Firestick craps all over Chromecast

GnarlyKnuckles on 31/10/2021 - 19:58

I just bought a $50 FireStick from the GoodGuys thanks to a deal kindly posted on here. It's the one on special from the GoodGuys that is reportedly the now 'old' version of the 'new' one they sell for $100 called the 'MAX'. I really love it/the thing absolutely rocks.

I can't believe how much better the FireStick is than ChromeCast (CC) devices; which I suddenly now hate, a lot. I have bought two CCs over the years in efforts to circumvent my crappy free-to-air reception, the most recent one less than a year ago. Those spectacularly suckworthy CCs have been and endless headache, in just about every way imaginable. No way to stream straight to the CC from the modem/router, stuttery/crap streaming from my laptop or any phone (tried numerous friends' top-of-the-line phones) to either CC, both CCs 'randomly' and frequently 'forgetting everything' and requiring a factory reset/totally new set-up process to get them back to functional, etc.

Compared to all that BS rubbish, the FireStick is like some sort of mystical little gateway to Utopia. I set it up in less than 4 minutes, and it works perfectly. It is preprogrammed (or is 'primed' a more correct word?!? Not my field!) to stream all the free-to-air channels live, direct from the modem/router; without the need for any intermediary device (no laptop or phone required). Similarly, unlike either of my puke-provoking CCs, it is preprogrammed to stream YouTube on demand, and it also appears that it can facilitate the use of the 'the internet in general' on my crappy old TV (though I haven't tried that yet; no real need to).

So in conclusion, if like me you have tried to transform your crappy old (but acceptably large-screened) TV into a ‘smart’ TV using a CC device and found the process lacking, I strongly suggest getting one of these $50 FireSticks. This thing is great, and it is right up there with the best purchases I have ever been led to by OzB.

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Comments

        • MrBear on 02/11/2021 - 09:25

          Thanks bamzero. I would want to use it for over-the-air (IPTV) channels in Australia plus Kodi plus YouTube.

          Do you know if they have enough memory to store the Kodi database?

          • bamzero on 02/11/2021 - 14:41

            @MrBear: The database itself wouldn't be an issue, but the thumbnails, covers and fanart start to add up if you put a lot of shows through it.

    • GnarlyKnuckles on 02/11/2021 - 17:17

      'Firestick vs Chromecast with Google TV (vs generic Android TV box) would be a fairer comparison.'

      OK sure. Then the comparison is $49 for a 4K FireStick with remote, vs. $99 for a ChromeCast with Google TV.

      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/659788

      $49 or $99. Which would you rather pay?

  • GnarlyKnuckles on 01/11/2021 - 17:34
    -3

    OK cool. So we all pretty much agree that all ChromeCast devices are a complete load of toss, and should be instantly binned and replaced with anything with 'FireStick' written on it.

    Now, stay tuned for my next insightful post. It will be titled 'Why vegans are solely responsible for Melbourne's housing unaffordability crisis', and it will be my usual artful combination of profound wisdom and hilarious patter.

    • SF3 on 01/11/2021 - 21:34
      +2

      R U OK?

      • GnarlyKnuckles on 02/11/2021 - 02:00

        Never better schooly, thanks for asking :)

  • Lichen6420 on 01/11/2021 - 21:30

    The other great thing about the Chromecast with Google TV is the remote is also designed to function as a universal IR remote and can be setup to control the power, volume and source buttons for your TV which is great as you only need one remote. Such a great product !

    • GnarlyKnuckles on 02/11/2021 - 02:13

      This $50 FS remote does all that too stringers. Juz sayin'.

      • Lichen6420 on 02/11/2021 - 20:44
        +1

        Honestly didn't know that… that's actually impressive for a $50 device.

        Personally I like being able to push 'cast' content to the Chromecast from my phone, or laptop. I mainly use it for playing Plex and like to navigate the library on the phone screen as it's much quicker and easier than using a remote…. but that's just me and my usage scenario.

        I know a lot of people don't like the idea of casting and find it clumsy or inconvenient or just prefer the normal smart tv like functions the firestick provides. For $50 it sounds like the firestick is a worth device.

        With the new Chromecast at least now there is options for both casting and using it via a remote. Sucks you had a poor experience with one of the earlier models.

        I started with the Chromecast Ultra and never really had any issues, I however do not doubt their earlier versions were probably buggy and unreliable though.

  • jtc13 on 02/11/2021 - 21:18

    I bought the fire stick as well but so far am finding it a bit confusing and not that great. I don't see the free to air channels pre installed on mine and there appears to be tiles that should have an image in the menu but they are just showing up blank. Disney Plus won't let me sign in either.

    • GnarlyKnuckles on 02/11/2021 - 21:21

      OK jtc13, first things first … have you successfully connected the FS to your wifi?

      • putangiano on 03/11/2021 - 10:23

        I just got one too … liking it so far … how do you get free to air telly? It's connected to my wifi

        • GnarlyKnuckles on 03/11/2021 - 12:11
          +1

          '… how do you get free to air telly?

          During the setup process, when it asks you to choose the things you want access to/the things that it will include on the start-up screen as icons, as well as YouTube you also pick 7+, 9now, 10play, and ABC-View. SBS evidently supplies their live free-to-air streams a bit differently to those other networks, and to get the 'SBS on Demand' icon added to the start-up screen I 'asked Alexa'. I just said 'find SBS', and miraculously 'she' did; and it's now permanently included on the start-up screen like all the other free-to-air providers. It's possible that you could instruct Alexa to find all the other networks this way too, and add then to the start-up screen.

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