What is it?
Basically, the Fire TV is yet another entry in the crowded streaming-media market, built around Amazon’s own ecosystem.
How do I feel about it?
To steal the punchline directly from the article referenced below:
As a general-purpose photo, video and music streamer … features like ASAP and its high-powered processor aren’t quite enough to separate Fire TV from the pack. It’s a worthy option, but far from the best, and we’ll need some time to see how well it’s supported by games, apps and services to see if Amazon can become a serious hardware player in the living room. Version 2.0 will probably be where all our questions are answered. – engadget review, April 9, 2014
My editorial comment: This feels like the first model year for a new car. I won’t buy the Fire TV because it doesn’t add anything worthwhile to the ‘streamers’ I already have, and will need to evolve a lot more to stand out from the competition.
Excellent engadget review that you should read if you’re considering investing in a Fire TV any time soon: Amazon Fire TV review: the set-top that tries to do everything
Images and specs:
Package contents
Amazon Fire TV
Remote
2 AA batteries for remote
AC adapter
Hardware Specs
Amazon Fire TV box
- Size: 4.5″ X 4.5″ X 0.7″, 9.9 ounces
- SOC platform: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8064
- Processor: Qualcomm Krait 300, quad-core to 1.7 Ghz
- GPU: Qualcomm Adreno 320
- Storage: 8 GB internal
- Memory: 2 GB LPDDR2 @ 533 MHZ
- WiFi connectivity: Dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO) for faster streaming and fewer dropped connections than standard Wi-Fi. Supports public and private Wi-Fi networks that use the 802.11a/b/g/n standard with support for WEP, WPA and WPA2 security using password authentication.
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.0 with support for the following profiles: HID, HFP 1.6, SPP
- Cloud storage: Free cloud storage for all Amazon content
- Ports: 5.5 mm DC jack; Type A HDMI 1.4b output, w/HDCP; Optical Audio (TOSLINK); 10/100 Ethernet; USB 2.0 Type A
- Audio: Support for Dolby Digital Plus, 5.1 surround sound, 2ch Stereo and HDMI audio pass through up to 7.1
- Content formats supported: Video: H.263, H.264, MPEG4-SP, VC1; Audio: AAC, AC-3, E-AC-3, HE-A, PCM, MP3; Photo: JPG, PNG
- Supported output formats: 720p and 1080p up to 60fps
- TV compatibility: Compatible with high-definition TVs with HDMI capable of 1080p or 720p at 60/50Hz, including popular models from these manufacturers: Hitachi, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, NEC, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Toshiba, Vizio, Westinghouse
- Regional support: Certain services may not be available outside the U.S.
- Closed captioning: Watch videos and TV shows with closed captioning displayed. Captions are not available for all content.
- Warranty: 1-year Limited Warranty and service included.
Remote
- Size: 1.5″ X 5.5″ X 0.6″, 2.4 ounces
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR with support for the following profiles: HID, HFP 1.6, SPP
- Voice search: Dual digital microphones with noise suppression technology integrated
- Buttons: Voice, 5-way Directional, Back, Home, Menu, Rewind, Play/Pause, Fast Forward
- Batteries: 2X AAA (included)
