Amazon Fire TVs can now automatically connect to Wi-Fi without you needing to enter your Wi-Fi password

Posted by Elias Saba on — 5 Comments

The new 5.2.6.9 software update for older Fire TVs and 6.2.6.0 software update for newer Fire TVs has added support for Amazon Wi-Fi simple setup. The feature is part of Amazon’s “Frustration-Free Setup” program that debuted with the Amazon Smart Plug and has since been added to newer Amazon Echo devices. Its goal is to get a new Amazon device up and running with as little customer input as possible. Wi-Fi simple setup on Fire TVs means the next Fire TV you purchase can automatically connect to your Wi-Fi network without you needing to enter a password, that is, if you opt into the feature ahead of time. Read more ›

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Amazon Fire TV Stick 2 has been Rooted for the first time

Posted by Elias Saba on — 41 Comments

The 2nd-generation Fire TV Stick, which is the current model that is being sold by Amazon, has been rooted. As expected, the MediaTek CPU exploit that was used to root the Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet and then used to root the Amazon Fire 7 tablet has now been used to root one of the three Fire TV models that use a MediaTek CPU. Read more ›

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Amazon Fire TV Stick now includes new Alexa Voice Remote w/ Power & Volume controls for the same price of $39.99

Posted by Elias Saba on — 2 Comments

Amazon has just updated the standard Fire TV Stick to now include the new Alexa Voice Remote, which has power and volume buttons for TV and home theater equipment control. The ncie thing is that they’re maintaining the same $39.99 retail price for the new bundle as they had for the old bundle with the old remote. Read more ›

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This Ethernet Adapter w/ USB Hub for the Fire TV 3 and Fire TV Stick 2 is cheaper and better than Amazon’s official adapter

Posted by Elias Saba on — 49 Comments

Along with the new 3rd generation Fire TV, Amazon has released their own official Fire TV Ethernet Adapter that also works with the 2nd generation Fire TV Stick. It’s a fine adapter if all you want is to add Ethernet capabilities to your Fire TV or Fire TV Stick, but most people will be much better off buying this UGREEN Ethernet Adapter w/ USB Hub along with an OTG Adapter. Read more ›

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Amazon Fire TV Stick 2 with Alexa arrives in the UK

Posted by Elias Saba on

The 2nd-generation Amazon Fire TV Stick has been released today in the UK. Several readers have let me know that their pre-orders have arrived and Alexa is finally working on a Fire TV device in the UK. The 5.2.4.1 software update that is currently rolling out to all devices will be adding Alexa to all existing Fire TV models in the UK and Germany as well. Amazon UK has now officially announced that all 1st-gen devices will be getting the new user interface and all models will be getting Alexa. The Fire TV Stick 2 will be arriving in Germany on April 20th, but existing Fire TV owners in Germany should start receiving the 5.2.4.1 update with Alexa before then, during the next few weeks.

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Amazon Fire TV Stick 2 with Alexa announced for the UK and Germany

Posted by Elias Saba on

As expected, Amazon has announced that the 2nd generation Fire TV Stick, which was released in the US last October, is coming to the UK and Germany. The quad-core streaming stick is now available for pre-order in the UK for £39.99 and in Germany for 39,99 €. In addition to being a much more capable device than its predecessor, thanks to its quad-core 1.3 Ghz Mediatek 8127D processor, Mali-450 GPU, and 802.11ac WiFi, the all-new Fire TV Stick 2 comes with a voice remote and full Alexa capabilities. Read more ›

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UK and Germany probably getting 2nd-Gen Fire TV Stick soon

Posted by Elias Saba on — 8 Comments

The 2nd generation Fire TV Stick has been available in the US since October of last year, but Amazon has not released it in other regions yet, like the UK and Germany, where they still sell the 1st generation device. I think this is about to change soon, due to an abrupt supply shortage of Fire TV Sticks in the US. Earlier this week, the 2nd-gen Fire TV Stick suddenly became backordered in the US. Ordering one today won’t see it arrive for over a month. I suspect this is due to Amazon rerouting all supplies to the UK and Germany in preparation for the device’s imminent international launch. Read more ›

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Fire TV Stick 2 better supports USB Ethernet Adapters with 5.2.4.0 software update

Posted by Elias Saba on — 10 Comments

It was quite surprising to discover that the Amazon Fire TV Stick 2 works with USB OTG cables out of the box without needing to be rooted. Some, including myself, questioned whether the functionality was accidentally left enabled, and if a future update would disable OTG cable support. The good news is the 5.2.4.0 software update not only still works with USB OTG cables, but it actually better supports USB ethernet adapters connected through OTG cables. Read more ›

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Promo credit emails are rolling out to Amazon Fire TV Stick 2 buyers

Posted by Elias Saba on — 5 Comments

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If you purchased the new Amazon Fire TV Stick 2, and have activated it, you should have received, or should soon be recieving, and email from Amazon with several promotions. The email contains a code for 1 free month of Sling TV, a link for 2 free months of Hulu, and a link which adds $10 of Amazon Video credit to your account. Everyone who activates a Fire TV Stick 2 by October 31st will receive these credits and promotions. Activation simply means powering on the device and logging in with your Amazon account.

The $10 Amazon Video credit must be applied to your account by November 15 and must be used by December 15, so don’t delay. If you’re not sure what to rent or buy with your credit, Amazon’s Video Deals page is a good place to start. The Sling TV and Hulu promotions must be redeemed by December 15 and November 15 respectively, and are unfortunately valid for new customers only.

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Amazon Fire TV Stick 2’s CPU runs hotter than 1st-gen, but dissipates heat more efficiently

Posted by Elias Saba on — 22 Comments

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One legitimate concern with the new Amazon Fire TV Stick 2 is how well it handles heat dissipation. Cramming in a quad-core CPU into such a tiny package, without any forced airflow, could be a recipe for disaster if heat isn’t managed correctly. Many 1st-generation Fire TV Stick owners know too well that it can get quite toasty, which is likely why Amazon under-clocked its dual-core CPU to 1Ghz, even though it was manufactured to run at 1.2Ghz. To determine how well the 2nd-gen Fire TV Stick handles heat, I’ve taken internal and external temperature measurements of the 1st and 2nd-gen Fire TV Sticks, both at idle and under a 100% CPU load stress test. I’ve concluded that, while the 2nd-gen Fire TV Stick’s CPU runs at a notably higher temperature than the 1st-gen Fire TV Stick’s CPU, the 2nd-gen Fire TV Stick dissipates heat better, which results in lower external temperatures. Read more ›

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