This series of posts will walk you through the process of figuring out whether or not you can cancel your cable or satellite subscription.
As much as cable and satellite providers would like you to think they're the only ones with the good content, you do have other options.
These devices take content from the Internet to display on your TV.
We're not giving up the fight! These links take you to resources supporting the campaign to get Google to bring back Classic Maps.
While none of these alternative sites are perfect replacements for Classic Maps, they're what we've got for now. I haven't checked most of these out personally yet, but I'm linking to them anyway in case you find them helpful for your purposes.
Yeah, I hate 'em too... But if we're going to be stuck with them at least for the foreseeable future, I'll be working on some tutorial posts to try to make them a little less painful.- The Amazon Fire TV is a streaming media player, which means it lets you watch videos, listen to music, play games, and use other types of apps from the Internet on your TV.
- The Fire TV has three plug-in stick models—Stick Lite, Stick, and Stick 4K— as well as a Fire TV Cube, which is sort of a combination of a Fire TV and Amazon Echo device.
- To set up any of the models, simply plug it into an HDMI port on your TV and use the included remote to follow the on-screen instructions to connect to the Internet and select the apps you want.
NOTE: The information below relates to the Fire TV models available in the U.S. as of November 2020. Models available in other locations may differ in version, price, features, and supported content providers.
What is the Amazon Fire TV?
The Amazon Fire TV is the family name for the company’s line of streaming media players that take content from the Internet (videos, music, games, etc.) and display it on your TV. There are currently four models available: the Fire TV Stick Lite, Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Stick 4K, and Fire TV Cube.
NOTE: You can also buy Toshiba and Insignia TVs that have the Fire TV’s capabilities built into them.
Here are the main differences between the Fire TV models.
- The Fire TV Stick and Stick Lite were updated/created in 2020. The Stick 4K is from 2018 and the Cube is from 2019.
- The Fire TV Stick 4K and the Fire TV Cube both support 4K Ultra HD and HDR video. All models support 1080p HD. (Learn more about 4K and HDR video in this T4L post.)
- All models support Dolby Atmos audio but the Lite stick does it through HDMI pass-through. I’ll be honest and say I don’t re”ally understand what this means (I’m *not even close to being* and audiophile), but I found this GadgetGuy article that seems to do a good job of explaining it.
- The three Fire TV Stick models plug directly into an HDMI port on your TV and the power comes from a USB cable that you can plug into a USB port on your TV or into the wall with the included adapter. The Fire TV Cube connects to your TV with a separate HDMI cable (sold separately).
- All the devices come with an Alexa-enabled remote, but the Stick, Stick 4K, and Cube remotes also let you control certain functions (e.g. on/ off, volume) for your TV or other devices (receiver, soundbar, etc.)
- The Fire TV Cube includes a microphone so you can control it just with your voice, like a cross between a Fire TV and an Echo. Amazon also has a bundle available with the Fire TV Cube and a Ring Doorbell.
- The Cube also has a built-in Ethernet port for a stronger Internet connection. An Ethernet adapter is available for the stick models.
Compare the full tech specs of each model at Amazon. >>
What can you do with a Fire TV?
The Fire TV has thousands of apps that let you watch streaming videos, listen to music, play games, and more on your TV.
See all Fire TV apps at Amazon. >>
Watch Streaming Videos
Not surprisingly, the Fire TV is very tightly integrated with Amazon’s own streaming video service. But there are tons of other content providers that you can watch through it including most of the most popular ones: Netflix, Hulu, HBO GO/NOW, Sling TV, Playstation VUE, ESPN, Disney, PBS, and History. It does not have apps for Apple iTunes or Google Play videos and as of November 2020, NBC’s Peacock is not available, but apparently they are in negotiations and in the meantime you can sideload the app following the instructions in this TechHive article.
Listen to Streaming Audio
The Fire TV supports lots of music and audio apps as well, including their own Amazon Music and Audible services, as well as Pandora, Spotify, iHeart Radio, and Sirius XM, among others.
Play Games
There are free and paid games available for both devices, including highly popular ones like Crossy Road, Candy Crush Saga, and Minecraft. You can also purchase compatible controllers for use with games that require one.
Get Information
All models of the Fire TV come with Alexa, Amazon’s voice-activated, artificial intelligence software. In addition to letting you search for content to play on your Fire TV, Alexa can also give you news headlines, weather reports, sports scores, etc. as well as answer a variety of questions. Note that different devices may not all have the same capabilities.
Learn more about Alexa on the Amazon Fire TV. >>
If you don’t have the Fire TV Cube, you can pair your Fire TV box or stick with a compatible Amazon Alexa device for hands-free voice commands.
Learn more about how to use an Alexa device to control a Fire TV on the Amazon website. >>
Watch and Record Live TV with the Fire TV Recast and Antenna
There are services that stream live TV from various networks, but if you don’t want to add another monthly fee to your entertainment budget, you can use the Fire TV to watch and record live TV in conjunction with the Fire TV Recast and an HD antenna. (You can also use these with an Amazon Echo Show.)
Read the Fire TV Recast FAQ on the Amazon website. >>
My two cents
I’ve had several of the earlier generations of the Fire TV box and stick models and have found all of them very reliable and easy to use. I haven’t tried the Fire TV Cube. The previous generation of the Cube didn’t receive very good reviews, but Amazon has a history of releasing first generations of their devices with lots of problems that are then fixed in the second generation, and it seems like that may be the case again here based on the current reviews.
I think if you’ve never used a streaming media player before, the Fire TV Sticks are great ones to start with as you get A LOT OF value for your money. The Cube is for people who want to have a single device to control their player, TV, and other compatible devices by voice.
Ready to buy?
Getting started with the Amazon Fire TV
The process for setting up the Fire TV models is basically the same as it is for any streaming media player:
- Connect the Fire TV to your TV and plug it in. Switch your TV’s input to the one your device is plugged into (HDMI 1, 2 etc.).
- Connect the Fire TV to the Internet. The Fire TV has an on-screen wizard to walk you through the steps to get connected.
- Download and install the apps you want to use. The Amazon Video and Music services come pre-installed on your system including any watchlists and playlists you’ve set up so you can just use your remote or Alexa to navigate through them. Other popular apps may also be pre-installed but for any that aren’t, you can get them from the on-screen interface or the Amazon website.
- Sign in to the content providers you have accounts with. Depending on the streaming service, you may sign in using the Fire TV remote with an on-screen keyboard or by entering a code into a web page they provide.
Note: If you’re using the microphone button on your remote to use Alexa voice commands, have to hold the button until it makes a noise and then KEEP HOLDING IT while you say what you’re looking for or when asking a question.
Congratulations. You’re now ready to enjoy your Fire TV!
You may also be interested in:
Streaming Media Player Comparison Chart
Frequently Asked Questions about Streaming Media
The links below will take you to the Streaming Media FAQ page that has answers to questions relevant to streaming players and content in general.
Do I need a computer to use a streaming media player?
Do I need Internet service to use a streaming media player?
How fast does my Internet connection need to be for streaming movies and TV shows?
How many gigs of data do I need to watch streaming media?
Can I stream content using my cellphone's data plan?
Can I use a VPN service with a streaming media player?
Do I need cable or satellite service to use a streaming media player?
How does a streaming media player work with my cable/satellite service?
Can I watch "regular TV" through a streaming player?
If I have a streaming media player and an antenna, can I cancel my cable/satellite service?
Do I need a Smart TV to use a streaming media player?
Can I connect multiple streaming players to the same TV?
I have multiple TVs. Do I need a separate player for each one?
Can I use a streaming media player with an older TV?
How do I switch back to watch regular TV?
If I buy a Roku/Fire TV/Apple TV/Chromecast, is that a one-time cost or do I have to pay annually?
If I buy a streaming media player, why do I need to pay to watch videos?
What are the costs of the various streaming services you can use with your streaming media player?
Can I use a streaming media player outside the United States?