Amazon has today announced that it is bringing its small streaming stick to more than 100 new countries, including many in Europe. The Fire TV Stick Basic Edition offers access to Amazon Video, Netflix, YouTube, and much more.
Next step in global expansion
Amazon launched its Prime Video streaming services globally in December 2016. The company is now bringing its TV operating system in the form of the Fire TV Stick to more than 100 new countries and territories. The small device resembles a Chromecast but has a full TV user interface and a remote control.
- “Last year, we made Amazon Prime Video available to customers globally, and today, we’re building on that momentum as we introduce Fire TV Stick Basic Edition to new customers around the world,” said Marc Whitten, VP, Amazon Fire TV. “This makes streaming content from apps like Prime Video fast and easy and we can’t wait to hear what customers think.”
Fire TV Stick is based on Amazon’s FireTV operating system that competes with the likes of Apple’s tvOS, Google’s Android TV, LG’s webOS, and Samsung’s Tizen. The company says that the app store now includes “over 4,000 apps and games”.
1080p HD streaming
The small stick must be connected to your TV’s HDMI port and home WiFi. It can be operated with the bundled remote control. Amazon also offers a remote app for smartphones.
Fire TV Stick supports video streaming in up to 1080p HD quality and 5.1 surround sound. It is powered by a quad-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage and an ‘ac’ WiFi antenna. It also handles HEVC decoding.
Besides the Fire TV Stick, Amazon offers streaming devices capable of 4K and HDR output. However, these devices are not yet available globally. The Alexa voice assistant is not available either.
Amazon has dubbed the internation version ’Fire TV Stick Basic Edition’ and it is available today from amazon.com for $50 dollars plus shipping and tax.
Fire TV Stick Basic Edition - specs
| Size: 85.9 mm x 30.0 mm x 12.6 mm |
| Weight: 32.0g |
| 720p and 1080p up to 60fps |
| Processor: MediaTek Quad-core ARM 1.3 GHz |
| GPU: Mali450 MP4 |
| Storage: 8 GB internal |
| Memory: 1 GB |
| Wi-Fi: Dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi supports 2x2 MIMO 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| Bluetooth 4.1 |
| HDMI output, Micro USB for power only |
| Dolby Audio, 5.1 surround sound, 2ch stereo, and HDMI audio pass through up to 7.1 |
Video: H.264 1080p30H.265 1080p30,
Audio: AAC-LC, HE-AACv1 (AAC+), HE-AACv2 (eAAC+), AC3 (Dolby Digital), eAC3 (Dolby Digital Plus), FLAC, MIDI, MP3, PCM/Wave, Vorbis, AMR-NB, AMR-WB
Photo: JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP |
