Amazon Fire TV

File:Amazon Fire TV with remote.JPG

The first Fire TV was made available for purchase in the US on the same day of the April 2014 announcement for US$99 and was launched with a video game called Sev Zero.{{cite web|last=Horn|first=Leslie|date=April 2, 2014|title=Fire TV: Everything You Need to Know About Amazon's $100 Streaming Box|url=https://gizmodo.com/amazons-fire-tv-everything-you-need-to-know-1556889628|access-date=April 2, 2014|work=Gizmodo|publisher=Gawker Media}} Codenamed "Bueller", after the eponymous character from Ferris Bueller's Day Off,{{cite web |date=July 10, 2024 |title=Amazon Fire Stick: Here's what it is, how does it work, cost |url=https://www.firestickupdates.com/2024/07/amazon-fire-stick.html |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=Fire Stick Updates |publisher=firestickupdates.com}} it offered HDMI audio, with support for Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 surround sound pass-through, if the user's Internet bandwidth was sufficient. According to Amazon, the Fire TV was designed to outpace competitors like the Apple TV and Roku in performance: the 0.72-inch-thick box featured a 1.7 GHz quad-core CPU (Qualcomm Snapdragon 8064), 2 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal storage, along with a MIMO dual-band radio for 1080p streaming over 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and a 10/100 Ethernet connection and USB 2.0 port. Included with the box is a Bluetooth remote control with a microphone for voice search.

The company said that it did not intend the Fire TV to compete with gaming consoles; instead, its gaming capabilities were geared toward people who did not already own a console but may play games on a smartphone or tablet. It has a dedicated controller accessory.

Amazon released a second-generation Fire TV, codenamed "Sloane", after the film love interest of Ferris Bueller,{{cite web|last=Saba|first=Elias|date=September 15, 2015|title=Amazon's next-generation Fire TV is codenamed "Sloane" — New Fire TV Stick is unlikely|url=https://www.aftvnews.com/amazons-next-generation-fire-tv-is-codenamed-sloane-new-fire-tv-stick-is-unlikely/|access-date=September 28, 2020|website=AFTVNews.com}} in late 2015. This version had 4K resolution support,{{cite web|last1=James|first1=Dave|title=Amazon Fire TV review|url=http://www.techradar.com/us/reviews/audio-visual/av-accessories/amazon-fire-tv-1304511/review|access-date=17 May 2016|website=Techradar|archive-date=27 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827184303/http://www.techradar.com/us/reviews/audio-visual/av-accessories/amazon-fire-tv-1304511/review|url-status=dead}} improved processor performance, and a MediaTek 8173C chipset to support H.265 (HEVC), VP8, and VP9 codecs. Wireless hardware upgrades included 4K capable, a dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi with 2x2 MIMO and Bluetooth 4.1.{{cite web|url=http://www.techradar.com/us/reviews/audio-visual/av-accessories/amazon-fire-tv-1304511/review|title=Amazon Fire TV review|website=techradar|last1=James|first1=Dave|access-date=17 May 2016|archive-date=27 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827184303/http://www.techradar.com/us/reviews/audio-visual/av-accessories/amazon-fire-tv-1304511/review|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://developer.amazon.com/de/docs/fire-tv/device-specifications.html|title=Device Specifications for Fire TV|website=developer.amazon.com|access-date=2018-05-08}} It was effectively replaced with the Fire TV Cube.

The third-generation Fire TV, also known as the Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD and Alexa Voice Remote, was released in 2017. It eschewed the previous set-top box design for a small, diamond-shaped "pendant" reminiscent of the Fire TV Stick, which plugs directly into a television set's HDMI port and can be hung from a short HDMI extender cable. It contained a slower processor but more RAM than the second-generation Fire TV, and also had support for 4K resolution streaming, Dolby Atmos, and HDR10,{{Cite web|url=https://www.techhive.com/article/3332035/amazons-fire-tv-stick-gets-a-much-better-remote.html|title=Amazon's Fire TV Stick gets a much better remote|date=2019-01-15|website=TechHive |access-date=2019-04-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/24/16527844/amazon-fire-tv-review-4k-2017|title=Amazon Fire TV (2017) review: everything but the content|last=Patel|first=Nilay|date=2017-10-24|website=The Verge|access-date=2019-04-20}} but dropped support for Miracast.{{Cite web |date=2019-04-08 |title=Amazon's Fire Stick TV 4K supports Miracast screen mirroring |url=https://www.engadget.com/2019-04-08-amazon-fire-stick-tv-4k-miracast.html |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}} Production was discontinued in 2018 in favor of the Fire TV Stick 4K.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/fire-tv-stick-4k-alexa-voice-remote-1202966701/|title=Amazon Introduces New Fire TV Stick 4K, Alexa Voice Remote|last=Roettgers|first=Janko|date=2018-10-03|website=Variety.com |access-date=2019-04-21}}

The Fire TV Cube was released in June 2018. It is similar in function to the third-generation Fire TV but also includes embedded Alexa functionality similar to the Amazon Echo smart speaker line and can use HDMI-CEC and an IR blaster to control other devices with voice commands. As its voice functionality is integrated into the device, the Fire TV Cube's included remote does not include voice capability.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/21/17484412/amazon-fire-tv-cube-review-alexa-echo|title=Amazon Fire TV Cube review: a smarter streaming box|last=Seifert|first=Dan|date=2018-06-21|website=The Verge|access-date=2019-04-20}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/21/amazon-fire-tv-cube-review-so-good-i-want-one-for-every-tv.html|title=The Amazon Fire TV Cube is so good I want one for every TV in my house|last=Haselton|first=Todd|date=21 June 2018|work=CNBC|access-date=23 June 2018}} The device uses a 1.5 GHz quad-core ARM 4xCA53 processor, 2 GB RAM, and 16 GB storage.{{Cite news|url=https://www.pocket-lint.com/tv/news/amazon/144297-amazon-fire-tv-cube-release-date-price-specs|title=Amazon Fire TV Cube specs, UK release date, price and more|date=2018-06-22|work=Pocket-lint|access-date=2018-07-16 }}

A second-generation model was unveiled in September 2019, featuring a hexa-core processor, "Local Voice Control" (which allows client-side recognition of common voice commands to improve response time), and support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/4/20848214/amazon-new-fire-tv-cube-dolby-vision-hdr10-plus-price-release-date-ifa-2019|title=Amazon announces new Fire TV Cube with Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and 'Local Voice Control'|last=Bohn|first=Dieter|date=2019-09-04|website=The Verge|access-date=2019-09-07}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/370591/hands-on-with-amazons-all-new-fire-tv-devices|title=Hands On With Amazon's All-New Fire TV Devices|last=Stolyar|first=Brenda|website=PCMAG |access-date=2019-09-07}} It supports 4K output.

File:Amazon Fire Cube with Alexa Voice Remote.jpg

A third-generation model of the Fire TV Cube was announced on September 28, 2022 for release on October 25, 2022. Notable upgrades to the 3rd-generation model include an octa-core processor (4x 2.2GHz 4x 2.0GHz), support for Wi-Fi 6E (IEEE 802.11ax) networking, and Bluetooth 5.0+LE.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/fire-tv-cube/dp/B09BZVGR73/|title=Amazon's Fire TV Cube (3rd-Gen) Amazon Store|date=2022-11-18|website=Store|access-date=2022-11-18}}

File:Fire-TV Stick and Remote.jpg

On November 19, 2014, Amazon released its Fire TV Stick, a smaller dongle version of the Fire TV that plugs into an HDMI port. Codenamed "Montoya",{{cite web|url=http://www.aftvnews.com/the-amazon-fire-tv-stick-2s-codename-is-tank/|title=The Amazon Fire TV Stick 2's codename is Tank|date=21 October 2016 |publisher=AFTVNews}} it retains much of the functionality of the larger Fire TV.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/10/amazon-fire-tv-stick-comparison-chart/|title=How Amazon's Fire TV Stick Compares to Other Streaming Dongles - WIRED|magazine=WIRED|last1=Moynihan |first1=Tim }} It has 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of internal storage, weighs {{convert|0.9|oz|g|abbr=on}}, and it uses a Broadcom BCM28155 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9 processor and a Broadcom VideoCore IV GPU. Wireless hardware includes a dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi with 2x2 MIMO and Bluetooth 3.0 [https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-W87CUN-Fire-TV-Stick/dp/B00GDQ0RMG/ Fire TV Stick - Official Site]. Retrieved 8 July 2015. The Fire TV Stick is bundled with a remote control, in either of two variants: one with Alexa voice search and one without Alexa.

File:Fire-TV Stick 2016 (2. Generation) + Alexa Remote.jpg

On October 20, 2016, Amazon released the Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote, codenamed "Tank".{{Cite web|url=http://bgr.com/2016/10/17/fire-tv-stick-release-date-alexa-preorder/|title=Amazon's next-gen Fire TV Stick with Alexa is only $40, and it launches this week|last=Estrada|first=Maren|date=2016-10-17|website=BGR|access-date=2016-10-20}} Other than the new remote, the updates include MediaTek MT8127D Quad-core ARM 1.3 GHz processor with a Mali-450 MP4 GPU, and support for the H.265 (HEVC) codec. Wireless hardware upgrades includes a dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi with 2x2 MIMO and Bluetooth 4.1. It retains the 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage and weighs slightly more at {{convert|1.1|oz|g|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/All-New-Stick-Remote-Streaming-Player/dp/B00ZV9RDKK#tech|title=Amazon.com: Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote, streaming media player - Previous Generation : Electronics|website=www.amazon.com|accessdate=20 June 2023}}{{secondary source needed|date=April 2019}}

In January 2019, the second-generation Fire TV Stick was re-issued with the updated remote from the 4K model.

In October 2018, Amazon unveiled the Fire TV Stick 4K, codenamed "Mantis," which "effectively replaces Amazon’s Fire TV pendant."{{cite web| url=https://www.techhive.com/article/3309947/streaming-hardware/the-fire-tv-stick-4k-fixes-amazons-remote-problem.html| title=The Fire TV Stick 4K fixes Amazon's remote problem| website=techhive.com| date=2018-10-03| access-date=2018-10-06}} It is upgraded to a 1.7 GHz quad-core processor, 1.5 GB RAM, and supports 4K output, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, hardware-accelerated MPEG-2 decoding, and Miracast through a later update.{{Cite web |date=2019-04-08 |title=Amazon's Fire Stick TV 4K supports Miracast screen mirroring |url=https://www.engadget.com/2019-04-08-amazon-fire-stick-tv-4k-miracast.html |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}} It also includes an updated voice remote that contains an infrared emitter and buttons for controlling TV power and volume (which can also be controlled with voice commands). The remote is backward compatible with previous Fire TV models, and also sold separately as an upgrade.{{Cite news|url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/10/03/amazon-fire-tv-stick-4k/|title=Amazon's latest Fire TV Stick offers 4K for $50|work=Engadget|access-date=2018-10-19 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.techhive.com/article/3317561/amazon-fire-tv-stick-4k-review.html|title=Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K review: This is the media streamer to beat|date=October 31, 2018|website=TechHive|access-date=April 20, 2019}}

In October 2020, two third-generation Fire TV Stick models were released. The Fire TV Stick model includes a remote with TV control buttons where the Fire TV Stick Lite model's remote does not include TV controls. Both models include similar internal hardware as the Fire TV Stick 4K, except for a maximum output resolution of 1080p and only 1 GB of RAM. In 2021, the third-generation Fire TV Stick was re-issued with an updated remote "3rd Gen Alexa Voice Remote".{{cite web| url=https://www.tomsguide.com/news/amazon-fire-tv-stick-lite-price-release-date-features-and-more | title=Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite price, release date, features and more | website=tomsguide.com| date=2020-09-25| access-date=2020-10-30}}

On October 7, 2021, Amazon released the Fire TV Stick 4K Max.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MQZXN1X/ref=pav_d_fromAsin_B079QHML21_toAsin_B08MQZXN1X | title=Introducing Fire Stick 4K Max streaming device| website=Amazon}} It includes the updated 3rd gen Alexa Voice Remote, and has Wi-Fi 6 support. It has a 2.0 GHz processor, a 750 MHz GPU, and 2 GB of RAM. It also has Dolby Atmos support.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/amazon-fire-tv-stick-4k-max-review-speedy-app-delivery-isnt-everything/ | title=Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max review: Speedy app delivery isn't everything}} The 4K Max is the first in the line with hardware accelerated AV1 video streaming support.

Fire TV Edition is the product name applied to smart television sets produced by major television manufacturers that include Amazon Fire OS and the Fire TV interface, licensed from Amazon.{{Cite web |title=7 Things to Consider Before Buying a Smart TV |url=https://www.lifewire.com/choosing-a-smart-tv-5204720 |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=Lifewire |language=en}} They offer basic live television program information and minimal recording capabilities.{{Cite web |title=7 Things to Consider Before Buying a Smart TV |url=https://www.lifewire.com/choosing-a-smart-tv-5204720 |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=Lifewire |language=en}} Fire TV Edition television models are available from Best Buy's house brand Insignia, Toshiba (in U.S. and Canadian markets), and JVC and Grundig (in European markets).{{Cite web |title=7 Things to Consider Before Buying a Smart TV |url=https://www.lifewire.com/choosing-a-smart-tv-5204720 |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=Lifewire |language=en}}

The Fire TV Recast is a digital video recorder that works with an over-the-air antenna to record shows for later viewing on a Fire TV or an Amazon Echo Show device.{{Cite magazine |last1=Goode |first1=Lauren |last2=Calore |first2=Michael |date=20 September 2018 |title=Is there an Echo in here? Everything Amazon announced |url=https://www.wired.com/story/amazon-echo-hardware-2018/amp |access-date=21 September 2018 |magazine=Wired}}{{cite web |last=Patterson |first=Ben |date=August 15, 2022 |title=Amazon discontinues its Fire TV Recast over-the-air DVR |url=https://www.techhive.com/article/831720/amazon-fire-tv-recast-discontinued.html |access-date=August 15, 2022 |website=TechHive}} It was announced in September 2018 and began shipping in the United States on November 14, 2018.{{Cite web |date=2018-09-20 |title=Amazon Introduces Fire TV Recast, a DVR That Lets You Watch and Record Live Over-the-Air TV at Home and On Your Mobile Devices—All With No Monthly Fees |url=https://press.aboutamazon.com/2018/9/amazon-introduces-fire-tv-recast-a-dvr-that-lets-you-watch-and-record-live-over-the-air-tv-at-home-and-on-your-mobile-devices-all-with-no-monthly-fees |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=Press Center |language=en}}

In August 2022, Amazon confirmed the discontinuation of the Fire TV Recast.

Among the downsides: Content stored on a Recast cannot be viewed using other major streaming devices, such as Roku, Apple TV, or Chromecast, limiting its appeal; it also never gained the ability to skip commercials during playback.

File:Fire TV OS screenshot.png

The Fire TV series runs Fire OS,{{Cite web|title=Amazon Fire TV Cube review (2019): Alexa's streaming box grows up|url=https://www.engadget.com/2019-10-11-amazon-fire-tv-cube-2019-review.html|website=Engadget |date=11 October 2019 |access-date=2020-05-06}} which is derived from Android Open Source Project source code.{{Cite web|title=Google's iron grip on Android: Controlling open source by any means necessary|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/07/googles-iron-grip-on-android-controlling-open-source-by-any-means-necessary/|last=Amadeo|first=Ron|date=2018-07-21|website=Ars Technica |access-date=2020-05-06}} It supports voice commands via either a remote control with an embedded microphone, or integrated microphones inside the device (as is the case of the Fire TV Cube), and can also be controlled with Alexa via Amazon Echo smart speakers. The devices support various Amazon-owned services, including Amazon Prime Video, Twitch, Amazon Freevee, MX Player, Amazon Music and Amazon Luna, as well as other major third-party services, including Netflix, YouTube, YouTube TV, Curiosity Stream, Mubi, Dekkoo, Ameba TV, YuppTV, Chorki, Eros Now, the Apple TV app, ZEE5, SonyLIV, Crunchyroll, Crackle, DAZN, Dailymotion, Peacock, Hulu, Hotstar, Disney+, Tubi, Vimeo, Max, Discovery+, Joyn, Philo, Paramount+, JioCinema, Pluto TV, FuboTV, WOW Presents Plus, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Tidal, Audacy, BBC Sounds, Qello, Plex, Emby, Jellyfin, Xbox Cloud Gaming, AirConsole and others via Amazon Appstore.{{Cite web|title=Apple TV app comes to Amazon's Fire TV Stick and other devices|url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/10/24/apple-tv-app-comes-to-amazons-fire-tv-stick-and-other-devices/|website=TechCrunch|date=24 October 2019|access-date=2020-05-06}}{{Cite web|title=Amazon Fire TV Stick review: New remote freshens this cheap streamer for 2019|url=https://www.cnet.com/reviews/amazon-fire-tv-stick-with-all-new-alexa-voice-remote-2019-review/|last=Katzmaier|first=David|website=CNET |access-date=2020-05-06}}{{Cite web|last=Gupta|first=Shilpa|title=Get the way for how to delete apps on Firestick?|date=17 August 2020 |url=https://technosecrets.com/how-to-delete-apps-on-firestick/5680|access-date=2020-08-29|language=en-US}}

The "X-Ray" feature allows users to view contextual information related to Prime Video content (such as biographies of actors and other trivia), using face recognition, music recognition, and IMDb data.{{Cite web|title=Amazon launches X-Ray for Fire TV|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/04/13/amazon-launches-x-ray-for-fire-tv-lets-users-search-actors-songs-and-trivia.html|last=Findling|first=Deborah|date=2015-04-13|website=CNBC |access-date=2020-05-06}}

Most Fire TV devices allow screen mirroring and casting from Miracast or (only on Fire TV Edition sets) AirPlay devices. Third-party applications such as AirScreen can allow AirPlay and Google Cast to be used.{{Cite web |last=Patrick |date=2024-06-17 |title=How to Cast to FireStick from Android, iPhone, PC & Mac (2024) |url=https://www.firesticktricks.com/cast-to-firestick.html |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=Fire Stick Tricks |language=en-US}} Amazon are currently also adding support for a new protocol named Matter Casting.{{Cite web |last=Tuohy |first=Jennifer Pattison |date=2024-05-10 |title=The Amazon-backed Matter Casting standard has plenty of potential, but too few players |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/10/24153556/fire-tv-amazon-matter-casting-hands-on |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=The Verge |language=en}}

{{Amazon Fire TV Models}}

File:AmazonFireTV.jpg

Dan Seifert from The Verge reviewed Fire TV on April 4, 2014, giving it an 8.8/10 rating and largely praising its functionality and future potential.{{cite web|last=Seifert|first=Dan |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/4/4/5581290/amazon-fire-tv-review |title=Amazon Fire TV review |publisher=The Verge |date=2014-04-04 |access-date=2014-04-21}}{{cite web|last1=Fortune|first1=Robert|title=Amazon Fire TV Review|url=https://cordcutting.com/devices/amazon/amazon-fire-tv/|website=cordcutting|access-date=15 May 2014}} Dave Smith from ReadWrite wrote, "Fire TV aims to be the cure for what ails TV set-top boxes."{{cite web|url=http://readwrite.com/2014/04/04/amazon-fire-tv-review-hands-on-impressions|title=Review: The Amazon Fire TV Is Kind Of A Mess – ReadWrite|date=4 April 2014 }} GeekWire editor Andy Liu's review is headlined "Amazon's Fire TV sets a new bar for streaming boxes."{{cite web|last=Liu |first=Andy |url=http://www.geekwire.com/2014/amazon-fire-tv-must-device/ |title=Review: Amazon's Fire TV sets a new bar for streaming boxes |date=8 April 2014 |publisher=GeekWire |access-date=2014-04-21}}

Ars Technica praised the device for specifications that surpassed competitors, good build quality, and a microphone that works very well if you use Amazon content. The reviewer disliked the fact that its media browser puts Amazon content in the front, which makes other applications less convenient to use, limited game selection with many games not optimized, and only 5.16 GB of free space, which limits the number of games that can be installed.{{cite web |date= 9 April 2014 |last= Johnston |first= Casey |title= Amazon Fire TV misses the same marks as Ouya, other media boxes |url= https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/04/amazon-fire-tv-misses-the-same-marks-as-ouya-other-media-boxes/3/ |website= Ars Technica }}

• {{annotated link|Android TV}}
• {{annotated link|Chromecast}}
• {{annotated link|Roku}}
• {{annotated link|Stick PC}}
• Comparison of digital media players
• Smart TV

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|1=https://www.amazon.com/b/?node=8521791011}}
• [https://www.amazon.in/fire-stick/s?k=fire+stick Firestick]

{{Home theater PC (application software)}}{{Television and Home theater operating systems}}{{Microconsoles}}{{Eighth generation game consoles}}

Category:Amazon (company) hardware

Category:Products introduced in 2014

Category:Streaming media systems

Category:Networking hardware

Category:Digital media players

Category:Microconsoles

Category:Android-based video game consoles

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Category:Eighth-generation video game consoles

Category:Smart TV

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