A new challenger has arrived, Amazon's Fire TV!

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Amazon holding press event April 2nd, may announce streaming video device

http://www.neowin.net/news/amazon-holding-press-event-april-2nd-may-announce-streaming-video-device

Amazon has been rumored to be working on some kind of hardware device that connects to a television for a while now and today, some media outlets got an invite to attend a press event that will be held by Amazon on April 2nd in New York City.


The invite, as posted by VentureBeat and other websites, states that the event will be led by Amazon's vice president of its Kindle division Peter Larsen and that it will offer "an update on our video business." The fact that Amazon's lead Kindle executive is going to be heading up the press event is a big clue that whatever is announced, is related to hardware.

The rumors that Amazon might launch some kind of TV-based device have picked up steam recently, including one report that claims the product will be a small HDMI dongle similar to Google's Chromecast; there are also rumors that it might double as a game console. Amazon has been buying up game development studios and a few weeks ago ,images leaked to the Internet that allegedly show a game controller that has the company's logo. Hopefully we will learn a lot more about this subject on Wednesday.

On the other hand, the event might be to reveal a ad-supported free video service. The Wall Street Journal reported today that is in the works at Amazon, citing unnamed sources.
 
via Kotaku

During a special event in New York City today, Amazon's long-rumored Android game console came to light as Amazon Fire TV, a streaming set-top box that's essentially a Kindle Fire for your television.

Meant to compete with the likes of Apple TV and various Roku devices, the Amazon Fire TV is exactly what it needs to be — the powerful innards of a Kindle Fire, using your HDTV as a display. It's got a quad core CPU and a dedicated GPU, so it should be ready to handle anything the 'Games' tab shown in the device's interface can throw at it.​
 
Looks like Amazon is also taking shots at Sony/Microsoft:

get
 
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hmm other then voice that I don't care to use does not seem to do anything I need that my roku 3 does not do now.
 
Mr. Titan said:
Looks like Amazon is also taking shots at Sony/Microsoft:

get
Click to expand...

Not sure how its a shot as it's always been BS you needed to pay for live to get netflix and the like on live but really nobody pays for live just to get the video stuff at least I hope not.

Plainview said:
via Kotaku

During a special event in New York City today, Amazon's long-rumored Android game console came to light as Amazon Fire TV, a streaming set-top box that's essentially a Kindle Fire for your television.

Meant to compete with the likes of Apple TV and various Roku devices, the Amazon Fire TV is exactly what it needs to be — the powerful innards of a Kindle Fire, using your HDTV as a display. It's got a quad core CPU and a dedicated GPU, so it should be ready to handle anything the 'Games' tab shown in the device's interface can throw at it.​
Click to expand...

Wonder if we'll see emulators on it like on ouya I'd say no as Amazon will want more control over the devise and I'd guess if Sony MS or the big N said no emulators then Amazon would go ok. get XBMC on that bitch and I'd maybe buy one.
 
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Mr. Titan said:
Looks like Amazon is also taking shots at Sony/Microsoft:

get
Click to expand...

i have never understood this. ms doesn't force you to pay 60 dollars for Netflix. they make you buy Live if you WANT to use it for Netflix. They provide a service - LIVE - and it needs to generate money. you generate revenue from the creation of demand. If people want the convenience of using Netflix with the 360/XB1 then you know what you have to do. Otherwise, stop wailing and go to your PC/tablet/phone whatever.
 
Not that interested, gaming for the cheap.

It's fine they make the comparison, their box is only 40 more, after two years of live you have already payed for their box and a game. No reason they shouldn't show it.
 
Plainview said:
via Kotaku

It's got a quad core CPU and a dedicated GPU, so it should be ready to handle anything the 'Games' tab shown in the device's interface can throw at it.​
Click to expand...

So are we talking about more than just another Ouya-type game environment here, something that could handle a "real" game? I wonder how powerful a platform it is, gaming wise? Last gen equivalent? I'm assuming it's not up to next-gen (PS4, X1) standards.
 
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Anderson said:
So are we talking about more than just another Ouya-type game environment here, something that could handle a "real" game? I wonder how powerful a platform it is, gaming wise? Last gen equivalent? I'm assuming it's not up to next-gen (PS4, X1) standards.
Click to expand...
Not quite 360/ps3.. much less ps4.
 
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DriedMangoes said:
Shots fired.

Doesn't Sony allow you to access Netflix without PS+?
Click to expand...

they sure don't just MP is behind the PSN+ pay wall. Its f***ing BS MS locks the stuff but whatever it makes them money so more power to them.
 
Someone who's tech savvy will have to 'splain this for me. What level of gaming capability are we talking about here? It's above Ouya, I get that. It's below PS4, I get that. Where in between?

ProcessorQualcomm Krait 300, quad-core to 1.7 Ghz
GPUQualcomm Adreno 320
Storage8 GB internal
Memory2 GB LPDDR2 @ 533 MHZ

The Kotaku quote said "it should be ready to handle anything the 'Games' tab shown in the device's interface can throw at it," which makes it sound powerful. However, it looks pretty small, and

"Games shown running on the system include a Fire TV-specific version of Minecraft, Gameloft's free-to-play racer Asphalt 8, a Monsters Inc. runner and a third-person shooter called Sev Zero from Amazon's own Amazon Games Studio."

Which certainly doesn't sound like much (I haven't watched any clips, just reading). And the price and size would suggest cheapie mobile games.
 
Anderson said:
Someone who's tech savvy will have to 'splain this for me. What level of gaming capability are we talking about here? It's above Ouya, I get that. It's below PS4, I get that. Where in between?

ProcessorQualcomm Krait 300, quad-core to 1.7 Ghz
GPUQualcomm Adreno 320
Storage8 GB internal
Memory2 GB LPDDR2 @ 533 MHZ

The Kotaku quote said "it should be ready to handle anything the 'Games' tab shown in the device's interface can throw at it," which makes it sound powerful. However, it looks pretty small, and

"Games shown running on the system include a Fire TV-specific version of Minecraft, Gameloft's free-to-play racer Asphalt 8, a Monsters Inc. runner and a third-person shooter called Sev Zero from Amazon's own Amazon Games Studio."

Which certainly doesn't sound like much (I haven't watched any clips, just reading). And the price and size would suggest cheapie mobile games.
Click to expand...

I am by no means an expert but from what I have read it will be slightly more powerful than the Ouya which uses the Tegra 3.







looks like shiny version of a Xbox/PS2 game ?
 
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You guys are better off comparing this thing to vita etc It's 99 dollars, the parts reflect that, you won't be seeing 360 ports on this thing or anything. Think of how vita games look and youll have a slight idea.

Really want sony to bring VitaTv, that's what I want, Vita games on the tv with a controller. Don't need the amazon box.
 
Mr. Titan said:
Looks like Amazon is also taking shots at Sony/Microsoft:

get
Click to expand...

"You cannot access your Netflix account without paying $40 a month internet subscription fee. Not really sure who is going to pay $40 a month for a service they are already paying $8 a month for" - Netflix One customer review.
 
Anderson said:
Someone who's tech savvy will have to 'splain this for me. What level of gaming capability are we talking about here? It's above Ouya, I get that. It's below PS4, I get that. Where in between?

ProcessorQualcomm Krait 300, quad-core to 1.7 Ghz
GPUQualcomm Adreno 320
Storage8 GB internal
Memory2 GB LPDDR2 @ 533 MHZ

The Kotaku quote said "it should be ready to handle anything the 'Games' tab shown in the device's interface can throw at it," which makes it sound powerful. However, it looks pretty small, and

"Games shown running on the system include a Fire TV-specific version of Minecraft, Gameloft's free-to-play racer Asphalt 8, a Monsters Inc. runner and a third-person shooter called Sev Zero from Amazon's own Amazon Games Studio."

Which certainly doesn't sound like much (I haven't watched any clips, just reading). And the price and size would suggest cheapie mobile games.
Click to expand...

Looks like my nexus 5 phone is more powerful and my phone can't play "real" games. Looks like the amazon system will satisfy people who want to play flappy bird on their hdtv.

http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_nexus_5-5705.php

Cpu - Quad-core 2.3 GHz Krait 400
GPU - Adreno 330
Ram - 2 gigs
 
So it's designed to stream movies and play mobile games, which mobile devices can do, but it's not mobile. Trying to understand the point of it, someone help me with this ??
 
Mr Bigglesworth said:
So it's designed to stream movies and play mobile games, which mobile devices can do, but it's not mobile. Trying to understand the point of it, someone help me with this ??
Click to expand...
It's a set top box that competes directly with Roku and Apple TV and looks to blow them both away at this point. It's not like you can plug your phone into your TV and get the nice interface, remote and controller, and honestly who the hell wants to have to use their phone for that. Also this device is about 1/6 the price of an equally speced phone.
 
Honestly, it looks like Ouya 2 but with a stronger brand name behind it. Those amazon games look alright, but nothing amazing. I'm finding it hard to see why I should buy it when I already have a 360. Yeah, I gotta pay $60 a year, but honestly, you get 24 games a year from that, of which I've gotten Shoot Many Robots, Halo 3, Fable 3, Dead Island, Sleeping Dogs, and soon to get Deadlight. If I were to buy these games at $10 a pop, my xbox live service then pays for itself. Not to mention F2P games like Happy Wars, Crash Course, Spartacus, Ascend, World of Tanks, and now Warface. X1 is supposed to be getting it sometime this year as well. I find it hard to believe that Amazon can really match that value and quality of game. At least in this point of time. Maybe the Killer Instinct dev will cook them up something special, but they shouldn't go talking smack just yet.
 
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illiniguy said:
i have never understood this. ms doesn't force you to pay 60 dollars for Netflix. they make you buy Live if you WANT to use it for Netflix. They provide a service - LIVE - and it needs to generate money. you generate revenue from the creation of demand. If people want the convenience of using Netflix with the 360/XB1 then you know what you have to do. Otherwise, stop wailing and go to your PC/tablet/phone whatever.
Click to expand...
or PS4.

He do have a point, everything is behind a paywall. It is however MS to prove you get value for your bucks.
 
starseeker said:
or PS4.

He do have a point, everything is behind a paywall. It is however MS to prove you get value for your bucks.
Click to expand...

i pay for live so I can use whatever is thrown my way... and they continually add value to that initial purchase. I have been a LIVE sub since the original Xbox, and believe me, back then it was far less capable.

fast forward to present, and I pay about 30 a year now because there are always deals, so I see it as even MORE of a value.

I know I don't speak for anyone, only myself, but Live's cohesiveness (at least on the 360, X1 will get there in time) and integration are unparalleled.

However, this is a ways off topic :) I better stop derailing!
 
Mr. Titan said:
Looks like Amazon is also taking shots at Sony/Microsoft:

get
Click to expand...
You can access Netflix from your PC or Smart TV for free. If using a PC, you can buy an HDMI cable for $5 from Monoprice and have it stream to your TV. Not really sure who is going to pay $99.99 for the Amazon Fire TV.
 
illiniguy said:
i have never understood this. ms doesn't force you to pay 60 dollars for Netflix. they make you buy Live if you WANT to use it for Netflix. They provide a service - LIVE - and it needs to generate money. you generate revenue from the creation of demand. If people want the convenience of using Netflix with the 360/XB1 then you know what you have to do. Otherwise, stop wailing and go to your PC/tablet/phone whatever.
Click to expand...
Xbox Gold bundles together all the premium content (even if it requires another fee like Netflix). If someone would rather use another method to use Netflix, there's a million other ways.

Most people won't care since most Xbox gamers have gold anyway. But for the people who don't want to buy gold but want to use their Xbox for Netflix, you're out of luck.

Considering how successful Xbox and Xbox Live is, MS is doing fine.

This is no different than needing to buy gold for MP gaming. Every other platform seems free, yet Xbox is still humming along and people buy and use it despite PC and PS3 being free. Now PS4 jumped on board too. And considering how successful PS4 has been, nobody seemed to blink an eye that PS MP gaming has changed from free to $50 PS+ fees.

If it's all about "price, price, price", nobody would bother even buying X1 or PS4 due to paywalls for MP and/or premium content. Everyone would instead just get PC where stuff is free.

But people choose not to.
 
Prime members get one of these delivered to them for free, right!?
 
amigaengine said:
I am by no means an expert but from what I have read it will be slightly more powerful than the Ouya which uses the Tegra 3.







looks like shiny version of a Xbox/PS2 game ?
Click to expand...


Thanks, those clips helped put it in perspective. I guess I was thrown off by the Kotaku statement ("It's got a quad core CPU and a dedicated GPU, so it should be ready to handle anything the 'Games' tab shown in the device's interface can throw at it"), which made it sound pretty powerful, or at least more than just another mobile-game-playing mini-console.

Rover said:
Looks like my nexus 5 phone is more powerful and my phone can't play "real" games. Looks like the amazon system will satisfy people who want to play flappy bird on their hdtv.
Click to expand...

Yeah. Oh well. I'll use my Roku to play Flappy Bird, if I ever get the urge.
 
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