A Beginners Guide To The Amazon Fire Tv Stick
A 101 on the Amazon Fire TV Stick – what it is, where to get it and most importantly, how to use it.
Editors note: ScreenCloud champions the use of the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K with our digital signage software only because they work so well together. We do not own or sell Amazon Fire TV Sticks, so for troubleshooting specific issues with your Amazon Fire TV Stick please contact Amazon directly.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is so much more than a plug-in device to watch TV, Netflix or Prime on. It can be a powerful tool for connecting your screens and scaling up your digital signage strategy. If youre not sure what you can do with your Amazon Fire TV Stick, read on.
Roku Express From 2399
Best budget streaming option
If budget is a concern, you can’t go far wrong with the Roku Express HD, which sells for around £30. Despite the price difference between the Express and its big brother, the Premiere, Roku hasn’t scrimped on too many features. Like the Premiere, this one comes with voice control, a remote and all the same streaming services.
The only significant difference is streaming quality. While the Roku Premiere offers 4K streaming quickly, this device only streams in HD quality.
The only real downside to the Roku Express is that the little streaming box has to be visible to the remote so, you can’t hide it behind the TV like the . That being said, its small, so it’s unlikely to majorly disrupt your set-up.
Read the full Roku Express review.
Buy the Roku Express:
How Much Does An Amazon Fire Stick Cost
While it may seem like the Amazon Fire Stick should come with a hefty price tag, you may be surprised to know the opposite is true. For the Fire TV Stick, you can expect to pay $39.99, but its possible to get it for even cheaper during various sales and promotions, including Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday. The Fire TV Stick 4K comes in at just $10 more at $49.99 and works with 4K video instead of the 1080p high-definition that comes with the original version.
Its also important to note that both the original stick and the 4K version require Wi-Fi access to use, so if you dont have an internet service in your home, that additional cost would be required.
Considering all you get with the Amazon Fire TV Stick, its well worth the moderate investment. Especially when compared to a monthly cable bill, this one-time fee streaming service is a great option to save money without giving up access to your favorite TV shows and movies.
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The Fire Tv Stick Remote Control Does Not Support Voice Search
Update There is a .
Amazon has two separate video streaming devices. The first one that was released was the Amazon Fire TV, which is a full-sized set-top box. It allows you to search for content using a microphone on the remote control. The original Fire TV also costs approximately $100.
To sell the Fire TV Stick for less than half of that price, certain sacrifices had to me made. One of the features that was on the full-sized Fire TV but is not on the Fire TV Stick is the voice search microphone on the remote control.
The feature is pretty interesting, but it is certainly something that I can personally live without. However, the capabilities for the feature are still available on the Fire TV Stick. You just need to purchase a new remote control that includes the microphone feature. You can .
Amazon Fire Tv Stick 4k: 4999 Amazon
4K capable? YesHDR? YesVoice remote? YesCompatible withNetflix or Amazon Prime Video? BothOther apps? Yes, apps and games
The Fire TV Stick is a tiny gizmo that plugs into the HDMI socket on the TV . As well as access to a huge library of movies and TV shows you can rent and buy including some in 4K theres access to apps like Netflix, BBC iPlayer and, most recently, Apple TV. Then theres Prime Video: if you subscribe to Prime , you get free delivery for many products bought from Amazon as well as a strong range of original programming such as The Grand Tour and movies as part of your streaming service.
Its easy to use, including a remote control with a microphone so you can tell the box what to do. Its a Bluetooth remote so you dont need line of sight to the Stick, that is, it can hide away out of sight round the back of your TV.
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Do I Need An Amazon Prime Membership To Use Fire Tv
No. While you don’t need a Prime membership to use Amazon Fire TV, it is useful and recommended. The membership comes with a selection of Prime video content including access to shows such as The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Expanse, and Wheel of Time. This, and other Amazon-branded content, is heavily advertised in the Fire TV system and a Prime membership makes it easier to check out all that Amazon has to offer.
Fire Cube Vs Fire Stick Deals
At the time of publishing all five of the Fire TV streaming devices are on sale at Amazon, and the Cube has the biggest sale of them all. The Fire TV Cube is just $79, savings of $40. All of the sticks are far cheaper, though.
The Fire TV Stick 4K is now $25 , a 50% discount, and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is $34 . Of all these streaming devices, Tom’s Guide recommends the Fire TV Stick 4K Max the most.
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You Wont Be Able To Play Purchased Itunes Music Or Movies On Your Fire Tv Stick
There are a lot of different services that you can use to purchase or rent songs, TV shows, or movies. One of the more common options is iTunes, as it is directly accessible through your iPhone or iPad, and you can even watch or listen to your purchased media without downloading it to the device.
Unfortunately your purchased iTunes content cant be played on your Fire TV Stick. So if you own something in the iTunes Store that you want to stream on the Fire TV Stick, you will need to purchase or rent it from a different service that is compatible with the device. You can .
One way you might be able to get around this is with a service called Movies Anywhere. This lets you sync up your purchases from a variety of popular streaming video services and make them accessible on each of those services. Its a pretty great way to make sure you can always watch the content youve purchased.
Hopefully this article has helped to answer any questions or misconceptions that you might have had prior to purchasing a Fire TV Stick. It really is an impressive little device, and you may be surprised at how quickly it becomes a focal piece of your home entertainment system.
The Fire Tv Stick 4k: Best For 4k Streamers
If HD just isnt good enough, youll definitely prefer the . As the name implies, youll upgrade your video quality with support for 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, HDR, and HDR10+. Theres also Dolby Atmos audio support for richer sound to go along with amazing video quality.
The remote includes Alexa voice control and TV power/volume controls. However, the shortcut buttons arent there for some odd reason.
The specs are similar to the previous models with 8 GB storage, 1.7 GHz CPU, and 650 MHz GPU. However, the memory is bumped up to 1.5 GB.
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What Is An Amazon Fire Tv Stick And What Does It Do
In 2014 Amazon unveiled the Amazon Fire TV : a set-top box that could turn any TV into a smart TV and provide entertainment by streaming shows and apps directly on your screen. This was a seminal moment, and the beginning of easily getting content up onto a TV screen. In essence, its a media player that allows you to connect a TV to the internet.
This quickly evolved into the Amazon Fire TV Stick, a plug-in device rather than a set-top box.Smaller in size and remotely powered, the TV Stick has similar functionality to its big brother with the ability to stream TV shows and channels and ScreenCloud digital signage software.
Hdr Formats On Fire Tv
Amazon also makes the curious decision to support HDR even on its HD devices rather than saving it purely for 4K models. You also get support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision dynamic HDR formats, something you won’t find on Roku or Chromecast devices as of yet.
Even high-powered streamers like the Nvidia Shield TV Pro or Apple TV 4K make do with just Dolby Vision, lacking HDR10+ the latter being Amazon’s favored HDR format on Amazon Prime Video. If you’re an subscriber and want the best experience from those services, as well as the smoothest voice assistant experience, Fire TV is probably the way to go.
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How Do Vpns Work On Fire Stick
Its really easy to get a VPN up and running on your Fire Stick device. Unlike Googles Chromecast, which requires setting up your VPN using your router in order to protect your streaming content, the Fire Stick allows for easily-accessible VPNs to run in the background of your device, and for most major VPN companies, you can actually grab their supported application right from the Amazon Appstore. Theres no settings menu to dive into, or difficult options to click from when setting up the VPN to use in the background of your device. Once your VPN of choice is installed on your Fire Stick and youve signed into your account with the service, you can allow the VPN to run in the background and watch any media on your television, all with the added benefit of knowing youve protected your content.
All three of our picks above, including NordVPN, Private Internet Access, and IPVanish, have apps available for Fire Stick on the Appstore, but they arent alone. There are dozens of reputable VPN services on the platform, including:
- NordVPN
- CyberGhost
- IvacyVPN
Fire Cube Vs Fire Stick: Size And Design
One of the biggest differences among the devices is how they look . The Fire TV Stick is the smallest of the bunch: a small black rectangle measuring 3.3 x 1.0 inches and the Fire TV Stick Lite is just a little larger, at 3.4 x 1.2 inches.
The Fire TV Stick 4K and 4K Max have the same general design, but a bit bigger, at 4.25 x 1.18 x 0.55 inches. To master Amazon’s cheapest Fire TV streamer, check out our guide for how to use the Fire Stick.
As the name suggests, the Fire TV Cube features a different appearance entirely: a 3.4-inch square box. All four require constant connection to a wall outlet your TV cannot supply sufficient power for even the tiny Fire TV Stick through its USB ports.
While all five products are relatively small, it’s worth considering how much space you have around your TV. If you have lots of room, a Fire TV Cube will fit just fine if not, one of the dongles will have to suffice.
Finally, only the Fire TV Cube supports Ethernet connections out of the box. You can buy an Ethernet adapter for either the Fire TV Stick or the Fire TV Stick 4K, but it’s a bit of a daisy chain. Just keep that in mind if your Wi-Fi isn’t strong enough for 4K streaming .
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Stick It To The Hotel Wi
If you want your favorite shows to travel with you, include a Fire TV Stick in your luggage
The problem is, hotel Wi-Fi and several other types of hotspots typically require a web browser to log in. The Stick supports this. You go to Settings > Network and find the network you want and click it. If a web page login is required, a browser window should pop up. To navigate between fields, hit the menu button. Best to use the smartphone-based remote if you’re going to need to fill in a lot in the fields. Once the Fire TV Stick is connected, the browser window should close.
Fire Tv Stick 4k Streaming Device With Alexa Built In Ultra Hd Dolby Vision Includes The Alexa Voice Remote
- Cinematic experience – Watch in vibrant 4K Ultra HD with support for Dolby Vision, HDR, and HDR10+.
- Home theater audio with Dolby Atmos – Feel scenes come to life with support for immersive Dolby Atmos audio on select titles with compatible home audio systems.
- Endless entertainment – Stream more than 500,000 movies and TV episodes. Watch favourites from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, CTV, and more, plus listen to millions of songs. Subscription fees may apply.
- Live and free TV – Watch live TV, news, and sports with subscriptions to Bell Fibe TV, Sportsnet, CBC Gem, Red Bull TV, and others. Stream for free with ad-supported apps like YouTube, CBC Gem, ICI TOU.TV, and Tubi.
- Launch and control content with the Alexa Voice Remote.
- Control your smart home – Ask Alexa to check weather, dim the lights, view live camera feeds, stream music and more.
- Simple and intuitive – Quickly access your favourite apps, live TV, and things you use most, all from the main menu.
- Easy to set up, compact enough to stay hidden – Plug in behind your TV, turn on the TV, and connect to the internet to get set up.
Ce que vous devez savoir
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Fire Tv Stick Vs Apple Tv
Apple has two different devices: Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K. These are comparable to the Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick 4K. Overall, the devices share many similarities. Apple TV uses Siri, which is included on the remotes instead of Alexa.
Apple TV is also a small box versus a hideaway stick. One thing I personally dont like is that you have to buy an HDMI cable separately, which is required for using it.
Apple does offer more storage for apps at 32 GB, and the 4K model is also available in a 64 GB version. Another benefit is that theres a wired Ethernet option for a stronger connection while streaming.
The biggest difference is price. Apple TV HD is $149, while Apple TV 4K is $179 to $199.
How To Reset An Amazon Fire Stick
Like all smart devices, you may run into a few glitches that require a reset process to fix. No need to fret here, its kind of like when your cell phone spazzes out and you need to power it off and back on again. Its normal and totally expected when it comes to technology.
Resetting the Fire Stick is fairly simple, but its important to note that it will erase all data and customized settings you previously paired with the device.
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Fire Tv Stick Vs Chromecast
The final battle comes down to Fire TV Stick and Chromecast. First, its important to point out that the basic Chromecast is just for casting other devices to your TV, so is mostly likely not what you are looking for. Instead, a better comparison can be made with the .
The Chromecast with Google TV comes in three colors: snow, sunrise, and sky. Its a dongle that connects to your HDMI port and needs a USB port for power. The included remote works with Google Assistant.
Theres only one model available, and its just $49.99 and supports 4K/HDR streaming. Bundles with HBO Max or Netflix are available to give you an initial discount on either service.
Chromecast with Google TV is quickly adding more apps, and all the major ones are included. For more niche services, you may only find them on Amazon Fire TV Stick or Roku.
For the most part, it comes down to whether you prefer Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. Plus, the Fire TV Stick comes in two cheaper models without 4K support if you dont need that.
Netflix Hulu Plus And Other Similar Subscription Services Still Require Membership Fees
The Fire TV Stick does have apps for most of the popular video streaming options, including Netflix and Hulu Plus. You can watch content from Netflix and Hulu Plus on the Fire TV Stick by using these apps. However, you will need to have an existing account with any of the subscription services that you want to use on the device, as you will need to link the Fire TV Stick to your account when you set it up.
For the amount of entertainment that you can get from the service, however, Netflix is definitely a worthwhile expense. Hulu Plus is similarly valuable, but many people take issue with the frequency of ads that are played during shows that they watch through Hulu Plus If you do not have cable, though, then your options for watching newer releases of TV shows may be limited, and Hulu Plus might be one of your only options.
HBO MAX had previously been unavailable on the Fire Stick, but its now available through the app store.
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