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

unplugme71 said:
$99 for this? I'll pass. Being a Prime Member this should be one or more of the following

1) Discounted to $79
2) More movies added to Prime (selection is very limited)
3) Free warranty coverage as long as you are a Prime Member, if new box comes out and old doesn't exist anymore, then you get credit towards the purchase of a newer model.
4) Free phone support, if needed.
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All good points, but none of those would sway me to buy it like it would for you.
 
bbeagle said:
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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I am curious how you stream movies from a server to your Apple TV? I have been trying to figure out the best solution for myself. Thanks.

For myself, iTunes match music is probably the biggest reason I can't get rid of my Apple TV. That and being able to airplay other music services.
 
No need to worry, ATV will get a minor processor bump and 802.11AC in Sept 2026

Nevermind an app store or iTunes extras support :rolleyes:
 
Mockenrue said:
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.
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Apple TV absolutely does Netflix in 5.1. If you're note getting it, you must not have something setup right or your ISP is crippling your connection in a way that is causing the 5.1 stream not to be delivered.
 
Mockenrue said:
Agreed... no app on ATV that I've seen. This is one of my biggest frustrations with Apple, and the surprise from today's Amazon announcement. Both companies want you to buy from their ecosystem, but Apple doesn't give you the choice: no Vudu (which is my go-to rental service due to the high quality), no M-Go, no Flixter/Ultraviolet, etc. Amazon will probably bias the their search, but at least I can rent a Vudu HDX movie on it!
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I don't see any mention of Vudu on Amazon's product page ...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CX5P8FC...pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1770051702&pf_rd_i=507846
 
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darkslide29 said:
I am curious how you stream movies from a server to your Apple TV? I have been trying to figure out the best solution for myself. Thanks.

For myself, iTunes match music is probably the biggest reason I can't get rid of my Apple TV. That and being able to airplay other music services.
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Not sure about the larger servers.....my collection isn't nearly that size (roughly 100 movies and TV shows) and I just put everything into iTunes and home share. Works like a charm and is incredibly easy.
 
bbeagle said:
Hahahaha....

same in my household.

We've got competing Apple TVs and Rokus, Kindles and iPads, Macs and PCs, and Wiis and Playstations. It's nice to own all the technologies and never be worried about missing out.

Those that only own one and try to defend their device to the bitter end baffle me.
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That's not me - I own a PS, Roku, two Apple TVs, etc.. For me, though, unlike you - I use the ROKU for just about everything EXCEPT iTunes when I rent movies. But that's also because I still have about $200 in iTunes credit. I am not sure once that's depleted how much I'll use the Apple TV that I currently have. Note I say currently have. Who knows what Apple might bring to the market in the future. But for now, for me - the Roku does a lot more. If only for Plex, MGO and Vudu.

ETA: I am guessing with that sized library you have (mine is closer to 800) that you use your phone or iPad to get to the title you want.

ONE thing that is STILL on my wishlist for Apple TV is the ability to search and or jump to a letter instead of having to SCROLL down from A to Z. Ridiculous after so many updates in software that they still expect people to scroll.
 
jrswizzle said:
Oh don't get me wrong, I still think Apple is the greatest and have been called a fanboy plenty on these forums.

The reality is, I give credit where I see credit due. Android has never really appealed to me. I'm all about ecosystems - which is why I'm such a huge Apple fan. And why I'm really digging what Amazon is doing here.

I'd love to get into the Xbox One and all that, but (1) I hate Windows and (2) I don't have enough TVs to set up all these "living room experiences" haha.
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Ha! Im a like you in a lot of way.

1. Hate PCs now, been using Windows since W95. Converted to MAC in 2011 and never will go back to PC and I do Network and SharePoint administration for a living lol.

2. Was all about PS3 until PSN went down, sold my PS3 and got an XBOX360.

3. Now that PS4 is out, I want one over an XBOX ONE lol.

4. I have owned and used many Android devices, but can never leave my iPhone even though I do want a bigger screen, still cant leave it. I am an Apple iPhone fanboy to the core, but their other products like the Apple TV I despise.

5. I own a Roku and love it, I just bought this Amazon box and will probably like it more since I am on a Roku XDS (1st gen).
 
samcraig said:
Or so it would seem. Steve (when he was alive) certainly didn't want to be lagging behind based on the information released today in relation to the Samsung lawsuit...
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And when exactly was Apple first under Jobs? There was always stuff competing product had/could do before Apple's products did. Nothing new here except the media meme that somehow Apple would be moving faster if Jobs was still around.
 
The amount of bashing is unsurprising.

Also, what happened to the supposedly rumored event in spring for a new Apple TV?

Remember every Apple news site/tech site talking about it.
 
jrswizzle said:
I took Amazon up on their "free trial" they had a little while ago. Display was awesome (compared to my wife's iPad mini) and it was a nice little device, but ultimately we had nothing to pair with it. As a one-off device, not really all that worthwhile.

Now for a kid? I could totally see it. And with a FireTV box, perhaps a little more useful.

The truth is, I just like having different types of tech around the house....no matter how redundant they may seem! Haha, my wife hates it....until I remind her she can only carry one purse at a time, which makes the other 12 somewhat redundant in a similar way :p
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Yes, purses, shoes. This is very clever. Thank you, I will try this the next time it comes up. Wish me luck, lol. :cool:

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brianvictor7 said:
That thing doesn't look ergonomically friendly like my Apple TV. That Fire TV box has sharp edges. :rolleyes:
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sracer said:
ummm, you're not supposed to hold the Fire TV box in your hands.
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Hence their use of the sarcastic smiley! :rolleyes: :eek:
 
darkslide29 said:
Yes, purses, shoes. This is very clever. Thank you, I will try this the next time it comes up. Wish me luck, lol. :cool:
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Oh no! I never said it was successful.....I figured any male here with a significant other would realize it doesn't work.

But its how I justify it in my head lol!

I talked her into letting me buy a third iPad (now that the 4th gens are selling at $399) for use around the house - I want things like thermostat control, lighting control, media control, guest use etc....but the way I sold it to her? She could use it in the kitchen for recipes and in the closet as a way to categorize her wardrobe....we were actually going to create an app until we saw one already exists....

All about how you present it my friend ;)
 
Just glad I don't have to have a TV for each channel I like to watch. At least Netflix was kind enough to not come out with their own box/tablet.
 
teknikal90 said:
realistically though.... with netflix and the itunes library......do you really watch THAT much TV that you need all these different subscription-based sources of media?
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I don't have any media in iTunes. Streaming sources that I typically use:

ATV and Roku: Netflix (Old interface, no 5.1 on ATV), Youtube (old interface on ATV), PBS, and Vimeo
Roku only: Amazon, Vudu, Twit, Revision3, TED Talks, RSS podcast app
ATV only: AirPlay

Given the above, it's easy to see why Roku would be my go-to device unless I use AirPlay. I also have a Chromecast, but I haven't warmed up to sourcing from a mobile device. I've had too much flaky behavior in the the hand-offs to and from.
 
AgentElliot007 said:
I will be utterly and completely shocked if the Apple TV hardware that is eventually released this year doesn't run circles around any of the TV hardware out today.

And if there's an SDK and an App Store, the app issue will become a mute one. If Amazon decides not to put out an Apple TV app then, it likely won't be on Apple. It exists on the iPhone and iPad already, so I think we'll see it on Apple TV as well.

And I think you're missing the point of what I'm saying. Sure, some boxes have come out that do a bit more since the Apple TV redesign. Nothing major has happened unless you count the bump to 1080P. But no one has come in and done something revolutionary in the meantime. Some have a few more channels. Some have voice search. Some have a few games. But they're still all ultimately following in the the footsteps of the Apple TV 2/3 design.

Apple's next generation product and software platform remains to be seen. Time will tell, and ultimately it may be a snooze, but I don't think they're taking it near as lightly as some think, and when it does hit, I wouldn't be shocked if it made everything else on the the market look archaic. But again, one thing I absolutely have no doubts about is that it will feature hardware that absolutely and completely smokes anything else on the market. No doubt about that one at all.
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Exactly that. Im not going to keep waiting, I can enjoy this in the mean time. I'm not bashing what Apple HASN'T made yet. Im saying what they do currently have available, sucks and sucks a lot, for MY needs. MY NEEDS.
 
Rogifan said:
And when exactly was Apple first under Jobs? There was always stuff competing product had/could do before Apple's products did. Nothing new here except the media meme that somehow Apple would be moving faster if Jobs was still around.
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It's not a question of them being first. It's about them caring. Clearly Jobs cared about being first or he wouldn't have been so concerned about how the competition was ahead of them.
 
irDigital0l said:
The amount of bashing is unsurprising.
Also, what happened to the supposedly rumored event in spring for a new Apple TV?

Remember every Apple news site/tech site talking about it.
Click to expand...

I went to other tech sites to see what the general thoughts were on this. From their journalist and the user comments.

Then I came here specifically to see the overly emotional, armageddon-like posts here. From how it is a useless piece of crap, to the box that has just doomed lazy un-innovative Apple. I find it lets in all of the possible angles and lets me eventually decide an opinion for myself.

I'm as big of an Apple fanboy as there is. Other than an Xbox One, I don't really use anything not Apple. Heck, sometimes I wrestle with thoughts of the Xbox One vs Apple TV for my entertainment usage. So I understand wanting to deflect and defend what I have as great.
 
samcraig said:
It's not a question of them being first. It's about them caring. Clearly Jobs cared about being first or he wouldn't have been so concerned about how the competition was ahead of them.
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Honestly - the first one to offer ala carte cable channels through their box wins....I'd sign up ESPN, Hulu to add to Netflix and Prime and get rid of cable all together.

I could easily piece my TV watching together for far less than the $65 I pay for cable today.
 
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