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robjg63
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  #1076841 30-Jun-2014 09:45
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Yup - the Fire TV is an easy to use appliance. Would recommend to anyone that wanted to play with Netflix and/or Amazon streaming.

Installing XBMC was actually really easy and well worthwhile if you have your own content you want to stream - you dont need to root the device.
Here's how: http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Amazon_Fire_TV





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NZtechfreak
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  #1076844 30-Jun-2014 09:50
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freitasm: You guys are funny. NZtechfreak said "If you were buying now, any reason you guys might select the Fire TV?" and I give a reason. Sure YOU have this setup on router. YOU know how to root a device. How many of the other estimated 30,000 people in New Zealand using Netflix would know how to do it?

Yes, you can use Chromecast to play your YouTube cat videos. If that's all the content you want. But I bet it's not.

My point is that side-by-side, Fire TV is more "consumer friendly" in terms of plug and play some content.


OK, you can calm down and hop off your high horse now big fella :)

I'm not asking on behalf of Joe Bloggs schmoe who can't set his router up, I'm after reasons why I should buy it instead of Googles upcoming offering. I'm not talking about the Chromecast and that is clear in my post, so not sure why you're bringing it up here.




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freitasm
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  #1076850 30-Jun-2014 09:59
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NZtechfreak:
freitasm: You guys are funny. NZtechfreak said "If you were buying now, any reason you guys might select the Fire TV?" and I give a reason. Sure YOU have this setup on router. YOU know how to root a device. How many of the other estimated 30,000 people in New Zealand using Netflix would know how to do it?

Yes, you can use Chromecast to play your YouTube cat videos. If that's all the content you want. But I bet it's not.

My point is that side-by-side, Fire TV is more "consumer friendly" in terms of plug and play some content.


OK, you can calm down and hop off your high horse now big fella :)

I'm not asking on behalf of Joe Bloggs schmoe who can't set his router up, I'm after reasons why I should buy it instead of Googles upcoming offering. I'm not talking about the Chromecast and that is clear in my post, so not sure why you're bringing it up here.


I brought it here because I suspect Google TV will be as locked down as Chromecast is...






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NZtechfreak
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  #1076870 30-Jun-2014 10:11
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freitasm:
NZtechfreak:
freitasm: You guys are funny. NZtechfreak said "If you were buying now, any reason you guys might select the Fire TV?" and I give a reason. Sure YOU have this setup on router. YOU know how to root a device. How many of the other estimated 30,000 people in New Zealand using Netflix would know how to do it?

Yes, you can use to play your YouTube cat videos. If that's all the content you want. But I bet it's not.

My point is that side-by-side, Fire TV is more "consumer friendly" in terms of plug and play some content.


OK, you can calm down and hop off your high horse now big fella :)

I'm not asking on behalf of Joe Bloggs schmoe who can't set his router up, I'm after reasons why I should buy it instead of Googles upcoming offering. I'm not talking about the Chromecast and that is clear in my post, so not sure why you're bringing it up here.


I brought it here because I suspect Google TV will be as locked down as Chromecast is...




Lock down may be a definite point against the upcoming Google unit, for sure. If it turns out to be extremely restricted that may push me to Fire TV.




Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org


jakenz
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  #1077051 30-Jun-2014 14:27
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Ordered a Fire TV myself a couple of days ago. Must confess I wasn't aware of Android TV at that point, so I read NZtf's comments above with a touch of buyer's remorse.

That said as the Fire TV has recently been rooted, I'd wager that once Android TV is out in the wild there'll be more than a few XDA devs working on making a name for themselves by porting it to the likes of the Fire TV (if at all possible, which, given the Fire's specs is perhaps not such a longshot). A dual-boot Fire TV would be just the ticket.

garvani
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  #1077079 30-Jun-2014 14:38
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I wouldn't have too much buyers remorse. Google/android tv is still quite a while away yet and who knows what it will retail for (id be surprised if they can match the firetv price, especially with the K1 soc).

The firetv does everything i need it to do so i don't regret that purchase at all. There's always going to be something better coming out!

Im hopeful for a port of the OS to the firetv, but a lot has to happen before we can go down that path.

NZtechfreak
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  #1077094 30-Jun-2014 14:59
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jakenz: Ordered a Fire TV myself a couple of days ago. Must confess I wasn't aware of Android TV at that point, so I read NZtf's comments above with a touch of buyer's remorse.

That said as the Fire TV has recently been rooted, I'd wager that once Android TV is out in the wild there'll be more than a few XDA devs working on making a name for themselves by porting it to the likes of the Fire TV (if at all possible, which, given the Fire's specs is perhaps not such a longshot). A dual-boot Fire TV would be just the ticket.


I wouldn't waste any time with regret, the Fire TV is great and if I was buying right now there would be no question that it'd be the Fire I'd go for. I'm not in a huge rush, so I'll hold out for Google's offering which on face value is likely to be better for my needs (providing it isn't extremely locked down).




Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org


 
 
 

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jakenz
52 posts

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  #1077100 30-Jun-2014 15:27
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Ha, cheers! It's only very light remorse and it's more at my pre-purchase research not picking up on the full SOTM rather than any limitations of the Fire TV per se, which, as you say is by all accounts terrific. Incidentally I hear the Fire TV plays well with the Kindle HDX as controller... one of which I'd all but forgotten I had sitting neglected for a few months playing second fiddle to my ipad Air. Yet another reason to get the Fire TV I guess. Suspect I'll never get around to selling the HDX now, massive overkill remote control here we come...

eliema
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  #1082442 7-Jul-2014 14:06
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Has anyone here tried streaming NBA League Pass through Fire TV? I've seen a few comments that International League Pass subscribers can't use their subscription as the NBA app is for American subscriptions. There's a separate Android app for International League Pass, is that able to be found/used?

mailmarshall
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  #1083921 8-Jul-2014 09:41
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Hi

Can I use the BBC iPlayer on Kindle Fire tv (via Unotelly)?


freitasm
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  #1083926 8-Jul-2014 09:47
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I don't see a BBC iPlayer in the native apps list. Anyone?






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eliema
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  #1084040 8-Jul-2014 12:13
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With the sideloading of Android apps on Fire TV, how likely is the compatibility with the Fire TV and remote? Will it only work if the developer took it into consideration or are the some APIs that the Fire can hook into? 

This is the main barrier in my purchase of the Fire TV. I want to stream NBA through the NBA Game Time (International) app, which I'd have to sideload with the apk (that I have). But if it's unlikely to work I think I'll just get an Apple TV which will cover my basics (Netflix and NBA)

jakenz
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  #1084062 8-Jul-2014 12:39
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No NBA app is listed on the XDA thread that lists the status of apps for sideloading to the Fire TV as Working, Not working or Working with Limitations. The limitation for most of the apps in the last category is they require a mouse and/or keyboard. Roughly a third of apps in each category.



richms
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  #1084076 8-Jul-2014 13:08
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Cheap wireless keyboard/mouse combo off DX or ebay solves the interface problem IME.




Richard rich.ms

freitasm
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  #1084081 8-Jul-2014 13:17
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Interesting, I plugged my wireless Logitech K400 and while the touchpad works fine to move the cursor around the screen, the keyboard and button clicks don't...







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