![]() As well as BBC iPlayer you also get ITV Hub, 4OD and Demand 5, while for local streaming there’s Plex and VLC, and for music you get Spotify, Deezer and Tidal. Netflix is here, too, also in 4K with HDR and Dolby Vision – although without HDR10+ (which isn’t currently supported by Netflix) or Dolby Atmos (which you will get from the Netflix app on some platforms, such as Apple TV). In short, the search function, whether activated by type or voice, works best when you know what you’re after.Īt front and centre of the app selection is Amazon Prime Video, here available in 4K with standard HDR, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision – and with Dolby Atmos sound. And although Netflix is included, Amazon results are predictably prioritised – even if clicking on them would result in paying to watch something that’s already included in your Netflix subscription. It’s not universal, for a start, so iPlayer, for example, isn’t included in results. However, Alexa is slightly hampered by a patchy general search function. If you’ve got another Alexa device, such as an Echo Dot, you can issue the command ‘out loud’ – no need to even find the Stick’s remote. With HDMI-CEC correctly setup, you can issue a single voice command to turn on your TV, turn on the Fire TV Stick 4K and start playing an episode of, say, The Boys. Issuing commands feels natural, they’re always understood and enacted upon quickly, and you can do more than simply search for a show or pause what you’re watching. What makes the Fire TV Stick 4K’s voice control special is its combination of responsiveness, consistency of comprehension and scope. Simply press the voice control button on the remote and issue commands into the integrated microphone. HDR support HDR10, HLG, HDR10+, Dolby VisionĪdding a further dimension to operability is Alexa voice control. The Fire TV Stick 4K is also by default set to always output HDR, effectively upconverting standard dynamic range content to rather inauthentic effect - we’d recommend you also change that while in the setting menus. The option to play all content in its native frame rate is turned off by default and we’d strongly recommend turning it on. ![]() ![]() Once the initial set-up is complete there are still a few more advanced options worth exploring. The video that introduces you to your new device is useful, but it also sets off any Alexa device already in the room. The stick automatically installs any available software updates, quickly and easily connects to your wi-fi and, predictably, links to your Amazon account. But wall-mounters who’ve chosen a stick device for neatness will be disappointed if they discover plugging the Amazon into the wall is or becomes essential.įirst-time set-up is pleasantly slick. You can also hardwire the Fire TV Stick 4K to your router by adding the optional ethernet adapter.Īs well as being bulkier than most sticks, the Fire TV Stick 4K also draws more power, to the extent that you should use the USB wall plug that comes in the box rather than running the cable into one of your TV’s own sockets – though we tried it both ways during testing and spotted no difference in performance. There is, at least, an HDMI extender in the box that can help with the latter issueĪnd improve the wi-fi performance at the same time – although we had no issues with wi-fi without it. Plugging it in next to other cables can be a real squeeze too. Compared to a more traditionally shaped streamer such as the Apple TV 4K, this is a far more compact design, but at 10cm long the Fire TV Stick 4K will protrude from the edge of many TVs when plugged into a sideways-facing socket. Such is its chunkiness, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K might be more accurately referred to as a branch.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |