Amazon Fire TV

[welshname]

With the disappointment that there won't be the Nexus Player in the UK (at least, not yet). I decided to have a look at the Amazon Fire TV.

This is available from the 23rd of this month. Specs are as follows:

• Qualcomm Quad Core Krait 300, 1.7GHz (CPU)
  
• Qualcomm Adreno 320, 400 MHz (GPU)
  
• 2GB RAM

Link here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00KQEJBSW/?tag=cliospnet01-21

Better specs than anything out there at the minute and actually better than the Nexus Player. Only difference being that it's based on Jellybean which is now 2 generations out of date.

I'm sure someone will find a way to run a normal version of Android on there but so far you can already get Nova Launcher working on there to allow non store apps to be accessed easier (rather than through the settings menu) and of course XBMC, which apparently since the latest release of "Gotham" works really well.

Link to the Engadget review of the additional features: http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/13/fire-tv/

I'm quite tempted by this as it's far cheaper than an ATV 2 which can be jailbroken and obviously the Nexus Player isn't available. Anyone else going to have a look at one?

 

[Tom]

No youtube is gigantically annoying.

 

[welshname]

No youtube is gigantically annoying.

It has YouTube doesn't it?

 

[Tom]

Does it?

 

[welshname]

I thought I saw it. Perhaps not. Even so you'll be able to sideload the app on anyway

 

[welshname]

Does it?

Just double checked and everything I can find says it does.

My only gripe is that it is Amazon's version of Android and still based on JellyBean.

 

[Scrooge]

My roku 2 player is getting old. Reckon this will be a good replacement?

 

[welshname]

Better spec than the Roku 3 and if you don't mint having to tinker a little for some apps then it's spot on. I'm still trying to get hold of a nexus player from America but I might also buy one of these.

 

[welshname]

Just ordered one. Will be here tomorrow.

 

[Gally]

My colleague was exploring the unlocking of it? Similar to mentioned above to watch all the sky channels etc? Looking for one for the bedroom. Fancy a new TV first though...

 

[welshname]

Wouldn't need to unlock it. If you side load XBMC on there you can just install an addin and away you go.

 

[Gally]

Well I should have said install that thing you just spoke of... i'll get someone to do that for me!

 

[welshname]

It's a really simple process tbh. I'm going to try installing the apk from a USB first and see if that works. I can't see why it wouldn't if you can side load it anyway.

 

[welshname]

It's here!

 

[Gally]

Excite!

 

[Lal B3N]

Any benefits over this instead of my NowTV box?

 

[Scrooge]

It's here!

Let me know what it's like dude

I'm a bit s**t with messing about with stuff like this, couldn't even get plex to work ffs so you'll have to run me through thins if I get it

 

[welshname]

Let me know what it's like dude

I'm a bit s**t with messing about with stuff like this, couldn't even get plex to work ffs so you'll have to run me through thins if I get it

Will do. I'll be having a tinker tonight so will post an update.

I'm hoping I can install XBMC over USB which would be nice. If all goes well I'll be buying a second one.

 

[Gavin.]

Will do. I'll be having a tinker tonight so will post an update.

I'm hoping I can install XBMC over USB which would be nice. If all goes well I'll be buying a second one.

Any advantage of having one over the ATV2?

 

[welshname]

Any advantage of having one over the ATV2?

You get iplayer, 4od and all the other catch up apps, cheaper and XBMC which is what runs on the jail broken ATV2's will run much smoother and is just an app so no messing around needed with the OS. You just can't download it through the app store.

You can also play games on it that you have on your phone and if you have an Amazon prime account you can use their streaming service too.

 

[Gavin.]

Can you stream to it from the Mac and/or iPhone? If so I'm sold.

 

[welshname]

Not sure. But I will investigate tonight and let you know. I know to use airplay on Android you usually need to root the device but I've never tried the other way round.

 

[Tom]

Can you stream to it from the Mac and/or iPhone? If so I'm sold.

Via plex I guess, I wonder if all cast works

 

[welshname]

Anything you want me to test let me know.

Pretty sure Plex is just a native app on the Fire TV though.

 

[Gavin.]

How you finding it Rhys?

 

[welshname]

First impressions are good.

Box looks really smart and so does the controller. The controller doesn't feel as high quality as the ATV remote but its nice and the extra buttons help.

So far I've managed to very easily install XBMC. Had a nightmare with installing iStream onto XBMC but that's nothing to do with the fire, just a known issue with comparability between iStream and the Gotham release.

As far as airplay goes I've found it can be done by an app from the Amazon store called AirPlay/DLNA Receiver (PRO). It allows the Fire TV to pick up AirPlay from an Apple device. (£2.95 so not exactly bank breaking).

Plex is also a paid app on the Amazon store, can't recall the price.

 

[Gavin.]

Just been looking at plex, I really need to up my game, my D-link Sharecenter just doesn't cut it.

 

[Herr Flick]

I really want something like this for my bedroom. No idea what plex or xbmc is.
So I can 100% stream from my mbp?

 

[welshname]

Using airplay yeah. I've not tested the app myself but all it does is enable AirPlay on the Amazon fire TV.

Only gripe with everything so far is the fact you can't view media on a USB drive without rooting the device.

 

[Tom]

I'm hoping someone can just root this to run lollypop android TV.

 

[welshname]

I'm hoping someone can just root this to run lollypop android TV.

Me too tbh. Only problem is the latest software hasn't been rooted yet. You have to stop your device updating as soon as you open it and plug it in to be able to root.

The issue is the interface is the limiting factor on the AFTV. Everything else is superb.

 

[Tom]

I'm still thinking a nexus player would be the king of tweak

 

[welshname]

It would. I'll probably get one when they eventually arrive over here. Tempted to get one sent over from the states tbh.

Currently stuck between getting a second AFTV or wait for a Nexus Player.

 

[Herr Flick]

Just bought one for my bedroom but haven't a clue about this XBMC stuff.
I just wanted to be able to watch films/tv shows etc but don't want to pay £79/year for it.

 

[welshname]

Just bought one for my bedroom but haven't a clue about this XBMC stuff.
I just wanted to be able to watch films/tv shows etc but don't want to pay £79/year for it.

I can either talk you through it VIA PM or if you're at home and have it set up I can team viewer onto your pc and set it up for you.

I'll have to talk you through setting up a few addons for XBMC though.

 

[Gavin.]

Still recommend these Rhys? Just sold off the atv2 as support has even stopped from the xbmc guys now. I need a replacement.
Thinking this or importing a Nexus thingy.

 

[welshname]

Still recommend these Rhys? Just sold off the atv2 as support has even stopped from the xbmc guys now. I need a replacement.
Thinking this or importing a Nexus thingy.

Still really rate mine. Just wish I had jail broken it first because I can't use USB storage on it now.

 

[Gavin.]

Don't update then? Not that i need usb file support. Any other decent additions other than xbmc?

 

[welshname]

Don't update then? Not that i need usb file support. Any other decent additions other than xbmc?

Yeah don't update basically (although I haven't checked if there is a new JB for the latest version now)

I'm just using xbmc. Haven't looked at anything else because I don't have any interest these days.