7 ms·

The side-by-side comparison with Roku/AppleTV actually looks pretty bad for Amazon Fire TV... Same price, the only differences are that the Fire TV has voice s

by swanson 13y ago

The side-by-side comparison with Roku/AppleTV actually looks pretty bad for Amazon Fire TV... Same price, the only differences are that the Fire TV has voice search (don't care), a bunch of technical specs that the layperson doesn't care about, and a bunch of games (don't care). It's missing the checkbox for HBO GO (deal breaker for me personally). I was expecting something like a monthly subscription for all-you-can-watch access to any TV show on Amazon Instant (not just the free Prime episodes). Kinda bummed because I really like Amazon as a content provider, but I'll be sticking with Roku for now.

ANH 13y ago
Eh, looks pretty good to me. Our wants are diametrically opposed: Voice search (do care -- Apple TV search is painful), tech specs (non line-of-sight remote -- Apple TV is line-of-sight), games (eh, might be a nice diversion for a few minutes after an episode of Walking Dead), and I don't have an HBO subscription.
- tptacek 13y ago
  I know the Apple TV came with a remote, but I never use it, because I have an iPhone. The RF remote isn't a huge win for people that use their phones to control the TV, which, as time goes on, will eventually be "everybody".
  - personZ 13y ago
    That is really making lemonade out of lemons. Especially given that the Apple TV remote app is absolutely horrendous. Now you can push media from your phone, but it's pretty terrible to have to have the apps, and then download to your phone, then push out to your Apple TV. Many, many people don't want to deal with apps on their phone to control the TV, especially around social or family settings. I use the terrible AppleTV remove, and not only is it infra-red, it is one of the most directional infra-red devices going. It has always seemed like a very un-Apple thing that they made it like that, or that the control app is so terrible.
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
- tortilla 13y ago
  Update: Amazon could not confirm that HBO Go is coming to the Fire TV, only saying "we're working to get more content."
scottm01 13y ago
Agreed, I own a roku and a chromecast, there is literally nothing here that makes me regret either, and nothing that would make me choose the Fire TV over AppleTV if I did want to be tied closer to one ecosystem. I guess I'm bummed that it means it's unlikely the prime video interface will get any better on Roku, but Prime Instant video quality is already so much worse for me then any other source it's not that big a loss.
- Touche 13y ago
  > and nothing that would make me choose the Fire TV over AppleTV if I did want to be tied closer to one ecosystem. Well, Amazon is at least available on a variety of platforms whereas iTunes is only on Apple devices -- and will always only be available on Apple devices.
  - drivers99 13y ago
    "iTunes is only on Apple devices" No; iTunes runs on Windows. Also, you can use Apple TV with non-iTunes bought stuff[1] although it does support iTunes sourced media of course, and fewer channels than Roku et.al. I usually just use it for Netflix, streaming radio stations and podcasts, and YouTube. [1] http://www.apple.com/appletv/whats-on/ http://www.apple.com/appletv/whats-on/
    - Touche 13y ago
      You're right, iTunes is on Windows as a legacy feature for the days when plugging your iPod into the computer was something you needed to do. But let's not pretend like this means that it will becoming to Roku, Android, or the dozens of other places that you're likely to want to watch media content. Places where Amazon already is, and is expanding to more.
      - parasubvert 13y ago
        To my knowledge, you cannot stream Amazon Instant Video content to an Android portable device that isn't sold by Amazon.
Touche 13y ago
Looks like Roku with a better UI. I'll be getting one. > I was expecting something like a monthly subscription for all-you-can-watch access to any TV show on Amazon Instant (not just the free Prime episodes). That would be prohibitively expensive. You're talking about basically every popular show on TV.
mark-r 13y ago
I was actually impressed that they included the comparison chart, even though they didn't win every single category. Comparisons were the first question on my mind and they answered it without my having to go off page. Very sneaky of them, now people won't be so inclined to find independent comparisons that might be off-putting.
thatthatis 13y ago
And amazon customer service, which while not talked about often is truly top-notch. For a person already invested in the amazon ecosystem, this doesn't have to be better than roku, it merely has to be about as good. I own two rokus, but I also have amazon prime and my kid has a kindle fire. I will definitely consider this next time I need to upgrade (about once every 3-6 years judging by history)
bashcoder 13y ago
I suspect the missing checkmark beside HBO GO is more about putting pressure on HBO than on Amazon. It's got to be just about price and term, with Amazon showing strength by announcing without them. But when both sides agree on price and ink the deal, HBO will get a premium announcement compared to the others. It will work out just fine.

by swanson 13y ago

ANH 13y ago

Eh, looks pretty good to me. Our wants are diametrically opposed: Voice search (do care -- Apple TV search is painful), tech specs (non line-of-sight remote -- Apple TV is line-of-sight), games (eh, might be a nice diversion for a few minutes after an episode of Walking Dead), and I don't have an HBO subscription.

tptacek 13y ago
I know the Apple TV came with a remote, but I never use it, because I have an iPhone. The RF remote isn't a huge win for people that use their phones to control the TV, which, as time goes on, will eventually be "everybody".
- personZ 13y ago
  That is really making lemonade out of lemons. Especially given that the Apple TV remote app is absolutely horrendous. Now you can push media from your phone, but it's pretty terrible to have to have the apps, and then download to your phone, then push out to your Apple TV. Many, many people don't want to deal with apps on their phone to control the TV, especially around social or family settings. I use the terrible AppleTV remove, and not only is it infra-red, it is one of the most directional infra-red devices going. It has always seemed like a very un-Apple thing that they made it like that, or that the control app is so terrible.

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]

tortilla 13y ago
Update: Amazon could not confirm that HBO Go is coming to the Fire TV, only saying "we're working to get more content."

scottm01 13y ago

Agreed, I own a roku and a chromecast, there is literally nothing here that makes me regret either, and nothing that would make me choose the Fire TV over AppleTV if I did want to be tied closer to one ecosystem. I guess I'm bummed that it means it's unlikely the prime video interface will get any better on Roku, but Prime Instant video quality is already so much worse for me then any other source it's not that big a loss.

Touche 13y ago
> and nothing that would make me choose the Fire TV over AppleTV if I did want to be tied closer to one ecosystem. Well, Amazon is at least available on a variety of platforms whereas iTunes is only on Apple devices -- and will always only be available on Apple devices.
- drivers99 13y ago
  "iTunes is only on Apple devices" No; iTunes runs on Windows. Also, you can use Apple TV with non-iTunes bought stuff[1] although it does support iTunes sourced media of course, and fewer channels than Roku et.al. I usually just use it for Netflix, streaming radio stations and podcasts, and YouTube. [1] http://www.apple.com/appletv/whats-on/ http://www.apple.com/appletv/whats-on/
  - Touche 13y ago
    You're right, iTunes is on Windows as a legacy feature for the days when plugging your iPod into the computer was something you needed to do. But let's not pretend like this means that it will becoming to Roku, Android, or the dozens of other places that you're likely to want to watch media content. Places where Amazon already is, and is expanding to more.
    - parasubvert 13y ago
      To my knowledge, you cannot stream Amazon Instant Video content to an Android portable device that isn't sold by Amazon.

Touche 13y ago

Looks like Roku with a better UI. I'll be getting one. > I was expecting something like a monthly subscription for all-you-can-watch access to any TV show on Amazon Instant (not just the free Prime episodes). That would be prohibitively expensive. You're talking about basically every popular show on TV.

mark-r 13y ago

I was actually impressed that they included the comparison chart, even though they didn't win every single category. Comparisons were the first question on my mind and they answered it without my having to go off page. Very sneaky of them, now people won't be so inclined to find independent comparisons that might be off-putting.

thatthatis 13y ago

And amazon customer service, which while not talked about often is truly top-notch. For a person already invested in the amazon ecosystem, this doesn't have to be better than roku, it merely has to be about as good. I own two rokus, but I also have amazon prime and my kid has a kindle fire. I will definitely consider this next time I need to upgrade (about once every 3-6 years judging by history)

bashcoder 13y ago

I suspect the missing checkmark beside HBO GO is more about putting pressure on HBO than on Amazon. It's got to be just about price and term, with Amazon showing strength by announcing without them. But when both sides agree on price and ink the deal, HBO will get a premium announcement compared to the others. It will work out just fine.