Amazon Launches Amazon Fire TV - NOT april fools

[Matthias2556]

Amazon just launched amazon fire tv, a set-top box that looks much like the roku or other streaming media players.

it's launching for $99, and features voice search using a microphone in the remote,most of the major media streaming apps, and apparently sports a quad-core cpu (probably an arm processor), a dedicated gpu, and 2gb of memory. it says on the page that you can play games such as minecraft PE, so im assuming it runs an android skin.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CX5P8FC/ref=amb_link_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=gateway-center-column&pf_rd_r=1474BGZ4N0YJPC2A4EZ3&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1770051702&pf_rd_i=507846

 

looks very interesting, what do you guys think? also let me know if this is old news, i searched and didnt find any other posts about it, so i thought i'd throw it on here.

[Tea1337]

Looks like it puts my Roku 3 to shame

[Hoppa]

I might consider buying one if they get xmbc to work on it (and it works well).

[Gunzkewl]

<3 Amazon

[Kirihuna]

Bought and giving my Apple TV to my parents.

 

Just hope HBO comes to it. 

[werto165]

and I just bought a chromecast :angry:

And? the chromecast is still good for what it is. 

[werto165]

YES! i always wanted to play phone games on my tv...

[Vitalius]

Just hope HBO comes to it. 

Game of Thrones. WOOOO

 

And? the chromecast is still good for what it is. 

This. It's considerably cheaper too.

I just wish Google would put more time into development of the Casting extension for Chrome. It's kinda terrible. Casting a Tab gives me a pink pixelated screen. Casting the entire screen gives me choppy video and tinny audio. 

So I need a better way to use Plex on my living room TV, and the apps require PlexPlass on phones which is a subscription service. How about no?

[werto165]

Popcorn for scale.

[Askew]

New and tiny Netflix box for peanuts with on demand new movies? Yes please.

[DLM_012]

Entering an already oversaturated market and doing very little to nothing new at the same time.

 

Congratulations Amazon.

 

This will still sell a ton.

[Xsilent(X)]

Why do i must live in this fucking Belgium Country! We have nothing here like HULU Netflix and others, i have to VPN all of that shit!!!!

[lhikary]

Why do i must live in this fucking Belgium Country! We have nothing here like HULU Netflix and others, i have to VPN all of that shit!!!!

every country have its prod and cons

Usa for example...well nvm

[Xsilent(X)]

every country have its prod and cons

Usa for example...well nvm

 

You see it then now We have nothing.

[Crystal]

If I you can put linux on it like you could with ps3 before, it will sell like crazy. but even if not, the price is great for what they are offering.

nvm, it use arm cpu...but still wonder how it will be accepted by public

Edited April 3, 2014 by Crystal

[jmaster299]

No HBO GO so that means no thank you. It would also be nice to see some of these devices to start supporting Starz Play too. But maybe this will motivate Google to make a beefier version of Chromecast to compete with these set top versions.

Sorry for not having a link, but on a some what related note, a recent Nexus 6 rumor says that it will have a Chromecast app to allow the phone to function as the Chromcast device. You already use a different phone app, or your home computer, to control the device, but this rumored app would enable you to plug your Nexus 6 into your TV and replace the actual Chromecast device.

[TheGosuStandard]

Do I still have to pay for netflix and other apps? If so what's the point in getting this device if most smart tv's already have apps.

[Rageodontist]

Looks like an incredibly cheap HTPC. This is actually kinda awesome.

[TheGreenBean]

Will it hit Europe any time soon?

[sand0oski]

It doesn't look too bad.  My guess is that this is meant to help drive Amazon Prime adoption, especially with the incoming price hike.

[DLM_012]

It doesn't look too bad.  My guess is that this is meant to help drive Amazon Prime adoption, especially with the incoming price hike.

 

Pretty much this. I read an article on the Verge that made the existence of this device make more logical sense. Amazon said themselves that they want people to invest in their ecosystem. They want people to buy Prime, to buy movie rentals from their service, etc.

 

It's genius if you think of it in that way. Sit back and see what everyone else does, learn from their mistakes, and make a nearly perfect device.

 

I'm satisfied with my Chromecast but if someone wants more functionality or doesn't already have a similar set top box, this would be an excellent option. 

 

Here's the article btw:

 

http://www.theverge.com/2014/4/2/5575938/the-playbook-why-amazons-fire-tv-is-a-guaranteed-hit

[alepodj]

cool and all but what i really want is a device that can stream my Android OS completly and exactly to my TV, so whatever i do in my phone/tablet show in my TV.

I dont want to stay with the built in apps, what if i want to play a game or something else,,,,

 

is there something like that?

[SeanE]

I would just spend some extra money and get an HTPC.

[wizpig64]

An ethernet port! if this eventually supports steam in home streaming i'll get one.

[Matthias2556]

An ethernet port! if this eventually supports steam in home streaming i'll get one.

Oh dood i didnt even think of that!!

that would be epic, but it probably wont natively support it. if u installed linux it would work, though, right?