Continuing its relentless march toward streaming video relevance, Amazon just announced a miniaturized version of its media player, the Fire TV. At $39, Amazon’s latest video gizmo—dubbed the Amazon Fire TV Stick—offers a much smaller price tag than its big brother, which retails for $99. In fact, Amazon Prime subscribers can nab the Fire Stick (not to be confused with Devil Sticks, which are the worst) for $19 for the next two days.
The Fire TV Stick boasts a packed lineup of the must-have streaming apps, including Netflix, Hulu Plus, YouTube, Twitch, and Amazon Instant Video, of course—the only thing lacking at launch is HBO Go. The streaming device also comes with its own remote control, though you can also use the Fire TV Remote Android app (Amazon notes that an iOS version is in the works), which also supports voice search.
While Amazon’s Fire Phone failed to gain traction, the company seems to be doubling down on its move into the streaming video world, with a second season of its critically acclaimed original series Transparent in the works, and now a little streaming device that might even best Google’s Chromecast in terms of bang for your buck. Still, the company’s foray into original programming is expensive, and it’s not yet clear how—and if—the strategy fits into Amazon’s big picture.
Image via Amazon
