Depends on what you want to do, I think.

Looking forward to games with a controller. Would be interested to see if Steam Streaming support could come to it. Onlive, possibly. The Plex interface on Roku is absolute trash, so looking forward to something a lot better.

Other than that, it looks to have a really nice centralized interface for everything. It's something Roku's tried to do, but it doesn't work very well in my experience.

Can't wait to get it and run through it for the weekend.

It's a no-go for me without HBO Go. The games aspect doesn't really matter to me, though the apps aspect has some appeal. I can deal with Roku's Plex interface but I am interested in seeing if the FireTV will use a more updated version.

 

[Red Storm]

The one thing that kills me on Chromecast is the 2.4ghz only wifi support.

Well it's not an issue for me, but with more players in the field hopefully it pushes Google and the rest to up their ante, and so we all benefit.

 

[techs]

Chromecast is the best device for the most people.

Advantages of Chromecast:

1) Play anything that you can find on the internet that you can access with the Chrome browser. You never see the other devices mention this because they only have a few "channels" they play. With Chromecast you have EVERY website that embeds video.

2) You can play any saved video you have on your hard drive. Even if you just save a youtube video because it buffers and you want to play it from your hard drive. Or IF YOU TORRENT LEGAL VIDEOS AND WANT TO PLAY THEM, CHROMECAST CAN. HUGE ADVANTAGE.

3) Use a mouse and keyboard.

4) Surf the web using Chrome with a wireless mouse and keyboard.

5)Chromecast is only 35 dollars.

Chromecast wins big time.

 

[vi edit]

Sorry, for a dedicated "house" tv I have *ZERO* interest in chromecast. I don't want to have to be tied to a laptop/phone to watch stuff. Apple TV/streamers are exactly what I want for fast, high quality media playback on a large screen television.

And there's millions of people that think the same way as me.

 

[slayer202]

looks like the best of the field if you need features that chromecast doesn't have, but I don't see the average user needing to upgrade. I guess if it's significantly faster maybe, my roku 2 is slow

 

[smitbret]

I just like the quad core.

If only Western Digital would come out with a similar powered box that supported Amazon Prime.

My Live Hub is just sluggish when it browses the Media Library.

 

[bearxor]

Chromecast is the best device for the most people.

Advantages of Chromecast:

1) Play anything that you can find on the internet that you can access with the Chrome browser. You never see the other devices mention this because they only have a few "channels" they play. With Chromecast you have EVERY website that embeds video.

2) You can play any saved video you have on your hard drive. Even if you just save a youtube video because it buffers and you want to play it from your hard drive. Or IF YOU TORRENT LEGAL VIDEOS AND WANT TO PLAY THEM, CHROMECAST CAN. HUGE ADVANTAGE.

3) Use a mouse and keyboard.

4) Surf the web using Chrome with a wireless mouse and keyboard.

5)Chromecast is only 35 dollars.

Chromecast wins big time.

I understand that some of your advantages don't apply to me in particular, but know you're just playing devil's advocate.

The biggest disadvantage I have with Chromecast is that it requires another device to interact with it. So, essentially, your 1 - 4 advantages are worthless to me.

 

[techs]

Understand that some of your advantages don't apply to me in particular, but just playing devil's advocate.

The biggest disadvantage I have with Chromecast is that it requires another device to interact with it. So, essentially, Your 1 - 4 advantages are essentially worthless to me.

The "other" device is owned by 99 percent of people since its a personal computer, if you want to access all the features Chromecast does that others don't.

I guess you don't have a p.c. so for you Chromecast is not useful.

 

[s44]

See, I don't understand why people still want 10-foot interface. Yes, it's not the worst idea, but frankly the two-foot interface of my ever-present phone or tablet is better in every way. Hence Chromecast... but Google really needs an ethernet version, or at least one with 5ghz/ac.

 

[vi edit]

The "other" device is owned by 99 percent of people since its a personal computer, if you want to access all the features Chromecast does that others don't.

I guess you don't have a p.c. so for you Chromecast is not useful.

My PC is on the other side of my house. I don't want to walk up/down 40 steps everytime I want to change the channel.

 

[techs]

I forgot to add, with Chromecast you can rip your entire dvd and/or bluray library to your hard drive and play them.

 

[vi edit]

I forgot to add, with Chromecast you can rip your entire dvd and/or bluray library to your hard drive and play them.

And you can do that with Plex or even the abomination known as iTunes or any other device that supports DLNA.

 

[Red Storm]

I understand that some of your advantages don't apply to me in particular, but know you're just playing devil's advocate.

The biggest disadvantage I have with Chromecast is that it requires another device to interact with it. So, essentially, your 1 - 4 advantages are worthless to me.

To be fair, a remote is also another device. Our Apple TV never gets any use because everyone in our house hates having to use the remote. Easier to use what you're comfortable with (phone/tablet), and everyone's phone or tablet can be the remote. It's probably the biggest advantage Chromecast has IMHO.

Sorry, for a dedicated "house" tv I have *ZERO* interest in chromecast. I don't want to have to be tied to a laptop/phone to watch stuff. Apple TV/streamers are exactly what I want for fast, high quality media playback on a large screen television.

And there's millions of people that think the same way as me.

You say this as if the streamers don't need a device to control them. Those little remotes are annoying, touch screens are faster and easier to use, and certainly don't get lost as often.

See, I don't understand why people still want 10-foot interface. Yes, it's not the worst idea, but frankly the two-foot interface of my ever-present phone or tablet is better in every way. Hence Chromecast... but Google really needs an ethernet version, or at least one with 5ghz/ac.

Agreed.