The Fire TV Stick - you need more?

Admittedly, the fact that Amazon brings out a FireTV STICK has surprised me somewhat. Was not the FireTV (BOX) for me already a gelungerner throw a quite acceptable price. But then the message that the FireTV stick can be pre-ordered at really favorable terms, similar to the time when the Box. Already out of pure curiosity was the piece of technology a little later in the shopping cart. Today it is finally time. The stick is in the mailbox.

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Packaging / appearance:

Even the normal box, which is indeed sold at the same time as a kind of game console is not very big. But what is now with devices such Chromecast or even now happens the FireTV stick, you would have thought impossible a few years ago. The stick itself is barely larger than a USB stick more advisable too bold, but includes a dual-core processor with 1GB RAM and 8GB of storage. In addition to the mandatory HDMI port, there are two dual-band antennas for WLAN (in case hidden) and Bluetooth 3.0.

In addition there are in the package is a remote control (more on that later) and a USB cable including power supply. 2 batteries are in the remote control, a quick start guide completes the overall package. Due to the variety of possible TV setups or their wiring differences Amazon has probably cut the number of an enclosed HDMI bitter pit. But this is not so tragic, because everyone can order a suitable HDMI cable, even for little money. For the user even an HDMI jack that allows the FireTV Stick gets behind the TV to install if it (due to wall mounting example) back closely approaching space technology.

The remote control of the sticks is strongly based the the FTVBox. It has rounded corners and fits comfortably in your hand. A button for those known by the Fire TV Box Voice search, however does not exist. The operation in direct comparison seems less valuable and seems to be made of a somewhat einfacherern plastic. However, I had already clearly worse remotes in their hands.

Even the drive itself omitted pompous glossy plastic but is dull gray therefore. This is therefore very gratifying, but it prevents that one immediately sees fingerprints or dust. Also, the drive fits so color very well to my TV backplane to, so you hardly notice that the TV has been extended to an almost full-fledged multimedia center.

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Installation:

For me, besides Apple a very great strength of the Amazon group. Even laymen should thus not be overwhelmed, both in terms of hardware and the software. First, the stick is inserted into the next free HDMI port. Then the stick over USB is supplied with power. Here there are two possibilities; either one has a TV with nearby USB ports, so you (note max. power!) it can be used for the operation, or you verwendetet the included AC adapter and uses that for the power supply. First option has the nice advantage that the drive switches off automatically when the TV is off.

More is to install also not to say. It takes place the first start, the requested the necessary Amazon account. Here's the password typed and configure the WLAN, you find yourself after the start automatically introductory video explaining the basic functions already in the menu.

Perhaps it should be noted at this point that in particular the direct connection option of the sticks to the HDMI port on the TV for many users can be problematic. Although obtained via HDMI "crystal clear", digital sound, very few TVs direct this but in Surround format zuästzlich connected AV receiver on. This means that you will remain with such a configuration, in many cases in stereo. A digital Toslink output for connection to the receiver does not exist. The only possible remedy ..., the stick is connected to an AV receiver with HDMI inputs, which is able to tap the audio signal and transmit the image to the TV; so to speak the reverse signal.

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Menu and usability:

The menu to resemble the FireTV the box. Although the performance of the drives has been reduced in contrast to the box, you do not notice it at the stick really. Subjectively, the menus run a little jerky, but are far from being inoperable. The film calling works without any problems and runs well, just like the box, clean through.

Again, there are in addition to the large number of films and series nor the App section might contain applications that then but could demand something more to dual core, I am thinking here of Youtube etc. but this I have not enough time to test had. Reduced to pure Amazon Video content I see no reason to buy a much more expensive box.

But losgelößt it offers the Amazon's portfolio a variety of exciting apps such as Spotify, Netflix or Plex. Something I find unnecessary, however the games section. Here the concept is FireTV box together with the quad cores and the optional gamepad probably the better option. The latter can be but when I saw this right, but also couple with the stick.

Similar to the box falls during the entire point of use here again the remote control eye. For the estimated price is already true luxury with an accompanying Bluetooth remote control to work. Lags and connection / transmission problems I could not yet find a direct line of sight, as he nunmal rare in the stick, so is unnecessary. During commissioning, but you should please note the polarity, both batteries are inserted with the same orientation. I would have been inserted backwards almost out of habit.

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Non-Amazon World - Fremdapp XBMC:

When FireTV box it did not take long and already the first developers were going to use the leistungsfähigie Hardware for exactly what Amazon does with its own content. When Media Center.

For many years XBMC leads and more recently to the KODI Beliebtheits charts. An installation on the box is mitlerweile become very very simple and also on the stick there have been few problems if you look around once in foreign forums. Discuss them in detail this subject I do not consciously, because for me has not been solved in the actual basic problem in the Amazon devices either in the box at the Stick, the main problem, namely the format shift.

It's nice to know that I can access via KODI / XBMC directly to network shares or UPNP server to play their own, not Amazon content. However, it only partially brings something, because a format shift, ie, resolution or frame rate, does not take place. So that remains selected, which is set in the menu. To watch a movie at 24p 50 or 60Hz is connected for me with permanent micro-stuttering and therefore as a movie fan unusable. If that does not really stand or who do not mind ... on the net there are many tutorials describing the procedure in detail and the installation worked without any problems with me.

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Conclusion:

Top or flop? What is good, what is not?

First of all, I would divide my evaluation into two parts. Once the pure Amazon world with the target audience of the film and series fans Amazon. Here you get their money's worth. The stick is not only much cheaper than the box, he is by the same movie experience to conjure up on the screen and the hardware is absolutely fast enough. Things like storage, less cores, less RAM to play here no role if you use that for which Amazon has built the stick. And the deeper one is anchored in the Amazon world, the more advantages you. Whether the cloud service or centrally in the network stored photos.

In this area, I would forgive 5von5 stars because I think cheaper is not one of anything like it. The hardware is so far very solid and looks absolutely thought.

Then there is the category However, users who looks a real, perhaps Amazon losgelößtes Media Center in the embroidery. Here I am less happy because the biggest advantage, the strong integration with Amazon services, is also the biggest disadvantage. Denounced Prime membership? The stick is virtually worthless, or only partly usable. Any use without Amazon? Not possible. Alternative Media Center? Not properly supported. The hardware would probably give a lot, especially the FireTV box. It would summarize maybe 3 out of 5 stars.

Overall, though, I forgive for the stick 4 of 5 Serne. Not only does the Amazon content just as well run as on the box, the stick is for a much cheaper, the Voice Search I miss at all, it is also much more versatile, as could with the upcoming firmware upgrade and quasi hotspot capability the Stick also be a perfect travel companion for business travelers, while at the hotel have a good Wi-Fi, but have missed their own films on offer in the room or previously had to look on a bulky notebook or tablet. The drive take-anywhere, plugged, configure Wi-Fi and have the hotel TV is supplied with domestic film content. Genial. Also an entrainment to friends is not a problem because the installation work is negligible.

By design, however, I'm missing the Toslink connector and a USB port or perhaps a micro SD slot for the additional content could have been used. Also the fact you should be aware of deeper and deeper into the, undoubtedly quite well done, dive Amazon world. As written above a permanent Prime membership really the nuts and bolts of your use of sticks. Any use without an Amazon account is impossible. Now, many might say ... why, everything is not so bad! But that is precisely what many criticize Apple.

Would I buy the drive again? Yes, because the price is great and the stick is silent, unobtrusive and totally mobile. Technically, he is on the amount of time and he does everything he can to. Hobbyists or friends of an open system are probably better off with a RasberryPi or Chromecast.

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Final:

This review is only written shortly after receiving. Many things turn out only after several weeks / months utilization. I reserve therefore alter ex post facto before the vote, should enter serious shortcomings or ingenious features move up. Furthermore, I'm going to make comparison photos between Box and stick and measure the power consumption of the TV Fire Sticks. Photos follow.