Amazon Announces the Fire TV Stick
by Brandon Chester on October 27, 2014 4:57 PM EST- Posted in
- Amazon
Today Amazon has announced their foray into the market for small HDMI streaming dongles. The Fire TV Stick competes with Google's Chromecast, the Roku Streaming Stick, and the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter. Amazon notes in their advertising that the Fire TV Stick has more powerful hardward and faster WiFi than the Google Chromecast. I'm not quite sure how effective this will be at swaying buyers, as I would imagine many buyers don't care about the hardware inside of their HDMI streaming stick as long as it can stream their 1080p content. I've put Amazon's comparison image between the different streaming sticks below. Notably missing is the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter
The real appeal of the Fire TV Stick is for buyers in Amazon's ecosystem. The Fire TV Stick supports popular streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, and includes expected features like streaming content from mobile devices. On top of all that, it includes the wealth of content available for Amazon Prime subscribers. Anyone who wants to try out Amazon Prime will receive a 30 day trial along with their Fire TV Stick.
At $39 the Fire TV Stick essentially matches the Chromecast on price and provides Amazon users a good alternative to other HDMI sticks. Amazon is also running a promotion for today and tomorrow that allows current Amazon Prime subscribers to purchase the Fire TV Stick for only $19. At less than $20, I can expect many prime users may purchase one simply to try it out.
Source: Amazon.com
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
19 Comments
View All Comments
barleyguy - Wednesday, October 29, 2014 - link
I don't know what you're talking about with "$39/mo". There is no monthly fee for the stick or for a partial prime subscription. Prime right now is $99 a year for all features, and will work with any compatible device, including the Fire TV Stick, Fire TV, their tablets, game consoles, or on web browsers in SD.Hrel - Monday, October 27, 2014 - link
So, does this process signal or simply receive it from a desktop/laptop that's actually running the content?dhanson8652 - Monday, October 27, 2014 - link
it processes signal from the internet, it has a dual core chip for CPU and a GPU and wifi and connects directly to netflix, hulu, etectera so long as you have WIFI in the location. No desktop or laptop is required. You can toss one of these in your pants pocket or suitcase and plug into a TV at a hotel on travel and connect to hotel wifi to stream with no PC involved.Ktracho - Monday, October 27, 2014 - link
Does anyone know if this device or another similar low-cost device can stream music/videos/photos from a NAS box?SilthDraeth - Monday, October 27, 2014 - link
It depends on the NAS box. Do you have something like an Asustor, or Synology?phoenix_rizzen - Wednesday, October 29, 2014 - link
And it will also depend on what app(s) you run on the stick, and whether or not they can access the NAS (support the right protocols).Since you can install apps, you can (in theory) do just about anything with it that you can do on an Android phone/tablet.
dgburns - Tuesday, October 28, 2014 - link
Just placed my order for one. At 20 bucks, why not?Note the $20 off offer states "limit 1" and also be careful if you have 1-Click enabled as the offer states the discount won't be applied to 1-Click purchases.
Note estimated delivery date on my order was December 24, apparently this is a hot item and completely sold out now!
dhanson8652 - Tuesday, October 28, 2014 - link
Maybe they added the limit later, when I did mine it didn't have a limit so I grabbed 2, and the estimated date on my order is Dec 2.Impulses - Wednesday, October 29, 2014 - link
My ETA actually stated January... I certainly hope it's way off, as Amazon EATs often are.