Electronics Amazon announces Fire TV - Page 9

**The Franchise** · 04-02-2014, 04:34 PM

http://sourcefed.com/amazon-announces-fire-tv/

Amazon has dove in head first into video hardware, announcing it’s new set-top device: Amazon Fire TV.

Clearly a competitor for Apple TV and Roku, the $99 device is an internet-connected set-top box which uses voice commands that you speak into its remote control. It will also serve as a gaming console, and consumers have the option to purchase a separate $39 controller that is paired with the box.

Amazon has claimed the device is 3 times more powerful than Apple TV and is based on Android and HTML 5, which means it should be easy for companies to bring their apps over to the platform. It supports Hulu Plus, Netflix, Pandora, Youtube, Crackle, iHeartRadio and Vevo. Sadly, HBO Go and Vudu are not supported.

Fire TV also has a predictive engine called “ASAP,” which pre-loads content it thinks you are going to watch, so it can start without any buffering or load time. This feature learns over time and gets better at suggesting content you like.

In a prior announcement made this weekend, Amazon said it will be turning six shows from its Amazon Originals program into a full series. The shows, which were selected after viewer feedback from the pilot episodes, include ’The After’, ‘Bosch, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street’, ‘Mozart in the Jungle’, ‘Transparent’ and ’Wishenpoof’. Amazon also renewed ’Alpha House’ — starring John Goodman — for a second season.

As far as gaming is concerned, the console will offer titles such as “Minecraft” and “The Walking Dead”. Many of the titles will be free or cost a little as $1.85 to play.

**srvy** · 10-27-2014, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragedogg69

So amazon just announced the Amazon Fire TV USB stick.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ANPVVG3JOPO2KK

For the next 2 days it will be $19 for Prime members. I have no idea how good this will be, but for less than $20, you would be stupid not to take a chance on it. I would think it should let you install XBMC. Even if not, it would let you stream easily to it.

I bought one for myself and one for my Brother In Law.

I picked up one also to good a price not to. Im sure its preloaded with the new firmwear so it cant be rooted yet. I may pick up another before the 2 days end.

**DaFace** · 10-27-2014, 06:58 PM

Insane how cheap these things are getting to be. I'm tempted to pick one up, but I've already got two smart TV's, a Roku, and two Chromecasts. I think I'm pretty well set on the streaming video front for now.

**007** · 10-27-2014, 09:26 PM

If only I had prime. I'd pick one up for that price. Its not giving me any option for the so called 30 day free trial. It wants the $99 now.

mnchiefsguy · 10-27-2014, 09:31 PM

There is a limit of 1 now at $19 for Prime Members. I tried to order 2, but it changed the quantity in my shopping cart to the limit of one.

**007** · 10-27-2014, 09:36 PM

Just ordered in on my wifes account. I was able to get the 30 day free trial on hers.

I wonder if they change the price back to normal when I cancel prime since you don't actually pay until it ships.

kcxiv · 10-27-2014, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

Insane how cheap these things are getting to be. I'm tempted to pick one up, but I've already got two smart TV's, a Roku, and two Chromecasts. I think I'm pretty well set on the streaming video front for now.

i got 2 roku's one regular and 1 stick. I seen that 19 dollars, its cheap, but there's no point in getting one. Good price though, if i didnt have one, i'd definitely get one.

Sure-Oz · 10-28-2014, 05:03 AM

I ordered it for $19 est ship date is like mid dec

**007** · 10-28-2014, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

I ordered it for $19 est ship date is like mid dec

Mine said that too. Either got a lot of pre orders or its just a placeholder. ITs supposed to release 11/19

ragedogg69 · 10-28-2014, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragedogg69

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ANPVVG3JOPO2KK
I bought one for myself and one for my Brother In Law.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mnchiefsguy

There is a limit of 1 now at $19 for Prime Members. I tried to order 2, but it changed the quantity in my shopping cart to the limit of one.

I ordered 2, but one at a time and had no problem. Just two separate orders. You may want to give that a shot.

Fish · 10-28-2014, 07:16 AM

This is a really good deal. Especially for $19 for Prime members. But there are some things to consider...

The FireTV(FireOS-based Android actually) has an issue with joining wifi networks that require a web-based login. Like a hotel room would, where you join the network and a webpage pops up asking for room number or something. It does fine with normal WPA password based wifi. Makes it less desirable for traveling situations.

The Fire Dongle (heh) needs external power, as it can't get its power from the TV. There's an extra power cord that needs to be plugged into the wall outlet. That sucks.

The good thing though, is that it runs the same FireOS as the FireTV. So you should be able to sideload any Android app you want for free, including XBMC.

It comes with its own little remote. That's an awesome feature and automatically makes it much better than the Chromecast. It also has options for Apple Airplay clients, so you can send your OS X/iOS screen to the dongle. As well as Miracast options.

It has bluetooth, so you can use an existing FireTV remote(voice control works too) and FireTV game controller. And you can pair any bluetooth keyboard or mouse.

Should be a sweet little XBMC/Prime/Netflix/Hulu dongle though, for the price.

NewChief · 10-28-2014, 07:40 AM

Since Fish is here:

Is there some problem right now with the XBMChub addon installer?

I've been trying to load apps. The installer loads. When I click on "video addons" or "featured addons" or whatever, the load screen is empty.

I've put a fresh install of Gotham on the Gbox and tried to clean wipe a couple of times. Nothing seems to work. Thinking it might be a problem with xbmchub currently?

Fish · 10-28-2014, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewChief

Since Fish is here:

Is there some problem right now with the XBMChub addon installer?

I've been trying to load apps. The installer loads. When I click on "video addons" or "featured addons" or whatever, the load screen is empty.

I've put a fresh install of Gotham on the Gbox and tried to clean wipe a couple of times. Nothing seems to work. Thinking it might be a problem with xbmchub currently?

Downtime...

Quote:

From XBMCHub(tvaddongs.ag):

Yesterday, 01:47 PM
The TVAddons repo is experiencing some intermittent downtime..We are working to restore stable connectivity...Just keep trying from time to time, We hope to have it back fully operational soon ...Sorry for the inconvenience

http://forums.tvaddons.ag/forums/156-ADDON-INSTALLER

You can try SuperRepo. It's a decent alternative. Doesn't have the fancy GUI, but it has most everything..

http://superrepo.org/get-started/ins...ly-a-keyboard/

NewChief · 10-28-2014, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish

Downtime...

You can try SuperRepo. It's a decent alternative. Doesn't have the fancy GUI, but it has most everything..

http://superrepo.org/get-started/ins...ly-a-keyboard/

Thanks for the info. I actually threw superrepo on and added 1channel last night. For some reason, the video wouldn't show on the Walking Dead when I was trying to watch it with the superrepo install. Not sure if it was a problem with the stream, 1channel addon, or what... I ended up just going to ch131 and watching the episode on my laptop.

ragedogg69 · 10-28-2014, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragedogg69

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ANPVVG3JOPO2KK

I bought one for myself and one for my Brother In Law.

Whoops. Glad I ordered yesterday. It wont let me buy any more. Probably would need to do a separate order with a different account.

Fish brings up a good point. While the Fire TV is no longer rootable, it still allows sideloads to install a whole range of apps. So while you cannot change the OS, it should not affect what you want to do with this dongle.

ragedogg69 · 10-28-2014, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish

Downtime...

Actually I have a different theory. So not sure if anyone else is aware, but SportsDevil got hit with a cease and desist from a whole bunch of european sports broadcasters. So al101, who has been patching and taking care of the app has dropped support and deleted the github. I dont blame him. So eventually as sites start to change their streams, SportsDevil will break one by one; until it is no longer useable.

Which brings me to XBMCHub or TV Addons or whatever they call themselves now. I think they are down because they are scrubbing their entire site of anything related to SportsDevil. Same with fusion. Or they are scrambling to make a replacement, but very unlikely.

I am not sure, but I think starstreams or bosscast might be the only avenue to watch sports and only through a browser. Maybe you can sideload chrome?

04-02-2014, 04:34 PM
The Franchise Most Valuable Villain Join Date: Dec 2006 Casino cash: $3195047	Amazon announces Fire TV http://sourcefed.com/amazon-announces-fire-tv/ Amazon has dove in head first into video hardware, announcing it’s new set-top device: Amazon Fire TV. Clearly a competitor for Apple TV and Roku, the $99 device is an internet-connected set-top box which uses voice commands that you speak into its remote control. It will also serve as a gaming console, and consumers have the option to purchase a separate $39 controller that is paired with the box. Amazon has claimed the device is 3 times more powerful than Apple TV and is based on Android and HTML 5, which means it should be easy for companies to bring their apps over to the platform. It supports Hulu Plus, Netflix, Pandora, Youtube, Crackle, iHeartRadio and Vevo. Sadly, HBO Go and Vudu are not supported. Fire TV also has a predictive engine called “ASAP,” which pre-loads content it thinks you are going to watch, so it can start without any buffering or load time. This feature learns over time and gets better at suggesting content you like. In a prior announcement made this weekend, Amazon said it will be turning six shows from its Amazon Originals program into a full series. The shows, which were selected after viewer feedback from the pilot episodes, include ’The After’, ‘Bosch, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street’, ‘Mozart in the Jungle’, ‘Transparent’ and ’Wishenpoof’. Amazon also renewed ’Alpha House’ — starring John Goodman — for a second season. As far as gaming is concerned, the console will offer titles such as “Minecraft” and “The Walking Dead”. Many of the titles will be free or cost a little as $1.85 to play.
Posts: 91,941

10-27-2014, 06:58 PM	#122
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $2116899	Insane how cheap these things are getting to be. I'm tempted to pick one up, but I've already got two smart TV's, a Roku, and two Chromecasts. I think I'm pretty well set on the streaming video front for now.
Posts: 51,714

10-27-2014, 09:26 PM	#123
007 Shaken. Not stirred. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Casino cash: $14060126 VARSITY	If only I had prime. I'd pick one up for that price. Its not giving me any option for the so called 30 day free trial. It wants the $99 now. __________________ My dear girl, there are some things that just aren’t done. Such as, drinking Dom Perignon ’53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs.
Posts: 65,554

10-27-2014, 09:31 PM	#124
mnchiefsguy MVP Join Date: Dec 2003 Casino cash: $3576206	There is a limit of 1 now at $19 for Prime Members. I tried to order 2, but it changed the quantity in my shopping cart to the limit of one. __________________
Posts: 10,121

10-27-2014, 09:36 PM	#125
007 Shaken. Not stirred. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Casino cash: $14060126 VARSITY	Just ordered in on my wifes account. I was able to get the 30 day free trial on hers. I wonder if they change the price back to normal when I cancel prime since you don't actually pay until it ships. __________________ My dear girl, there are some things that just aren’t done. Such as, drinking Dom Perignon ’53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs.
Posts: 65,554

10-28-2014, 07:16 AM	#130
Fish Ain't no relax! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2368919	This is a really good deal. Especially for $19 for Prime members. But there are some things to consider... The FireTV(FireOS-based Android actually) has an issue with joining wifi networks that require a web-based login. Like a hotel room would, where you join the network and a webpage pops up asking for room number or something. It does fine with normal WPA password based wifi. Makes it less desirable for traveling situations. The Fire Dongle (heh) needs external power, as it can't get its power from the TV. There's an extra power cord that needs to be plugged into the wall outlet. That sucks. The good thing though, is that it runs the same FireOS as the FireTV. So you should be able to sideload any Android app you want for free, including XBMC. It comes with its own little remote. That's an awesome feature and automatically makes it much better than the Chromecast. It also has options for Apple Airplay clients, so you can send your OS X/iOS screen to the dongle. As well as Miracast options. It has bluetooth, so you can use an existing FireTV remote(voice control works too) and FireTV game controller. And you can pair any bluetooth keyboard or mouse. Should be a sweet little XBMC/Prime/Netflix/Hulu dongle though, for the price. __________________
Posts: 47,455

10-28-2014, 07:40 AM	#131
NewChief In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Fayetteville, AR Casino cash: $9730204	Since Fish is here: Is there some problem right now with the XBMChub addon installer? I've been trying to load apps. The installer loads. When I click on "video addons" or "featured addons" or whatever, the load screen is empty. I've put a fresh install of Gotham on the Gbox and tried to clean wipe a couple of times. Nothing seems to work. Thinking it might be a problem with xbmchub currently? __________________ In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. - H. L. Mencken
Posts: 21,758