There are very good amount of reviews written by Amazon community members who are very thoughtful by sharing their views on this product and I must agree with them that this streaming media player is geared towards one main goal that is to get 'Amazon content' to your TV at lightning speeds! - Kudos to the engineers and developers on this amazing piece of hardware & extremely clever software programming delivering a product that is 'user friendly' and very well presented & executed - Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!
The quad core 1.7Ghz Snapdragon processor combined with dedicated Adreno 320 GPU shows its `raw power' when you navigate screens & view content. It is by far (according to my experience) the world's fastest streaming media player till date in terms of hardware specs. Everything is `snappy fast' and instantaneous when viewing content from Amazon and other apps. There are no streaming delays or wait loading content ever. I must admit that after using more than a year with Prime Subscription running on discontinued Logitech revue (Google TV)'s poor Amazon Video application I consider this Amazon Fire TV light year ahead of the game in all respects. For people who are still hanging on to Logitech Revue my suggestion is give up on Logitech Revue and switch to FireTV. Trust me you not regret it.
The voice search capability is by far the best I have seen in any platform till date and I must admit it works extremely well for searching Amazon content. I hope to see the feature extended to popular apps in the future making it even more productive.
The FireOS which is actually a very heavily tweaked Android OS but credit must go to Amazon's software developers for customizing Android OS for making it extremely user friendly while still keeping it open for tweakers to side-load unsupported/untested/unofficial applications if needed via ADB. Amazon has made this legal & official and is documented on Amazon's developer portal if you want to get third-party apps side-loaded.
The `official' third party application support currently available on Amazon's web portal is not that great but IMHO will improve over time since this hardware is capable of doing much more than what it is currently being used for. The first application that got my attention was `PLEX'. Installing PLEX app gives you the capability to stream all your local media files while still maintaining the same look and feel of the excellent UI. You will however have to dedicate a PC to run their server software for trans-coding unsupported file formats but using PLEX gives you beautiful backdrops & information that is worth the effort for dedicating a PC just for media streaming. PLEX also opens up the world for 1000's of channels that is currently not available for Amazon FireTV.
You can side-load XBMC media center (XBMC 13.0 Gotham for Android (ARM))if you are familiar with can also give you similar experience like PLEX without having to dedicate a transcoding server on your home network but XBMC still needs a lot of polishing & skins to match what Amazon FireTV UI has to offer. I am sure developers of XBMC will come up with an official app soon to take advantage of the raw hardware Amazon FireTV has to offer.
The
YouTube for FireTV
application is also one of the best that one can get in any platform making this streaming media experience a joy to use. The Dolby Digital Audio out from FireTV makes the video and audio experience very good. YouTube app needs some polishing but the instant playback of video makes up for all the current bugs & short falls.
You *do* need a decent broadband internet connection (3Mbps or better) for best content streaming experience. Most of us already have a good internet connection that we already pay for every month and barely use it. Once you have a good internet connection there are plethora of channels that you can spend hours browsing & viewing them at lightning speeds. There are popular channels like
Netflix
,
Hulu Plus
etc; etc; I personally do not own a Netflix account but it is there if you like and will get better over time with many more channels to come as content providers rush to capitalize on Amazon FireTV's excellent raw hardware power to deliver their content alongside with Amazon's content.
Amazon fire TV is great for what's worth for watching Prime instant videos & occasional gaming on big screen TV. Voice search is very good too using the included remote but there is one issue that being the fact that the remote is 'Bluetooth' not 'IR' so that means you cannot teach your programmable universal remote with the command sets from Amazon Fire TV remote. I have been trying various methods to use my universal remote which I use to control all my audio/video pile of Equipment of my home theater to seamlessly work with Amazon Fire TV but not an easy task since the remote is 'Bluetooth' based.
After doing some research on-line I found that certain 'IR remotes' which were designed to be used with Microsoft Media center (MCE) somehow do work but only certain picky types of MCE IR remotes. I took a gamble and bought this
Ortek Media Center MCE PC Remote Control and Infrared Receiver
since it looked pretty much same (Especially the controller) and I can confirm that this works with
Amazon Fire TV
and I was able to use the included remote and program my other universal remote all the basic commands one needs to navigate Amazon fire TV's user interface. The only thing that does not work with the IR remote is the closed caption choice (CC) button which is no big deal! the other benefit of using IR remote is that you can put the Amazon Fire TV to sleep by pressing the power button which even the original Bluetooth remote from Amazon cannot do it :)
There are so many good content to view from Amazon Instant video with Prime membership and completely commercial free that Amazon fireTV has to offer that by paying yearly $99 for Prime membership (which has other benefits like free 2 day shipping) and one time $99 dollar investment on this streaming media player you can `cut the cord' from your cable company for good.
I have owned several streaming media players in my life over the years but this is by far the best $99 I have spent on a streaming media player till date and I love it.
- Full five stars!
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Technical Details
|
Size |
4.5” x 4.5” x 0.7” (115 mm x 115 mm x 17.5 mm) |
|
Weight |
9.9 oz (281 grams) |
|
SOC Platform |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8064 |
|
Processor |
Qualcomm Krait 300, quad-core to 1.7 Ghz |
|
GPU |
Qualcomm Adreno 320 |
|
Storage |
8 GB internal |
|
Memory |
2 GB LPDDR2 @ 533 MHZ |
|
Wi-Fi Connectivity |
Dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO) for faster streaming and fewer dropped connections than standard Wi-Fi. Supports 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi networks. |
|
Bluetooth |
Bluetooth 3.0 with support for the following profiles: HID, SPP |
|
Cloud Storage |
Free cloud storage for all Amazon content |
|
Ports |
5.5 mm DC Jack |
|
Audio |
Support for Dolby Audio, 5.1 surround sound, 2ch stereo and HDMI audio pass through up to 7.1 |
|
Content Formats Supported |
Video: H.263, H.264, MPEG4-SP, VC1 |
|
Output Resolution Supported |
720p and 1080p up to 60fps |
|
System Requirements |
High-definition television, HDMI cable |
|
TV Compatibility |
Compatible with high-definition TVs with HDMI capable of 1080p or 720p at 60/50Hz, including popular HDCP-compatible models from these manufacturers: Hitachi, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, NEC, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Toshiba, Vizio, Westinghouse |
|
Warranty and Service |
1-year Limited Warranty and service included. Use of Fire TV is subject to the terms found here. |
|
Regional Support |
Certain services may not be available outside the U.S. |
|
Closed Captioning |
Watch videos and TV shows with closed captioning displayed. Captions are not available for all content. |
|
Included in the Box |
Amazon Fire TV |
Technical Details
|
|
|
|
Size |
1.5” x 5.5” x .6”(38.3 mm x 139.9 mm x 16.1 mm) |
|
Weight |
68 grams or 0.15 lbs with batteries (45.5 grams or 0.10 lbs without batteries) |
|
Batteries |
2 AAA (included) |
|
Bluetooth |
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR with support for the following profiles: HID, SPP |
|
Voice Search |
Dual digital microphones with noise suppression technology integrated |
|
Buttons |
Voice, 5-way directional, back, home, menu, rewind, play/pause, fast forward |
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Reviews with images
Reviewed after a thorough hands on, I'm Happy with it... (Updated 5/21)
Feel Free to check out My unboxing and overview of the Fire TV!**UPDATE 1: Quick update about surround sound**The Fire Box Seems to default to Stereo, you need to go into settings and turn on "Dolby Digital Plus." This can be found under the settings heading, under the far right setting box, then under Audio, you have to choose whether it will be Optical or HDMI. This should solve the no surround sound issues...**UPDATE 2: (5/21/14)** Ok, I've been using the box for a while now, I really like it but I have to admit App development is a ton slower than I'd hoped, the library is growing but not by much yet. A few new games come over and a few streaming apps, but no DLNA apps to speak of yet. This is one of the things I consider to be the weakest point of the Fire TV so far almost 2 months in and no other local media options than plex yet......I am not a vine member (Those folks do excellent reviews, I'm just not that lucky to be Vine yet), nor am I speaking to something I don't own, By that I mean that I paid for it myself and here is my Experience so Far:Is it the best thing ever? No...Is it the worst thing ever? Nope, Not by a long shot...In fact, it's up with the top streaming boxes when you take into account future app development...It's a very good device, comparable to a Roku in most ways, some better some worse (Once apps start getting ported we'll see what happens) but there is plenty of room to make a "FireTV 2" much better in the future...So here's my review:Overall the packaging came in perfect order, it was easy to open, and nothing was missing.Setup was simple, It took a few minutes thanks to a large initial update to download, but otherwise just as easy as setting up a kindle fire.Pros:Android Based (which means many apps coming and the potential to root and gain more featuresAbility to use Apps (Not just having to rely on what's preloaded like to many older TV boxes and Bluray players)Accurate voice search - This one surprised me, It actually worked, Way better than Xbox Voice Commands or Siri, and Better than S Voice...Bluetooth remote (for some this is a con, but I don't want another Wifi device jamming my crowded signal Read on to see why I think this)It's not flashy - Matte Colors and no crazy lightsQuick to load - Just 28 seconds from Plug in to ready to stream (My Roku 3 takes 78 Seconds to do the same)Feels heavy - for the size it really has good heft (Doesn't feel cheap)Only 1 white light on front, It is a bit bright but not a deal breakerDoes Dolby Digital sound Out (DTS, 5.1 Etc) Via Optical or HDMINetflix In HD (Some android based players couldn't do this)Cons:Need to purchase separate gaming remoteNo Headphone jack in remoteLow on apps to start withNo Native DLNA Support (Hopefully Apps will fix that soon)No AC wireless band it has 5Ghz N but not ACCase can pick up fingerprints, but they remove easilyImmediate update after first plug in is big, Almost 900MB so it may take a whileThe power brick is bigger than I was hoping for, if you have a crowded power strip it might be an issuePlex is the only local media app available so far.Voice Search for media only works on Amazon Prime Videos, It will give you options to watch on netflix or Hulu if you go in, but if you want your personal network media you have to go into your app (Plex is the only one currently available) and search manually (Voice search kicks you back out to Amazon Video if you try it.Full Disclosure here I run 2 full HTPC's and a Roku XD and Roku 3 in my house, so my expectations of how this will end up working are very high.To beat out my other devices it has to Play local media (From my HTPC Server), have better functioning Apps than my Roku and be easier to navigate than my HTPC setups are. It also needs to stream flawlessly and with as little buffering as possible (Netflix, Amazon Video, hulu, Etc.)So does it do this? So Close! But not quite...It is faster to stream than my Roku and HTPC when coming from internet sources, and it's faster to play local media (Using the Plex App) But, right now Apps are not yet ported over, for me one of the most important ones is Mediabrowser 3, which powers my main HTPC setups and feeds local media to my Rokus, but Plex works fine, just without parental controls which I want...As far as lack of apps I'm not concerned with this as being android based it is simple for a dev to port them over and given that this will sell excellent regardless of the reviews here there will be thousands of apps coming in the next few weeks/months...My neighborhood is crowded with Wifi signals which makes interference a huge issue for me, the Roku 3 uses "Direct Wifi" to connect it's remote, which means that there is another device that puts out a signal to interfere with your other ones, plus it uses the same channel as your router so you can't even move channels to avoid the extra interference. It may not be much in most cases but in an uber crowded locale like mine it is a definite negative, the FireTV's Bluetooth doesn't seem to cause any wifi interference...Voice Search, I was pleasantly surprised on this, it does in fact work, that being said in the middle of an action scene in 7.1 surround you will be hard pressed to make it hear you, but when navigating the main screens using voice search go me to every move or TV show I tried (Except, Ironically, since they use it as an example, Downton Abbey, It couldn't find "Downtown Alley" LOL!)Roku VS FireTV:Roku has the edge currently with more/better apps, but this may not be the case in the near future when newer/better apps come out, But for pure speed the FireTV blows the Roku away, I'm streaming a movie from Netflix or local media before the Roku (XD or 3) has finished booting... (When both are unplugged and plugged in at the same time)HTPC VS FireTV:HTPC has the Edge, but that's only because we are comparing a Core i7 PC with an Android based device, So honestly there is little competition, BUT The FireTV has Amazon instant Video as an App, On Windows 7 there is no Amazon "App" you can use plus a Hulu App which is no longer supported on PC, so the FireTV wins int hat aspect, but in overall functionality the FireTV isn't a PC and therefore could never really compete, but who wants to has a full PC hooked to every TV in the house?Final thoughts:If you have a Roku XD or 3, you will not get much immediate bump other than speed by upgrading to the FireTV. If you have an older Roku or a WDTV or similar box you will see a noticeable benefit in upgrading to this device.APP Reviews:Plex - The only option for local network content as of this review, Costs 99 Cents, But works well, assuming you can put it on your PC or NAS...Youtube - Works well, easy to link to your personal accountHulu - Easy, Simple, Just like the Kindle appNetflix - Does HD and Surround sound also supports Profiles!Pandora - Works as it should, Easy to navigateAmazon Instant Video - Not exactly an app in the traditional sense, It provides content when you go under the various categories on the home screen...All Apps load Audio and/or Video very quickly...My Rating is 4 Stars:5 Stars for build Quality and OS design overall-.5 Stars for Lack of Apps at Launch-.25 Stars for lack of headset jack in remote-.25 stars for Lack of High Speed AC band WirelessSo 4 Stars Overall, Very good but room for improvement*My star rating may change with Usage over time, it may go up or down depending on how well the device performs*If you haven't yet Check out my Video unboxing and quick overview of the FireTV!Just My Thoughts,AK
