gizmofreak
Inactive User
- Joined
- May 20, 2015
- Messages
- 23
- Reaction score
- 2
Hi all
I have had a fireTV for a year now (I imported mine from the USA when they first launched).
Hands down the best android TV box for the following reasons:
-Super fast navigation due to the quad core processor and also 2GB RAM
-Native app store with apps OPTIMISED for the fireTV remote
-Ability to 'sideload XBMC which works excellently with very few tweaks. I personally use the SMPC fork
-Smartphone control
-USB storage
Yes other Android boxes have emerged which 'technically' better specs than the fireTV HOWEVER, they do not have an app store with apps optimised to work with their remote. Take the T8 box fro example, if you want an app such as BBC iPlayer on this box you'll need to download from the Google Play store which is fine, but these apps are normally optimised for use on touch-screens, not handheld remote controls. even if you remote has a built in fly mouse the experience isn't great and this is where fireTV excels; taking the example of BBC iPlayer the fireTV's version of the app works perfectly with the fireTV remote.
One area previously lacking was USB storage, this wasn't enabled on release but has been enabled as of a recent firmware update. Currently only FAT32 formatted pen drives are support for NTFS / external hard drives will be possible.
Also the trend these days towards home-automation bodes well for the fireTV; for those lamenting the fact this teh remote works by bluetooth rather then Infra-Red (for exmple those with a node-zero / HDMI matrix setup) well amazon have released a smartphone app for both iOS and Android which allows you to control the fireTV from your smartphone.
fireTV stick is similar to the fireTV box but less power, no Ethernet (wifi only) and no USB storage. It's still a damn fine 1080p streaming box which handled XBMX / KODI / SPMC just fine.
If ANYONE wants any help setting up the either fireTV device including side loading apps or getting the most out of XBMC please do holler at me.
I have had a fireTV for a year now (I imported mine from the USA when they first launched).
Hands down the best android TV box for the following reasons:
-Super fast navigation due to the quad core processor and also 2GB RAM
-Native app store with apps OPTIMISED for the fireTV remote
-Ability to 'sideload XBMC which works excellently with very few tweaks. I personally use the SMPC fork
-Smartphone control
-USB storage
Yes other Android boxes have emerged which 'technically' better specs than the fireTV HOWEVER, they do not have an app store with apps optimised to work with their remote. Take the T8 box fro example, if you want an app such as BBC iPlayer on this box you'll need to download from the Google Play store which is fine, but these apps are normally optimised for use on touch-screens, not handheld remote controls. even if you remote has a built in fly mouse the experience isn't great and this is where fireTV excels; taking the example of BBC iPlayer the fireTV's version of the app works perfectly with the fireTV remote.
One area previously lacking was USB storage, this wasn't enabled on release but has been enabled as of a recent firmware update. Currently only FAT32 formatted pen drives are support for NTFS / external hard drives will be possible.
Also the trend these days towards home-automation bodes well for the fireTV; for those lamenting the fact this teh remote works by bluetooth rather then Infra-Red (for exmple those with a node-zero / HDMI matrix setup) well amazon have released a smartphone app for both iOS and Android which allows you to control the fireTV from your smartphone.
fireTV stick is similar to the fireTV box but less power, no Ethernet (wifi only) and no USB storage. It's still a damn fine 1080p streaming box which handled XBMX / KODI / SPMC just fine.
If ANYONE wants any help setting up the either fireTV device including side loading apps or getting the most out of XBMC please do holler at me.