With any new Fire TV device, the first question I’m always asked is whether or not you can sideload 3rd-party apps, like Kodi, onto it. Element’s new Fire TV Edition televisions were no exception when I asked what you guys wanted me to check out. I’m happy to say that sideloading on these TVs is fully supported in the exact same way as it is on Amazon’s Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. The option to enable “ADB Debugging” and “Apps from Unknown Sources” are present in the TV’s settings exactly where you expect them to be. I was able to install my Downloader app and install both Kodi and SPMC without any issues. Sideloaded apps also appear on the home just fine, both in the recent row and in the app row.
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Who in their right mind would buy an element tv? Way to go low quality amqzon
I’m sure Amazon would have loved for Vizio/Sony/LG/Samsung/Panasonic, hell all manufacturers, to make a Fire TV Edition television, but it’s not like it was their choice. This is the first time Amazon software is running on non-Amazon hardware, so it’s an unproven product. They’ve gotta start somewhere. Hopefully other manufacturers follow suit.
As for who would buy it, well… I did. But then again, I bought it more for you guys then myself. I’ve been holding out for OLED to drop in price but said the hell with it and took the plunge with the Fire TV Edition because I figured I can’t be the best source for Fire TV info if I don’t get the TV.
Does this have CEC controls for BluRay players etc or just soundbars like Roku TVs?
Roku has a similar model where they license the Roku OS to the more budget based TV manufacturers. I have both a TCL and Insignia Roku TV, and they work great.
It makes sense really as it gives Amazon and Roku a chance to get their ecosystems into a home that wouldn’t otherwise buy a streaming box that cost more than half what they paid for their TV.
I bought a cheap element from Costco over 5 years ago and it does a great job. Even has decent built in speakers.
When can I get those tvs in germany?
I don’t know, but I expect it won’t be for a while.
Allowing sideloading, if my memory is correct, is part of the licensing agreement for use of the android OS. So it’s not that Amazon is being nice here, it’s that they have no other option unless they feel like completely rewriting their entire OS and APP store from scratch.
I’m no expert on the matter, but I believe since Amazon is only using the open source parts of Android, they don’t fall under those licensing agreements. I think Android uses the standard Apache license. What you’re thinking of are the Google services (Play Store, Gmail, Maps, etc..) and their license. That has a lot more restrictions, but Amazon doesn’t use any of that.
who would buy this? anyone that has common sense and wants to get away with free cable, free movies and free on demand tv shows, that’s who. all tv’s are not created equal, but if u compare a comparable model it’s just as good as any other tv on the market, they all use the same technology, so to say your tv is better bc it says sony on the front is nothing more than paying for advertising, but u obviously have enough money to throw away on the nicer things in life, so no worries either way.
I love mine