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Amazon Launches $39 'Fire TV Stick' to Compete With Chromecast, Apple TV
Amazon today announced the launch of a new Fire TV Stick, designed to compete with Google's Chromecast and Apple's Apple TV. The Fire TV Stick is a media streaming stick much like the Chromecast, designed to allow users to plug it in to the HDMI port of a television to access content like TV shows, movies, games, and more.
The Fire TV Stick offers a dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of built-in storage, and dual-band/dual-antenna MIMO Wi-Fi. It can be controlled with a remote control, a smartphone, or voice control through an app. According to Amazon, it offers 50 percent more processing power than the Chromecast, along with 2x the memory and 32 times more storage.
The Fire Stick offers "Fling" technology, letting users switch between viewing content on their televisions and Fire Phone or Fire tablet, and it provides wireless mirroring from both compatible Amazon products and those that support Miracast. It also supports various Amazon technologies like X-Ray for looking up movie, music, or TV show information, and it utilizes Whispersync to sync all of a user's content.
Amazon also has the Fire TV, a set-top media streaming box that's a closer competitor to the Apple TV than the Fire TV stick, but the slimmed down plug in-based media sticks from Amazon and Google are far cheaper than the Apple TV, which still costs $99.
While Google and Amazon have concentrated on offering a slimmer portable media solution to consumers, Apple is said to be working on a revamped set-top box that might include support for third-party apps and games along with deeper integration with cable TV channels. It is unclear when Apple might launch its revised set top box, as development has reportedly been delayed several times over the course of the last two years.
Amazon's Fire TV Stick is priced at $39, but for the next two days, Amazon Prime members will be able to purchase the device at a discounted price of $19.
The Fire TV Stick offers a dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of built-in storage, and dual-band/dual-antenna MIMO Wi-Fi. It can be controlled with a remote control, a smartphone, or voice control through an app. According to Amazon, it offers 50 percent more processing power than the Chromecast, along with 2x the memory and 32 times more storage.
"Fire TV Stick is the most powerful streaming media stick available--a dual-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of storage, dual-band and dual-antenna Wi-Fi, included remote control, voice search with our free mobile app, easy set-up, an open ecosystem, and exclusive features like ASAP for instant streaming," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com Founder and CEO. "The team has packed an unbelievable amount of power and selection into an incredible price point--Fire TV Stick is just $39."In addition to allowing users to access Amazon Prime content, the Fire TV Stick also supports third-party apps like Netflix, Hulu Plus, WatchESPN, Spotify, Pandora, and more, delivering much of the content that's also available on competing products like the Chromecast, the Apple TV, and products from Roku.
The Fire Stick offers "Fling" technology, letting users switch between viewing content on their televisions and Fire Phone or Fire tablet, and it provides wireless mirroring from both compatible Amazon products and those that support Miracast. It also supports various Amazon technologies like X-Ray for looking up movie, music, or TV show information, and it utilizes Whispersync to sync all of a user's content.
Amazon also has the Fire TV, a set-top media streaming box that's a closer competitor to the Apple TV than the Fire TV stick, but the slimmed down plug in-based media sticks from Amazon and Google are far cheaper than the Apple TV, which still costs $99.
While Google and Amazon have concentrated on offering a slimmer portable media solution to consumers, Apple is said to be working on a revamped set-top box that might include support for third-party apps and games along with deeper integration with cable TV channels. It is unclear when Apple might launch its revised set top box, as development has reportedly been delayed several times over the course of the last two years.
Amazon's Fire TV Stick is priced at $39, but for the next two days, Amazon Prime members will be able to purchase the device at a discounted price of $19.
[ 263 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
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57 months ago
Can we please stop calling these things 'Apple TV Competitors'?
At this point ATV is so far behind that it's unfair to the rest of the devices being released.
At this point ATV is so far behind that it's unfair to the rest of the devices being released.
57 months ago
Not sure how this will do but it's pretty amazing how fast technology is changing. I never thought I'd see the day where 1 GB of memory, a dual-core processor & 8 GB of storage could be on a device the size of a flash drive. And all that for $39? Wow.
57 months ago
I just want a freaking HDMI adapter than I can beam any device screen wirelessly to the screen that the adapter is plugged into.
Problem is these companies keep coming up with their own standards/protocols.
57 months ago
If this doesn't come with a screensaver option to turn the TV into a fireplace then no deal.
57 months ago
Let's be honest...
Apple would charge $19 each just for the remote and the HDMI extender cable
:rolleyes:
Apple would charge $19 each just for the remote and the HDMI extender cable
:rolleyes:
57 months ago
No matter what Phil Schiller says...
Google and Amazon are innovating, at least for the products many people want.
appleTV, the non-updated iPad Mini, and the non-upgradeable Mac Mini are true fails for Apple right now.
And I've been an Apple user (and pretty close to a fanboy) since 1986.
Not everyone who wants good products is a high-end user.
If you aren't at least somewhat frustrated by Apple, you're not paying attention.
(PS ordered 2 Fire TV Sticks)
Google and Amazon are innovating, at least for the products many people want.
appleTV, the non-updated iPad Mini, and the non-upgradeable Mac Mini are true fails for Apple right now.
And I've been an Apple user (and pretty close to a fanboy) since 1986.
Not everyone who wants good products is a high-end user.
If you aren't at least somewhat frustrated by Apple, you're not paying attention.
(PS ordered 2 Fire TV Sticks)
57 months ago
What's Apple doing?
Apple needs to definitively tell us if they are in this set-top market or they should retire the Apple TV and move on. I don't care what they have up their sleeves but I want to know if they are working on ANYTHING?!
This $39 is more powerful than a $109 Apple TV and compared to the Fire TV it's simply a crime and Apple should be ashamed for continuing to sell the Apple TV at it's current price. A $10 drop in 2 years is not compelling enough to buy Apple TV today.
Apple needs to make an announcement soon, like early 2015, something related to a new set-top entertainment platform to revolutionize the Apple TV and bring a gaming and app marketplace to the livingroom and significantly enhance it's feature set, like 4K streaming and gaming.
If Apple has another major keynote speech that does not mention anything new with Apple TV then I think Apple should end this product and quietly declare they lost the livingroom.
Apple needs to definitively tell us if they are in this set-top market or they should retire the Apple TV and move on. I don't care what they have up their sleeves but I want to know if they are working on ANYTHING?!
This $39 is more powerful than a $109 Apple TV and compared to the Fire TV it's simply a crime and Apple should be ashamed for continuing to sell the Apple TV at it's current price. A $10 drop in 2 years is not compelling enough to buy Apple TV today.
Apple needs to make an announcement soon, like early 2015, something related to a new set-top entertainment platform to revolutionize the Apple TV and bring a gaming and app marketplace to the livingroom and significantly enhance it's feature set, like 4K streaming and gaming.
If Apple has another major keynote speech that does not mention anything new with Apple TV then I think Apple should end this product and quietly declare they lost the livingroom.
57 months ago
Jeff Bezos is a very smart CEO, smarter than Tim Cook and it's clear, he doesn't take this as just a "hobby."
Very smart, except for his company hardly making any money.
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