Who's dumping their ATV for Amazon Fire TV

[neutrino23]

ATV works great for us. We use airplay with our iPhones and iPads and get content from my MBP. The kids stream Netflix.

I never buy anything from Amazon so I see no need for a FTV.

 

[eric4]

no!

no way! I supposed if I only used my ATV for streaming content, then maybe I'd take a look. And compare to the others as well.

But we use our ATV for AirPlay more than anything else. It's awesome to show anything from a phone or iPad or Mac up on the TV. No other device can do anything even close.

 

[twintin]

Yes, as long as Itunes is running and then it takes forever for the device to load the shared library.

No, itunes is only required if you use Apples native apps to airplay. If you use a third party app like Beamer, Plex, nPlayer etc. You can airplay your content from NAS without itunes. That's what I do.

 

[Cheffy Dave]

I think you can get plex on it but not sure why anyone would want this over a roku

2 ATV's DEAD, every ROKU ever bought and gifted to others, still working, my new ROKU is Amazing, movie clarity blows ATV out the door, always did.!

 

[krburrell]

Dumping two ATV 3 and one ATV 2 for Fire TV. Plex and XBMC on the same box with no jail breaking or plexconnect!! After selling old hardware should break even or be slightly ahead.

 

[phrehdd]

Dumping two ATV 3 and one ATV 2 for Fire TV. Plex and XBMC on the same box with no jail breaking or plexconnect!! After selling old hardware should break even or be slightly ahead.

I admit I am curious about XBMC on the FireTV. If you do end up with FireTV please post back here and let us all know how well XBMC works on the FireTV. One item that is not quite clear to others (and now myself) is exactly what is the mention of "pass through" for this device. Hopefully it means it will pass through HD level audio within a file. ATV and some other devices cannot handle HD audio streams but only Dolby and DTS etc.

Look forward to your findings

- Phrehdd

 

[Toltepeceno]

I'm waiting to see what the next atv brings, for now though I am happy with my atv3.

 

[betman]

I never buy anything from Amazon so I see no need for a FTV.

How do the prices compare in the US? Because in the UK it's usually cheaper to order physical DVDs/Blu-Ray from Amazon than it is to buy something via iTunes.

 

[jetjaguar]

How do the prices compare in the US? Because in the UK it's usually cheaper to order physical DVDs/Blu-Ray from Amazon than it is to buy something via iTunes.

blurays most of the time are cheaper than iTunes .. i quit buying physical media years ago and just buy from iTunes .. more expensive at times but i like having no physical media and being able to access all my stuff from all my devices .. i have gotten lazy in my older age.

I usually purchase movies from iTunes when they hit 9.99

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firetv looks interesting .. would like to have access to amazon prime video and showtime on my tav without having to airplay it from my iPad or phone .. but i don't want to have apple tvs as well as firetvs in my place

I buy all my books on kindle

 

[Uofmtiger]

I admit I am curious about XBMC on the FireTV. If you do end up with FireTV please post back here and let us all know how well XBMC works on the FireTV. One item that is not quite clear to others (and now myself) is exactly what is the mention of "pass through" for this device. Hopefully it means it will pass through HD level audio within a file. ATV and some other devices cannot handle HD audio streams but only Dolby and DTS etc.

Look forward to your findings

- Phrehdd

I am interested in how well it works with xbmc, too. If it does XBMC and Plex well, I may replace the Roku in my main system. No way it would replace my Appletv, though. I need Airplay.

 

[phrehdd]

I am interested in how well it works with xbmc, too. If it does XBMC and Plex well, I may replace the Roku in my main system. No way it would replace my Appletv, though. I need Airplay.

It is a shame there is no "perfect" media player though some come close. I like the idea of a dedicated "black box" that handles pretty much everything one can throw at it and done in a fashion that has a nice presentation front end, perhaps some customizing of menus ability and faithful playback.

However, with the Roku, ATV and Amazon's offering (plus a few others), people can come close at an extremely reasonable price with some trade offs.

I admit I don't have anymore the small devices as my home system takes on all those duties often assigned to the above devices. However, I continue to set up for friends small devices in their homes (ATV, Roku etc.). I hope the Amazon offering does as well if not superior in offerings and performance as it matures.

 

[Uofmtiger]

It is a shame there is no "perfect" media player though some come close. I like the idea of a dedicated "black box" that handles pretty much everything one can throw at it and done in a fashion that has a nice presentation front end, perhaps some customizing of menus ability and faithful playback.

However, with the Roku, ATV and Amazon's offering (plus a few others), people can come close at an extremely reasonable price with some trade offs.

I admit I don't have anymore the small devices as my home system takes on all those duties often assigned to the above devices. However, I continue to set up for friends small devices in their homes (ATV, Roku etc.). I hope the Amazon offering does as well if not superior in offerings and performance as it matures.

I am sure Apple could do it all, since their iOS devices can, but they unfortunately have different goals for the Appletv.

I also have a Mac Mini in my main setup, but it isn't user friendly. I could spend more time to make it easier to use (desktop icons to each service, as one example), but it still won't be as easy to use as the Appletv. I plan to put more time into it, but I am sure my girlfriend will still prefer the Appletv.

 

[phrehdd]

I am sure Apple could do it all, since their iOS devices can, but they unfortunately have different goals for the Appletv.

I also have a Mac Mini in my main setup, but it isn't user friendly. I could spend more time to make it easier to use (desktop icons to each service, as one example), but it still won't be as easy to use as the Appletv. I plan to put more time into it, but I am sure my girlfriend will still prefer the Appletv.

The Mac Mini needs a "navigator" to handle some facets while the ATV is pretty much a well crafted closed system. I can understand why some would prefer the ATV. There are times when I hoped XBMC would have endorsed some 3rd party applications that when installed, worked seamlessly within XBMC to handle more complex tasks so that, as example - a more iTunes or JRivers like interface for music and creation of play lists etc. The use of my XBMC Mini is for guests for movies. For myself, I use my Oppo Blue Ray player for discs and movies along with Netflix and Vudu streaming.

 

[Felasco]

The data suggests that people under 30 are more likely to stream TV content and save on a cable TV bill. As that demographic grows and the older one diminishes, it's only a matter of time until Cable TV goes by the wayside

We're in our sixties, and cancelled our cable TV, and replaced with ATV and Netflix. Interestingly, we no longer pay for Cable TV, but they still give it to us. (We use cable for net too.)

However, we've had to upgrade our cable bill anyway to pay for all the net we're streaming over it. So it's worked out about the same on that score.

I NEVER watch Cable now, and am AMAZED I did so for so many years. Honestly, what a pile of total crap it seems after Netflix and ATV.

I predict everything will go subscription model sooner or later, because once you've watched without ads, no way are you going back.

 

[Badrottie]

Sorry no thanks. ATV is a top dog!

 

[betman]

blurays most of the time are cheaper than iTunes .. i quit buying physical media years ago and just buy from iTunes .. more expensive at times but i like having no physical media and being able to access all my stuff from all my devices .. i have gotten lazy in my older age.

In my case it depends on the content I'm purchasing: when it comes to kids' stuff I will go with iTunes simply due to the ease with which I can transfer the content to my iPads/iPhones.

But when it comes to stuff for me personally like films and tv series I will make the decision due to price and physical media format. I will almost always buy Blu-ray discs from Amazon over iTunes, but if the film/show is only available on DVD then I will go with whatever is cheaper. There is basically no way I am paying more for a digital download than for the physical box set delivered to my home.

Just wait till Amazon adds a digital copy for free once you buy the boxed version and my iTunes purchases will drop literally to zero...

 

[Navdakilla]

I am intrigued by the fire TV. We'll see in a couple of months and see if it picks up steam

 

[jetjaguar]

In my case it depends on the content I'm purchasing: when it comes to kids' stuff I will go with iTunes simply due to the ease with which I can transfer the content to my iPads/iPhones.

But when it comes to stuff for me personally like films and tv series I will make the decision due to price and physical media format. I will almost always buy Blu-ray discs from Amazon over iTunes, but if the film/show is only available on DVD then I will go with whatever is cheaper. There is basically no way I am paying more for a digital download than for the physical box set delivered to my home.

Just wait till Amazon adds a digital copy for free once you buy the boxed version and my iTunes purchases will drop literally to zero...

Yea I hear you I just don't want all that clutter with physical discs

 

[Uofmtiger]

The Mac Mini needs a "navigator" to handle some facets while the ATV is pretty much a well crafted closed system. I can understand why some would prefer the ATV. There are times when I hoped XBMC would have endorsed some 3rd party applications that when installed, worked seamlessly within XBMC to handle more complex tasks so that, as example - a more iTunes or JRivers like interface for music and creation of play lists etc. The use of my XBMC Mini is for guests for movies. For myself, I use my Oppo Blue Ray player for discs and movies along with Netflix and Vudu streaming.

I have been messing around with something called Roomie Remote for iOS that may make it easier to use my Mac Mini with Xbmc and provide a more elegant solution to my setups and remote controlling everything.

I still don't think I would get rid of the Appletv even if the Roomie works perfectly. I really like the ability to launch an app and send it to the screen. It is extremely convenient.

 

[phrehdd]

I have been messing around with something called Roomie Remote for iOS that may make it easier to use my Mac Mini with Xbmc and provide a more elegant solution to my setups and remote controlling everything.

I still don't think I would get rid of the Appletv even if the Roomie works perfectly. I really like the ability to launch an app and send it to the screen. It is extremely convenient.

Roomie works well for some things and iRule is also in the same category. I am glad you are having good use of Roomie. XBMC for me remains an impressive project and the folks in their site forums continue to be very helpful.

 

[bearcatrp]

I am in no hurry to dump ATV yet. Depends on what the next ATV looks like and capabilities. Just hope it has storage, desent processot and a good amount of ram. Don't care for games but would be nice if we didn't need itunes to stream.

 

[Uofmtiger]

Roomie works well for some things and iRule is also in the same category. I am glad you are having good use of Roomie. XBMC for me remains an impressive project and the folks in their site forums continue to be very helpful.

I am actually surprised at how well Roomie works. I can push one button and it will turn on my receiver, go to the correct input, and launch Plex or XBMC on my mini and allow me to control it right from the app. It also works with iTunes and other apps. Since I share my living room components in my office, this will also allow me to control the HDMI output I want to use from the receiver and set the audio to "TV" rather than "amp"/living room speakers and give me better control of everything in that system without sitting in front of it.

There is still the issue that Vudu and other apps aren't built into Plex/XBMC. So, I will still mainly use Roku (Vudu) or Appletv (Airplay) for their purposes. However, this is the answer to the headaches of getting my mac mini more integrated to my setup. It starts getting more expensive when you start needing IR control, but I am going to invest in it so I can use the app for nearly everything.

Anyway, thanks for the inspiration to finally look into this. I have been meaning to get around to it and your post gave me the shove I needed. 🙂

 

[mentaluproar]

What I enjoy about the ATV: Small, simple, generally good picture quality, airplay
What I enjoy about competing products: headphones through the remote control, voice commands

Bring those to the appleTV and I'll be happy. Think any iPhone or iPod touch being used as a remote and an audio receiver/transmitter. tada, done.

 

[Uofmtiger]

What I enjoy about the ATV: Small, simple, generally good picture quality, airplay
What I enjoy about competing products: headphones through the remote control, voice commands

Bring those to the appleTV and I'll be happy. Think any iPhone or iPod touch being used as a remote and an audio receiver/transmitter. tada, done.

The sad thing is that Airfoil had the capability of turning your iPhone into an Airplay receiver, but Apple removed the capability from future purchases.

 

[DaPhatty]

I bought a FireTV out of morbid curiosity. Sent it back last week. It really didn't do anything new or exciting enough to justify its existence in my ecosystem.