Amazon Fire TV software update ports tablet games

The selection of games on the Fire TV just got way better. A software update is available for the set-top box from Amazon that includes tablet-style games that are compatible with the Fire Game Controller. The controls are modified to work with the controller, ensuring a quality gaming experience. Now, the Fire TV can be much more useful for gaming due to less limitation. Also, the update allows a guest to mirror their device’s display to the Fire TV. The guest does not need the same Amazon account and this works with Amazon devices and Android devices running Android 4.2 and above. Amazon threw in United Kingdom support for travelers bringing along the Fire TV.

Source: Amazon

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Amazon starts selling smartphones on O2 pay-monthly contracts

Amazon and O2 obviously established something of a rapport while working together on the UK launch of the Fire phone. Today, the pair solidify their alliance, with Amazon taking on a new role as an O2 contract reseller. The online retail giant spins it a little differently, saying you can now use its site to shop for the latest smartphones on pay-monthly contracts. With only O2 providing the contracts, though, it’s six and two threes. Anywho, Amazon’s “Phones & Accessories” store has been updated to include these new pay-monthly options alongside the existing SIM-free and pay-as-you-go handsets (which are available through multiple carriers). And to celebrate, several introductory deals are being offered to new and upgrading O2 customers. For a limited time, the Microsoft Lumia 735, Huawei Ascend P7 and HTC One M8 are free on contracts of £15, £20 and £28 per month, respectively. Amazon’s also keen to point out you can now buy its Fire phone direct from the source for the first time — because please buy Fire phone.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Amazon

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Cast your vote for the next crowd-selected Kindle books

Similar its original series’ pilot season, Amazon is opening up its Kindle publishing arm to crowd voting. The so-called Kindle Scout program allows you to peruse portions of unpublished works before nominating worthy pieces for proper e-reader release. If you’re looking to lend a hand with the vetting process, voting is now open for submissions that span sci-fi, romance, mystery and other genres. After a 30-day nomination window, the folks at Amazon will review the tallies before picking what gets made into a Kindle edition. In return for backing a chosen author, you’ll get the published book for free one week before it releases for the masses to download. Not too shabby.

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Amazon betting on newcomer talent to grow its comedy library

Netflix is looking to tackle the comedy genre with full force over the next few years — and it’s very serious about it too, having recruited Adam Sandler and Chelsea Handler to help along the way so far. Amazon, on the other hand, appears to be ready to take a much different approach. According to Reuters, the online retail titan has acquired Rooftop Media, an entertainment company focusing on recording comedy club performances (audio as well as video) and distributing them. Rooftop Media’s main property is the site Rooftop Comedy, which describes itself as a medium that “provides over 6,500 comedians services to help build and expand their careers.” Furthermore, Rooftop says it records stands-up comedy sessions in different venues throughout North America and the UK, doing so every day of the year.

While it is unclear what Amazon plans to do with the newly acquired platform, Reuters says the purchase of Rooftop Media is part of Amazon’s “intention of buying content to round out its online service.” Which is to say, there’s a chance of one day seeing some of these performances show up on services like Prime Instant Video or Prime Music. Who knows, maybe this means Amazon could have its own Adam Sandler very soon.

[Image credit: YoLoPey/Flickr]

Filed under: Misc, Internet, HD, Amazon

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Source: Reuters

Amazon goes after Chromecast with new $39 Fire TV Stick

Amazon on Monday got the week started off by introducing a device which puts the Chromecast squarely in its sights. Called the Fire TV Stick, it’s a $39 unit that plugs into your TV and provides for playing of music, video,games, and more.

Rather powerful for such a small device, the Fire TV Stick features a dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, and 8GB of storage. More importantly, it features a dual-band and dual-antenna Wi-FI which means solid and uninterrupted connection.

The Fire TV Stick plugs directly into your HDMI port and includes a remote control that closely resembles the one that comes with the Fire TV. Additionally, users can also connect their Android (iOS soon) smartphone to the Fire TV Stick for search, navigation, and game playing. As an option, Amazon will let buyers upgrade to the Amazon Fire TV Voice Remote for $29.99.

Things get really interesting for those who already own Amazon products like Fire HD tablets or subscribe to their respective services. Watching TV and movies is even better with second screen experience like X-Ray, and Whispersync.

For a limited time, Amazon is offering the Fire TV Stick for only $19 to current Amazon Prime customers. Hurry, however, this is a two-day only promotion.

Those who are not Prime subscribers will receive a 30-day trial to the service with purchase of the Fire TV Stick. Shipping is expected to begin November 19.

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Amazon goes after Chromecast and Roku with Fire TV Stick

With the holidays approaching, Amazon is adding yet another media streaming device to their lineup. This one goes after Google’s Chromecast and the Roku Streaming Stick. It’s the Fire TV Stick, and it’s going for $39. A little more than the Chromecast, but it also includes a remote control.

The Fire TV stick is basically the same Fire TV product that is offered in the set-top box, but in a smaller package and without the games. The stick goes right into your HDMI port, and you can control it via the included remote control or fling content from Fire tablets or if you’re one of the very few people who own a Fire Phone. So you will be able to enjoy all the same content such as Prime Instant Video, Netflix, Hulu Plus, WatchESPN, and so much more.

The remote that comes with the Fire TV Stick doesn’t include voice, but you can upgrade to the same one that comes with the Fire TV set-top box for $29.99.

Now this is going to sound like an infomercial because there’s more…The Fire TV Stick is available for $19.99 for just two days for Prime Members. If you want to signup for Amazon Prime as a new member, you can still get the discount. However, if you pay the full price, you will still get one month free of Prime. You will just have to weigh those options and decide how you want to go about it.

You can pre-order your Fire TV Stick today, and shipments will commence on November 19. Don’t forget, the $19 promotion is for today and tomorrow only.

Click here to pre-order

Full Press Release

Introducing Fire TV Stick: The Most Powerful Streaming Media Stick—Just $39

Powerful hardware—dual-core processor, 2x the memory of Chromecast, dual-band, dual-antenna (MIMO) Wi-Fi, and exclusive features like ASAP for instant streaming

Best of both worlds: included remote control means simple and easy navigation, plus you can use your phone as a remote with the free mobile app that includes voice search

Simple and easy to use—features Amazon Fire TV’s award-winning user interface—just plug it in and you’re ready to stream in minutes

Vast selection of the most popular video and music services, including Netflix, Prime Instant Video, Hulu Plus, WatchESPN, NBA Game Time, Prime Music, Pandora, Spotify, and more for instant access to shows like Transparent, House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Game of Thrones, and The Wire—plus the largest selection of movies and TV episodes to rent or buy from Amazon Instant Video

Fling or mirror content from your phone or tablet directly to Fire TV Stick

For two days only: as a thank you to new and existing Prime members, Fire TV Stick is just $19

SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct. 27, 2014– (NASDAQ: AMZN)—Less than seven months ago, Amazon introduced Amazon Fire TV, and it quickly became the best-selling streaming media box on Amazon. Today, Amazon is bringing the same experience customers love about Amazon Fire TV—ease of use, great performance, and vast selection—to a smaller and even more affordable device. Introducing Fire TV Stick, a small stick that connects to the HDMI port on your HDTV for instant access to movies, TV shows, music, photos, apps, and games. Fire TV Stick is just $39 and is available for pre-order starting today at www.amazon.com/fire-tv-stick and will ship November 19. As a thank you to new and existing Prime members, Fire TV Stick is available for two days only for just $19 on Amazon.com.

“Fire TV Stick is the most powerful streaming media stick available—a dual-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of storage, dual-band and dual-antenna Wi-Fi, included remote control, voice search with our free mobile app, easy set-up, an open ecosystem, and exclusive features like ASAP for instant streaming,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com Founder and CEO. “The team has packed an unbelievable amount of power and selection into an incredible price point—Fire TV Stick is just $39.”

Fire TV Stick delivers instant access to a vast selection of content, including the most popular video and music services such as Netflix, Prime Instant Video, Hulu Plus, WatchESPN, NBA Game Time, Twitch, SHOWTIME ANYTIME, Prime Music, Spotify, Pandora, Vevo, Plex, A&E, PBS, PBS KIDS, WATCH Disney Channel, YouTube.com, and more. The number of video services and games available on Amazon Fire TV has tripled in just seven months, with more services and games being added every week. You can also rent or purchase over 200,000 movies and TV episodes from Amazon Instant Video, which has the world’s largest selection of videos to rent or buy, including new releases and blockbusters.

Amazon Fire TV Stick features:

• The most powerful streaming media stick—Dual-core processor, 1 GB RAM, and 8 GB storage for fast and fluid navigation and instant search results. Fire TV Stick has 50% more processing power and 2x the memory of Chromecast; it has 6x the processing power, 2x the memory, and 32x the storage of Roku Streaming Stick—this results in faster and more fluid navigation, plus more storage for apps and games. It delivers stunning 1080p HD video and immersive audio with Dolby Digital Plus surround sound. All of this power comes in an incredibly small package—Fire TV Stick is the size of a pack of gum.
• Simple to set-up and easy to use—Arrives pre-registered so you can simply plug it in and start streaming in minutes. Features the same fast and fluid user interface as Amazon Fire TV, with big, beautiful images and easy-to-discover content.
• Includes a remote control—Customers have told us they want to use a remote control, not just their phones, to watch TV. Now, everyone in the household can watch movies and TV shows without borrowing your phone—use the included remote to easily navigate and discover movies, TV shows, apps, and games.
• Free Fire TV Remote App (with Voice Search)—If you prefer to navigate using your phone as a remote control, the Fire TV Remote App for Fire phone, Android phones, and coming soon to iPhone, lets you navigate and manage playback from your phone. The app also features voice search that actually works—it is powered by the same voice search engine as Amazon Fire TV, enabling you to simply speak the name of a movie, TV show, actor, director, or genre into your phone, and you’re done.
• Fast, reliable streaming—Fire TV Stick features dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi with MIMO for fast and reliable streaming. Chromecast only has single-band, single-antenna Wi-Fi.
• Instant streaming with ASAP—No more waiting for your movies and TV shows to buffer—ASAP (Advanced Streaming and Prediction) predicts which movies and TV episodes you’ll want to watch and buffers them for playback before you even hit play so videos start instantly.
• Fling movies and TV shows from your phone or tablet—Fling movies and TV shows from your Fire tablet or Fire phone to Fire TV Stick, turning your TV into the primary screen and freeing up your phone or tablet to provide playback controls, a customized display for X-Ray, or simply a place to email, browse the web, and more, while you watch a movie. Fire TV Stick supports standards like DIAL so you can also fling services like YouTube, Spotify, and coming soon, Netflix, from your Android phone or iPhone.
• Mirror your phone or tablet display—Wirelessly mirror your tablet display to your Fire TV Stick from Fire tablets, Fire phone, and Miracast-enabled phones or tablets including devices from Motorola, Samsung, LG, and Google without any additional apps or software.
• X-Ray for movies and TV shows—Using Second Screen on your Fire tablet or Fire phone, you can see X-Ray information as your movie or TV show plays on your TV via Fire TV Stick. See information about cast and crew, the names of songs as they play, as well as a list of music in the movie or TV show, trivia items in context with the action on the screen, and character backstories so you can easily remind yourself of the character’s history. X-Ray is exclusive to Amazon and is powered by IMDb.
• X-Ray for music—Lyrics display and scroll line-by-line automatically as the song plays, so you can follow along with songs.
• Great for casual gaming—Play your favorite casual games like Monsters University, Ski Safari, and Flappy Birds Family.
• Personal photos and videos—Play slide shows and choose your favorite album for the screen-saver on Fire TV Stick. Photos or videos you take on your phone or tablet can be automatically uploaded to Amazon Cloud Drive, so they appear on your Fire TV Stick.

Fire TV Stick is not a gadget—it’s a seamlessly integrated service that brings together the features customers expect from Amazon, including:

• Whispersync—Amazon’s Whispersync technology saves and synchronizes your video and music library across all of your devices. Start watching a movie on your phone or tablet, and when you get home, pick up where you left off on your TV. For games that support Whispersync, your place in the game will also sync across devices so you can always pick up where you left off.
• Watch on hundreds of devices—When you buy a movie or TV show on Amazon, you can watch it on hundreds of devices, including iOS, Android, and Fire OS devices.
• Worry-Free Archive—Automatically backs up your Amazon digital content in the cloud so you never need to worry about losing your collection.
• Top-Rated, World-Class Customer Service—When a customer shops on Amazon, buys a Fire TV Stick, or buys digital content from Amazon, they know that they are also getting Amazon’s world-class customer service. Customers with a Fire HDX tablet or Fire phone can also use the Mayday button to receive 24×7, free, live, on-device tech support for all their Amazon devices.
• Free Month of Amazon Prime—Amazon continues to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to bring Prime members new movies, TV shows, songs, and books to enjoy at no additional cost. Prime members enjoy unlimited, commercial-free, instant streaming of tens of thousands of movies and TV episodes with Prime Instant Video. Eligible customers get a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime when they purchase Fire TV Stick.

Fire TV Stick is available starting today for just $39—order at www.amazon.com/fire-tv-stick. As a thank you to Prime members, Fire TV Stick is available for two days only for just $19 on Amazon.com. Customers who are new to Prime can sign up for a free trial and also receive this special price.

You can also choose to upgrade to the Amazon Fire TV Voice Remote for $29.99.

Eligible customers get a free 30-day trial of Netflix and Amazon Prime when they purchase Fire TV Stick.

About Amazon

Amazon.com opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995. The company is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire phone, Fire tablets, and Fire TV are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon.

Come comment on this article: Amazon goes after Chromecast and Roku with Fire TV Stick

Amazon’s Fire TV is doing much better than its phone

This week Amazon announced it would take a $170 million hit due to the struggling Fire Phone, but there’s no sign of issues with the Fire TV. Amazon isn’t sharing any sales numbers so all we know for sure is that its selection of apps and games has grown to over 600, more than triple the number available at launch. NBA 2K15 is coming soon, but for now the apps and games used most include Amazon Instant Video (of course), Netflix, Hulu Plus, Asphalt 8: Airborne and Minecraft: Pocket Edition. When we reviewed the Fire TV in April it came off as a powerful platform with some initial rough edges — now that it has a better selection of original apps and exclusive content with shows like Transparent, it may be in a position to stand out from the crowd (Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast).

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Amazon

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