If you’re looking for a streaming device that looks high-end, get Apple TV for its typical classy look. Amazon’s Fire TV doesn’t belong in that league, as it looks low-cost with its angular and boxy appearance. However, for a small box that will forever sit in the dark corner of your entertainment theatre, does appearance really matter?
From the review of IGN’s Scott Lowe, maybe not. The unremarkable box, it turns out, is a mighty 1080p streaming media player with voice search that spares scrolling and searching through a massive collection of films and TV episodes, more than a hundred games, and millions of songs. It’s your most convenient way to enjoy Amazon Instant Video, Netflix, Hulu Plus, games, music, and countless other services.
Amazon’s Fire TV has a quad-core processor, 2 GB memory, a dedicated graphics processing unit, 1080p HD video, and digital surround sound specifically designed for entertainment provided by Dolby Digital Plus.
The voice search feature is one of the most compelling reasons to buy Fire TV. A user simply utters the title of the movie, game, app, actor’s name, or a song to the built-in microphone and gets immediate result. Currently, the feature is limited to Hulu Plus and Amazon’s collection. Voice detection is accurate, unlike those featured in other products, such as Siri or Kinect.
For navigating content, interface is quick and there is no observable lag. Content seems limitless with several third-party services, including Hulu, Netflix, Showtime Anytime, Pandora, Vimeo, and others. Possibly a downer for HBO followers, Fire TV does not have HBOGO, which is a shame because most of Amazon’s competitors have it.
For what Fire TV doesn’t have, it compensates with compelling features. One such feature is Fire TV’s winning line-up of blockbuster games. It boasts of titles like Minecraft: Pocket Edition, Deus Ex: The Fall, The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season, Monster University, Terraria, and The Cave. With 179 games and apps, Fire TV is definitely in the lead.
Fire TV’s suggested $99 selling price is relatively low compared to the bundle of exhilarating gaming experience, gorgeous visuals of up to 1080p, and remarkable speed and specs.
What could possibly go wrong, since its simplistic look doesn’t count? For one, its internal storage is a slim and non-expandable 8 GB. Graphics are not uniformly superb, either. Visuals in Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour, for instance, are disappointing compared to Minecraft. Even Minecraft and Asphalt, the principal games offered by Fire TV, have their low moments in terms of graphics.
However, for the unassuming diminutive streaming box, it provides a huge content of entertainment streaming from various services. The gaming experience it offers remains one of the most graphically exciting among competitors, and it delivers an overall functionality that’s affordable. Fire TV has incredible features like the voice search and instant streaming, which a user will instantly love.