Voice search….that actually works! fireTV is available now at Amazon.com for $99.99.
One of the biggest video streaming services we think that’s still under the radar is Amazon Instant Video. The world’s largest online retailer and Seattle-based company has now finally unveiled their new set-top box dubbed fireTV. The small device will be a direct competitor to fellow hardware over TV Streaming services: Apple TV, Roku, ChromeCast as well as people like some of us who are subscribed to television making us second guess our monthly bills.
fireTV has already announced an impressive app lineup from the likes of HBO Go (coming soon), Showtime Anytime, Netlifx, Hulu, RedBullTV, WatchESPN, MLB, Crackle, MLB, Vimeo, NBA, Pandora and YouTube among others. Along with revealing 10 original studios to provide series in the near future, the multi-media hub will also serve as a cross-play video game machine, which a controller for $39.99 will enable you to do so; more details after the jump.
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Amazon Kindle Fire HDX owners will also be able to use their tablet as a second screen (also voice command enabled) to control you HDTV by sharing movies, TV shows, music and photos. With over 200,000 videos for TV or movies and millions of songs, you’ll also get a free 30-day trial for both Amazon Prime and Netflix. However, the big elephant in the room is Amazon’s jump into the gaming world with their Fire Game controller, the controller previously mentioned above is $39.99 and will include a Monsters Inc. endless runner, Minecraft Pocket Edition, Asphalt 8, NBA 2K14 and third-person shooter Sev Zero; which is very reminiscent of Microsoft’s Killer-App title, Gears of War. Although we’re not expecting fireTV to instantly replace everyone’s favorite streaming devices or gaming consoles; Sony, Microsoft and more in particular Apple have officially all been warned.
| Size | 4.5″ x 4.5″ x 0.7″ (115 mm x 115 mm x 17.5 mm) |
| Weight | 9.9 oz (281 grams) |
| 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 |
| Wi-Fi 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 |
| Output Resolution Supported | 720p and 1080p up to 60fps |
| System Requirements | High-definition television, HDMI cable |
| 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 |
| Warranty and Service | 1-year Limited Warranty and service included. Use of Fire TV is subject to the terms found here. |
| Regional Support | Certain services may not be available outside the U.S. |
| Included in the Box | Amazon Fire TV Amazon Fire TV remote 2 AAA batteries Power Adapter Quick Start Guide |
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