Amazon Fire TV vs Everything Else in the same price range

[maestro]

Does this blow everything out of the water? The Fire TV is $84 on Amazon right now and you can find it around that price at some stores.

What would be better or the equivalent at this price range?

I'm looking for something for XBMC to connect to my TV and watch 1080p videos and of course I like downloading different Android apps and games.

What right now is comparable or better at $100 or less right now?

[trebor]

Howdy

For the Price and what it can do, Its a winner and as both you and the Fire Tv are in the place you cant go wrong, It works. have look over at XDA for more creative information.

It is very Amazon orientated but there are workarounds...
XBMC works etc

Have a good read around here to find what you want

http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?11890-So-How-about-the-New-Fire-TV-will-it-be-covered-some-where-in-Freaktab

Cheers

[userx]

I have a AFTV and a several other dongles and TV boxes. Here are my thoughts. The UI on the AFTV is by far the best on any TV box. It's a fluid player with a modern UI and smooth transitions like butter. I have a pretty good idea the new "Android TV" box will be very similar. And that will be way better and less locked down.

The UI with the AFTV is stuck in amazon land with their voice search only searching their content. That is to boost their content sales of movies and shows. A big minus for people that don't need amazon content. As of this writing you can still root it. This opens up the functionality of the box with XBMC. But it's a little tricky and we could lose root with a new update. The other catch is the box has to be connected to the internet to function. I won't go into to hugh draw backs of that issue, but its has future implications of functionality.

The boxes on this forum are user friendly for modding and custom ROMs are wonderful. You can't get that with a AFTV. It's android with a locked boot loader and root witch is it not permanent. Over on XDA read up on the process of root and the mods you can do. I like the AFTV box a lot, it plays video flawlessly. But if amazon kills root then and future modding will be dead. The latest AFTV software update has broken root btw. So a new exploit will be needed. It's a great box that works well.

It's a bargain at $84 bucks. But it might end up a paper weight.

[maestro]

I really do prefer regular Android, but with all of the problems I see all of these devices having it kind of makes it hard to buy one. I have no problem rooting a device once, setting it up and not having to mess with it for some months. I don't want to be stuck having to keep fixing a device. I want it to just work, but I'm willing to put some time into initial setup to get it working properly.

I do like the sound of the Android TV but that probably won't come out until the end of the year. I kind of want something to mess with now.

Does anyone have any Android device recommendations that are out now that are $100 or less? It will mainly be for XBMC.

[userx]

Well then buy one now, today. It's on sale at Staples for $79 with coupon.
This deal is selling out fast. Only one store by me has stock left out of 8 stores.

Expires August 30, 2014 $5 off Print coupon out. Bring to store.

[maestro]

After taxes that runs me $84.53. Pretty much the same as Amazon. The store closest to me does have it in stock. I just don't want to pull the trigger if I can get something even close that is Android. I want to buy 4 of them.

[revsignup]

After taxes that runs me $84.53. Pretty much the same as Amazon. The store closest to me does have it in stock. I just don't want to pull the trigger if I can get something even close that is Android. I want to buy 4 of them.

Netflix does not work very well on the Android boxes. SD for the most part. If you go to OpenElec or Linux you loose Netflix completely. Sounds like you have an Amazon Prime account, so you can stream prime videos on the AFTV. I like having one box for everything and one remote control. I launch directly to XBMC and can launch native android applications like netflix from XBMC. I have also hacked it to run spotify in tablet mode, so no restrictions like having to shuffle or limited skipping.

Negatives:
Latest Firmware is not rootable until they find a new exploit. Root is not required to run XBMC.
Android does not support dynamic frame rate switching like OpenElec (Linux)
VPN components are removed, there are workarounds if you want to connect through a VPN (OpenVpn connect or setting it up in your router).

I like it Best box I have had yet (CMX, Roku 3, RPi Openelec, Boxee Box).
I think you can't beat it for the price. If I was willing to spend more I would get an intel Nuc or Chrome Box.

[trebor]

+1 for that.

[maestro]

I ordered a Fire TV a little while ago for $62.77 shipped. Staples has it for $84. I got a $30 off of $80 from a Chinese coupon site for $4.99 and on Staples website I paid $57.78.

[trebor]

Doctor you AMazon Fire TV

Good to see, you will have some enjoyment and less stress one can hope

I used parts of this today to Doctor one of My fire Tv's follow the Instructions Read the Readme easy peasy. Just be mindful of what version you have you may have to downgrade firmware. Luckily I did not have to do.

http://www.aftvnews.com/software/

http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-root-the-amazon-fire-tv/ step by step info

http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2736774 Handy tool for side loading apps etc

http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-block...p-root-access/ Block updates.

http://www.aftvnews.com/tag/guide/ A guide for a few more tricks and tips.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2793823 More guides found here

Cheers

[maestro]

I'll be following those links as soon as I get it. Hopefully in a couple of days. Thanks for the help.

I'm still looking for suggestions since I still want to buy 3 more devices. My best hope would be if they come out with a full fledged Android ROM for the Fire TV.

[trebor]

The New RK3288 devices are going to be the next big thing.
Get your self an M8 or Minix X8-h they will challenge you I am sure.
Depends what your looking for, and what it has to do.
I mentioned before what ever you buy will be out of date next day.
So Jump in. and bite the bullet.

Cheers

[userx]

I ordered a Fire TV a little while ago for $62.77 shipped. Staples has it for $84. I got a $30 off of $80 from a Chinese coupon site for $4.99 and on Staples website I paid $57.78.

What? post the links... I need one for $57.78

[maestro]

What? post the links... I need one for $57.78

First make sure they have it in stock http://www.staples.com/Amazon-Stream...product_338326 . They've been going in and out of stock at $84.

Then if they do have it in stock go to https://cn-usa.com/?cmd=buy&sw_searc...archIndex=Card . It looks like all of the codes are out of stock right now also. Those also go back in and out of stock.

When I bought it first I got the coupon code, then Staples was out of stock, then they went back in stock and I was able to buy online.

It might be a dead deal right now, but it could come back up. If you see it come back up I would make a move fast.

[maestro]

Thanks for the recommendation. I got the FireTV yesterday in the mail. I rooted it, stopped updates, added XBMC and did a couple of other things. It's working great. I might just get 3 more of these soon, but I'll hold out for a little bit. Besides the links above here are a couple of other links I found useful:

First thing get this to easily sideload apps (included a bunch of helpful stuff) http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2736774
How to root and a lot of helpful info http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Amazon_Fire_TV
Adds a whole bunch of channels easily http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.p...p-in-5-Minutes
Guides for Fire TV http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2793823
Keymap option for FireTV remote. Configurable through Amazon FireTV Utility App http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title...Fire_TV_remote
Modify video cache if stuttering video. Configurable through FireTV Utility App (I didn't have to use but just in case) http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=HOW-TO:Modify_the_video_cache