Electronics Amazon announces Fire TV - Page 13

**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** · 12-16-2014, 11:16 AM

Is sportsdevil now digitele? I have TVMC on the stick and sportsdevil used to be on Genesis now cant find. Some searching says to download digitele zip and gives a link. But no mention anywhere how to get zip from PC to fire TV stick.

ragedogg69 · 12-16-2014, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewChief

Okay:

Looking at getting a stick for the kids' playroom. They mainly use Netflix. How is ease of use on the interface on the Fire stick for netflix?

As easy as any smart tv or console.

as for SportsDevil, the add on is being completely reworked and is currently not supported. http://www46.zippyshare.com/v/15609012/file.html is the last supported version of it that I know of. Digitele looks to be a fork of SportsDevil. IE: Someone took the code from SD and made their own changes to it and is supporting their own version on github. YMMV, I have not used it.

**007** · 12-17-2014, 06:09 AM

Well crap. the remote is fickle and the item is out of stock until february. Plus they can't recreate the $20 credit I initially had since it will be beyond the 30 day return period by then. They won't just send a replacement remote. Stupid.

talked them into a partial refund and I'll just have to live with the android app from here on out. Not exactly stellar customer service there.

Also disappointed that I can't watch amazon content in SD instead of HD. Good thing I primarily purchased this as an xbmc player.

**007** · 12-17-2014, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragedogg69

As easy as any smart tv or console.

as for SportsDevil, the add on is being completely reworked and is currently not supported. http://www46.zippyshare.com/v/15609012/file.html is the last supported version of it that I know of. Digitele looks to be a fork of SportsDevil. IE: Someone took the code from SD and made their own changes to it and is supporting their own version on github. YMMV, I have not used it.

interestingly sportsdevil still functions on Frodo. Or, atleast it did on Sunday when I popped into redzone for a bit.

ragedogg69 · 12-17-2014, 07:01 AM

sportsdevil will work fine for now, you just have to track down a download if you did not already have it. As the websites it scrapes change, like firstrow, the add on will slowly stop working.

GloryDayz · 01-03-2015, 09:14 PM

I got the Fire Stick for Christmas, and I love it. Very-much worth $40 as a Prime member.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 01-04-2015, 07:54 PM

yeah, I got one for $20 and it is great. We now use it for VOD in bed instead of our bedroom Tivo

GloryDayz · 01-04-2015, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

yeah, I got one for $20 and it is great. We now use it for VOD in bed instead of our bedroom Tivo

Do you move one around or did you buy a second?

And the one thing that's a bummer, is that none of my TVs have a USB port for power. I guess I'm more pissed that the HDMI standard doesn't include power.

ragedogg69 · 01-04-2015, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Do you move one around or did you buy a second?

And the one thing that's a bummer, is that none of my TVs have a USB port for power. I guess I'm more pissed that the HDMI standard doesn't include power.

Dont do that. The Fire TV Stick requires more power than what a TV usb can give. I saw someone tried it and killed their Stick.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 01-04-2015, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Do you move one around or did you buy a second?

And the one thing that's a bummer, is that none of my TVs have a USB port for power. I guess I'm more pissed that the HDMI standard doesn't include power.

our main tv has a Tivo premiere, so we use it for VOD. The bedroom Tivo is a Tivo HD and the apps for VOD are clunkier.

you know, I never thought about using the USB for power, I just use the wall wart.

GloryDayz · 01-04-2015, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragedogg69

Dont do that. The Fire TV Stick requires more power than what a TV usb can give. I saw someone tried it and killed their Stick.

Good advice... I had seen a demo where the guy thought it odd that the unit was saying the USB power source (his TV) wasn't enough, but he said that must be wrong because it was a new TV. Sounds like he's in for a rude awakening...

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 01-04-2015, 09:39 PM

the only complaint I have with the stick is font size....reading netflix descriptions, etc. on our 42" bedroom tv is tough.

ragedogg69 · 01-21-2015, 10:26 AM

I have a question for anyone that jumped on the original Fire TV: Does it output audio to the HDMI and Optical at the same time? I need sound for my TV and sound for my amp as well, but I need it so I dont have to change the output everytime I switch.

ragedogg69 · 02-24-2015, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragedogg69

I have a question for anyone that jumped on the original Fire TV: Does it output audio to the HDMI and Optical at the same time? I need sound for my TV and sound for my amp as well, but I need it so I dont have to change the output everytime I switch.

To answer my own question, yes it does. So that is pretty sweet. Also for anyone that has my dilemma of old TVs that do not accept 1080p or HDMI, I found a pretty cool scaler. It takes HDMI and converts it to component video and what every compatible resolution you want. For less than $50 it is a great addition to the Fire TV, PS4 or XBone.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...UUDQGER3RVWGOF

Fish · 02-27-2015, 04:26 PM

FYI.... Fire TV boot loader is now fully unlocked. This is a big breakthrough and will open up the device quite a bit. Devs can now cook up some pretty awesome stuff.

More info: http://forum.xda-developers.com/fire...nlock-t3031867

04-02-2014, 04:34 PM
The Franchise Most Valuable Villain Join Date: Dec 2006 Casino cash: $3145047	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: 91,967

12-16-2014, 11:16 AM	#181
srvy Fight, build, win! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: KC Casino cash: $1711250	Is sportsdevil now digitele? I have TVMC on the stick and sportsdevil used to be on Genesis now cant find. Some searching says to download digitele zip and gives a link. But no mention anywhere how to get zip from PC to fire TV stick.
Posts: 24,351

12-17-2014, 06:09 AM	#183
007 Shaken. Not stirred. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Casino cash: $14060126 VARSITY	Well crap. the remote is fickle and the item is out of stock until february. Plus they can't recreate the $20 credit I initially had since it will be beyond the 30 day return period by then. They won't just send a replacement remote. Stupid. talked them into a partial refund and I'll just have to live with the android app from here on out. Not exactly stellar customer service there. Also disappointed that I can't watch amazon content in SD instead of HD. Good thing I primarily purchased this as an xbmc player. __________________ 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

12-17-2014, 07:01 AM	#185
ragedogg69 Oh yeah..... you like that Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Casino cash: $10014832	sportsdevil will work fine for now, you just have to track down a download if you did not already have it. As the websites it scrapes change, like firstrow, the add on will slowly stop working. __________________ “You think Denver has the greatest fans? Well, they aren’t.” -- Jake Plummer Don't believe me? http://deadspin.com/sports/nfl/plummer-asks-the-world-who-wants-some-131609.php
Posts: 1,811

01-03-2015, 09:14 PM	#186
GloryDayz (Sir/Yes Sir/Aye Aye Sir) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Diving Casino cash: $3565380	I got the Fire Stick for Christmas, and I love it. Very-much worth $40 as a Prime member.
Posts: 115,381

01-04-2015, 07:54 PM	#187
mikeyis4dcats. Scarlett Johansson's boytoy Join Date: Nov 2006 Casino cash: $9555998	yeah, I got one for $20 and it is great. We now use it for VOD in bed instead of our bedroom Tivo __________________
Posts: 12,526

01-04-2015, 09:39 PM	#192
mikeyis4dcats. Scarlett Johansson's boytoy Join Date: Nov 2006 Casino cash: $9555998	the only complaint I have with the stick is font size....reading netflix descriptions, etc. on our 42" bedroom tv is tough. __________________
Posts: 12,526

01-21-2015, 10:26 AM	#193
ragedogg69 Oh yeah..... you like that Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Casino cash: $10014832	I have a question for anyone that jumped on the original Fire TV: Does it output audio to the HDMI and Optical at the same time? I need sound for my TV and sound for my amp as well, but I need it so I dont have to change the output everytime I switch. __________________ “You think Denver has the greatest fans? Well, they aren’t.” -- Jake Plummer Don't believe me? http://deadspin.com/sports/nfl/plummer-asks-the-world-who-wants-some-131609.php
Posts: 1,811

02-27-2015, 04:26 PM	#195
Fish Ain't no relax! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2318919	FYI.... Fire TV boot loader is now fully unlocked. This is a big breakthrough and will open up the device quite a bit. Devs can now cook up some pretty awesome stuff. More info: http://forum.xda-developers.com/fire...nlock-t3031867 __________________
Posts: 47,470