In late years , set - top boxes have been reduce down to tinier , chintzy packages with a acquire list of fun raw features . The novel Fire TV dongle with 4 K , HDR , and Dolby Atmos showcases some of the best vista about this trend . It ’s cute . It ’s a thrill to practice . It ’s just $ 70 . The only trouble is that you still ca n’t apply the new Fire goggle box for everything . It ’s very good , but it ’s not the very best .
The all - new Fire television receiver is n’t even a set - top loge by the most formal definition of the contraption . It sits atop of nothing . The dongle plugs directly into your telly ’s HDMI port , hangs behind the screen door , and plugs into a power source . frame-up is as easy as plug away two cable .
fervor TV
All photos: Adam Clark Estes / Gizmodo
What is it ?
A streaming dongle with 4 K , HDR , and Dolby Atmos
Price
$ 70
Like
Slick interface , ready to hand Alexa features
No like
No larboard , remote lack TV dominance
Meanwhile , there ’s a 1.5 GHz quad - core processor , a dual - ring 802.11ac wi - fi feeler , 2 GB of retention , and 8 GB of computer storage in the deceptively small black-market dongle that endearingly looks like a shrunken interlingual rendition of the old Amazon Fire TV loge . There ’s even an Alexa - enable part remote to make it easier to find your favorite early-90s action movie .
When you shrink a dictated - top loge down to the size of a peg , some sacrifice ask to be made — namely the ethernet port and SD card slot . Both are miss on the raw dongle . Amazon micturate up for the first omission by selling a $ 15 ethernet adapter . This widget is a must - have for anyone who wants to swarm 4 M depicted object but lacks a extremely fast and dependable wi - fi connection . That SD board one-armed bandit , once so handy for learn downloaded movies or expanding the Fire TV memory , it ’s croak for good . Sorry , plagiarizer .
Most people will hump this tiny Fire video for what is : a cheap and gentle way to see streaming cognitive content . On that front , the dongle does it all with panache . Gone are the days of the clunky interface that plagued the first Fire TV . Past are the frustrations of the original goggle box reefer which was underpowered and tedious . The all - Modern Fire TV is glib and quick . The first time you power it up , you ’re browsing through movie and TV options in about five second . crop through menus presents no obtrusive slowdown time , and depicted object loads instantaneously . The Fire telecasting a all-fired good dongle when it comes to these rudiments .
The voice - enabled remote control makes everything even spruce . you’re able to use it for basic input , like the name of a movie you want to search , or you’re able to go into full - on practical assistant and beckon Alexa to do anything from recommend a late-70s criminal offense drama to dimming your Philips Hue luminance .
Amazon haters will unsurprisingly hate the Fire video experience . Just like its harbinger , the Modern Fire TV and thenew - ishoperating organisation focalise heavily on Amazon content . That means you ’re pushed towards buying and renting moving-picture show through the Amazon Video service . If you ’re a Prime member , you ’ll also see all that Prime Video content featured conspicuously . The new interface does give contentedness from some apps , like Netflix and HBO , some positioning on the home Sir Frederick Handley Page and individual verticals ( for example Your Videos , Movies , video Shows ) . But the Fire TV is most decidedly an Amazon - first experience .
None of this comes as a surprise in the world of dictated - top boxes , sticks , and dongles . Apple boob tube is emphatically an iTunes - first experience . Chromecast is very Google - first . However , the extent to which Fire boob tube is the contrary of platform agnostic is certain to raise some brow for those of you who might be deciding between buying a Fire goggle box and buying a Roku . Roku , after all , has build its entire ecosystem around the idea of being platform agnostic .
A few calendar week ago , Roku announced its newest gimmick , the Streaming Stick+ . This $ 70 gismo does everything that the Modern Fire TV does , including 4 K , HDR , and Alexa part commands . ( The Roku Streaming Stick+ does not , however , tolerate Dolby Atmos audio . ) On the software side of thing , the Streaming Stick+ feature the latest Roku operating system with unique features like the ability to search for a motion picture and compare prices across dissimilar apps . Roku is also really in effect about making 4 one thousand content sluttish to find on any app , whereas the Fire video only shows you 4 thou content you’re able to access through Amazon overhaul . On the hardware side of things , the Streaming Stick+ propose a new remote with an amazing feature film : the power to control your video great power and intensity . The Fire TV will leave you fumbling with two remotes .
The remote thing is a game changer for me . I honestly ca n’t believe Amazon did n’t bestow alike telecasting controls to the Fire TV remote , but perchance that ’s for next class .
The Fire TV goes on sales event tomorrow . It ’s a enceinte widget , especially for you Amazon devotee . It almost does it all , too . If it were n’t for that “ almost , ” I ’d use this slight dongle every day , just like I did with the Fire TV predecessors . But I ’m a Roku guy now , and I ’m not looking back .
README
Almost every feature you could want in a set - top box : 4 K , UHD , Dolby Atmos , Alexa , etc .
The equipment that ’s slightly larger than an Oreo and hides behind your TV
Alexa - enable remote control is corking but ca n’t control TV superpower or book
cost just $ 70 , the same price as the Roku Streaming Stick+ which can control video power and mass
AmazonAmazon Fire TVRokuSet - top BoxesStreaming
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