Amazon is now, oddly, listing the 2020 Chromecast as a pre-order item that will be released on May 13, as spotted by 9to5Google. The model number on Amazon’s page matches the Chromecast with Google TV that was released near the end of 2020, so it raises the question why is Amazon just now listing the old device and, more strangely, taking pre-orders for it, no less. Read more ›
Google has announced an update to its Google Nest Alexa Skill that finally adds compatibility with Nest cameras and doorbells. With this update, you can now view live feeds of newer Nest cameras, from 2021, on Fire TVs, Echo Shows, and Fire Tablets by simply saying “Alexa, show my [CAMERA NAME].” For Nest doorbells, you can also now have a two-way conversation from a Fire TV, Echo Show, or Fire Tablet by saying “Alexa, talk to the front door.” Not available yet but coming soon is the ability for Alexa to support announcements when a Nest camera or Nest doorbell detects a person.
Amazon has launched a new app called IMDb What to Watch to help you find new movies and TV shows to watch. It does this through three different game-like interaction methods to make flipping through recommendations a bit more fun than the usual endless lists that you usually scroll through when trying to figure out what to watch. Read more ›
Amazon has unveiled a new advertising method, called Virtual Product Placement, where it is adding fake computer-generated products to scenes in Prime Video and Amazon Freevee content. The image above was provided by Amazon as an example where, presumably, the M&Ms on the counter did not exist when the scene was shot and have been digitally inserted after the fact to advertise the candy. The program is currently in open beta and already being used in Amazon’s own original content, such as Reacher, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, the Bosch franchise, Making the Cut, and Leverage: Redemption. Henrik Bastin, CEO of Fabel Entertainment and executive producer of Bosch: Legacy, says “it creates the ability to film your series without thinking about all that is required with traditional placements during production. Instead, you can sit with the final cut and see where a product could be seamlessly and naturally integrated into the storytelling.”
Amazon has kicked off its Mother’s Day sale with up to 50% off Amazon devices. Of course, the sale includes numerous Fire TVs and accesories, starting with the Fire TV Stick Lite for $19.99. If you want TV controls on your remote, you’ll need to stup up to the Fire TV Stick for $24.99. If those 1080p Firesticks aren’t going to cut it for you, then the Fire TV Stick 4K is $34.99 while the all-new Fire TV Stick 4K Max is $44.99. For those wanting the best device, the Fire TV Cube is $69.99. If you’ve already got all the Fire TV’s you need, then consider the Fire TV Recast DVR for $154.99 or the Fire TV Blaster for $19.99. There are also dozens of Fire TV Smart TVs on sale at great prices.
Amazon is continuing it’s 3rd month of offering Prime members the ability to play select games for free through the Amazon Luna cloud gaming service. For the entire month of May, Prime members can play the motorcycle racing game Ride 4, the first-person sword slashing game Ghost Runner, the stunt driving game Monstor Truck Championship, and the classic arcade shooter Metal Slug 3. Amazon is also adding a few new games in May for those that are subscribed to the various Luna channels. Luna+ Channel subscribers can now play Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania, Retro Channel subscribers are gaining Capcom Arcade Stadium, and Family Channel can now play Get Packed. Remember, you can now use a smart phone as a virtual controler to play these Luna games if you don’t have a physical gamepad. It’s certainly not ideal, but good enough to at least see how good your connection to the service is before shelling out for something like the Luna Controller.
Amazon has revealed that its big Prime Day sale will be in July this year. Prime Day has historically been in July every year since it debuted in 2015, but the pandemic pushed it to October in 2020. Last year Amazon kicked Prime Day off in June but now it is returning to its usual month of July this year. The exact dates for Prime Day 2022 have not yet been announced, but, whenever they are, you can surely expect to find the best deals on Amazon devices during the big sales event. I’ll be finding and posting all the best deals when it happens, as I do each year.
BMW showed off its massive “BMW Theater Screen” earlier this year at CES without revealing which vehicles would feature the 31-inch 8K screen powered by Amazon’s Fire TV for Auto system. Now the automaker has revealed that it’s upcoming i7 xDrive60, which is its first electric full-sized 7-series luxury sedan, will mark the debut of the giant rear-seat entertainment screen. Read more ›
Amazon has started to add specific websites to the Universal Search results on Fire TV devices. Searching for a URL, either by voice search or using the onscreen keyboard search, will now display a new search result format for select websites that will load the website directly through Amazon’s Silk web browser. Read more ›
A few weeks ago, Amazon started a promotion where qualifying customers can get the Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $34.99 using promo code ADDFTV. That promotion is still active for those that qualify, but now Amazon has added a second promo code that gives the same discount for a different set of qualifying customers. If the first promo code didn’t work for you, try entering UP4KMAX at checkout to see if you qualify for the new promotion. Both codes will knock the Fire TV Stick 4K Max down to $34.99 if your Amazon account qualifies, which matches the lowest price it has ever been and is a great price for Amazon’s newest and most powerful Firestick.
Thanks to a comment from paul123, HSN is selling the Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $34.99 with free shipping to everyone without any coupon code needed.
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