Ecommerce giant Amazon announced its long anticipated streaming media device called the Fire TV.
Amazon stated they've watched devices in this category for a long time, so "we know what is and isn't working for customers." They set out to make a device that is better than anyone else in the market by
"inventing and simplifiying" the media streaming box.
The Fire TV is a small black box which plugs into your HDTV, The console runs its own OS, sports a quad core processor, 2GB of RAM, and toutes Dual Band Wi-Fi for the fastest connectivity possible.
Amazon states that not only will you be able to watch movies via Amazon Instant Streaming, Netflix, Hulu, and a variety of apps such as MLB At Bat, Flixter, WatchESPN, and Pandora but you will be able to play games with a special controller for the Fire TV. Games at launch include Minecraft, The Walking Dead, and Asphault Airborne 8.
Amazon have pre-loaded a number of applications onto the Fire TV which have become an industry standard. Pre-loaded on the device will be Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Streaming, a Photo Viewer, and a feature called X-Ray. X-ray allows you to pull up associated data of whatever you're watching including the release date, actors, directors and more. If you have a Kindle Fire, Fire HD, or Fire HDX, the tablet can act as a second screen "experience" but details of that were limited during the event.
Gaming on the Fire TV shows Amazon trying to compete with the Console market, which they believe are too expensive and offer little in terms of innovation. Amazon partnered with game publishers like EA, Disney, and Gameloft to offer close to 1000 games in the next month. Ubisoft and Take-Two are also said to be developing games for the device.
Amazon is also working on in house titles from its Amazon Game Studio. Including a title called Sev Zero, said to be a Gears of War or Halo inspired game and has graphics quality that falls somewhere between mobile and console gaming titles.
In order to play any games on the Fire TV, you will need to purchase the Fire TV Controller for $40 or wait until next month when Amazon releases an application for its Fire tablet line, that will allow the tablet to act as a virtual controller.
Overall, Amazon seems to have hit quite the home run with the Fire TV. Only time will tell, as many devices in this category have tried and failed before.