Brings lightning-fast app starts with an octa-core processor and is 2X as powerful as Fire TV Stick 4K Max
Control your compatible TV, soundbar, and receivers with your voice, even from across the room
Connect compatible devices and easily go from streaming to your game console, or webcam
Also the following for $9 more:
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen): https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/amazon-fire-tv-stick-4k-m…
Idk why you'd pay more for the max
'cause it's launched in 2023 and has micro USB: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/amazon-fire-tv-stick-4k-ma…
For a 2023 product, I would expect it to have USB-C instead of Micro-USB….
Great unit, especially at this price, a few benefits over the new 4k Max
twice the CPU performance
4K upscaling (great as still not a lot of 4k content)
Option for always HDR
USB Ports
HDMI Input (doesn't support VRR)
Alexa Speaker (with mute button if you don't use Alexa)
Downside over the Max, is it is physically larger.
New 4K Max has an Apps button on the remote which is handy,
As someone who hates commercials and ads, is this a complete ad-fest?
It depends on how technical you are. I am getting the Firestick Lite and plan to remove most of the programs and shovelware by using ADB commands. In addition, I am going to try to install a new launcher (or even Kodi). Hopefully then it should be usable with little interference from ads.
Sounds cool. Care to point me in the direction of a tutorial?
Sure, there's two ways you can go about doing this:
1st is by using the Amazon interface as seen in this video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlwlPqLZ9wk
TechDoctorUK has a lot of FireStick related tips whether it's adblocking, debloating the device etc. However I will try to use the second method, as I don't like installing random (and closed source with sketchy privacy terms) software on my device to manage my device like seen in the video above.
2nd method would be to remotely connect to the device through ADB. This video goes into detail on how to accomplish this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D11frTQwXQ8
From there I can list all of the apps and services, and delete them as I like. As the FireStick runs a version of Android, you can use the Android SDK documentation to help with issuing commands:
https://developer.android.com/tools/adb#issuingcommands
I could also point the device DNS (in the graphical interface) to my PiHole server, which helps block ads and trackers.
Ultimately as I haven't got the device yet, I can't guarantee that it will work, and if you're less technical it is possible to accidentally disable an important service (such as the interface). Either way, these general principles should work for all Amazon smart TV devices, ie Cube, FireStick 4K etc.
Hope this helps!
Prime Day starts tomorrow
TrueHD Passthrough?