Amazon's Apple TV Competitor to Launch in April as Chromecast-Like Dongle

MacRumors · Mar 18, 2014

Despite an earlier report suggesting a March launch, a new report from the Wall Street Journal now claims Amazon will start selling its video-streaming device in April through its own website and retailers like Best Buy.

The device will run a version of Android akin to the company's Kindle Fire readers and will support common media streaming services like Netflix.

The Amazon device will carry a variety of apps available on Roku Inc. and Apple set-top boxes and run on a version of Google's Android software, like Amazon's tablet computers, these people said. Roku's most popular apps include video services Netflix and Hulu Plus and music service Pandora, as well as Amazon's own video-streaming service.

An earlier report from TechCrunch claims the Amazon device will have a stick form factor similar to Google's Chromecast and will plug into the HDMI port of any HDTV. These same sources believe the device will support online gaming, streaming top-tier titles to the device at 30 frames per second from Amazon's servers in a manner similar to remote gaming service OnLive.

Pricing for the Amazon device is not yet known, but it is expected to be consistent with competing devices which are priced under $100. Google's Chromecast is the cheapest option at $35, while Roku's new Streaming Stick is priced at $49. Sources claim Amazon Prime customers will receive extra incentives for purchasing the device.

Article Link: Amazon's Apple TV Competitor to Launch in April as Chromecast-Like Dongle

taptic · Mar 18, 2014

Amazon- a company that tries everything and is good at very few things.

In other words, Amazon, just sell what people give you to sell and stop trying to make your own junk.

seecoolguy · Mar 18, 2014

for $35 the chromecast stick is a great bargin for netflix subscribers, plus if you are a google user it really does make consuming content on your tv fairly painless.

I use AppleTVs, but I bought a chromecast device to test it out, nice, easy, out of the way. it's pretty nice.

samcraig · Mar 18, 2014

DShap5 said:
Amazon- a company that tries everything and is good at very few things.

In other words, Amazon, just sell what people give you to sell and stop trying to make your own junk.

What have they made that hasn't been good or successful? The only true flop they've had would be the original Kindle DX.

BillyBobBongo · Mar 18, 2014

Most likely it will only launch in the United States, which doesn't make it a competitor in my book. Global release, or get out!

2457282 · Mar 18, 2014

I hope they do better than Google in allowing the dongle to get the power through the HDMI port versus having a power cord connected to it -- that is ugly and kind of defeats the point of a dongle IMO.

Jamalmartinez · Mar 18, 2014

I just hope this is cheap maybe no higher than 50 dollars.

OldSchoolMacGuy · Mar 18, 2014

ZzzzzZzzzzZzzz.....

Is Amazon really going to let people stream other services besides their own? Seems kind of silly to allow people to use your product to use their biggest competitor.

SAIRUS · Mar 18, 2014

Actually when my AppleTV is acting up, I switch to the Chromecast for Netflix. It just works.

Millah · Mar 18, 2014

So....a Chromecast competitor.

jazzbo · Mar 18, 2014

Cuban Missles said:
I hope they do better than Google in allowing the dongle to get the power through the HDMI port versus having a power cord connected to it -- that is ugly and kind of defeats the point of a dongle IMO.

To take power over HDMI you would need a HDMI MHL port which is just isn't common enough to use on a low price device that you want people to easily use out of the box.

My understanding is the confusion and lack of support over MHL is part of the reason why Roku changed their streaming stick from being a MHL only device (which the 2012 model was) to the new model which supports USB power.

octothorpe8 · Mar 18, 2014

They should just give this away with Prime membership.

iSRS · Mar 18, 2014

SAIRUS said:
Actually when my AppleTV is acting up, I switch to the Chromecast for Netflix. It just works.

Out of curiosity, what version Apple TV do you have? It might be coincidence, but I just swapped out my Apple TV 2 for a brand new Apple TV 3,2 and have had much better performance than I was having. Less pixelation. The opening credits of House of Cards and Clone Wars (the blue phrase of the episode) were the most obvious places that saw improvement.

numlock · Mar 18, 2014

samcraig said:
What have they made that hasn't been good or successful? The only true flop they've had would be the original Kindle DX.

would be interested to hear that as well

SAIRUS · Mar 18, 2014

starbird said:
Out of curiosity, what version Apple TV do you have? It might be coincidence, but I just swapped out my Apple TV 2 for a brand new Apple TV 3,2 and have had much better performance than I was having. Less pixelation. The opening credits of House of Cards and Clone Wars (the blue phrase of the episode) were the most obvious places that saw improvement.

I have a 3rd gen.

GSPice · Mar 18, 2014

I wish Apple made something like this that allowed Airplay to work without an Apple TV and Airport Extreme/Express/Time Capsule.

roadbloc · Mar 18, 2014

DShap5 said:
Amazon- a company that tries everything and is good at very few things.

In other words, Amazon, just sell what people give you to sell and stop trying to make your own junk.

Nonsense. Amazon make some great stuff. They have also have a mature enough cloud ecosystem to be able to compete efficiently.

EDIT: I was a fool and totally mis-read the OP.

taptic · Mar 18, 2014

samcraig said:
What have they made that hasn't been good or successful? The only true flop they've had would be the original Kindle DX.

In my opinion all kindles suck. bad. except the e-ink display ones.

roadbloc · Mar 18, 2014

DShap5 said:
In my opinion all kindles suck. bad. except the e-ink display ones.

How so? Have you tried reading a book on a display? Your eyeballs want to bleed after quarter of an hour. The e-ink models are designed to be much easier on the eye like a normal book would be.

taptic · Mar 18, 2014

roadbloc said:
How so? Have you tried reading a book on a display? Your eyeballs want to bleed after quarter of an hour. The e-ink models are designed to be much easier on the eye like a normal book would be.

Did you even read my comment?

I was saying the e-ink ones are OK, it's the kindle fire and stuff that I can't stand.

FakeWozniak · Mar 18, 2014

The purpose of the dongle/roku/ATV, IMO, is to push the streaming services proprietary format when they can't/won't work with the TV OEMs. Although Netflix is available on TV sets, game console, and disc players, it is the exception and doesn't scale for the streaming services (Apple/Google/Amazon/etc) to place into the various devices/sets.

Some kind of "cable-card" like form factor, or similar port, would be nice and solve a lot of problems. However, I am a purist and prefer a TV to be a display and nothing more. I run an HDMI matrix in the basement with all source devices next to it, and all TV sets are pure displays. I have an HDMI based IR remote extender (takes power from HDMI) to control those devices.

nagromme · Mar 18, 2014

Is it a Chromecast-like "pile" of dongles? The tidy one Google shows in the picture, plus the adapter that goes between it and the TV if your TV doesn't have enough room for its wide shape, plus the required USB power cable (plugged into a second place on your TV) plus the wall-power USB brick if your TV lacks USB, plus any extension cords needed to make that brick fit.

Not so simple or portable as the marketing would lead people to think.

roadbloc · Mar 18, 2014

DShap5 said:
Did you even read my comment?

I was saying the e-ink ones are OK, it's the kindle fire and stuff that I can't stand.

My apologies. Mis-read.

numlock · Mar 18, 2014

nagromme said:
Is it a Chromecast-like "pile" of dongles? The tidy one Google shows in the picture, plus the adapter that goes between it and the TV if your TV doesn't have enough room for its wide shape, plus the required USB power cable (plugged into a second place on your TV) plus the wall-power USB brick if your TV lacks USB, plus any extension cords needed to make that brick fit.

Not so simple or portable as the marketing would lead people to think.

i have no idea what kind of tvs the potential chromecast viewers own but they are accommodating people who dont fulfill the optimal requirements. would you rather they didnt do that at all or made a puck or sphere (again) like device with all that inside?

is the marketing and available online documentation misleading?

kainjow · Mar 18, 2014

SAIRUS said:
Actually when my AppleTV is acting up, I switch to the Chromecast for Netflix. It just works.

It's amazing how often AirPlay or Apple TV just fail to work, yet switching to Chromecast I get no issues.

Amazon's Apple TV Competitor to Launch in April as Chromecast-Like Dongle

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