![]() So, is this the “Apple TV killer?” Although I’m one of the Apple TV’s top fans (I did write the book on it - “ Take Control of Apple TV”), the Fire TV has definitely given me pause. Another feature, ASAP, predicts what you’re likely to watch and buffers it for playback so video starts instantly. The Fire TV even features mirroring from Kindle Fire HDX tablets (think AirPlay), X-Ray to view programming information on a Kindle Fire HDX, and an upcoming feature called FreeTime that will help parents direct and limit their kids’ TV viewing. It features a directional ring with a Select button in the center, as well as Menu, Home, Back, Play/Pause, and Rewind and Fast Forward buttons. The Fire TV’s remote is similar to the Apple TV’s, but thicker. It displays video in 720p and 1080p at up to 60 frames per second, and supports up to 7.1 channels of audio. It features a quad-core 1.7 GHz processor, 2 GB of RAM, 8 GB of flash storage, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.0. It has ports for power, HDMI, optical audio (a welcome inclusion that’s missing from Google’s Chromecast see “ Testing Google’s Chromecast for Apple Users,” 30 July 2013), Ethernet, and USB. The box itself is a 4.5-inch (11.4 cm) square that is 0.7 inches (1.8 cm) thick. It’s powered by two AA batteries and promises up to 55 hours of battery Some games will be playable with the included remote, but more advanced games like Minecraft require the $39.99 Amazon Fire Game Controller, which has a layout similar to that of the Xbox One’s controller. There will be additional games, some free and others starting at $0.99. Available games include Minecraft: Pocket Edition, The Walking Dead, Asphalt 8: Airborne, and The Game of Life. Pundits (including me in “ The Future of Apple TV,” 21 February 2014) have debated Siri integration with Apple TV for years, but it looks like Amazon beat Apple to the punch.Īmazon also added gaming, much as I’d suggested that Apple could do for the Apple TV in “ FunBITS: Why Apple May Win the Gaming Market” (4 October 2013). Press the button, say “game of thrones” and the Fire TV pulls up matching titles. The included remote features a dedicated voice search button that acts much like Siri in iOS. ![]() Perhaps the Fire TV’s most interesting feature is voice search that Amazon claims actually works. A notable absence is HBO GO, but I’m willing to bet that it will arrive soon enough. It also features some services the Apple TV doesn’t have, like Pandora, Flixster, Plex, and Showtime. The Fire TV includes content from Amazon Instant Video and Amazon Prime Instant Video, as well as Apple TV mainstays such as Netflix, Hulu Plus, WatchESPN, Bloomberg, Crackle, Vevo, Vimeo, and more. #1630: Apple Books changes in iOS 16, simplified USB branding, recovering a lost Google Workspace accountĪmazon has launched what may be the most significant competition for the Apple TV yet: Amazon Fire TV, a $99 streaming video box with impressive capabilities that seek to torch Apple’s living room hobby.#1631: iOS 16.0.3 and watchOS 9.0.2, roller coasters trigger Crash Detection, Medications in iOS 16, watchOS 9 Low Power Mode.#1632: Apple Card Savings accounts, SOS in the iPhone status bar, Tab Wrangler, Focus in iOS 16.#1633: macOS 13 Ventura and other OS updates, 10th-gen iPad, M2 iPad Pro, 3rd-gen Apple TV 4K, Apple services price hikes.#1634: New Messages features, Apple Q4 2022 results, Preview drops PostScript, iOS/iPadOS 15.7.1, Dvorak on iPhone and iPad.
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