Amazon Announces $39 Fire TV Stick for Video Streaming
(Amazon)
Amazon is finally taking on the Chromecast. This morning it’s introducing the Fire TV Stick, a streaming device that exists entirely in a small dongle that plugs into a TV’s HDMI port. Amazon says the Fire TV Stick offers the “same experience” as the full Fire TV, which was introduced back in April. It can play games, and it’s able to stream from the major services that you’d ask for: HBO GO, Watch ESPN, YouTube, Hulu Plus, Pandora, and, of course, Prime Instant Video. The Stick goes on sale for $39 beginning Nov. 19 and is currently available for preorder. Prime subscribers can get it for $19 for the next two days.
The Fire TV Stick is being advertised directly against the Chromecast, which should be no surprise: the Chromecast is Amazon’s best-selling electronic device right now — and Amazon would be happy to see that replaced with its own device. “Fire TV Stick is the most powerful streaming media stick available,” Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said in a statement. With 8 GB of internal storage and 1 GB of RAM, the Stick has four times the internal storage and twice the memory of the Chromecast. It also has a dual-core processor and dual-band WiFi, neither of which the Chromecast can claim.
The other big benefit to the Fire TV Stick is that it includes a remote (and an interface), whereas you’re stuck controlling the Chromecast entirely through your phone. Amazon is cutting costs here, however: This isn’t the same remote that ships with the Fire TV Stick, which has a microphone on it and lets you perform a voice search. If you want that remote, you’ll have to buy it separately for $29.99.
