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Just got mine

pastafarian

pastafarian

Pâtes avec votre foie
Maybe the best $20 I ever spent. I've seen some reviews saying it's laggy compared to the full size Fire TV. I've never use one of those, but this thing is easily the equal of my Roku 3 in my casual use. The app takes a little getting used to though. I find it counterintuitive to press and >hold< the voice search and the touch "space" is a bit confusing to use vs replicating the remotes dpad. Still, small issues compared to how this thing works. What to see some streaming lag? Try Netflix on a Tivo Premier! Or Amazon Prime on a PS3 (which is still much better than Netflix on the Tivo!)
 
I got mine on Friday and I feel the same: close to the best $20 I've spent on a tech item. Everything about it is well made: packaging, the device itself, the tutorial videos, the remote etc. I'm really in love with the remote. I like how it feels so natural in my hand and the clickiness of the buttons is really satisfying. The interface is really snappy which is a must. Screen mirroring on my LG G2 worked just fine. All Amazon Prime content loads instantly with zero lag issues (see below). Plex works flawlessly on the device as well. I would definitely purchase another.

The only issues I've had so far: the NFL Now app hardly functions (that is app problem though...the thing is crap on almost every device...they finally fixed it on my Surface tablet so there is hope), Netflix has sound issues where the video speeds up randomly to resync with the audio, the Hulu app will randomly freeze (literally only for a second or less) and then continue just fine. I'm hoping the Netflix and Hulu issues can be fixed with either a Fire Stick software update or app updates. Doesn't happen all the time though.

Also, it appears the operating system takes close to 2.5 GB of the 8 GB. So I only have around 5.5 GB for games and apps.
 
got mine yesterday, i quite like it. while my tv already has hulu, amazon, netfilix, etc. apps built-in, i like the idea of being able to use other apps on it, and being able to play games on it (one big reason was to try fibbage, which is only on ps4, xbox one, and amazon fire products)
 
My biggest issue? My kids keep misplacing the remote. I've seen a few posts saying the only difference between the stick and the full size fire tv is speed. I've got to try a Fire TV because compared to even the Roku3, the stick is FAST. The Fire TV must be blazing fast to notice a difference. After more use, I still think the app still needs some work. It's functional, but lacks aesthetics. It would be nice if it mirrored the big screen like the Netflix app and I can't see why it couldn't. The push and hold to use voice search has to go as it's opposite how you use any other voice search on Android. Virtually every time I or any family member has tried to use voice search, we first tap the button and speak, then realize "oh, we have to hold it". That's bad ui!
 
How's the little hardware remote? The stock one, I mean.

I'm absolutely happy with my living room Chromecast, ordered the Fire Stick for the bedroom strictly because of the separate remote.

Almost a certainty that all I really want is a Netflix stick with a remote for back there.

Sleep timer on the TV ftw lol!
 
May I ask a question what's the difference between the two android mx box and fire TV chrome and raspberry I got the mx 3 box looks good and does the same as a smart TV so what's the difference between them
 
Chromecast uses a unique protocol called DIAL - discovery and launch - developed jointly by Netflix and YouTube (aka Google). The device runs the Chrome OS, a network stack, some setup software and a specialized browser with a built-in media player. That's it for apps. To use it, you use an iOS or Android device with apps, or Chrome desktop browser. Those act as remotes and tell the Chromecast where to get the media stream. Optionally with the right app, your device or browser becomes a server and the Chromecast receives your local media directly - but at the end of the day, it's a browser and media player (and services can temporarily download their own player to the Chromecast at the beginning of the media stream but it's not strictly necessary). A Chromecast won't run out of space for apps because it's a browser - send it a web address with credentials, such as for a Netflix movie - and it does Netflix. Send it the address for Hulu with credentials and it does Hulu. It's all like that.

The other devices are traditional - if you want something on them, you have to put apps on them.

The Amazon devices are Amazon-store centric.
 
Trying to decide between this and Chromecast for my dad. All he wants to do is quote, "what Nick did with his TV"

:D

I was beaming youtube videos using my google tv couple years ago. FireTv looks cool but probably overkill for him. Chromecast seems to be pretty damn awesome.

I;ve been watching review vids for both devices today trying to decide. Of course I can just walk into BestBuy and buy a chromecast, I'm guessing not so easy for the fire stick
 
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Hooray!

According to Amazon, it was delivered already! And the best part - they left it on the front porch.

That's the one that everyone steals stuff from for each and every delivery.

So. Can't wait to see what could have possibly gone wrong with today's delivery.
 
So, by some miracle, it was not stolen - unlike my wife's new M8 today (yeah, two in six weeks).

So to begin - no way it wanted to work with my Chromecast power rig. Or the same charging cable and an HTC 1A charger. It wants its own 1A charger and it's own cable, right from the wall. That's ok but seriously didn't impress me.

Like the Chromecast it includes an HDMI extender. Unlike the Chromecast that has the power connection at the rear, the Fire Stick has it on the side so in my case the extender was required.

It begins with wifi selection and setup and then called home and identified me by name and asked to use that account. Ok.

Next comes some talking cartoon guy. First I missed the beginning because I didn't have my sound system on. Next he explained that it wouldn't work without its own power rig. (Ummm, thanks for telling me after the fact ok.) Finally a commercial for how great it is and how to use the remote. (I have not yet discovered if the back button is also for a ten second rewind but I doubt it.)

I'm offered a free Amazon Prime trial. I decline. I got that when I placed my order and didn't stop to think - so the trial expired last week, they charged me a hundred and I cancelled and got a refund. Too bad, I really wanted to check it out.

Next, parental control, followed by the main menu.

Netflix - ok, download - complete - open.

Nope, now adjust the screen. It's ok to begin with. Accept.

Netflix logo, followed by sign in.

At this point, I've downloaded the Fire TV Remote app from the Play Store, it's compatible with the Fire Stick.

It's the same as the included remote except it includes a keyboard. After getting my Netflix password wrong three times, I realize that I reset it after the last phone theft so I go look it up on my laptop and then try it on the Fire Stick.

At this point I hate everything about the Fire TV Remote app. I'm sure that the voice recognition is probably great but no thanks.

Now begins the huge ui shift from using Netflix on the phone to control a Chromecast.

34% of my screen is the movie box art, the remainder of the top half is the description (today I learned that Netflix thinks I'll like Never Say Never Again because I watched Dead in Tombstone (great Danny Trejo flick) and I would like Goldfinger because of my interest in Shooter).

I immediately decide that voice searching for shows is essential. Unlike Netflix/Chromecast I can find no easy way to find genres.

But I intend this for the bedroom and strictly the included remote - so after some navigation, I settle on Adios Sabata with Yul Brenner.

I ought to start with Chronicles of Riddick to see how the quality goes but after today and all of this - it's time to watch Adios Sabata.
 
OK, after five minutes of that I try out the PBS app. After looking that over my next step was to learn how to uninstall apps. At which point I look for more apps and find out about Firecast - sounds interesting but discover that I need to pay to watch more than ten minutes. Web Video Caster for Chromecast is free. But ok, I actually expected most everything with the Fire Stick to have a cost, point is they have that for those interested.

Meanwhile - back again to Netflix - and I guess Chronicles of Riddick.
 
I can't find Chronicles of Riddick. And the movies are disappearing. Back out, it reports a Netflix error and takes me to a diagnostic screen. Why I would want to know mac addresses escapes me but ok. Ah - network check. Everything is good including the Netflix servers. It suggests that I restart my device and / or my home network. And / or contact Netflix with the on screen fault code. No. I refuse. Reenter Netflix - it's back.

Looking for Riddick...

Found it.

It looks OK Very good.

Not as good as the Chromecast but with the recent error that could be on the Netflix network... right now, it's not high def.
 
Switch rigs over to the Chromecast - top of my phone screen is the option to pick up Riddick where I left off. I love Netflix.

I also found that like the Chromecast, the Fire Stick has a very pleasant photo sideshow when it's idle. I like that.
 
Chromecast looks about the same, so I'm seeing some Netflix problems would be my guess. Ultimate comparison results are therefore inconclusive for me.

Either way, it's good enough and what I wanted - a stick with Netflix and a remote. :)
 
EarlyMon said:
Mine arrives today! :)

NA, have you tried a Chromecast? Does he have a phone to control it?
Click to expand...

I haven't tried either yet, though my sister (no tech skills) has a fire stick already. My parents both have HTC's (dad has m8, mom has m7). Plus Mom has one of those 7" vzw tablets, can never remember the name.
 
Wow, that's a lot of difficulty. We're prime users. The thing arrived all set up. Plugged it in, put in the access point and that was it... Never even watched the setup video. Just pushed xbmc so there's no need to pay for plex to access local media. No root needed. I was really enjoying the twit review where it was a complaint that they had to use the on screen keyboard to enter info. So sad... NO iPhone app yet and the reviewer was a cool kid ilife type. My first reaction was "suck on it" as an android user used to seeing iPhone get the app support first Al the time.
 
That makes sense - obviously they tracked my serial number so as soon as I got on my wifi, it knew who I was.

I'm really frustrated that I missed out on being able to try Amazon Prime for 30 days. Yeah, it got me shipping and a half off on the FS but I really wanted to see for myself what the catalog was really all about.

In a stunning display of idiocracy, I didn't stop to think that my trial would expire before I had a mechanism to try it out. My old HTPC and Sammy TV were just crap at Amazon movie rentals so I haven't tried any Amazon media in years. I haven't checked but common sense dictates that they are not going to let me try another 30 day trial right away.

Oh well - I don't regret the purchase one bit. And for an appliance like this, I really expected worse for setup lol.

Chromecast remote use is pretty convenient - way easier. But - if I wanted that for the bedroom I would have just gotten another one of those. Looking forward to just being able to use the Fire Stick remote, light Netflix surfing and boom, done. :)
 
XBMC (or whatever they're calling it now) is the bomb on this stick, though it is a bit sad that the icon doesn't show on the main menu. I've been using xbmc all the way back when I had an original xbox and it was xbmp, so the interface is familiar. I previously ran it on the sad little Ouya (maybe one of the worst tech purchases ever), but I was never able to get a media remote to function, so I used the OUYA game remote which is not the ideal controller for anything. Anytime we wanted to watch an <obtained> movie? It was start the OUYA, wait for the inevitable system updates, find and start XBMC then try to remember which button on the game remote did what and inevitably stopping the movie once or twice by accident. Being able to run XBMC vs the laggy and sometimes obstinate Plex for local media makes all the difference. I run plex on the Roku3 and this may be a reason to sell the Roku and replace it with another fire stick.
 
Yeah, sideloading is super easy. Used these directions-
http://sideloadfiretv.com/sideload-apps-amazon-fire-tv-windows/
But instead of installing ADB for windows, I used this-
https://c0d7bae67ca616f62135b13d5a84a9ffceeae924.googledrive.com/host/0ByfFwjYTfWSbNzE1XzhfaFdtVTg/

Nice graphic front end, less typing and less chance of screwing up. Looking at other apps to sideload but only ES file explorer interests me right now and I'll wait to install it when I have need. I know there's a lot more that can be done with root, but I'm fine with how the thing is operating now and don't see a need to mess with success.
 
If I do it, I'll go with adb as I only use Windows at work. (I keep meaning to set up Windows again at home but just haven't had the motivation.)

Meanwhile, let me put you on to X-plore instead of ES. Using Network Connections, I caught ES routing my Dropbox password through the ES servers in China. I only use it now with a firewall that won't let it phone home. ;)
 
Still really loving this device two months later. I no longer have the sound syncing and stuttering problems with Netflix and Hulu that I mentioned in my original post from November. There was a software update in December for "bug fixes" so maybe that did it (although Hulu has issues on every device/TV/gaming system I use where it keeps resetting TV episodes right before commercial breaks or just plain forgets to play commercials -- must be issues with pulling current commercials from online). Anyway. I love how fast it is (no lag in menus) and that it is instantly ready to stream when I turn my TV on. The slide show screen saver photos are gorgeous too. Still the best $20 I've spent on a tech device by far.
 
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