Amazon has released a new version of its popular Amazon Fire Stick, which now includes an Alexa Voice Remote standard. Other notable features include 1080p streaming, a new quad-core processor, 802.11ac MIMO Wi-Fi accessibility and support for Amazon"s Advanced Streaming and Prediction (ASAP) technology.
When the Fire Stick lineup was updated last year, the base $39 device only came with a standard remote. Users had to pay an additional $10 for the version with the voice remote.
The Alexa Voice Remote allows consumers to use vocal commands to control playback, search for content, or even order a pizza directly from the device. Amazon says that it will be adding new ‘skills" in the future and claims that tens of thousands of developers are working on adding features.
In Amazon"s press release, Marc Whitten, vice president of Amazon Fire TV, stated, “The new Amazon Fire TV Stick has been completely redesigned with incredible performance, powerful voice search and the included Alexa-powered remote to deliver instant access to a vast selection of movies, TV shows, games and Alexa skills.”
The Fire Stick can access content from such providers as Netflix, Hulu, HBO NOW, YouTube and Amazon Video, with the ability to add on premium channels for a monthly fee. The device is also highly portable, requiring only a Wi-Fi connection to work.
The third generation Fire Stick is the cheapest of Amazon"s content-streaming devices currently available on the site, with the Fire TV and Fire TV Gaming Edition selling for $99 and $139 respectively. Advantages of these premium models include support for 4K content, Ethernet compatibility and expandable memory via microSD.
The latest Fire Stick with Alexa Voice Remote is currently available to pre-order for $39.99 and will start shipping out to customers in the U.S. on October 20. Consumers who activate their device before October 31 will receive a free content package worth up to $65, which includes "one month of Sling TV, two months of Hulu (Limited Commercials), and a $10 credit for Amazon Video."
Source: Amazon Press