The new 6.2.6.0 software update that is rolling out to the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV Cube, and Fire TV 3 (pendant) is adding a new third “Auto” option to the existing Color Format setting, which previously only allowed customers to select from “RGB” or “YCbCr.” When set to Auto, which is the new default configuration, the Fire TV may decide to switch its color format setting if one is better than the other for your particular TV model. Read more ›
A new software update is currently rolling out to the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV Cube, and the Fire TV 3 (pendant). This update carries version number 6.2.6.0 and a build value of NS6260/1840. This updated is essentially the Fire OS 6 version of the 5.2.6.9 software update that has been rolling out to Fire OS 5 devices, which are the Fire TV 1, Fire TV 2, Fire TV Stick 1, and Fire TV Stick 2. I’m told these updates are not rolling out to any Fire TV Edition televisions at this time. Like the 5.2.6.9 update for older models, this 6.2.6.0 update for newer models removes the ability to move apps on the home screen / app grid screen and replaces it with a new pinning option. Read more ›
A group that goes by the name Exploitee.rs is claiming to have rooted the Amazon Fire TV Cube and Amazon Fire TV 3 (pendant). The exploit, colorfully named FireFU, has not yet been verified to work by anyone outside of the group, but their explanation of the exploit and their instructions are quite thorough, so there isn’t any reason to believe that their claims aren’t genuine. Unfortunately, the rooting method they’ve come up with is unlikely to be performed by many people because it relies on using a microcontroller, such as an Arduino or Teensy board, to force the Fire TV Cube or Fire TV 3 to enter a firmware upgrade mode by communicating over their HDMI connection. Read more ›
The Amazon Fire TV Cube and the Amazon Fire TV 3 (pendant) are starting to receive a new 6.2.5.5 software update. For the Fire TV 3, this update is fairly minor because that device has been running a software version that is considerably newer than other Fire TV models for some time. For the Fire TV Cube, this update adds new display options, equipment control settings, and more. Read more ›
A new software update for the Amazon Fire TV 3 (pendant) has been rolling out over the past week that restores voice dictation for the on-screen keyboard. The update prior to this latest one accidentally disabled dictation for the keyboard. This latest update carries the same version number of 6.2.5.3 as the previous update, but increases the build value to NS6253/1438. Older Fire TV models received a similar update that restored dictation capabilities earlier last month. With this update to the Fire TV 3, all Fire TVs, Fire TV Sticks, and Fire TV Edition televisions now once again have the ability to use the microphone to input text into the on-screen keyboard.
The Amazon Fire TV 3 (Pendant) has gone out of stock. The product page briefly listed an in-stock date of October 3rd but has now indicates that the 3rd generation Fire TV will return on September 22nd. An Amazon device abruptly going out of stock is easily the strongest indicator that a new model will soon be released. Read more ›
A new software update, version 6.2.5.3, has started rolling out to the Amazon Fire TV 3 (Pendant) that adds a new feature that home theater enthusiasts have been wanting for years. As you can see from the update note above, and pointed out to me by German tech writer Carsten Knobloch, the Fire TV now has the ability to automatically match the output video frame rate to match that of the video content being played. This results in the best viewing experience by eliminating motion artifacts caused by displaying video at mismatched frame rates. Read more ›
Now that the Amazon Fire TV Cube has been released, a lot of people will be deciding between it and the less expensive Fire TV 3 pendant. While they look very different on the outside, thanks to the Fire TV Cube’s hands-free Alexa capabilities, they’re very similar on the inside. They both have the same video playback capabilities, which include 4K @ 60FPS and HDR support. That’s because they both have the exact same 1.5Ghz quad-core CPU, the same Mali-450 MP3 GPU, and the same 2GB of RAM. With identical chips, you’d expect them to perform the same on benchmarks, but it turns out the Fire TV Cube is faster than the Fire TV 3. However, there’s an important catch that throws things off. Read more ›
A new software update has been rolling out to the 3rd-generation Amazon Fire TV. This new update, which carries version number 6.2.1.3 and build number NS6213/1196, is the Fire TV 3 update that is equivalent to the latest update that rolled out to all other Fire TV models last month. This update changes the “Your Apps & Games” row on the Fire TV home screen to a “Your Apps & Channels” row. It does this because each Amazon Channel that you are subscribed to now has its icon that you can arrange among your app icons. Just like with all other Fire TV models, a Prime Video icon has also been added which loads a new interface listing content from Amazon Video. It doesn’t appear as thought his update makes any other changes. If you notice any other changes, be sure to mention them in the comments.
Deciding whether or not to buy the new 3rd generation Amazon Fire TV isn’t as easy as it has been with previous Fire TV models. While certain aspects of the new pendant-shaped Fire TV are superior to all previous models, other characteristics are inferior because Amazon chose to omit capabilities in order to lower its price. Whether you currently own a Fire TV or Fire TV Stick and are looking to upgrade, or you’re buying one for the first time, this article should help you decide if the new Fire TV is right for you. Read more ›
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