Amazon Fire TV Sticks - What do they do?

[UKSBD]

I finally joined Amazon Prime as I am doing so much shopping on Amazon this Christmas.

Initial intention was to just be a member until Christmas shopping finished then cancel it again, it actually looks quite good though and I may keep it going.

Also seen the Amazon Fire TV sticks but don't really know what they do
Is it just a way of being able to view your Prime stuff on your TV?

If so, do you really need it if you can connect with a PlayStation anyway?

They also mention lots of other channels, but if you already have Sky do you need these?

Basically, what does the fire stick do, Is it any good, if you already have Sky and a PlayStation do you really need it, is it worth buying?

 

[Ian J]

I can't answer your questions as I don't know anything about Playstations but there is a decent review of the Firestick here

Techradar says that it isn't as good as a Roku stick which is what we have in our non smart TV

 

[UKSBD]

thanks, I think the people writing these reviews assume you know what the things do though :-(

From what I gather they just make your telly able to receive the services, but what services (if any) are free with it?

I assume you still have to sign up to Netflix to use it on it?
It's no good for Amazon videos unless you are a Prime member?

What actually is the point of it if you already Sky and a PlayStation that appear to do the same things?

 

[Mr D]

I used to watch amazon TV stuff on it. Haven't used it in a while on the TV.
Not got playstation so no idea on that.

It was good for the TV stuff.

 

[Jeff FV]

I have Amazon Prime and watch Amazon Videos either through my iPad, or via a “player” on my TV (I have YouView as my broadband is BT)

I don’t think a Firestick gives you anything you can’t get any other way. (But I’m no expert!) I think they were introduced a few years ago as a way of getting Amazon Video on your TV, now a bit of an obsolete technology - watch Amazon through your PlayStation

A few recommendations of things I’ve watched and enjoyed on Amazon:

Halt and Catch Fire
The Americans
Vikings
Red Oaks

 

[estwig]

It's got Technicolour and BBC 2 starts at 6pm, instead of the usual 7pm.

 

[Ian J]

I assume you still have to sign up to Netflix to use it on it?

Yes

 

[UKSBD]

Thanks all
I think it's as I expected, if you already have Sky and a games console there's not really much need for a fire stick unless you want the fancy voice activated stuff

 

[Gillie]

Ability to talk to anyone else that has Alexa - set reminders, do your amazon shopping, play family games on it, even play the older games that were only around in the 80's! I have a legit version and it allows you to download various apps to it and these apps allow you to watch tv from all around the world without paying for them! I got caught up watching Jimmy Fallon live last night or should I say early this morning - and heck, don't those yanks love their commercials!!

Its a good toy if you are ill - as I've been recently, hence watching strange things on it.

 

[Cobby]

It's basically an Android smartphone without a screen that plugs into the back of your telly, and it has a comparatively decent graphics processor in it for doing HD movies.

It runs apps that deliver company's services: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, Netflix, Sky, BT Sports, Now TV.

It can also run games and if you're technically minded you can hack it about a bit to do interesting things. As with all Amazon's "home automation" stuff, the Alexa thing is interesting... if you don't mind an always-on microphone listening to your conversations in the background.

It's not really any more powerful than a relatively recent SmartTV. If you're used to the iPlayer and Amazon Prime Video interface on your PlayStation then a FireTV Stick is a step down. It's got a nifty little remote mind you, and it's a low power device compared to a console.

 

[owas]

So we had sky and wanted Netflix so got an amazon fire stick but don’t have amazon prime.
The firestick is mainly geard up for prime customers. So when you go on it, all the movie and tv series to start off with are for those that have prime. You can “rent” movies and tv episodes via prime but note they expire even if you don’t watch them. You can also add iPlayer, and so on.
As the PlayStation 4 is plugged into the main tv we don’t often use the firestick now, as the PlayStation has Netflix on it as does the iPad. The new tv we have now is smart which also has iPlayer, Netflix, itv etc. We have also cancelled sky as there was no point really as most of the time when we do watch anything it’s on catch up.
So if you were to get it just for Netflix and you have van iPad, smart tv or PlayStation there’s no point, if your sticking with prime then maybe worth it. Also we have an older version of the firestick, and lost the control, but when we do use it occasionally I have an app on my phone in place of the control and it actually works much better, more responsive.

 

[Mr D]

So we had sky and wanted Netflix so got an amazon fire stick but don’t have amazon prime.
The firestick is mainly geard up for prime customers. So when you go on it, all the movie and tv series to start off with are for those that have prime. You can “rent” movies and tv episodes via prime but note they expire even if you don’t watch them. You can also add iPlayer, and so on.
As the PlayStation 4 is plugged into the main tv we don’t often use the firestick now, as the PlayStation has Netflix on it as does the iPad. The new tv we have now is smart which also has iPlayer, Netflix, itv etc. We have also cancelled sky as there was no point really as most of the time when we do watch anything it’s on catch up.
So if you were to get it just for Netflix and you have van iPad, smart tv or PlayStation there’s no point, if your sticking with prime then maybe worth it. Also we have an older version of the firestick, and lost the control, but when we do use it occasionally I have an app on my phone in place of the control and it actually works much better, more responsive.

Expire even if you don't watch them? Sounds like normal rental that's been around decades.
As I recall there are on demand TV services from other companies that do similar - you rent for a time, not permanently.

 

[Noah]

Initial intention was to just be a member until Christmas shopping finished then cancel it again, it actually looks quite good though and I may keep it going.

Amazon : the crack cocaine of consumerism.

 

[Calvin Crane]

If your tv is not smart and you have no devices that can play app based content then I guess it could be useful.
We are here in a place where big budgets and a lack of understanding are able to sell things like this that duplicate a function AND need a subscription.

"Ability to talk to anyone else that has Alexa" - I would value this but maybe not at the expense of the snooping. My Alexa always gets unplugged these days its a smart radio at other times.

 

[Ian J]

"Ability to talk to anyone else that has Alexa" - I would value this but maybe not at the expense of the snooping.

I must be missing something as I have a telephone for talking to other people

 

[Calvin Crane]

I must be missing something as I have a telephone for talking to other people

You have to actually literally pick them up though find the contact and dial a number!

 

[quikshop]

You have to actually literally pick them up though find the contact and dial a number!

I'm waiting for the Amazon iris motion-controlled contact lense for insti-dial... speaking to Alexa is so tiresome, and I need Amazon in my head rather than hoovering up all the meta data around me.

 

[MikeJ]

I've one on the upstairs TV for watching Netflix on. Don't think I've used it in a year.