Fire Sticks and the like...
Discussion
Crafty_ said:
Nothing, essentially a firestick adds the apps that your TV has. They were a bit of a stop gap to make "dumb" TVs "smart".
Ah, thanks, that's pretty much the conclusion I had come to, so the same for chromecast etc?That said, and this is where I get confused, they sell one for 4K tv's. Do you get "dumb" 4K tv's?
All very confusing!
Not all TVs run the same software & user interface & some can be best described as average. While may technically have access to apps (& not all have all the same apps) it's often the case that an external device (such as a Firestick) can be a much better experience.
Amazon are just releasing a new range of Firesticks so wait a few days before you buy one.
Amazon are just releasing a new range of Firesticks so wait a few days before you buy one.
IanA2 said:
So you would recommend it for the interface. My box is a Hisense, and it's a wee bit clunky too. So maybe it is worth a trial.
If it has the services you want yes.Keep in mind there's a bit of politics around apps so if you want NowTV for example you can't get that on an Amazon Fire Stick and if you want Amazon Prime Video you can't get that on a NowTV box/stick.
It's a clusterf
k IMO as there doesn't seem to be a single device that can do the lot.IanA2 said:
Ah, thanks, that's pretty much the conclusion I had come to, so the same for chromecast etc?
That said, and this is where I get confused, they sell one for 4K tv's. Do you get "dumb" 4K tv's?
All very confusing!
The logic of a dedicated device for streaming apps is that often those devices (be they Apple TVs, Chromecasts, etc) will do a far better job than the TV itself does both in terms of functionality, capability and performance, provide a far greater range of apps to choose from, and will likely receive much better support with regards to ongoing firmware updates and maintenance from the manufacturer.That said, and this is where I get confused, they sell one for 4K tv's. Do you get "dumb" 4K tv's?
All very confusing!
Mr Pointy said:
Not all TVs run the same software & user interface & some can be best described as average. While may technically have access to apps (& not all have all the same apps) it's often the case that an external device (such as a Firestick) can be a much better experience.
Amazon are just releasing a new range of Firesticks so wait a few days before you buy one.
Fair to say I find the interface clunky clunky, on that basis alone it may be worth a stick.Amazon are just releasing a new range of Firesticks so wait a few days before you buy one.
It was an email from Amazon this morning that set me off, they've just announced their new range. The all singing all dancing version is fifty quid, but it does have voice search which is a very attractive proposition.
OpenToeSlipper said:
The newest 4k Firestick will be faster to navigate as it has more RAM. An other reason that folk choose to use these is that you can install third party apps (for the viewing of 'alternative' sources of films / TV).
Ah, didn't know about the ability to add apps. That does sound good.IanA2 said:
Fair to say I find the interface clunky clunky, on that basis alone it may be worth a stick.
It was an email from Amazon this morning that set me off, they've just announced their new range. The all singing all dancing version is fifty quid, but it does have voice search which is a very attractive proposition.
The new ones that you've read about are cheaper, but less powerful than the 4K.It was an email from Amazon this morning that set me off, they've just announced their new range. The all singing all dancing version is fifty quid, but it does have voice search which is a very attractive proposition.
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: If it has the services you want yes.
Keep in mind there's a bit of politics around apps so if you want NowTV for example you can't get that on an Amazon Fire Stick and if you want Amazon Prime Video you can't get that on a NowTV box/stick.
It's a clusterfk IMO as there doesn't seem to be a single device that can do the lot.
I was going to say a Shield but I see that doesn't do NowTV. Maybe the Roku has the widest collection of apps?Keep in mind there's a bit of politics around apps so if you want NowTV for example you can't get that on an Amazon Fire Stick and if you want Amazon Prime Video you can't get that on a NowTV box/stick.
It's a clusterf
k IMO as there doesn't seem to be a single device that can do the lot.Is there a spreadsheet anywhere that lists which box does which services?
bhstewie said:
hstewie said:IanA2 said:
So you would recommend it for the interface. My box is a Hisense, and it's a wee bit clunky too. So maybe it is worth a trial.
If it has the services you want yes.Keep in mind there's a bit of politics around apps so if you want NowTV for example you can't get that on an Amazon Fire Stick and if you want Amazon Prime Video you can't get that on a NowTV box/stick.
It's a clusterf
k IMO as there doesn't seem to be a single device that can do the lot.Didn't realise there was a new range of Fire TVs coming out, will look into that.
Mine gets used a lot, Kodi is brilliant. I don't tend to stream direct as I can't be arsed with quality issues and the constant moving goalposts of Apps etc. It's connected to a media server (slow PC with big disks) which is where I download media onto (VPN etc) so I can check quality etc before viewing. I've got Netflix and Prime on there too but usually the TV is used for Netflix.
Mine gets used a lot, Kodi is brilliant. I don't tend to stream direct as I can't be arsed with quality issues and the constant moving goalposts of Apps etc. It's connected to a media server (slow PC with big disks) which is where I download media onto (VPN etc) so I can check quality etc before viewing. I've got Netflix and Prime on there too but usually the TV is used for Netflix.
Crafty_ said:
Nothing, essentially a firestick adds the apps that your TV has. They were a bit of a stop gap to make "dumb" TVs "smart".
Also smart TVs tend to become dumb over times as the apps are no longer supported.FireTVs are possibly a larger uniformish software platform, so may get support for add on apps for longer?
It's like in-car infotainment and navigation. Apple Car Play and Android Auto both do a far, far better job than the manufacturer-specific systems, in all regards (interface, functionality, app availability, flexibility, capability, ongoing system updates and support etc), and aren't left orphaned a couple of years after the car manufacturer moves to their next system or car model. Same logic and benefits apply to these dedicated devices.
TV manufacturers are ultimately in the business of making good displays, not providing ways to source content to suit a vast range of users and their needs and preferences. Let the TV do its job of processing and display the content fed to it, that's its primary job. Let another dedicated device handled sourcing that content.
TV manufacturers are ultimately in the business of making good displays, not providing ways to source content to suit a vast range of users and their needs and preferences. Let the TV do its job of processing and display the content fed to it, that's its primary job. Let another dedicated device handled sourcing that content.
Two things I can think of why you’d want a fire stick or similar:
1. Better UI generally
2. Apps get updated more frequently and updated for longer staving off obsolescence compared to TV apps. 4K content is only really available over the internet so you want this to work for as long as possible.
1. Better UI generally
2. Apps get updated more frequently and updated for longer staving off obsolescence compared to TV apps. 4K content is only really available over the internet so you want this to work for as long as possible.
IanA2 said:
Thanks for all the inputs. I've made one decision, that is to get a device. Next decision is 4K stick or Fire TV. Twice the price, but is it twice as good. The research continues !
I have a fire stick 4K and a non 4K. It appears to me (I haven’t timed) that the 4K one is considerably faster at loading. Presume it has a better processor in it?For the difference it costs, go 4K. Looks amazing.
It’s far better and faster than the apps built into my Sony tv. Much better.
Edited by p1stonhead on Saturday 26th September 16:22
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