Amazon introduces the Amazon Fire TV Cube

[Rodney McKay]

As much as my fiance and I really liked the Xbox One Kinect's voice controls (when it heard us, and before they patched out a to of functionality), I think we're fine using our Harmony remote and a Roku these days.

You can even sync a Harmony Remote with your Amazon Echos these days for most of this functionality, the only flaw with that is that there's a bit of a delay between it hearing you and actually doing the action (which makes using the remote more convenient for the most part).

 

[Deleted member 134]

I really should get a Harmony remote. I've put it off for years.

 

[Dr Doom]

Tempting but I have Harmony set up already and my Tv does HDR 10 and Dolby

 

[sapien85]

Alexa, send my info to the FSB.

 

[vatstep]

However you might want to use the Cube (as a fully operational hub or just hands-off streaming device), there are some deal breakers in here:

10 things the Amazon Fire TV Cube can't do

1. Does not work with HDMI hubs/switches
2. Can control the volume of either a soundbar or A/V receiver, but not both
3. Does not support Alexa Bluetooth Syncing
4. Does not support Alexa Calling & Messaging
5. Does not support Alexa Multi-Room Audio
6. Cannot be controlled through an external Echo device
7. Not compatible with Projectors
8. Not compatible with Universal Remotes
9. Can't change OTA antenna channels
10. Does not support Sleep Timers

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[Nintendo Switch]

Needs a handle

Click to shrink...

It needs a gaming controller

 

[whatsinaname]

I am in the market for an alexa device and a 4k streamer and this would have been perfect. But no youtube app and weaker than the 2nd gen firestick? -_-

 

[Darknight]

However you might want to use the Cube (as a fully operational hub or just hands-off streaming device), there are some deal breakers in here:

10 things the Amazon Fire TV Cube can't do

Click to shrink...

Number 2 makes sense though. Universal control schemes always want you to control volume through a single method, not multiple ways.

Number 7 is just weird. I'm not even sure how this would not be compatible.

I am in the market for an alexa device and a 4k streamer and this would have been perfect. But no youtube app and weaker than the 2nd gen firestick? -_-

Click to shrink...

No, it's weaker than the Fire TV2, not Fire Stick.

 

[whatsinaname]

No, it's weaker than the Fire TV2, not Fire Stick.

Click to shrink...

Right. Roku Ultra + Echo Dot seems like the better solution atm.

 

[Donos]

Thing is, i have echo dot and fire tv. They want to tell me that this is not possible with these devices i already have?

 

[LGHT_TRSN]

Received my pre-ordered Cube yesterday, and I have to same I'm rather impressed so far. Setup was super easy. Automatically detected my TV via HDMI-CEC, selected the brand on my AV receiver and my cable provider and went through the quick setup without any issues.

It feels like magic being able to say "Alexa, tune to ESPN" and watch as my TV changes input, changes to the correct channel and boom, there's the NBA draft. This is really what I've been wanting for in an all-in-one solution. Can't wait until they start adding more functionality like being able to control the DVR on my cable box.

 

[mauaus]

Gonna set mine up this week, should be good excited to try it out

 

[CostcoCousteau]

Why wouldn't the volume be on the TV? I'm confused :)

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we bootleg jetsons now

 

[BLEEN]

Would hack.