Start:
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The Fire Stick comes in a beautiful, black cardboard box with power supply, USB cable, remote control, batteries for selbige, a short HDMI extension cable so that the stick can be installed "around the corner" and a very short start guide. So I plugged the drive into an available HDMI port of my AV receiver, which is connected to my TV, the USB cable was connected to the Power by a USB port of the TV and have losgelegt. The stick, which is slightly longer than the Chromecast, starts in a normal time for such devices, then first be noted that the power must be supplied via power supply. The warning I could ignore it and it ran (and still runs) everything fine without PSU - apparently it is to come to the respective TV or USB port, I was lucky and I can save a corresponding connector. The Wi-Fi was quickly identified and established (as opposed to Chromecast not just go 2.4, but 5.0 GHz networks), the password is something hakelig remotely - here the Chromecast can score, where all will be done via smartphone. Andersrum you never need to stick Amazon for a smartphone, more on that later. You can log in directly without further input with the Amazon account from which the stick was purchased, or specify a different account. Then comes the first one not skippable introduction video that should work for most users no longer be relevant, since the operation features listed here are really intuitive, for others not shown.
Surface & Remote Control:
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The surface I liked right away good at first, there is in contrast to Chromecast a standalone Media Center interface, which is easy to operate by remote control. The remote control is no infrared FB, but connected via Bluetooth, whereby the stick no line of sight to the remote control needs - very pleasant when the stick disappears behind the TV! It is light in the hand, but feels through the matte plastic quite well and has a nice tactile feedback. With her, you always quickly to the main menu, you can pause and restart videos or skip tracks. The menu then quickly notice on what the focus falls on the part of Amazon: their own products. The complimentary in Prime series and movies can be streamed directly, partly with original sound track, and is not included content can be borrowed for money or buy and then streamed. First sees the complimentary offer very extensive, but quickly you then determines that much repeated (New to Prime, Prime Instant, films and series including Prime -. Back much of the already pre-led stuff from the previous categories ... etc .). But if one has the Prime account anyway, or offering a good fit for their own needs, the Stick is a great way to get everything on the TV.
Apps & More functions:
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Beneath the surface, however, you can also install some apps and games in addition to the Amazon content. To me are interesting here the media libraries of the public to easily select and look up missed programs, and Netflix, as I there the series offer more appeals than with Amazon. For this purpose, the YouTube app is occasionally useful to watch videos in big on the TV - everything works fine, the entering search terms using the remote control is naturally stressful. What has surprised me at first was that I could not as usual stream from YouTube or Netflix app on the smartphone content on the stick, but also works fine when you first the appropriate apps on the stick (by remote control) installed. Who has a Spotify Premium account, can also send his music over the stick to the system and operate via FB. Very pleasant is with videos and music that connection faults between Phone and stick not so bad are like the Chromecast (here I have often times lost smartphone control over the Chromecast and konne no longer pause, more videos load, etc.), as you can also control everything remotely.
What I'm doing otherwise times still like images is via Miracast (thus mirroring the smartphone screen) to throw the phone on the TV, for example, to show vacation photos. That was when Chromecast very good if you have a corresponding Smartphone (I use the LG G3, the Miracast innately support). When Firestick all every time to be somewhat cumbersome enabled in the settings and is this also something felt hakeliger. Nevertheless, it works.
Even games I have briefly tested out of curiosity with the Fire Stick, which I do not possess the controller sold separately. However, the remote control is supposed to work, for me the input lag was too large to be able to play something useful. For me not important, but maybe one or two interested.
Conclusion:
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Who is at the moment looking for a SmartTV stick, should the Fire TV Stick look safe times, particularly when one is Prime customer. It provides almost all the features that also provides the Chromecast - sometimes better, sometimes something hakeliger, has to be a useful remote control and integrates the Amazon Prime offer. The stronger but also much more expensive Fire TV box because you need only when you want to play a lot or require cable connections for audio and LAN. Who anyway has a Chromecast and does not wish to Android games on the TV, but prefer streaming media content from smartphone apps or has an account on another video portal as Amazon Prime, can use it calmed down. I still keep the Firestick because my remote well like - a matter of taste, but for an introductory price of then 19 you could already do. Now the normal price I would have thought about it possibly twice, but I'm happy and in particular may make a recommendation for prime or New users of such streaming sticks.
Positives:
+ For a streaming stick good enough hardware
+ Useful remote control that makes a smartphone unnecessary
+ Good range of streaming options via Prime and Apps
+ Independent Media Center that does not require Smartphone
Neutral:
o Pervasive integration of Amazon Prime ecosystem (-> good for Prime customers, otherwise possibly annoying)
o App number (yet) a bit limited, but the most important things there
o the hardware might is not always strong enough for games
o Good workmanship, not the nicest / most compact form
o Amazon account directly involved (possibly to be considered when a gift!)
o You can also process alternative software interfaces, which of course is not officially supported, but can extend the functionality
Negatives:
- Sometimes hakelige input via remote control, especially in games.
- Not quite as many features as the Chromecast
- It is not always quite as intuitive integration of the different streaming options
- Miracast somewhat cumbersome
(Who wants to leave me constructive criticism of my review, this Who can do so in the comments so I can go into it in this and other reviews. Like the review and has helped, may like to press the corresponding button. Thank you!)
