The Amazon Fire TV Stick is on sale for $29.99 as part of Amazon’s huge Spring Sale on devices. This is Amazon’s most popular streaming device by a long shot because it provides a great deal of functionality for a great price. That value is even better now that the Fire TV Stick includes the new Alexa voice remote with built-in power and volume buttons. If you have room in your budget, I highly recommend spending an extra $10 and getting the Fire TV Stick 4K on sale for $39.99 instead, due to its improved performance. However, if you’re on a budget and/or don’t have a 4K TV, then the regular 1080p Fire TV Stick is still a very capable device. Also on sale is the Fire TV Cube for $79.99 and the Fire TV Recast for $189.99.
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Any idea how long this “spring sale” is active?
Sorry, I don’t know how long the sale will last.
Do you have a hypothesis on an end date?
Based on this from Amazon “Easter Deals Amazon Devices starting at $19.99” I’d guess it ends on Sunday.
Has this gen 2nd stick always has AC wireless? I was thinking this one is only N.
Yup, it has always had 802.11ac WiFi. I mention it in my announcement post from 2016: http://www.aftvnews.com/amazon-introduces-all-new-quad-core-fire-tv-stick-2-w-voice-remote-for-39-99/
Of course, your advice to kick in another 10.00 and get the Stick 4K is the smart move. I have two and recommend them.
Not sure why anyone supports/buys these products after it has been shown over and over again that Amazon is collecting every bit of audio from you. Convenience is not worth giving away your privacy.
Do you have phone?
If you have been paying attention for the last 30 years, you should understand that privacy requires work and attention. PCs have had mics and cameras for decades. Phones are notorious for the ability to remotely control mics and cameras. I am confident you could find someone (maybe Amazon?) that would exchange your remote for one without a mic, but make sure your television isn’t listening!
If I’m wrong I hope someone will correct me but AFAIK both firetv sticks only listen when you press the mic. button, they are not always on, listening. If they want to collect “what’s the weather” etc. I’m OK with that. This article talks about what they say they are collecting for.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-10/is-anyone-listening-to-you-on-alexa-a-global-team-reviews-audio
As far as you know, anyway. Unless someone wants to trace the leads to ensure pressing a button disconnects a wire to the mic (it doesn’t), pressing (or not pressing) the button does what it is programmed to do.
Actually pressing the button should be CONNECTING a wire to the mic. but I get what you are saying.
In my opinion owning both this and the 4K…. The 4K is soo superior in every way I would get the 4K even though this price for the regular stick is good. Even as an additional stick I would say get the 4K. And that goes for those even without a 4K TV.
I heard that Amazon will be releasing a new streaming device later this year. Do you think it would be better to wait and see what improvements the new device will bring?
In most cases for most things my answer is always no do not wait. Obviously there are considerations. How much do you need the product now. Do we know any details of a rumored product or what exactly it will even be? I certainly would not get this streaming stick if I was already considering waiting for the next new one when there is already a better one available.
It’s too easy to end up always waiting because something “better” will be coming along. And how many times does it end up newer was not necessarily better…
The 4k stick is really good and cheap at $40. If you can get a $25 off $75 Staples coupon, that’s $27.50. No brainer.