OT: Apple TV vs. Amazon Fire TV
- Thread starter JERZEE73
- Start date
I would approach it as if buying a car... luxury vs Honda
Apple would be the luxury that just works, user friendly and works out of the box.
Amazon is the Honda you can mod to get what you want out of it but ymmv
I got the Amazon Fire TV 4K and I loaded Kodi Steaming video app on it to stream thousands of movies, almost all in HD, including movies still out in theaters. And it's for FREE! No more cable tv (the amazon fire tv also has Watch ESPN, HBO Go, etc)
Real easy to install....
Real easy to install....
here is a comparison: http://www.cnet.com/news/what-you-can-watch-on-the-new-apple-tv-vs-roku-vs-fire-tv-vs-chromecast/
If you expect to watch Amazon video (some of which is free with Amazon Prime), then Amazon Fire or Roku is the way to go. On Apple TV, to watch Amazon content you need to broadcast it from an Apple computing device (iPad, IPhone, Mac) using Airplay. With Google Chromecast or Android TV, you can watch Amazon content from any computing device through the Chrome browser.
Bottom line, unless you are already an Apple household, with Macs, iPads, and iPhones, then stay away from Apple TV, because it won't be compatible with anything you have. If you are an Apple household, you may still decide that Roku, Amazon Fire, Chromecast, or Android TV are better options.
If you expect to watch Amazon video (some of which is free with Amazon Prime), then Amazon Fire or Roku is the way to go. On Apple TV, to watch Amazon content you need to broadcast it from an Apple computing device (iPad, IPhone, Mac) using Airplay. With Google Chromecast or Android TV, you can watch Amazon content from any computing device through the Chrome browser.
Bottom line, unless you are already an Apple household, with Macs, iPads, and iPhones, then stay away from Apple TV, because it won't be compatible with anything you have. If you are an Apple household, you may still decide that Roku, Amazon Fire, Chromecast, or Android TV are better options.
I actually have both. I purchased the Apple TV first and now have the Amazon. I used the Apple for about a year and then gave it to my daughter and purchased the Amazon for myself. In my opinion Amazon blows away the Apple in every category. Thanks to Machiavelli on a previous thread I recently installed the Kodi on my Amazon too and that is even more reason to get Amazon. I am now able to watch any movie, TV show, live tv event that is out there for FREE. Realistically I can cut the cord but I want to make sure I will still be able to watch college football. I just installed it so I haven't been able to test this feature out yet but from everything I read it seems realistic. On the Apple you can not install any apps like Kodi so you are stuck with what they give you. Amazon allows you to load all kinds of apps for games, etc.
Sometimes when you are technology illiterate, a little info just confuses you more. I do appreciate the help though.
My daughter is 9 & she probably would be interested in playing games, using YouTube, & maybe watching some movies. She also has downloaded some ITunes music to her IPad. I do have an Apple smartphone & both my daughter & I have Apple IPads.
I actually purchased the 64G Apple yesterday, not knowing there were other options. Guy in Best Buy showed me some games my daughter could easily set up & play, that looked pretty sharp. Also the sales guy spoke to me about all the movies I could watch through NetFlix, does Amazon video offer more? Then last night I saw an ad for the Amazon Fire & started to question, if I had made the right purchase.
Question from a tech neophyte..........Don't you need a good and reliable internet connection for the Apple/Amazon to work? We're in a rural location relying on wi-fi which often does not get a strong signal, and wouldn't the tv streaming use up the mb in your wi-fi (Verizon) plan?
You are welcome! To get ESPN to watch football, you can download the Watch ESPN app onto the Amazon Fire TV and you can use anyone's acct that has cable TV to access it. To watch local TV channels, I got an antenna by MOHU for as little as $15! (http://www.amazon.com/Mohu-Leaf-Met...UTF8&qid=1450792446&sr=1-2&keywords=mohu+leaf). With that, you get local channels in HD! So you can watch football games on CBS, NBC, FOX, and ABC
I was looking into this, but the Big 10 network games all require a cable subscription, even with the subscription to BTN2go.
I have to decide if listening on the radio is good enough for me.
I have to decide if listening on the radio is good enough for me.
Do u have any family or friends that have a cable subscription??
If they do, all you need to know is what cable company they have and their login info in order to access Watch ESPN, BTN, HBO GO, SHOWTIME, and others as well.
My dad has a cable subscription and my brother has one as well, so I can use either one
There is also the benefit of free porn on your hi-def TV with the Kodi app on the Amazon. This is not possible on Apple.
I've had multiple Roku devices for years and love them. Amazon Prime, Hulu, Netflix, Pandora. And if you have a cable subscription (or know someone who does Machiavelli) then they also have HBO and Showtime channels. maybe also B1G2Go but not sure. I cut the cord over 5 years ago and the only thing I really miss are live sports events, but I can usually find them online somewhere.
Based on the Q/A on amazon, you need 5Mbps or greater. If you have a lower bandwidth it will not be a good picture and will buffer, the video will stop and wait for the data stream to catch up.
As for Verizon DSL, they will tune your data stream so that it is the lowest value within their tier. For example if you pay for 5Mbps the actual number will be 2Mbps. If you pay for 7Mbps you will get 3Mbps.
I would get a Roku. Search works across all channels and has the most channels. The new SE basic box has been on sale for 25 bucks this season.
yeah but that seems wrong...not what I want to teach my kids how to do. In a few years I'm sure it will be different as streaming becomes commonplace and people by-pass cable companies.
It is just a matter of time before companies start cracking down on things like sharing accounts and kodi. Eventually the content producers will start to crack down like the music industry did with Napster and file sharing. To much money to be lost. It funny how when it not something physical people don't view it as stealing. Most people who use Kodi wouldn't shop lift at their local store but don't think twice about stealing content on line.
Does you criminal expertise also extend to retail theft? Do you also teach people how to shop lift?
Just to be clear - if I understand correctly Kodi is a media player that allows you to play content, but you still have to have access to the content. It is not providing free access to stuff others have to pay for. What you are saying is go get Watch ESPN app and use someone else's credentials that is paying for cable TV to use it. That's great - but all your doing is sponging off someone else that is paying for it - you are not "getting it for free". The digital antenna makes sense for those that want to go through with it and patch multiple things together to get a full video experience
This is what makes it hard on paying customers. Cable companies limit the number of digital devices that can be connected to an account because of people like Machiavelli. My cable company limits me to 3 which my kids hog up leaving me with nada. Not sure when people will learn that companies that create great content should be compensated for it.
We have really bad DSL services in Sedona, Arizona--2-3 Mbs. I was able to watch bowl games through the watch ESPN app on the FIreTV box, with no hiccups, blurred pictures or other major problems. Prior to FireTV, we used a sling type of device called a Vulkano, and it was torture. For the cost of the FireTV device, it is worth a shot.
Getting back to my original question, which is better for a 9 year old kid, who is probably more interested in the games they can use, you tube they can watch, & music they can listen to, than the movies or sporting events they can see?
I just want life to be simple.
I just want life to be simple.
They are all pretty much the same. I have a Roku and an Apple TV. If you have an iphone an appletv is a great companion.
the Apple TV is basically a more polished looking version of all the set top boxes.
I'd probably say this. If you are invested in apple stuff get the apple tV. Also developers tend to make things for apple products first or exclusively because apple users actually buy apps so I can see the apple store having the best store for games and what not at some point.
the Apple TV is basically a more polished looking version of all the set top boxes.
I'd probably say this. If you are invested in apple stuff get the apple tV. Also developers tend to make things for apple products first or exclusively because apple users actually buy apps so I can see the apple store having the best store for games and what not at some point.
Not sure if I made my point completely clearly. In a few years, when streaming services are more common, we might not need a cable company login for BTN football. At least that's my hope. It's all I'd hold on to the cable part of my bundled package for.
In no way was I trying to indicate that it's not good to use someone else's login now but in a few years that would be OK. It's still theft IMO.
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