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TOP 500 REVIEWERon May 2, 2016
This review is more of a guide for cablecutters, which we have found fire TV a great way to accomplish this. There's plenty of reviews explaining how to use the fire, so this is more for people like us who don't want to pay full cable prices but are ok with paying for access to apps to still watch all our cable shows, at a significant savings to cable, and are used to using a dvr (we used tivo) and don't want to watch commercials. We've had this box for a couple weeks now, and while it has taken some getting used to, since you have to access your shows through individual apps instead of them all being on one big list, we have found it worthwhile to make the switch.
Keep in mind you have to be able to plug an hdmi cord into your tv. We actually had to buy a new tv to be able to use this box but tvs are so cheap nowadays that it was still cheaper to buy a new one than to keep up with our cable bill. The savings in just the first several of months covered the cost of the tv. The interface on the fire tv is really easy to use and navigate through all the apps you wish to use and everything is kept nice and organized. We got the box instead of the stick because we wanted to have a more reliable, faster wired connection to our internet. At first I was sad to read on other reviews that the voice control doesn't work on any of the apps, but honestly I've never even used it once since getting it and once you sign into everything, there's not much need of typing to find your shows on other apps so I really don't miss it at all. If you just want this to watch prime tv included in your amazon subscription then you can stop here, the rest is about what apps we use (and pay for) to watch our shows. I will list what apps we have found useful and what we found we could do without.
I did the math before purchasing this, and even after paying the monthly subscriptions for ALL the apps we'd need to watch our favorite shows, we'd still be saving around $1000 per year! And now after using this for a couple weeks, it will be even more of a savings than I thought because we don't need to pay for Sling tv. The channels we'd mostly watch from sling have their own apps (A&E and History) where you can watch their shows for free with little to no commercials at all. On the Sling tv app you are forced to watch commercials, it has no fast forwarding or recording. We tried watching one show and there was 12 commercials in one of 4 or 5 commercial breaks. After using tivo for so many years, we couldn't handle it. So now, here are the apps we DO pay for and find useful:
1. Playstation vue. (note: you do *not* need a playstation to sign up for this. I do not own one. I made my account from my computer on their website) This one is by far the most expensive monthly fee, but for us it is totally worth it for the amount of channels, content and recording capability. has a lot of our favorite channels. AMC, discovery, fox, tlc, spike, fx, nbc, bravo, the food network, just to name a few! This is by far our most used app, and you cannot get it on other devices, like a roku, which is one of the reasons why we went with the fireTV. And it was certainly the right decision for us. Once you get it set up and add your "favorite" shows, it will act as it's own dvr and records and saves your shows for 30 days after they air. Most channels you can fast forward through commercials, except for a few. Like abc, and fox. If you want to watch such channels without commercials you can do as we did and also subscribe to:
2. Hulu. Commercial free plan is great, though some shows will still have 1 commercial at the beginning and the end, but I find that acceptable. Lots of cable show selections as well as some original shows. You can get a 30 day free trial, which can also include your 30 day trial of:
3. Showtime. As stated, we signed up to this through hulu so you access it through the hulu app.
4. HBO Now. Watch your favorite hbo shows at the same time as they would air on cable.
5 & 6 History and A&E apps, both free, both work great and allow us to not have to pay for Sling. I'm sure there are other channels that have such free app offerings, but these are the ones we have personally used and found to work very well.
And of course you have access to all that amazon has to offer, and netflix if you choose to subscribe to that too! We've had no trouble with any of the listed apps or the amazon box itself, setup was easy and once you choose all the apps you want to install/subscribe to, keeping up with your favorite shows is quite easy too. Hope this helps anyone else out there looking for a lower-cost cable option!
Update: I have been informed that playstation vue is now available on roku as well. I haven't personally used it on any device besides the fire TV though so I can't speak as to how the interface and ease of using the app compares on different devices, but it's definitely still our favorite TV recording & viewing app on the fireTV. Good news for roku owners though!
Keep in mind you have to be able to plug an hdmi cord into your tv. We actually had to buy a new tv to be able to use this box but tvs are so cheap nowadays that it was still cheaper to buy a new one than to keep up with our cable bill. The savings in just the first several of months covered the cost of the tv. The interface on the fire tv is really easy to use and navigate through all the apps you wish to use and everything is kept nice and organized. We got the box instead of the stick because we wanted to have a more reliable, faster wired connection to our internet. At first I was sad to read on other reviews that the voice control doesn't work on any of the apps, but honestly I've never even used it once since getting it and once you sign into everything, there's not much need of typing to find your shows on other apps so I really don't miss it at all. If you just want this to watch prime tv included in your amazon subscription then you can stop here, the rest is about what apps we use (and pay for) to watch our shows. I will list what apps we have found useful and what we found we could do without.
I did the math before purchasing this, and even after paying the monthly subscriptions for ALL the apps we'd need to watch our favorite shows, we'd still be saving around $1000 per year! And now after using this for a couple weeks, it will be even more of a savings than I thought because we don't need to pay for Sling tv. The channels we'd mostly watch from sling have their own apps (A&E and History) where you can watch their shows for free with little to no commercials at all. On the Sling tv app you are forced to watch commercials, it has no fast forwarding or recording. We tried watching one show and there was 12 commercials in one of 4 or 5 commercial breaks. After using tivo for so many years, we couldn't handle it. So now, here are the apps we DO pay for and find useful:
1. Playstation vue. (note: you do *not* need a playstation to sign up for this. I do not own one. I made my account from my computer on their website) This one is by far the most expensive monthly fee, but for us it is totally worth it for the amount of channels, content and recording capability. has a lot of our favorite channels. AMC, discovery, fox, tlc, spike, fx, nbc, bravo, the food network, just to name a few! This is by far our most used app, and you cannot get it on other devices, like a roku, which is one of the reasons why we went with the fireTV. And it was certainly the right decision for us. Once you get it set up and add your "favorite" shows, it will act as it's own dvr and records and saves your shows for 30 days after they air. Most channels you can fast forward through commercials, except for a few. Like abc, and fox. If you want to watch such channels without commercials you can do as we did and also subscribe to:
2. Hulu. Commercial free plan is great, though some shows will still have 1 commercial at the beginning and the end, but I find that acceptable. Lots of cable show selections as well as some original shows. You can get a 30 day free trial, which can also include your 30 day trial of:
3. Showtime. As stated, we signed up to this through hulu so you access it through the hulu app.
4. HBO Now. Watch your favorite hbo shows at the same time as they would air on cable.
5 & 6 History and A&E apps, both free, both work great and allow us to not have to pay for Sling. I'm sure there are other channels that have such free app offerings, but these are the ones we have personally used and found to work very well.
And of course you have access to all that amazon has to offer, and netflix if you choose to subscribe to that too! We've had no trouble with any of the listed apps or the amazon box itself, setup was easy and once you choose all the apps you want to install/subscribe to, keeping up with your favorite shows is quite easy too. Hope this helps anyone else out there looking for a lower-cost cable option!
Update: I have been informed that playstation vue is now available on roku as well. I haven't personally used it on any device besides the fire TV though so I can't speak as to how the interface and ease of using the app compares on different devices, but it's definitely still our favorite TV recording & viewing app on the fireTV. Good news for roku owners though!
TOP 100 REVIEWERon October 6, 2015
Hey Alexa, Hey Alexa - Night and day it's Hey Alexa. Make the fire, fix the breakfast, Wash the dishes, do the mopping!
Ok, so I haven't figured out how to make Alexa clean my house like Cinderella...yet. But I'm working on it. In the meantime, I have figured out that she is much more than a glorified alarm clock or DJ. Although, you should know that alarms are "not currently supported on this device," like they are on the Echo. This is a more basic version of Alexa. It doesn't have her full functionality.
ABOUT ME
I'm not sure what the target demographic for this product is, but I am a professional female in my early thirties, who is in a committed relationship. That is a nice way of saying that my partying days are behind me and my boyfriend and I spend a lot of time binge watching stuff on the sofa. Yes. We are suburban couch potatoes. No shame here. Also, I am an Amazon Prime member, but do not have a 4k TV.
I used to have a Roku that I used for Netflix and Hulu. However, I was more interested in free shipping, so I moved to Prime and got a Fire TV Stick when it was offered for $19.99. For me the stick is a glorified HDMl cable. You could get the same benefits by connecting your laptop to your TV. It's less cumbersome, but that's about it. I wanted it because it said it could mirror your device's screen onto your TV. It didn't explain clearly enough that the only "device" it could do that with was a Kindle (although this has since changed and can now be done). That is why I didn't order the Echo when it came out. It sounded cool but I couldn't figure out what it actually did. Since then, my father got one for my mother, who had a stroke, and it is awesome. The Echo is very cool, but it is also an incredibly useful tool, particularly for those with a physical disability or technology aversion.
So now having experienced the fire stick and the program for the Echo (which is called Alexa), I was actually excited to see a device that combined the two.
DIMENSIONS AND PORTABILITY
As for the device itself, it is 10 oz, 4.5" wide, 4.5" long, and 5/8" thick. The remote is 6" long, 1.5" wide, 1/2" thick and weighs 2.5 oz. It connects via HDMI cable (not included) and plugs into a wall power outlet. It comes with its own special cord; it doesn't use a universal microUSB like the Fire Stick does. So, the Fire TV isn't big, but it isn't as portable as the stick, and you better not lose the cord. However, it beats out the stick in every other category, and it is plug and play, so you can take it anywhere you want.
CONNECTION AND SET UP
It connects quickly and easily to your Prime account because Amazon sends it to you already setup with the information. So, if you are buying it as a gift, you need to specify that while you are checking out. However, during the set up process it does give you the option to change the account associated with the device. The problem is that your account is preloaded (if you don't specify it is a gift) and it doesn't require a password during set up. You can set up Amazon FreeTime on it, though, so you don't have to worry about your kids making unauthorized purchases or overusing it.
AUDIO AND VIDEO
As for HD quality, it does provide a slightly better picture on my 5 year old Panasonic plasma than the stick does. I suspect it would improve more with newer TVs. Also, it does process tasks faster than my Fire Stick, both of which are connected to Verizon Fios via Wifi. The surround sound (Dolby) is great with anything Prime, but Netflix and other apps don't support surround sound.
VOICE CONTROL
However, the best part is definitely Alexa and the voice activated remote. You can say things like, "Alexa, show me comedic movies." It will take you to a list of comedies. You can access anything on the box, such as games and apps, but it is also a virtual search engine. You can ask, "What is the overnight weather forecast for San Diego, CA?" It will both tell you and show you on the screen. It hasn't figured out how to open my Watchlist yet. It processes the command properly, but takes me to the wrong place.
It is fast, it is responsive, and best of all it is accurate. Accuracy is an issue with most of these voice operated items. There is a learning curve, but Alexa rarely gets mixed up or confused once she figures you out. There is definitely a period of time when it's almost like talking to an elderly patient who didn't bring their hearing aid to the hospital with them (I'm a nurse). "You think I'm too hairy?!" "No. I said to play Katy Perry!" That kind of thing. But, Alexa is a quick learner.
Once the initial awkward dating period is over and you get to know each other better, Alexa is great with Prime Music. Say, "Alexa, play Walk like an Egyptian,'' and she will. Prime music has no commercials, and you can listen to specific songs or even entire albums with a quick verbal command. Sometimes, Alexa is smarter than you are. I said, "Alexa, play the pop radio station." She responded with, "Playing the Top Pop Prime Station," and put it on. And maybe she knows that secretly you really don't like Katy Perry that much. Prime music also scrolls the words on the screen as the song plays.
COOL FUNCTIONS
Another cool thing is that it can connect to bluetooth items. So, let's say that you like to have peace and quiet when you sleep, but your boyfriend likes to fall asleep with the TV on. He can put on a pair of bluetooth ear buds and let you sleep. You can also project sound to bluetooth speakers, if you wanted to.
Lastly, you can finally share items from devices other than a Kindle. By saving your media to your Amazon cloud account, you can easily transfer and view them on your TV. It can supposedly mirror other devices as well, like an LG phone. But I haven't gotten it to work with my Samsung Note Edge yet. Still working on it. And I doubt it will ever work with any Apple products, but you never know.
GAMING
At this time, the gaming remote is $49.99 and isn't being released until October 22. It can be used with the new Fire stick also and you can use more than one gaming remote with each Fire TV (so kids can play multi-player games). However, if you want to play games it is a better deal to buy the Fire TV gaming version, Which is $139.99 and includes the game controller. It is at this link. Amazon Fire TV Gaming Edition Also, if you want to game, you can put up to 128gb of expandable memory in it.
The only reason I didn't buy that version (which includes a couple of free games) is because it doesn't also come with a regular remote. I don't want to always have to use a giant game controller, even with Alexa doing most of the work. Although, you can use your mobile phone as a remote for the Fire TV, using the Alexa App that Amazon offers.
WHAT IS MISSING
Please note that while Alexa works for everything offered by Amazon, and the voice commands work to take you to certain apps such as Hulu, I couldn't get it to take me to Netflix and the apps do not yet offer voice commands once you open them.
Also please note, it does NOT come with its own HDMI cable. And although you can play games with the remote that is provided, there is an additional gaming remote that is more tailored to that purpose.
There is one thing I wish Alexa could do, but doesn't. I wish she had the ability to make VOIP emergency calls. There are all sorts of apps now that can make phone calls. I noticed that when the Echo came out, it was a huge hit with disabled people, like my mother who had a stroke and never learned how to use electronics. It would be really nice if you could say, "Alexa, call 911" or "Alexa, call my emergency contact." It would only have to store 911 and maybe 1-2 emergency numbers. And it could be a life saver, literally. Amazon already sends texts to your verified phone number regarding delivery. You could set the device to show your verified number as the caller ID number. You could prevent pranks or accidents by setting a code word. "Alexa, call 911, codeword: ambulance." I think that would be amazing, but that's just me.
SUMMARY
If you need this mostly for Prime content, you will be very happy. You will have to wait for the updates to see if Amazon fixes the issues with the other apps. It looks like they hope to fix the surround sound issue with Netflix no later than Oct 22.
Sorry my review is practically a novel. If you were able to get through it, I hope it was useful. Feel free to leave any questions or comments. I always do my best to answer/respond.
Ok, so I haven't figured out how to make Alexa clean my house like Cinderella...yet. But I'm working on it. In the meantime, I have figured out that she is much more than a glorified alarm clock or DJ. Although, you should know that alarms are "not currently supported on this device," like they are on the Echo. This is a more basic version of Alexa. It doesn't have her full functionality.
ABOUT ME
I'm not sure what the target demographic for this product is, but I am a professional female in my early thirties, who is in a committed relationship. That is a nice way of saying that my partying days are behind me and my boyfriend and I spend a lot of time binge watching stuff on the sofa. Yes. We are suburban couch potatoes. No shame here. Also, I am an Amazon Prime member, but do not have a 4k TV.
I used to have a Roku that I used for Netflix and Hulu. However, I was more interested in free shipping, so I moved to Prime and got a Fire TV Stick when it was offered for $19.99. For me the stick is a glorified HDMl cable. You could get the same benefits by connecting your laptop to your TV. It's less cumbersome, but that's about it. I wanted it because it said it could mirror your device's screen onto your TV. It didn't explain clearly enough that the only "device" it could do that with was a Kindle (although this has since changed and can now be done). That is why I didn't order the Echo when it came out. It sounded cool but I couldn't figure out what it actually did. Since then, my father got one for my mother, who had a stroke, and it is awesome. The Echo is very cool, but it is also an incredibly useful tool, particularly for those with a physical disability or technology aversion.
So now having experienced the fire stick and the program for the Echo (which is called Alexa), I was actually excited to see a device that combined the two.
DIMENSIONS AND PORTABILITY
As for the device itself, it is 10 oz, 4.5" wide, 4.5" long, and 5/8" thick. The remote is 6" long, 1.5" wide, 1/2" thick and weighs 2.5 oz. It connects via HDMI cable (not included) and plugs into a wall power outlet. It comes with its own special cord; it doesn't use a universal microUSB like the Fire Stick does. So, the Fire TV isn't big, but it isn't as portable as the stick, and you better not lose the cord. However, it beats out the stick in every other category, and it is plug and play, so you can take it anywhere you want.
CONNECTION AND SET UP
It connects quickly and easily to your Prime account because Amazon sends it to you already setup with the information. So, if you are buying it as a gift, you need to specify that while you are checking out. However, during the set up process it does give you the option to change the account associated with the device. The problem is that your account is preloaded (if you don't specify it is a gift) and it doesn't require a password during set up. You can set up Amazon FreeTime on it, though, so you don't have to worry about your kids making unauthorized purchases or overusing it.
AUDIO AND VIDEO
As for HD quality, it does provide a slightly better picture on my 5 year old Panasonic plasma than the stick does. I suspect it would improve more with newer TVs. Also, it does process tasks faster than my Fire Stick, both of which are connected to Verizon Fios via Wifi. The surround sound (Dolby) is great with anything Prime, but Netflix and other apps don't support surround sound.
VOICE CONTROL
However, the best part is definitely Alexa and the voice activated remote. You can say things like, "Alexa, show me comedic movies." It will take you to a list of comedies. You can access anything on the box, such as games and apps, but it is also a virtual search engine. You can ask, "What is the overnight weather forecast for San Diego, CA?" It will both tell you and show you on the screen. It hasn't figured out how to open my Watchlist yet. It processes the command properly, but takes me to the wrong place.
It is fast, it is responsive, and best of all it is accurate. Accuracy is an issue with most of these voice operated items. There is a learning curve, but Alexa rarely gets mixed up or confused once she figures you out. There is definitely a period of time when it's almost like talking to an elderly patient who didn't bring their hearing aid to the hospital with them (I'm a nurse). "You think I'm too hairy?!" "No. I said to play Katy Perry!" That kind of thing. But, Alexa is a quick learner.
Once the initial awkward dating period is over and you get to know each other better, Alexa is great with Prime Music. Say, "Alexa, play Walk like an Egyptian,'' and she will. Prime music has no commercials, and you can listen to specific songs or even entire albums with a quick verbal command. Sometimes, Alexa is smarter than you are. I said, "Alexa, play the pop radio station." She responded with, "Playing the Top Pop Prime Station," and put it on. And maybe she knows that secretly you really don't like Katy Perry that much. Prime music also scrolls the words on the screen as the song plays.
COOL FUNCTIONS
Another cool thing is that it can connect to bluetooth items. So, let's say that you like to have peace and quiet when you sleep, but your boyfriend likes to fall asleep with the TV on. He can put on a pair of bluetooth ear buds and let you sleep. You can also project sound to bluetooth speakers, if you wanted to.
Lastly, you can finally share items from devices other than a Kindle. By saving your media to your Amazon cloud account, you can easily transfer and view them on your TV. It can supposedly mirror other devices as well, like an LG phone. But I haven't gotten it to work with my Samsung Note Edge yet. Still working on it. And I doubt it will ever work with any Apple products, but you never know.
GAMING
At this time, the gaming remote is $49.99 and isn't being released until October 22. It can be used with the new Fire stick also and you can use more than one gaming remote with each Fire TV (so kids can play multi-player games). However, if you want to play games it is a better deal to buy the Fire TV gaming version, Which is $139.99 and includes the game controller. It is at this link. Amazon Fire TV Gaming Edition Also, if you want to game, you can put up to 128gb of expandable memory in it.
The only reason I didn't buy that version (which includes a couple of free games) is because it doesn't also come with a regular remote. I don't want to always have to use a giant game controller, even with Alexa doing most of the work. Although, you can use your mobile phone as a remote for the Fire TV, using the Alexa App that Amazon offers.
WHAT IS MISSING
Please note that while Alexa works for everything offered by Amazon, and the voice commands work to take you to certain apps such as Hulu, I couldn't get it to take me to Netflix and the apps do not yet offer voice commands once you open them.
Also please note, it does NOT come with its own HDMI cable. And although you can play games with the remote that is provided, there is an additional gaming remote that is more tailored to that purpose.
There is one thing I wish Alexa could do, but doesn't. I wish she had the ability to make VOIP emergency calls. There are all sorts of apps now that can make phone calls. I noticed that when the Echo came out, it was a huge hit with disabled people, like my mother who had a stroke and never learned how to use electronics. It would be really nice if you could say, "Alexa, call 911" or "Alexa, call my emergency contact." It would only have to store 911 and maybe 1-2 emergency numbers. And it could be a life saver, literally. Amazon already sends texts to your verified phone number regarding delivery. You could set the device to show your verified number as the caller ID number. You could prevent pranks or accidents by setting a code word. "Alexa, call 911, codeword: ambulance." I think that would be amazing, but that's just me.
SUMMARY
If you need this mostly for Prime content, you will be very happy. You will have to wait for the updates to see if Amazon fixes the issues with the other apps. It looks like they hope to fix the surround sound issue with Netflix no later than Oct 22.
Sorry my review is practically a novel. If you were able to get through it, I hope it was useful. Feel free to leave any questions or comments. I always do my best to answer/respond.
on October 14, 2015
Better than I thought… From a techie guy...
I'm a big geek… I have tons of boxes and electronic toys… I even have several Google TVs which are now outdated. I'm pretty blown away by this box, and the amount of "content apps" available. For instance the unknown "Pluto TV" app has over 100 HD streaming stations. Some of them obviously aren't great, but it's definitely enough to keep you busy. For hours on end. Some of the channels have an hour or two of programming and just loop over and over again, but there's enough content on other channels to keep you busy for days.
If you're looking for the end all answer to cut your cable TV service, FireTv does not have things like live CNN, AMC and other cable stations (yet), but you could purchase a subscription for Sling TV (Google it) which has ala-carte live TV services. Something Apple is promising to deliver. If you have a current cable subscription, you can get things like HBO and Netflix streamed to your box if you are already paying for it in your home cable subscription. Your provider "passes through" the HBO, Netflix, etc programming through to this box. So for instants if you had an outdoor TV, TV in an attic or basement, you don't need to add another cable box to watch movies. .
It has all the standard bells and whistles like Netflix, Hulu, and those sort of services . The box is fast, does what it's advertised. I have a Ultra HDTV. Although ultra high definition content is scarce these days, this box probably has the most ultra high definition content of any other unit. Granted a lot of those ultra high definition videos are of "Flyovers of nature" type videos. if you have Amazon prime, then you can stream several of their in-house shows in ultra high definition. They do have a large range of very popular movie theater type movies in ultra high definition, but there is no rental availability. And I doubt I'm going to spend $35 to watch Spiderman and ultra high definition. Just not worth it.
If you're looking at this to be your end all box, it's pretty close. I'm curious to see what the AppleTV will have to offer, since I have multiple televisions in my household, I plan on having both systems right now . If your TV has a "smart hub feature" that contains all these built in apps, you may be doubling up on some of those popular ones like Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu.
I read the reviews on the Live Sling TV service, and they said they're still having a lot of problems with successful streaming, that it still there's quite a bit of buffering and videos just stopping for no reason. But sling TV does offer many stations live like cable for about $25 a month. If this is to be used with a second TV, like bedroom or living room, it's a nice supplement to have for your cable TV box, which you could probably drop down to basic service.
Remember… This is all in its infancy. And it will take several years to shake out who the leader is. This is definitely "THE" top-of-the-line box right now. The price is cheap, and you will definitely spend hours, and hours sifting through many obscure and fun channels.
UHD TV Note: If you have an ultra high definition television set and want to see content in 4K video, make sure that you check your TV manual or google your sets model number for info online. I have two Samsung 8500 TVs. It drove me crazy during set up, because I did not realize that only one of the four poorly marked inputs on my Samsungs could handle ultra high definition, 4K content thru HDMI. It's quite possible that your set will not handle any 4K content through HDMI, and that your tv only plays 4K content through its internal hub system or a special breakout box. Make sure you check that out first, if 4K is a critical feature for you !
You will also need a high-speed HDMI cable, that can carry the band width of 4K content. Your TV set will search for that band with to know that it's there. If you use a standard HDMI cable, even though you're running 4K content, your TV will not switch that feature on.
One last critical thing… It would be best to run an ethernet cable from the back of that box, to your router. And then an HDMI 4K cable to the back of your television. If you're streaming bandwidth is not fast enough, or has lots of interference, your set or the box will downshift to standard high definition to deliver you smooth video. This box DOES deliver 4K video. It's up to you to make sure you have the bandwith, the inputs, and a television set that can handle this type of stream of data. The high definition picture on this is quite crisp and clear. And quite honestly, a lot of the 4K video, you probably won't notice much of a difference, and less you're a super geek LOL.
Great box, definitely gworth the money. I forgot to mention, it has Amazon's "Alexa" built in… That is Amazon's version of Apple's Siri. Pick up the remote, ask it a question, the weather, pretty much anything, and chances are it will find it for you. I did ask it to find certain kinds of things and it had difficulty. It's a very simple system, pick up the remote, ask it a question, the weather, sports, news, pretty much anything, and chances are it will find it for you. I did ask it to find certain kinds of movies and it had difficult with it, but it did respond that it "wasn't available at this time" which seems to me that they are working to make it an even deeper search engine.
This box is tiny… Enjoy!
I'm a big geek… I have tons of boxes and electronic toys… I even have several Google TVs which are now outdated. I'm pretty blown away by this box, and the amount of "content apps" available. For instance the unknown "Pluto TV" app has over 100 HD streaming stations. Some of them obviously aren't great, but it's definitely enough to keep you busy. For hours on end. Some of the channels have an hour or two of programming and just loop over and over again, but there's enough content on other channels to keep you busy for days.
If you're looking for the end all answer to cut your cable TV service, FireTv does not have things like live CNN, AMC and other cable stations (yet), but you could purchase a subscription for Sling TV (Google it) which has ala-carte live TV services. Something Apple is promising to deliver. If you have a current cable subscription, you can get things like HBO and Netflix streamed to your box if you are already paying for it in your home cable subscription. Your provider "passes through" the HBO, Netflix, etc programming through to this box. So for instants if you had an outdoor TV, TV in an attic or basement, you don't need to add another cable box to watch movies. .
It has all the standard bells and whistles like Netflix, Hulu, and those sort of services . The box is fast, does what it's advertised. I have a Ultra HDTV. Although ultra high definition content is scarce these days, this box probably has the most ultra high definition content of any other unit. Granted a lot of those ultra high definition videos are of "Flyovers of nature" type videos. if you have Amazon prime, then you can stream several of their in-house shows in ultra high definition. They do have a large range of very popular movie theater type movies in ultra high definition, but there is no rental availability. And I doubt I'm going to spend $35 to watch Spiderman and ultra high definition. Just not worth it.
If you're looking at this to be your end all box, it's pretty close. I'm curious to see what the AppleTV will have to offer, since I have multiple televisions in my household, I plan on having both systems right now . If your TV has a "smart hub feature" that contains all these built in apps, you may be doubling up on some of those popular ones like Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu.
I read the reviews on the Live Sling TV service, and they said they're still having a lot of problems with successful streaming, that it still there's quite a bit of buffering and videos just stopping for no reason. But sling TV does offer many stations live like cable for about $25 a month. If this is to be used with a second TV, like bedroom or living room, it's a nice supplement to have for your cable TV box, which you could probably drop down to basic service.
Remember… This is all in its infancy. And it will take several years to shake out who the leader is. This is definitely "THE" top-of-the-line box right now. The price is cheap, and you will definitely spend hours, and hours sifting through many obscure and fun channels.
UHD TV Note: If you have an ultra high definition television set and want to see content in 4K video, make sure that you check your TV manual or google your sets model number for info online. I have two Samsung 8500 TVs. It drove me crazy during set up, because I did not realize that only one of the four poorly marked inputs on my Samsungs could handle ultra high definition, 4K content thru HDMI. It's quite possible that your set will not handle any 4K content through HDMI, and that your tv only plays 4K content through its internal hub system or a special breakout box. Make sure you check that out first, if 4K is a critical feature for you !
You will also need a high-speed HDMI cable, that can carry the band width of 4K content. Your TV set will search for that band with to know that it's there. If you use a standard HDMI cable, even though you're running 4K content, your TV will not switch that feature on.
One last critical thing… It would be best to run an ethernet cable from the back of that box, to your router. And then an HDMI 4K cable to the back of your television. If you're streaming bandwidth is not fast enough, or has lots of interference, your set or the box will downshift to standard high definition to deliver you smooth video. This box DOES deliver 4K video. It's up to you to make sure you have the bandwith, the inputs, and a television set that can handle this type of stream of data. The high definition picture on this is quite crisp and clear. And quite honestly, a lot of the 4K video, you probably won't notice much of a difference, and less you're a super geek LOL.
Great box, definitely gworth the money. I forgot to mention, it has Amazon's "Alexa" built in… That is Amazon's version of Apple's Siri. Pick up the remote, ask it a question, the weather, pretty much anything, and chances are it will find it for you. I did ask it to find certain kinds of things and it had difficulty. It's a very simple system, pick up the remote, ask it a question, the weather, sports, news, pretty much anything, and chances are it will find it for you. I did ask it to find certain kinds of movies and it had difficult with it, but it did respond that it "wasn't available at this time" which seems to me that they are working to make it an even deeper search engine.
This box is tiny… Enjoy!
on May 5, 2017
Love this thing! So much better than any of the previous boxes I have used. Had a few Western Digital boxes over the years, and they were awesome. Played every file format I threw at them, until they eventually died from old age. After that, I tried Roku, AppleTV & every other TV/Media box out there, but was always disappointment by how limited and useless they were for anything other than Netflix.
My TV has Netflix built-in, why would I buy a box just for that? I wouldn't, and you shouldn't. Any TV box I buy better let me play any file I want, from any source. USB key, USB storage drive, Network Media Server, Plex, etc. None of them did, except the old Western Digital Live, which was great while they lasted, but they don't make those anymore. And it would be nice if it also played Android games, bc those can be handy to keep the kids entertained.
Then in comes the new Fire TV. And Wow.
The Fire TV is hands down the best, easiest to use, most versatile box I have ever tried. It plays literally EVERYTHING, from files on my local network, to Kodi, Netflix, Prime, etc. you name it, this box will play it, even the highest quality files. It is also very fast, & super responsive, unlike some of the other el cheapo Android based boxes which rarely ever work, or run super slow & stutter. No stuttering here. Everything plays smooth as butter.
And best of all, the Fire TV is easily unlockable, letting you install a VPN, Kodi & a thousand other apps. Also works with a keyboard & mouse. Or in my case, a wireless keyboard & mouse. Oh wait, only 1 USB port? No problem. Plug in a USB hub & you can quickly expand the USB ports out to as many as you need, for accessories, storage, you name it. 4 ports, 20 ports, whatever you want. Good USB 3.0 hubs are cheap, grab one for $10 and be happy.
The Alexa integration is cool too, and actually more useful than I thought it would be. And being able to pair Bluetooth headphones to this unit is a HUGE plus for late night viewing when you don't want to wake up the fam while catching up on Season 3 of your fav show.
My next step is to figure out how to setup Profiles on the box, which I know must be possible, but haven't tried it yet. I want to be able to have logins for each fam member so we don't get our shows crossed. I really don't need to see Power Rangers or TNMT on my watch list, thanks, and I don't want my 10yr old seeing GoT, so Profiles is an obvious must-have feature. Just have to figure out how to turn them on.
Meanwhile, this thing gets high praise for being so nearly perfect. It seems to do everything you want or need a TV box to do, and it does it well.
My ONLY complaint is that no TV box manufacturers ever pair a backlit remote with their devices. Amazon is no exception to this inane oversight. Honestly, do you keep all the lights on when you watch TV, or do you just have bias lighting around the room? Most people keep it a little dark, so the room lights don't glare on the TV. You want that Movie Theater feel when you watch blockbuster films on your wall-sized screen at home. On that note, ALL TV remotes should have led backlighting. All of them. This is 2017, LED's cost about a penny for 100 of the things. Amazon should think about this obvious flaw in design and fix it. Now. It's actually kinda ridiculous that it doesn't have back-lighting, as it's such an easy, simple thing to do. Come on Amazon, you are smarter than this.
Buy it if you need it. Except for not having a backlit remote, it's otherwise pretty awesome. Don't let that one ubiquitous flaw hold you back.
My TV has Netflix built-in, why would I buy a box just for that? I wouldn't, and you shouldn't. Any TV box I buy better let me play any file I want, from any source. USB key, USB storage drive, Network Media Server, Plex, etc. None of them did, except the old Western Digital Live, which was great while they lasted, but they don't make those anymore. And it would be nice if it also played Android games, bc those can be handy to keep the kids entertained.
Then in comes the new Fire TV. And Wow.
The Fire TV is hands down the best, easiest to use, most versatile box I have ever tried. It plays literally EVERYTHING, from files on my local network, to Kodi, Netflix, Prime, etc. you name it, this box will play it, even the highest quality files. It is also very fast, & super responsive, unlike some of the other el cheapo Android based boxes which rarely ever work, or run super slow & stutter. No stuttering here. Everything plays smooth as butter.
And best of all, the Fire TV is easily unlockable, letting you install a VPN, Kodi & a thousand other apps. Also works with a keyboard & mouse. Or in my case, a wireless keyboard & mouse. Oh wait, only 1 USB port? No problem. Plug in a USB hub & you can quickly expand the USB ports out to as many as you need, for accessories, storage, you name it. 4 ports, 20 ports, whatever you want. Good USB 3.0 hubs are cheap, grab one for $10 and be happy.
The Alexa integration is cool too, and actually more useful than I thought it would be. And being able to pair Bluetooth headphones to this unit is a HUGE plus for late night viewing when you don't want to wake up the fam while catching up on Season 3 of your fav show.
My next step is to figure out how to setup Profiles on the box, which I know must be possible, but haven't tried it yet. I want to be able to have logins for each fam member so we don't get our shows crossed. I really don't need to see Power Rangers or TNMT on my watch list, thanks, and I don't want my 10yr old seeing GoT, so Profiles is an obvious must-have feature. Just have to figure out how to turn them on.
Meanwhile, this thing gets high praise for being so nearly perfect. It seems to do everything you want or need a TV box to do, and it does it well.
My ONLY complaint is that no TV box manufacturers ever pair a backlit remote with their devices. Amazon is no exception to this inane oversight. Honestly, do you keep all the lights on when you watch TV, or do you just have bias lighting around the room? Most people keep it a little dark, so the room lights don't glare on the TV. You want that Movie Theater feel when you watch blockbuster films on your wall-sized screen at home. On that note, ALL TV remotes should have led backlighting. All of them. This is 2017, LED's cost about a penny for 100 of the things. Amazon should think about this obvious flaw in design and fix it. Now. It's actually kinda ridiculous that it doesn't have back-lighting, as it's such an easy, simple thing to do. Come on Amazon, you are smarter than this.
Buy it if you need it. Except for not having a backlit remote, it's otherwise pretty awesome. Don't let that one ubiquitous flaw hold you back.
on May 5, 2016
Basically paid for itself in one month! I don't know why it took me this long to pull the trigger on buying the amazon fire TV! The same day I bought this, I cancelled my Direct TV. 79.99 per month for TV I didn't have time to watch. Jailbroke it, downloaded Kodi, and then BLAM! Any TV show, on ANY network, whenever I want. I have 75mbps of internet speed and I am streaming HD like a boss. Paying for TV... pshhtt, no thanks.
on March 29, 2017
This is my second go with a Fire TV product. I originally ordered the first stick during launch. It went right back due to wifi issues. I decided to try this new Fire TV Non Stick after years of happy experiences with Roku. I was hoping to get the better PSVue app. Day one and I'm sending the Fire TV back. The UI is slow in response, my Showtime subscription is not working, some apps won't exit back to the home screen, and the remote's home button and voice search do not work. When I attempted to contact support, I got basically no where.
on March 6, 2017
I already had a FireStick for a few years which was very convenient to take to friends houses or on business trips. Upgraded to FireTV - it is faster, as in you can move through the menus quicker and I'm still learning voice search. Mostly because I forget it has that feature. Loved it so much I immediately bought one for my son away at college. He recently upgraded to a 4K TV so he really loves it. Could not be happier having the FireStick and Fire TV - best of both worlds. My AppleTV is rarely utilized now I have noticed. It seems slow and bulky in comparison and the viewing on Prime is not to be missed. It would be like not having Netflix or Hulu - no thanks! Buy it - you will not be sorry. And the pay over 5 months without interest should entice you if you are on the fence. Hate it? Send it back (but you won't!!!) and you don't even feel the $18 per month. That's like cutting out a few overpriced Starbucks coffees. (Make coffee at home, problem solved and get to watch stellar TV on YOUR schedule). Pause when YOU want, pick up where you left off, rewind if you miss some important content and watch programs on Demand to view all the episodes in a season if you like. What's not to love? I even live in a remote area and have spotty satellite internet access - I wouldn't trade my FireTV for the world!
on June 19, 2016
So this is the future of technology right here. Cable and satellite will be struggling to survive in the next 2 to 3 years because of this box in addition to PlayStation Vue. I pay $45 a month for PlayStation Vue which gives me 100+ channels that include; music, movie, AND sports channels. Popular channels such as AMC, TNT, TBS, ESPN, CMT Music, Discovery channel, Comedy Central, NFL Network, MTV, Cartoon Network, Disney Channels, FX, FXX, FXM, Fusion, Nickelodeon, HGTV, Golf Channel, National Geographic Channel, Spike the list goes on and on. This subscription also includes 1000 and yes I said 1000 hours of cloud DVR space so it can record your favorite shows for you to watch later in addition to being able to fast forward thru the boring commercials. It has a TV guide for you to add shows to your DVR or just to simply see what is on TV. Now this doesn't have the local channels YET and if it doesn't ever then go purchase a $25 digital attenna and you'll have the local channels for FREE. Now back to the PlayStation Vue it is also available and able to be watched on 5 devices at once and your family can create different accounts so they don't see your shows AND they won't be taking up your 1000 hours of cloud DVR space. If you want to continue paying hundreds of dollars a month on a cable or satellite subscriptions be my guest this thing right here though is the future of TV being able to stream TV without cables wires everybody should be using this device with the PlayStation Vue service. P.S you don't need a PlayStation to take advantage of this awesome NO CONTRACTS deal!!!!!
UPDATE: They have just also added the NFL REDZONE package for only $39 for the entire season.
UPDATE: They have just also added the NFL REDZONE package for only $39 for the entire season.
Overall great, some issues and still a tough call between a Fire TV and a Roku box. Minor app issues.
on April 24, 2017
Got this device for a few reasons. My Roku tends to hate a lot of apps installed. It causes issues while playing videos and such. I wanted the Roku for a less used TV.
Fire TV has a lot of issues at the moment though. It's more powerful than the Roku and overall works smoother but some glaring issues come up that I can't help but take a star away. Apps aren't as easy to find as the Roku, where the Roku is built around the apps Fire TV is built around Amazon Video. Apps can still be found on the home screen but not as nicely organized on the screen. Crunchyroll's app has some advantages on the Fire TV but on the otherhand the app likes to stay open when you go back to the home menu and tends to cause problems when you go back to it. It starts the already watched episode rather than the next one, losses track of what was happening and just needs to be exited and restarted. In the end wasting 10-20 seconds to do so isn't that big of a deal but it is annoying. Speaking of apps Roku tends to be the first to get most new major apps. Comcast recently launched a beta to stream Xfiinity subscription channels to the Roku. Still nothing for the Fire TV.
Overall though I prefer the Fire TV and Amazon has shown that It is catching up on some of the things, particularly app availability it's still a hard choice between a Fire TV and a Roku box.
Fire TV has a lot of issues at the moment though. It's more powerful than the Roku and overall works smoother but some glaring issues come up that I can't help but take a star away. Apps aren't as easy to find as the Roku, where the Roku is built around the apps Fire TV is built around Amazon Video. Apps can still be found on the home screen but not as nicely organized on the screen. Crunchyroll's app has some advantages on the Fire TV but on the otherhand the app likes to stay open when you go back to the home menu and tends to cause problems when you go back to it. It starts the already watched episode rather than the next one, losses track of what was happening and just needs to be exited and restarted. In the end wasting 10-20 seconds to do so isn't that big of a deal but it is annoying. Speaking of apps Roku tends to be the first to get most new major apps. Comcast recently launched a beta to stream Xfiinity subscription channels to the Roku. Still nothing for the Fire TV.
Overall though I prefer the Fire TV and Amazon has shown that It is catching up on some of the things, particularly app availability it's still a hard choice between a Fire TV and a Roku box.
on January 20, 2016
Great with Linux! This unit has the horsepower to stream effortlessly from any service PLUS from your local NAS. When streaming from the local NAS through the Kodi app video and audio are synced perfectly. As a cord-cutter, I've come to HATE commercials.
For the past 2-3 years I've used 'smart' TV features and Roku Plus devices, which were adequate for major streaming services like Amazon, Hulu, et.al., but lacked processing power for streaming from a NAS source. Yes, it can be accomplished, but unless your TV/device has a lot of RAM, often with the bundled apps (none can be added to a TV) the experience is generally lackluster due to syncing of video and audio. The Fire TV box is more than worth the extra cost, it is FAST and streams perfectly from any source with ease.
I also have a Firestick on a TV that is less used ~ and I'd recommend the FIre TV over the Firestick for the extra processing power/RAM. I will probably upgrade the Firestick to the Fire TV for the speed gain ~ it is noticeably slower even when starting and loading the major services.
As the Amazon devices are Android based, there are many apps you can load (and side load) that can improve on the interface and streaming abilities.
Amazon has gotten it right with this device and the hardware is capable of handling the technology!
imo, Currently the best streaming device available!
For the past 2-3 years I've used 'smart' TV features and Roku Plus devices, which were adequate for major streaming services like Amazon, Hulu, et.al., but lacked processing power for streaming from a NAS source. Yes, it can be accomplished, but unless your TV/device has a lot of RAM, often with the bundled apps (none can be added to a TV) the experience is generally lackluster due to syncing of video and audio. The Fire TV box is more than worth the extra cost, it is FAST and streams perfectly from any source with ease.
I also have a Firestick on a TV that is less used ~ and I'd recommend the FIre TV over the Firestick for the extra processing power/RAM. I will probably upgrade the Firestick to the Fire TV for the speed gain ~ it is noticeably slower even when starting and loading the major services.
As the Amazon devices are Android based, there are many apps you can load (and side load) that can improve on the interface and streaming abilities.
Amazon has gotten it right with this device and the hardware is capable of handling the technology!
imo, Currently the best streaming device available!
