Amazon Fire TV • Hacker News Board

Re: Amazon Fire TV

#111

Post by bitcrusher » Wed, Apr 02, 2014, 4:49 PM UTC

programminggeek wrote: post #84

This is pretty much what Google TV should have been all along, but Google cares too much about web search and not enough about what people actually want to do on a TV - watch shows and play games. The gaming aspect of this will make it a winner. OUYA's big problem is that it didn't do streaming and was a bit clunky. Amazon has a big game library and just needs controller support. As a parent, a $100 streaming box and…

It's interesting how different perspectives work:

> The gaming aspect of this will make it a winner. OUYA's big problem is that it didn't do streaming and was a bit clunky. Amazon has a big game library and just needs controller support.

I think the gaming aspects are the worst part and are entirely useless. Who wants to casual game with an underpowered box on a giant TV screen? Goofy games are fun on a 4-7" screen because expectations are low. On my TV I expect a crazy immersive experience, not "Candy Crush".

Perhaps they would have been better served by spending their time getting HBO-Go, Starz/Encore and Spotify all hooked into their little box. If they want to be the central hub for all things "media" and want to compel people to move off of their existing platform ( Roku and ATV ) it seems like they need to offer a more complete package.

Re: Amazon Fire TV

#112

Post by Touche » Wed, Apr 02, 2014, 4:50 PM UTC

WoodenChair wrote: post #45

I'm really not that impressed. This is just Apple TV for the Amazon eco-system with gaming lopped on. The majority of people don't care about the specs of their set-top box since that really doesn't affect the performance of streaming an HD video in this day and age. So the two differentiating features are: - Voice Search - Gaming Are those enough of a value proposition? Probably not to make converts. I suspect the m…

> I suspect the main buyers will be those who simply have bought into Amazon Instant Video as opposed to iTunes in the past.

But that includes anyone with Amazon Prime.

> Let's see what Apple's next revision of Apple TV offers.

Is Apple's next revision of Apple TV going to let me watch iTunes content from non-Apple devices? You're glossing over this as insignificant when, for lots of us, it's a deal-breaker.

Re: Amazon Fire TV

#113

Post by chrisgd » Wed, Apr 02, 2014, 4:50 PM UTC

What is everyone using for a DVR? Why doesn't this include some time of recording, storage and pausing capabilities? The DVR provided by the cable companies are laggy and the Tivo one charges a monthly fee for what equates to updating program guides, but not accounting for shows actually running over.

Re: Amazon Fire TV

#114

Post by sureshv » Wed, Apr 02, 2014, 4:51 PM UTC

Does it have a headphone jack on the remote ala the Roku 3? It's probably one of the more useful features on the new Roku box.

Re: Amazon Fire TV

#115

Post by angryasian » Wed, Apr 02, 2014, 4:51 PM UTC

notatoad wrote: post #70

aashaykumar92 wrote: post #33

The competitive advantage seems to be in the Voice Search and in the gaming. If the gaming takes off, it'll be hard for anyone to compete. Everyone so far is talking about the Roku and Apple TV as competition, which they are, but what about the Xbox and PS4? Those offer gaming and other streaming services like Netflix too. And it seems as though Amazon is trying to be at the center of all of them.

The problem is that gaming is hard. Look at the ouya disaster. If you want to build a successful gaming product, you need a big developer relations team and a bunch of good first party titles to kick things off. If amazon was really trying to build a gaming console here, they needed to announce with some compelling games. as it is, nobody is going to spend the extra 40 for the controller without any games and nobody…

ouya only supported selected games. If this box supports all games along with emulators and top tier games, it may be a different outcome.

Re: Amazon Fire TV

#116

Post by ben1040 » Wed, Apr 02, 2014, 4:51 PM UTC

untog wrote: post #99

paulyg wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yet Chromecast solves those issues too. Searching for content is done on website or on existing app, so its only difficult or slow as website or app is.

Yes and no. Chromecast requires you having another device to use with it. Grabbing my phone, opening the Netflix app, choosing to Chromecast, searching for a show, hitting play then waiting ~30 seconds for the Chromecast to actually play is not a good user experience. I use my Roku almost exclusively now.

I actually find it much easier to search or browse for content using my tablet or phone, then choose to throw it up on the TV via Chromecast, as opposed to searching for content using a remote like on a Roku or my Xbox.

It just seems easier for me to do this in my hand than ten feet away, especially when I have to try to enter text into a TV interface.

Re: Amazon Fire TV

#117

Post by Touche » Wed, Apr 02, 2014, 4:52 PM UTC

stevenp wrote: post #109

eclipxe wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

FireTV supports Miracast according to the PR: Miracast according to Press Release: You can also wirelessly mirror your tablet display to your Fire TV with Kindle Fire, as well as other Miracast-enabled phones or tablets starting later this year. Fire TV supports standards like DIAL, so app developers can enable multi-screen experiences based on open technologies. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=i…

Ah, this is one of the problems with isolated ecosystems, I guess. Until Apple opens up AirPlay (never), I'm stuck with whatever they give me. :/

The only way to get yourself out of the lock in is to stop buying their devices.

Re: Amazon Fire TV

#118

Post by personZ » Wed, Apr 02, 2014, 4:52 PM UTC

matthewaustin wrote: post #21

Prominently showing Game of Thrones content in the images, even though the Fire doesn't support HBO Go? Way to be deceptive, Amazon.

Aside from it being available via Amazon Instant, note that HBO Go is listed as a partner, announced as "coming soon". It is an act of remarkable honesty that Amazon put HBO Go with no checkbox, as most vendors would have put a checkbox with a superscript indicating that it was coming soon.

Re: Amazon Fire TV

#119

Post by bryanlarsen » Wed, Apr 02, 2014, 4:52 PM UTC

j_s wrote: post #42

mashmac2 wrote: post #29

Amazon FreeTime (coming next month, according to this page) is the most interesting piece for me - customized child safety settings for each child, with monthly subscriptions at $2.99 for children's TV shows. It seems like Amazon recognized the popularity of streaming services for parents of young kids and is setting this up just for them...

Kindle FreeTime Unlimited is available now. http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?&docId=1000863021

But not in Canada. Not surprising given that Amazon would have to negotiate redistribution rights with an almost completely different set of distributors, but annoying none the less.

Re: Amazon Fire TV

#120

Post by bitcrusher » Wed, Apr 02, 2014, 4:53 PM UTC

josephlord wrote: post #83

ambirex wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not necessarily, Roku, PS 3 & 4, Xbox 360 & One all have amazon streaming. It probably has more to do with Apple than Amazon.

My guess is that Apple insists that they are the only source for pay per view/purchased films/TV programs on the Apple TV and the Amazon won't just bring their subscription Prime service without the PPV side. This guess is made without knowledge of the specific situation between Apple/Amazon but having dealt with some similar service providers (when working for an electronics company).

That has not stopped them from making it available on the iPad... It works just fine, you just have to use the browser to buy new things.