New Amazon Fire TV announced

TheMightyTen

TheMightyTen

TheMightyTen

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Well it was expected but the new Fire TV has been announced for a 25th October release and also as expected it's based around the S905 (S905z to be exact) and Mali, this actually puts it below the Fire TV gen 2 in hardware terms but adds 2160p at up to 60Hz and HDR10, also Ethernet is only available with an extra USB adaptor and there's no news as whether that's 100 Mb/s or 1000 Mb/s.

Full Spec:

Size: 65.0 mm x 65.0 mm x 15.0 mm
Weight: 87.1 g
Processor: Amlogic S905z quad-core up to 1.5 GHz | ARM 4xCA53 @ 1.5 GHz
GPU: Mali450 MP3
Storage: 8 GB internal (actual formatted capacity will be less) available for apps and games
Memory: 2 GB
Wi-Fi Connectivity: Dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO) for faster streaming and fewer dropped connections than standard Wi-Fi. Supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi networks.
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.1, BLE
Voice Support: Yes, with Alexa Voice Remote (included) or free Fire TV Remote App (available for download on Fire, Android and iOS)
Ethernet Support: With optional Amazon Ethernet Adaptor
Ports: HDMI output, micro-USB for power only
Audio Support: Dolby Atmos, 7.1 surround sound, 2ch stereo and HDMI audio pass-through up to 5.1
Content Formats Supported: Video: HDR10. H.265, H.264, Audio: AAC-LC, AC3, eAC3 (Dolby Digital Plus), FLAC, MP3, PCM/Wave, Vorbis, Dolby Atmos (EC3_JOC), Photo: JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP
Output Resolution Supported: 2160p, 1080p and 720p up to 60 fps
System Requirements: High-definition television with available HDMI input, Internet connection via Wi-Fi, an electrical socket
TV Compatibility: TV must support minimum HDCP requirements for protected content playback. Learn more. Compatible with 4K ultra high-definition TVs with HDMI capable of 2160p at 24/25/30/50/60 Hz and HDCP 2.2

It's an interesting spec and I've pre-ordered one to test for Plex and SPMC so will give it a good test. In some ways I think it will be more refined than the Shield TV but is far less adaptable and powerful.
 
Still no HD Audio :(. So frustrating there isn't a single device that can do it all, have to stick with my Shield for Movies and then PS4 for UK catchup TV.
 
Yes lack of HD Audio is annoying, although might be interesting to see what Koying can do with the API, there are rumours he has managed to access NVidia's SE5.2/6.0 APIs to get the Shield to auto resolution switch so there's no telling what he can find audio wise buried in the depths of the Fire 2017,
 
jpaul said:
vp9 is not listed so no utube 4k
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It is on their developer spec can't link to it because the developer site is an off shoot of the amazon site but it supports VP9 level 2 in hardware.

To confirm a comment I made above Koying has got resolution switching working on the Shield TV in SPMC :D :D, with the latest SPMC Alpha 17.4a10 if you set the resolution to 1920x1080 it changes the shield resolution regardless of if its set at 3840x2160 so 1080p/24 content plays at 1080p/24 and if you then choose 4K content (and HDR as well) it switches up to 3840x2160, the only caveat being if you choose the GUI at 1920x1080 you can only choose refresh rates of 23.97, 24, 29.97 and 30 (refresh rate switching still works for played content though)
 
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I've also been told the new Fire will be running Fire OS 6 which is based on Android 7.1 (API Level 25), if that is the case there is every chance SPMC/Kodi can pass through HD Audio formats using the IEC61937 audio standard.

The question is whether Amazon will have finally blocked sideloading in the new OS (There have been rumours), if that's the case at least Koying has been working with MrMC on implementing some of his SPMC work into MrMC's "payed for" version available from the Amazon store.
 
Wonder if this new version will handle interlaced video any better, was hoping to use one as client for my hdhomerun but HD Freeview looks terrible as it doesn't properly support deinterlacing 1080i.

As Chris said its so frustrating that we still haven't got a single box solution. Shield is close with refresh rate switching and hd audio but for some reason hasn't got all the catchup services and then you have providers like Sky that just don't want to play nice with other devices.

Consoles are close but not the most family friendly and a bit wasteful for just watching a film / tv.
 
TheMightyTen said:
I've also been told the new Fire will be running Fire OS 6 which is based on Android 7.1 (API Level 25), if that is the case there is every chance SPMC/Kodi can pass through HD Audio formats using the IEC61937 audio standard.

The question is whether Amazon will have finally blocked sideloading in the new OS (There have been rumours), if that's the case at least Koying has been working with MrMC on implementing some of his SPMC work into MrMC's "payed for" version available from the Amazon store.
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I assume it's a hardware limitation, ie doesn't support 192khz.
 
Well I am very disappointed with the new Fire TV as it is badly designed and not simple, fast and fluid to setup like the old Fire TV. As the standard HDMI is built into it I can no longer have a single run HDMI cable from where the Fire TV sits to my display.

Not only do I have to have multiple HDMI adaptors to get display and sound out the FireTV, it no longer has an Ethernet port so you have to have yet another adaptor. While the old Fire TV was simple, fast and fluid this Fire TV is a mess of cables and adapters.

If that wasn’t bad enough the internal hardware is not as good as the old Fire TV. This is coming from a massive fan of the last generation Fire TV.
 
Pottsey said:
Well I am very disappointed with the new Fire TV as it is badly designed and not simple, fast and fluid to setup like the old Fire TV. As the standard HDMI is built into it I can no longer have a single run HDMI cable from where the Fire TV sits to my display.

Not only do I have to have multiple HDMI adaptors to get display and sound out the FireTV, it no longer has an Ethernet port so you have to have yet another adaptor. While the old Fire TV was simple, fast and fluid this Fire TV is a mess of cables and adapters.

If that wasn’t bad enough the internal hardware is not as good as the old Fire TV. This is coming from a massive fan of the last generation Fire TV.
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I must admit I looked at that short little built in HDMI lead, and saw the lack of an ethernet port, and my eyebrows went up!

And you say the internal hardware isn't as good as the previous 4K Fire TV?
 
NeilFawcett said:
I must admit I looked at that short little built in HDMI lead, and saw the lack of an ethernet port, and my eyebrows went up!

And you say the internal hardware isn't as good as the previous 4K Fire TV?
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Well it now supports HDR10 but the hardware itself is weaker. The GPU for example is 5 years old and wasn't even high end back then.
 
Pottsey said:
Well it now supports HDR10 but the hardware itself is weaker. The GPU for example is 5 years old and wasn't even high end back then.
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From what I read when this was announced is that this new model sits between the gen 2 fire stick and fire tv and the new Alexa integrated version will be the flagship model.
 
This version is more about Amazon getting a model out there that can take advantage of their own HDR service because equipping the gen 2 with an HDMI 1.4 was a bit of an own goal

Marvt74 said:
Does seem an odd step.

I'm still on the original Fire TV, hoping this pushes down the price of the Gen2!
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There are no Fire TV gen 2 left only refurbs.
 
TheMightyTen said:
This version is more about Amazon getting a model out there that can take advantage of their own HDR service because equipping the gen 2 with an HDMI 1.4 was a bit of an own goal
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That would have been the very reason I was going to buy it but having HDR support is useless when the unit is so badly designed I cannot even plug it in and use it on my display. That silly little cable is enough to stop me buying it :(
 
Surely in the USA people would be have already bought the new Roku's and Amazon have missed the market ? but maybe they will try and compete on price.

TheMightyTen said:
The question is whether Amazon will have finally blocked sideloading in the new OS
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you can't sideload on Roku, I though this was a widevine requirement to ensure IP protection of the 4K Netflix streams.
 
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