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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsReview: The Amazon Fire TV Is Kind Of A Mess
Yikes. Even lightweight Chromecast looks pretty good after this.
Amazon needs to stick to what it does best. Being Walmart 2.0
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Simply put, using Fire TV is easy, but its not simple. It's still only as fast as one's Internet connection, and it cant search its own ecosystem properly. It's just not a fun experience.
For the same price, you might as well buy an Apple TV right now, or, better yet, wait until Apple releases its major update to the Apple TV within the next few months. Apple just announced that its annual Worldwide Developer Conference will take place in June, and there are lots of indications that Apple will use that opportunity to announce its fourth-generation TV product.
That's the difference here. Fire TV might become an excellent offering in time, but Apple is still three generations ahead, and ready to take the next step. And then there's Google's competitively-priced, über-popular Chromecast and its army of similarly-cheap clones. Unless Amazon acts quickly by adding new content and updating its software to fix its search issues, Fire TV might become obsolete sooner than we think.
At least the screensavers on the Fire TV are good.
http://readwrite.com/2014/04/04/amazon-fire-tv-review-hands-on-impressions#awesm=~oAumYisuNLIp7Q
2banon
(7,321 posts)says it's "uber-popular". I'm not a luddite exactly, (obviously I use a computer) but I'm not tech savvy either. Wonder if you might suggest to me what are my better options.. I don't subscribe to cable or satellite tv.. i'm using an indoor digital antenna from radio shack to pick up tv signals via airwaves. Have wireless for internet, was thinking about picking up a Roku an older version for financial reasons. But, are these other devices better than Roku?
onehandle
(51,122 posts)Last edited Fri Apr 4, 2014, 03:40 PM - Edit history (1)
Chromecast is a mediocre experiment by Google and just another one of their data spies.
If you are on wireless internet, you'll be eating up your plan with streaming video, which is the top function for any of these devices. Really meant for a direct broadband connection.
2banon
(7,321 posts)there was a minor increase on the wireless monthly bill, but I don't think it was about the streaming, I think it was just a scheduled increase creep. (I think).
So Apple tv is actually a modem device kind of like a Roku modem? sorry if this seems like a lame question.
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)I'll stick with Apple TV
CBGLuthier
(12,723 posts)Except for the lack of youtube it has everything the rest have and a lot more.
Xithras
(16,191 posts)They added it last December.
eShirl
(18,506 posts)Xithras
(16,191 posts)Seriously, the ONLY time ANYONE should buy an AppleTV over a Roku is if they're already straightjacketed into the Apple ecosystem and have a ton of iTunes content to access. For anyone else, the Roku is a better deal. Same price, better wifi support, more than 1000 channels, more powerful hardware, a superior interface design, MUCH better remote, more format support, and most importantly UNIVERSAL SEARCH (something that AppleTV completely lacks, and makes the device so much nicer to use).
Virtually every third party reviewer has said the same thing. The Roku is a better device for everyone not heavily invested into the Apple ecosystem (which is the majority of people).
dawg
(10,625 posts)Roku has an HBO Go app, but it does not work for Comcast Xfinity customers, therefore it is worthless to me.
Xithras
(16,191 posts)Comcast is actively blocking HBOGO support for the Roku and Sony Playstation. The application itself works fine, but your provider is making the conscious choice to block it. It's another reason why I'll never use Comcast.
One can only imagine the kind of deals (and money) that Apple and Microsoft had to make to get Comcast to unlock the gates for the AppleTV and XBox.
dawg
(10,625 posts)Personally, I think Amazon's box will be the end of Roku. Up until now, Amazon was pushing Roku as the Apple alternative. Now, Roku is on it's own.
And it's a shame too, because Roku was the innovator here. I still have a Roku. It's a great little gadget, but I had to switch to Apple because of HBO. I also have stuff in the Apple ecosystem, and enjoy using the airplay feature with my Apple devices.
2banon
(7,321 posts)I think. If my wireless internet connection (U-Verse) supports the device.
I don't do ITunes.. so then I should stay away from Apple Tv, is what I'm figuring from comments here.