Best streamer for your dollar - thoughts from a roku & firetv box user
Length:
2:47
Mins
Bottom line?
This is the best streaming device for the dollar(In my humble opinion)
Keep in mind... it's $39 & it handles netflix/prime/plex/games and a
lot more. Thus far it's been a smooth operating device & doesn't
seem that much slower than the full firetv box
The Good stuff...
-Same pricerange as the less capable/less powered Chromecast & Roku stick
-More ram/memory than the competition, keeps things running smooth
-More storage space than the competition, you can store more apps/games/etc..
-You can still do gaming with it, but the firetv box is better suited
-So small you can bring it pretty much anywhere with ease.
-Simple clean interface.
-Lots of games/apps to choose from
-The phone app is actually pretty useful
Not as good stuff...
-No connections other than usb for power, if you need ethernet/audio in/out, get the box!
-STILL no HBO go... what's going on amazon?
-Not nearly as much power as the firetv box, but it's also less than half the price, the power difference is not very apparent in general use.
-No voice search without the additional remote(or phone app), but i really never used it
Plex...
So far, seems to work without much delay on my fairly speedy home network. will update if i run into lag/issues.
***TIP!:
Some have mentioned that their stick's usb port gets obstructed, first and most obvious fix is to use the included dongle, if you don't like that for some reason, the other solution is to search amazon for "HDMI Angle"
I've been using the firetv box right from the start, and it's been overall very nice for my living room. I've also used the roku 2 for quite some time, and have few complaints overall. For my bedroom i wanted something that just plugs in, and i tried the roku stick but returned it because it was just too darn slow. When i saw the specs on this amazon stick, i ordered up pretty darn quick.
Wireless connectivity quality...
I use it in a room that's next to the wireless router room, and it gives a solid signal. At some point i'll try to do a distance test.
Should you get this, firetv box, roku, or chromecast?
Roku has been fine for me, but if we're talking about something cleaner/no wires/direct plugin/etc... then there's not much contest, the roku stick was too slow for me, and an android stick isn't as clean to use, so to speak. That leaves chromecast, which i've never used because i don't like having to rely on a computer/device for it to work, i want what i plug in to be able to handle the task. Needless to say, the stick in my view has not much competition.
Vs Firetv box
If i were to be shown the experience side by side with the firetv box, i'd have a hard time knowing any difference in most cases, so which should you get considering the more than 2x higher price for the box?
If you don't need extra connections like audio and ethernet, and don't plan on using voice search(the stick remote lacks it, but i never used it anyways, as it only searching prime) and don't plan on heavy gaming, then absolutely get the stick, it's been a solid experience thus far.
______________
Side note... it seems amazon is putting up other types of apps, like a digital fireplace/rain storm/sunset/etc... Not that it's amazing, but interesting additions to add to the checklist of this items abilities.
**If you found my input helpful, please click the "yes" button :) **
The Good stuff...
-Same pricerange as the less capable/less powered Chromecast & Roku stick
-More ram/memory than the competition, keeps things running smooth
-More storage space than the competition, you can store more apps/games/etc..
-You can still do gaming with it, but the firetv box is better suited
-So small you can bring it pretty much anywhere with ease.
-Simple clean interface.
-Lots of games/apps to choose from
-The phone app is actually pretty useful
Not as good stuff...
-No connections other than usb for power, if you need ethernet/audio in/out, get the box!
-STILL no HBO go... what's going on amazon?
-Not nearly as much power as the firetv box, but it's also less than half the price, the power difference is not very apparent in general use.
-No voice search without the additional remote(or phone app), but i really never used it
Plex...
So far, seems to work without much delay on my fairly speedy home network. will update if i run into lag/issues.
***TIP!:
Some have mentioned that their stick's usb port gets obstructed, first and most obvious fix is to use the included dongle, if you don't like that for some reason, the other solution is to search amazon for "HDMI Angle"
I've been using the firetv box right from the start, and it's been overall very nice for my living room. I've also used the roku 2 for quite some time, and have few complaints overall. For my bedroom i wanted something that just plugs in, and i tried the roku stick but returned it because it was just too darn slow. When i saw the specs on this amazon stick, i ordered up pretty darn quick.
Wireless connectivity quality...
I use it in a room that's next to the wireless router room, and it gives a solid signal. At some point i'll try to do a distance test.
Should you get this, firetv box, roku, or chromecast?
Roku has been fine for me, but if we're talking about something cleaner/no wires/direct plugin/etc... then there's not much contest, the roku stick was too slow for me, and an android stick isn't as clean to use, so to speak. That leaves chromecast, which i've never used because i don't like having to rely on a computer/device for it to work, i want what i plug in to be able to handle the task. Needless to say, the stick in my view has not much competition.
Vs Firetv box
If i were to be shown the experience side by side with the firetv box, i'd have a hard time knowing any difference in most cases, so which should you get considering the more than 2x higher price for the box?
If you don't need extra connections like audio and ethernet, and don't plan on using voice search(the stick remote lacks it, but i never used it anyways, as it only searching prime) and don't plan on heavy gaming, then absolutely get the stick, it's been a solid experience thus far.
______________
Side note... it seems amazon is putting up other types of apps, like a digital fireplace/rain storm/sunset/etc... Not that it's amazing, but interesting additions to add to the checklist of this items abilities.
**If you found my input helpful, please click the "yes" button :) **
Amazon says that the Fire TV Stick is its fastest selling device ever, and it’s easy to understand why. At $40, the dongle costs just $5 more than a Chromecast, but is $10 less than Roku’s streaming stick. Yet, beneath its tiny pack-of-gum sized housing, it packs specs that make some 10-year old laptop computers look like a Speak & Spell in comparison. Ain’t technology awesome?
Amazon’s Fire TV serves up a string of benefits for those who invest in its closed-off universe.
Indeed, the Amazon Fire TV Stick is awesome. That this dongle can stream movies and
TV shows from the most popular streaming services on the Internet to
your TV in 1080p HD resolution with Dolby Digital sound is impressive
enough, but Amazon’s Fire TV products boast the added bonus of appealing
to casual gamers with a growing selection of mobile-style games, making
them something of a double-threat to smart TVs, smart Blu-ray players,
and even competing streaming platforms such as Roku and Google’s own Android TV.With such great features and specs at such a low price, is there any real reason not to get one? Sure, there are a couple of reasons, and we’ll outline them clearly below, but they will only apply to a select few. For the overwhelming majority of people – and especially Amazon Prime members – picking up an Amazon Fire TV Stick is a no-brainer.
Related: Amazon Fire TV Stick vs. Roku Streaming Stick
Hands on video
Buy Now Form Amazon
This thing is awesome! Here's why you need it.
Since the Fire TV stick was announced, I've heard a lot of people wonder
if it was something worth picking up, essentially asking "what does
this thing do that my TV doesn't do already?" The answer is going to be
different for different people, but here's an easy way to think about
it; Amazon Fire TV Stick is an excellent purchase if:
-Your TV is not a "smart" TV. Meaning your TV or dvd player did not come pre-loaded with apps such as Netflix, Youtube, Pandora etc...
-Your TV is a "smart" TV, but apps do not perform well. Some smart TVs have painful performance when streaming video, apps can be difficult to update, wifi connection can be spotty etc...
-You want to access Youtube, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Pandora, and other such apps on your TV
-You are an Amazon Prime Member and want to access your Prime Video, Prime Music, and Prime Photo accounts
-You want to participate in casual gaming on your television.
-You want to listen to music on your TV
-You want to have portability. In other words, Television access to the above services while you are travelling. (Amazon says the capability to use in hotels/dorms etc... with shared wifi that requires frequent password entry is coming soon)
So, the bottom line is that the Fire TV Stick allows you to access your movies, music and photos as well as games and more via your television. If your TV already does these things well, or you're already doing them via other devices such as a game console, then this may not be worth your while.
So, how easy is it to use? I'm telling you, you do not have to have an ounce of technological know how to have this thing up and running in a matter of minutes. There is a set of 5 very simple instructions for set-up that had me watching House of Cards less than 10 minutes after I unboxed it. It comes with a remote that includes just 7 buttons (your phone can also become a remote by adding an app, though this is not quite ready on the iPhone yet) and upon completion of connecting the stick, you are taken to a simple tutorial video that explains very well the use of the remote. There is also an optional voice control remote that can be separately purchased. It is in no way required to operate the Fire Stick. Sidenote: If you buy the Stick online, it comes preset to the account from which it is ordered. If this is not the account you plan to use (I needed to use my wife's because she has the prime account) it's very easy de-register and change accounts; took me less than a minute.
I have accessed Prime Video and the picture and speed is fantastic. I've accessed Prime Music and the sound quality and speed are excellent and include nice background photos of artists and albums. Apps are easy to browse and download as are games. I was also able to "fling" to Netflix etc... from my Kindle Fire quite easily.
I've been using a Chromecast since they came out, and I think the Fire TV Stick competes very well. I like the remote (which the Chromecast doesn't have), and I love the memory and speed. And if you are an Amazon Prime Member, this is hands down your best option. This would make a great gift, and is easy enough to use that you could give it with confidence to someone who has no technological savvy at all.
If you're looking to get the most out of your HDTV, The Fire Stick is a fantastic way to go about it. I highly recommend it, and based on how smoothly everything went on what was probably a very busy day for Amazon servers, I'm confident that you'll have the same or an even better experience. Enjoy!
-Your TV is not a "smart" TV. Meaning your TV or dvd player did not come pre-loaded with apps such as Netflix, Youtube, Pandora etc...
-Your TV is a "smart" TV, but apps do not perform well. Some smart TVs have painful performance when streaming video, apps can be difficult to update, wifi connection can be spotty etc...
-You want to access Youtube, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Pandora, and other such apps on your TV
-You are an Amazon Prime Member and want to access your Prime Video, Prime Music, and Prime Photo accounts
-You want to participate in casual gaming on your television.
-You want to listen to music on your TV
-You want to have portability. In other words, Television access to the above services while you are travelling. (Amazon says the capability to use in hotels/dorms etc... with shared wifi that requires frequent password entry is coming soon)
So, the bottom line is that the Fire TV Stick allows you to access your movies, music and photos as well as games and more via your television. If your TV already does these things well, or you're already doing them via other devices such as a game console, then this may not be worth your while.
So, how easy is it to use? I'm telling you, you do not have to have an ounce of technological know how to have this thing up and running in a matter of minutes. There is a set of 5 very simple instructions for set-up that had me watching House of Cards less than 10 minutes after I unboxed it. It comes with a remote that includes just 7 buttons (your phone can also become a remote by adding an app, though this is not quite ready on the iPhone yet) and upon completion of connecting the stick, you are taken to a simple tutorial video that explains very well the use of the remote. There is also an optional voice control remote that can be separately purchased. It is in no way required to operate the Fire Stick. Sidenote: If you buy the Stick online, it comes preset to the account from which it is ordered. If this is not the account you plan to use (I needed to use my wife's because she has the prime account) it's very easy de-register and change accounts; took me less than a minute.
I have accessed Prime Video and the picture and speed is fantastic. I've accessed Prime Music and the sound quality and speed are excellent and include nice background photos of artists and albums. Apps are easy to browse and download as are games. I was also able to "fling" to Netflix etc... from my Kindle Fire quite easily.
I've been using a Chromecast since they came out, and I think the Fire TV Stick competes very well. I like the remote (which the Chromecast doesn't have), and I love the memory and speed. And if you are an Amazon Prime Member, this is hands down your best option. This would make a great gift, and is easy enough to use that you could give it with confidence to someone who has no technological savvy at all.
If you're looking to get the most out of your HDTV, The Fire Stick is a fantastic way to go about it. I highly recommend it, and based on how smoothly everything went on what was probably a very busy day for Amazon servers, I'm confident that you'll have the same or an even better experience. Enjoy!