Amazon has, for the first time, acknowledged the existence of the next-generation Fire TV that leaked last year. I’ve just discovered a new information mailing list page where customers can sign up to learn more about the “Fire TV Cube”. The page says details are coming soon but does not yet reveal new information about Amazon’s next streaming device.
Earlier today, a new category, simply titled “Fire TV Cube,” appeared on Amazon’s email subscription home page that allows you to sign up to be sent information about the upcoming Fire TV. Accompanying the signup page is a splash page with the teaser image, shown above, that begs the question: What is Fire TV Cube?
It is unknown if “Fire TV Cube” is the official name of the next generation Fire TV or if Amazon is simply using it here because that is what the Fire TV community has come to call the unreleased cube-shaped Fire TV. While the current 3rd-generation Fire TV is simply named the “Fire TV,” Amazon does officially refer to it as the “Pendant,” due to how it dangles from its HDMI cable. Whether Fire TV Cube is the official name or not, there’s no question the signup page refers to the leaked Fire TV with built-in hands-free Alexa voice capabilities.
We don’t know anything more about the Fire TV Cube, other than what I was able to dig up last year. The upcoming streaming device will have what amounts to an Echo Dot built-into the top of the device so that it can be controlled with just your voice. Current Fire TVs, Fire TV Sticks, and Fire TV Edition televisions can be controlled by Alexa, but you need to either use the included voice remote or an external Echo device. A built-in speaker in the Fire TV Cube will allow you to hear back Alexa responses even if your television is turned off.
The teaser image and email subscription page do not reveal anything about these expected capabilities, but it doesn’t seem like we’re far off from learning more about the next generation Fire TV. The blue beam of light streaking across the teaser image does certainly look an awful lot like the trademark blue LED light found on all of Amazon’s Alexa devices and matches the blue LED bar on the front of the leaked image.
Update
4/24/18 2:43 PM PT
An Amazon representative has replied to my inquiry about the Fire TV Cube information signup page by saying:
“This was not an announcement, just a Webpage. More details are coming soon.”
So it seems like this page was not mistakenly published and that we’ll be learning more in the near future.
@AFTVnews
AFTVnews
I’d love a more powerful FTV, though not sure I want Echo built in.
My thoughts exactly. Until specs are published, though,I’m not taking for granted that the Cube will be any more powerful than the pendant.
I agree. It seems like everybody is just satisfied using those 2yo s905 SOCs. So it wouldn’t surprise me if it is just the pendant chip with more ports and echo built-in. In that case it will be the second new FTV device I pass on.
I agree. I just got my first 4K HDTV so I ended up buying a Fire TV 3 to get the HDR and other small benefits over my already owned Fire TV 2’s and Sticks. But would love a true next generation Fire Box that also did HDR DV. Although I have no real need for a built in Echo since I already have one set up to control things through a Harmony Hub. BUT, I’d still really be interested in a powerful Cube unit regardless. My Nvidia Shield won’t do HDR DV and the Apple TV won’t pass DD+, much less lossless audio (without work arounds). Even though the Shield has an Amazon Prime Video app I prefer watching any Amazon content on a Fire device for the X-Ray features and better interface. I signed up for the info page. Looking forward to seeing something new soon.
The only thing keeping in the Apple ecosystem instead of the Amazon ecosystem is the much more powerful and feature-rich Apple TV 4K. I’d definitely prefer to stick with Amazon, but their streaming hardware does not fit my needs.
If we’re surprised with a more powerful Cube, I’ll give it a shot. I’m not holding my breath, though.
Competitive with aging Tegra X1 SoC (Shield) or heck A10X Fusion (Apple) would be nice, hehe. 3GB RAM, 16-64GB flash or adoptable storage expansion. Would make the game controller a more attractive accessory.
But then we’re probably looking at $200+ territory, especially with addition of the far-field mics and speaker.
Speaking of, I’ve been rear-mounting these streamers behind TV’s.
Guess I’ll have to put the Cube out front for the Alexa interactions…
I want optical out and working DTS pass-through!
Ready to pre-pay!
I hope it’s more interesting than a Fire TV with a Echo Dot attached to the top for $100. Fingers crossed they have some tricks up their sleeve.
Probably will be overpriced if echo build in
Can’t imagine they’d go higher than the original price of the Fire TV unless they also jammed OTA capability into it. Just doesn’t make sense when you think about the competition. Go much higher and you’re reaching Nvidia Shield territory instead of competing against Roku/Apple/Android TV.
Would be cool if it had ir/rf support to allow it to be used as a voice enabled universal remote
Yes! I recently dropped dish for ps vue. What I am looking for is a more powerful fire tv, a universal remote, and an IR/RF blaster with “harmony like” capability.
As consumer’s cut the cord, they are going from the cable box’s universal remote to a simple roku/apple/fire tv remote. It seems like a no brainer to add some more functionality…at the very least a power button and volume buttons.
I have very much been looking to invest in one of these for my main tv. I currently do not own any echos but I have a lot of Alexa compatible devices and hardware. I am also interested in the Cube having the IR blaster built in. I also am very much hoping Amazon invests in the capability of this AFTV device having an optical video out port, it’s a very disappointing feature lacking from all the other releases thus far.
This explains the sales on the 4k Pendent lately…
Please have it have at least 16GB of flash storage, support 24p properly whether 1080p or 4K, have 4K 10/12-bit colorspace options, and (I know this is a stretch) support HD audio passthrough.
All I want is an hdr version of the previous 4k box. It had the perfect form factor and the perfect price.
I LOVED my first-gen FireTV, got it in the Fathers Day sale they did when it was brand new. It was wicked fast and smooth for Amazon vids & Netflix and played Android games like a champ. But it got a bit glitchy with age and I wanted another — but by then, all they was that STUPID dongle version, with WORSE specs and fewer features except for 4k. Wow, talk about a let-down.
So I switched to nVidia Shield TV instead and have been quite happy.
However, if this Cube thing comes out and actually has a 1/2 decent CPU, GPU, and storage (or expandable storage) — PLUS 4K and Always-on Alexa, maybe even a serious TV service — Ha! you better believe I’ll be queuing up my Prime scrip on this bad boy.
Amazon, you got a shot here, don’t you blow it!!
At last! Now we can see what they have made… well when they decide to release the information that is.
Heads up: Someone sent Engadget a scan of the Amazon Ethernet Adapter for Fire TV Devices Manual and it includes a diagram of the back of the Cube! Not sure if we can post links here or not?
Apparently the Cube will have infrared if that diagram is accurate.
It’s nice to see the reference, but according to that pixelated illustration, there will be not explandable storage on the back at least. Regardless, I’m glad to see it!
Dont have high hopes since according to Endgadget diagram shows cube doesnt even have built in ethernet….this is what happens when a company gets too big and tries to diversify beyond their core business.
Agree. What’s next single band 2.4ghz Wifi only to save a few pennies.
If this works properly, then it should eliminate the need to have a separate Bluetooth speaker for Alexa responses when using an Echo Dot connected to a home receiver. In other words, when Alexa is triggered, this product should mute the audio coming out of the current source, speak responses directly through a home theater’s speakers, and then unmute the audio from the original source. It would be even better if this product could also pause a video, if one is playing, at the same time as it mutes the audio.
But then again, I’m just a lowly hydrogeologist. What do I know about electrical engineering?
The only thing worse than having a TV box with 10 microphones built into it is a box without an Ethernet port!
They can fit in all of those microphones to spy on you but can’t fit in an Ethernet port? No thanks.
kind of disappointed, since the leaked manual page only shows micro usb and hdmi. no built in ota antenna attachment. https://www.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/amazon-fire-tv-cube-ethernet-guide-marked-668×526.jpg
seems like amazon missed a huge opportunity, if they built a device that allowed for an antenna PLUS the ota channels to be integrated into the firetv w/ streaming offerings.
closest we’ve gotten to this so far is the lame sling airtv thing. which just had an external usb dongle for antenna attachment
if all this will be is an echo slapped on top.. no thanks amazon =/
That’s exactly what this is. It’s an Amazon Echo with a FireTV Stick inside also.
Looks like the v2 box is still the way to go.
And I almost listed my three FTV2s on ebay when the FTV3 was released. Dodged a bullet there! Looks like it will still be using FTV2 and Shields for 2018.
Cube: IR Blaster that works like Harmony Hub, Echo Plus home automation hub, powerful graphics and ports like PlayStation, Alexa, in other words, make a media home automation hub. One box, one interface, all done.
Just hope it has more power than the pendant so I can run my high bitrate 4k rips in plex
Not on my shopping list. I would want to stick this behind the TV and I suspect that the Echo/Alexa functionality would be terrible. I already have enough issues with a Dot that is in the open with my overhead speakers playing music. With the TV playing and it stuck behind the set inside a Armoire, me thinks it would not hear me screaming “AAAAALLLEEEEXXXXAAAAAAA!” Unless there is more new functionality other than Alexa, it doesn’t really appeal.
OtA DVR?
If I know Amazon and their desire for dominance in the Streaming devices they will price it to be affordable- I would predict 149.99 and it will have an echo built in 4K HDR Optical out and it will be fast! #bringit
I’m sure it’s pretty beefy. For me, it would have to be to justify it’s profile. I like how the Fire TVs are all able to be hidden behind the TV. This would have to have something that would be worth giving that up that space.