Even though we are getting near the end of 2018, Amazon was not done with the hardware announcements. In fact, they have just released an updated version of the Amazon Fire TV Stick. For the first time, the volume, mute and power buttons will be featured on the Alexa remote. Not to mention that the Fire TV Stick 4K supports all three major HDR standards and Dolby Atmos audio.
It is important to note that HDR10+, which is one of the standards, and Dolby Vision are the newcomers to the line. Both standards support the dynamic metadata with more details provided in dark and bright parts of an image, in case you are watching something on a compatible TV. In case you have already purchased a compatible TV, this is the improvement you need. It may be subtle, but the differences can be noticed.
Amazon has supported the HDR10+ and it comes to no surprise that this is the new standard edition. The company has announced that all its original content would come with support for this improvement.
Ups and Downs
There are plenty of benefits of this stick. First of all, it is easy to navigate and everybody will be able to use it. Alexa is integrated well and its fast interface is something everyone can enjoy. On the other hand, the new stick might not be that perfect as it first seems. Content search has some blind spots and Amazon missed an ideal opportunity for a remote app.
Design
When it comes to the design, the new gadget is not that different from the old one. It is intended to plug straight into an HDMI port on the back of your TV. In case that doesn’t fit perfectly, you have nothing to worry about, as the company offers a short male-to-female HDMI cable in order for the bulky hardware to be connected.
A micro USB port is located on the side of the stick, and it is used to power the device. Amazon also provides a power adaptor in the box together with the TV stick whereas the supplied USB cable is long enough to reach a power supply. Although there aren’t any major differences design-wise the stick will fit your hand perfectly.
In case you are interested in the new Fire Stick, it will retail for $49.99 with the shipping starting on October 31st in North America. The UK customers will have to wait until November 14th to get a hold of this gadget. In case you already have a Fire TV Cube, the remote is offered separately for $29.99. And according to Fire Stick Tricks, you can jailbreak the TV stick. Do you want to learn how?
This is a solid piece of hardware, however, it is not a revolutionary step forward as we hoped it would be with Alexa’s help. Still, the stick could be very useful no matter the streaming services. Do you like the new Amazon Fire TV stick and would you buy it?
