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Amazon Launches 'Fire TV' Media Streaming Box with Voice Search, Game Support, and More

AgentElliot007 said:
And what does that better hardware do for them right now?
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It's not specifically about hardware obviously.

Roku and now Amazon have more built in functionality than Apple TV - and has for awhile now

Look - Apple TV is great - I have two of them. But let's not kid ourselves thinking it's a leader in terms of what you can do with it.
 
Orlandoech.com said:
No one is catching up to the apple tv lol, they have surpassed it. While the ATV is a good product, its ridiculously dated and limited.
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Explain yourself with an example. They're all pretty good in their own ways. Apple TV is in no way 'ridiculously dated and limited'.

Roku and Fire TV can play Amazon content - they can't play Apple content. Apple TV can play Apple content, it can't play Amazon content. Other than that, they're VERY VERY similar.

Both Apple and Amazon have different ecosystems, which offer very similar content. Apple offers more music, Amazon more movies, but not so much as to say one is clearly better.
 
Captainobvvious said:
These things are always a non starter for me if they can't stream and organize local content.

I had an ATV 2 and got fed up with jailbreaking and got a Raspberry Pi and it my setup has never been better.
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When you say "local content", I guess that doesn't include streaming from an iTunes library on the same network? I'm doing just that with my ATV 2, streaming video from my Mac Mini in the other room and it works perfectly. Not ideal, I guess, to have to run a separate computer as a media server, but if you have one it's a great solution.
 
AgentElliot007 said:
And what does that better hardware do for them right now?
Click to expand...


Absolutely nothing imo but they offer more channels, more future proof hardware and a better experience for myself.

The Apple TV is complete garbage to me, always has been which is why I never owned one. Had Apple just added Amazon Prime, I would have bought one and never even considered a Roku and now an Amazon box.

While I own MBPr, iphone 5s, iPad mini, I also am an Amazon Prime member and Netflix, I dont want multiple devices to stream both, I want one. Roku and Amazon box allow me to do this and millions of others, Apple does not. End of story for me and my needs.
 
maflynn said:
Yes, too much since Amazon will want to promote their own service and rent from their site and not apples :)
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The only thing missing from my Apple TV is Amazon Instant Video. I can AirPlay it from the iPad, but I've found it unstable most of the time.

Otherwise when I want to watch a video from Amazon, I have to switch to the Xbox to watch it.

I'd really like it if I had all the content I use on one device, but sadly, I don't think that is ever going to happen.
 
samcraig said:
Roku and now Amazon have more built in functionality than Apple TV - and has for awhile now

Look - Apple TV is great - I have two of them. But let's not kid ourselves thinking it's a leader in terms of what you can do with it.
Click to expand...

What you wrote shows that you don't have a clue what Apple TV offers vs. Roku.
 
samcraig said:
Again - Correlation does not imply causation
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Especially when it comes to Wall St. (as this forum never fails to point out when Apple stock dips after their own announcements).

I love this segment, and I own a bunch: ATV 3, Roku 3, Chromecast, Oppo BluRay, smart hub on my Samsung TV. I will probably buy this one too.

A few thoughts:
- It's less "closed" than I expected (and MUCH more open than ATV) if it has Plex, Vudu, Flixter/Ultraviolet, etc.

- Voice search will be great IF they integrate it into the apps like Roku does. I'd love a quick, easy search across Netflix, Amazon, HBO, Showtime, and Vudu.

- Games look cool. My kids haven't warmed up to tablet gaming (controls) or the next gen consoles (price of games). I could see them embracing this middle-ground.

With FireTV and Chromecast getting more apps seemingly every week, Apple and Roku are really feeling the pressure now.
 
bbeagle said:
Explain yourself with an example. They're all pretty good in their own ways. Apple TV is in no way 'ridiculously dated and limited'.

Roku and Fire TV can play Amazon content - they can't play Apple content. Apple TV can play Apple content, it can't play Amazon content. Other than that, they're VERY VERY similar.

Both Apple and Amazon have different ecosystems, which offer very similar content. Apple offers more music, Amazon more movies, but no so much as to say one is clearly better.
Click to expand...

Roku has hundreds of channels. The Roku 3 offers wireless headphone. Roku offered an incredible search engine to find content across providers.
 
Pandakopanda said:
If it has Plex, I'm interested. Pandora is a plus.

Currently using Plex on iPad with my Apple TV using Airplay. It's doable but having the Plex client run on my big screen is much better.
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It does indeed, look at the splash graphic :) also shows up on the amazon page.
I keep wanting to have just one box on a tv for all of my needs. I wish they would all play nicely.
 
bbeagle said:
Explain yourself with an example. They're all pretty good in their own ways. Apple TV is in no way 'ridiculously dated and limited'.

Roku and Fire TV can play Amazon content - they can't play Apple content. Apple TV can play Apple content, it can't play Amazon content. Other than that, they're VERY VERY similar.

Both Apple and Amazon have different ecosystems, which offer very similar content. Apple offers more music, Amazon more movies, but no so much as to say one is clearly better.
Click to expand...

Read my other posts.

Better is subjective, Apple is not better for me or my needs or wants. Keep in mind, I own tons of Apple products and their ATV doesn't cut it for me.
 
these set top boxes are becoming a commodity...
noone buys a set top box for the specs, but for the content. unfortunately with the way things are presently structured most people only watch netflix, which is available practically everywhere.
yes, I think apple did the whole thing a massive boost by introducing rentals at $4.99
but now that everyone's copied that model, the differentiation is gone.

I really wonder what apple's going to do in this sector.
 
I like it, i got prime and after Game of Thrones this year I am canceling Comcast. (My last bill was $249). I am going with a high speed internet and Apple TV. And than maybe add this for the Amazon streaming. This leaves me with:

Apple TV (purchase TV shows/movies)
Netflix (streaming entertainment)
Amazon Fire (streaming entertainment)

Sounds good to me.

-ok
 
So according to their comparison charts.. You can run pandora radio on apple TV??? Since when?? All i see is itune radio lol.....
 
How did Amazon come up with such an innovative controller design???

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:p
 
Thing is, Apple was definitely ahead of things with the first AppleTV.....but this FireTV is leaps and bounds ahead of where Apple is now.

I know there are a lot of rumors out there, and given the immense library and ecosystem Apple has, implementation of said rumors would automatically put them back on top. But at this point, we've got nothing....nothing until June and WWDC.

Give credit where credit is due - I'm a huge Apple fan, but Amazon has nailed it. Voice control and gaming are two things Apple should've done forever ago.

I'll definitely be grabbing one of these with the controller. Might even get a Fire HDX to go with it. All about ecosystems - either get in or stay out. :p
 
jrswizzle said:
The app itself is great, I don't mind it. But the fact that many of the big studios have moved to the UV Digital Copies has driven me to pretty much buy from iTunes exclusively. That and the early release deals Apple has scored....

If Flixster was available on the AppleTV (like FireTV it seems), I would rather buy the hard copy + digital copy. Just need a way to stream....

Ha, the fact that Amazon scored the Flixster app deal for their FireTV might mean I start pre-ordering my movies from Amazon again. Loved release-day delivery and the price guarantee!
Click to expand...

It doesn't help much, but I don't "do" Flixster. UV movies can be watched many places now - including Vudu and Target Ticket (apps on my Roku).

I actually redeem all of my UV thru Vudu because I get the highest quality version there. Always HD.

For Frozen, I did Vudu, just because of where I wanted to be able to watch it... then I noticed the iTunes and Disney Movies version was still there... so I tried it. It worked. I have it in iTunes with the extras, and in Vudu.

Oh, and Vudu lets you download to your device... it is wayyyyy better than Flixster ever tried to be. The mere mention of the Flixster name makes me want to puke.

Vudu for the save!!

Now, update the ATV Apple so I can finally buy one!!
 
Nothing really new to the "hobby". Until someone can replace the cable/sat box, you will have a winner... Still hoping Apple can pull it off!
 
jrswizzle said:
Thing is, Apple was definitely ahead of things with the first AppleTV.....but this FireTV is leaps and bounds ahead of where Apple is now.

I know there are a lot of rumors out there, and given the immense library and ecosystem Apple has, implementation of said rumors would automatically put them back on top. But at this point, we've got nothing....nothing until June and WWDC.

Give credit where credit is due - I'm a huge Apple fan, but Amazon has nailed it. Voice control and gaming are two things Apple should've done forever ago.

I'll definitely be grabbing one of these with the controller. Might even get a Fire HDX to go with it. All about ecosystems - either get in or stay out. :p
Click to expand...


I agree! but the Kindle... lol no thanks!
 
bbeagle said:
What you wrote shows that you don't have a clue what Apple TV offers vs. Roku.
Click to expand...

I have both (ATV 3 and Roku 3), and I agree that Roku has more functionality. Beyond the much larger app selection, Roku also has very useful features like cross-app search, wireless headphone jack in the remote, speed test app, etc. They also have newer interfaces for Netflix and Youtube. ATV doesn't even support 5.1 surround in Netflix right now. I love Airplay, but other than that, ATV is limping towards the next update.
 
samcraig said:
No - actually - it shows how little you know. Perhaps you should read more about the competition?
Click to expand...

I have BOTH a Roku and an Apple TV in my house. The Roku gets used very little (not at all in the past month). The Apple TV is used EVERY DAY for hours a day. I'll give you why this is the case for US.

We use Netflix. Both offer Netflix. We like the Apple TV interface better. But that's just an opinion.

We use iTunes. Roku doesn't offer iTunes. Usually for stuff that we can't get on Netflix for free or Amazon Prime for free.

I have an Amazon Prime membership, but there is very little that is free on Amazon Prime Streaming that is any good. I go there once in a while to find good content, but rarely find anything I like.

We also have a library of abour 2,000 of movies and tv shows on our server downstairs. We like how Apple TV streams our collection better than the way Roku does it.

We view our photos on our Apple TV. iCloud automatically sends them to the Apple TV seconds after we take a picture. Not as easy on the Roku.

Then airplay - I watch tv shows streamed from my iPad through this. Can't do this on my Roku.
 
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