Amazon Unveils Fire TV Set Top Streaming Device
- Box called Fire TV runs Google's Android software
- Games available include Minecraft and several from Amazon's own Game Studio
- Plugs into TV and allows users to watch TV and download apps
- Users can search by voice using microphone on remote
- Supports Amazon's video service and Hulu Plus
By Daily Mail UK, 2 April 2014
NEW YORK (AP) Amazon is introducing a set top box that allows streaming of online video content to televisions.
Amazon's Fire Tv box, which is available today for $99 and can download films, TV shows, Music and Apps
The company says its $99 Amazon Fire TV device has better speed, performance and search functions than other streaming services such as Apple TV and Google Chromecast.
The device, about the size of a CD case, runs Google's Android operating system and offers Netflix, Hulu and other streaming channels in addition to Amazon Prime instant video. It comes with a Bluetooth remote, which lets users conduct voice-enabled searches.
Peter Larsen, vice president of Amazon.com with the Amazon FireTV during a news conference in New York
Fire TV also offers music channels like Pandora and "Free Time", a customizable interface for children.
The Fire TV box and its remote, which has a microphone built in for voice control
The box, which starts shipping today, will also feature thousands of free and paid games like Minecraft and Disney Pixar's Monsters University starting next month. Games can be played using the remote. An optional Fire game controller will be available for $39.99.
Amazon.com founder and chief executive officer Jeff Bezos with the firm's Kindle tablets. It is set to announce a TV set top box next week.
Amazon's announcement comes as the online retailer faces increasing pressure to boost its bottom line after years of furious growth. As more Americans shop online, Amazon has spent heavily to expand its business into new areas from movie streaming to e-readers and groceries often at the expense of its profit.
Following reports last week Amazon is working on games console, the retail giant, pictured, has fuelled these rumours by acquiring Double Helix Games.
Amazon already has it own games studio and the acquisition suggests the firm is looking to expand this part of the business further
Quote:
WHAT IS DOUBLE HELIX GAMES?
Double Helix Games was set up in 2007 following a merger between studios, The Collective and Shiny Entertainment.
Previous to that the firms had been respectively building games since the mid-1990s.
Recent titles produced by Double Helix Games include G.I Joe: The Rise of Cobra, and Silent Hill: Homecoming.
The firm is based in Irvine, California and employs 75 people.
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Meanwhile, Amazon.com Inc. has invested heavily on making TV shows and movies available to customers who pay $99 a year for Amazon Prime. Amazon recently boosted the annual fee to $99 from $79 annually. Members benefit from two-day shipping of certain items and access to videos including original series like "Betas" and "Alpha House."
Currently, the service relies on third-party devices like the Roku box to stream its programs to TVs.
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FIRE TV FEATURES:
Quad-Core Processor and Graphics Engine
2GB of memory, 4x the memory of Apple TV
Streams in High Definition 1080p with Dolby Digital Plus Surround Sound
Box is 0.7 thin
Fire TVs remote uses bluetooth
Voice search using microphone on remote
Average price of paid games is $1.85
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