Fire Stick.

GDSmithTX said:
I have the full FireTV box running Kodi along with Plex and all the other official apps, but the procedure is the same on the FireStick. You don't really have to "jailbreak" it per se; you're not rewriting part of the operating system to. You're just side-loading a couple of unofficial apps.

A resource I've found pretty invaluable is a site called Troypoint. I subscribe to the guy's newsletter that keeps me up to date on Kodi developments.

Here's his guide to installing Kodi on FireTV/FireStick: http://troypoint.com/how-to-install-kodi-on-fire-tv/
It shows 4 different ways to do it, but the first one is the one I used.

Here are the best Kodi addons/apps I've found useful:
  • Exodus - Movies & TV streaming addon, though support for this is waning
  • Covenant - Movies & TV streaming addon; the successor to Exodus, made by the same people
  • Elysium - Movies & TV streaming addon
  • Tune-In Radio - stream thousands of internet radio stations from all over the world
  • Ares Wizard - a cool meta-addon that allows you to install a wide variety of other addons, but also easily perform maintenance and tweaks to your installation of Kodi; very useful
  • Cartoons8 - Strictly animation/anime
Other addon lists:
https://www.kodivpn.co/kodi-krypton-add-ons/
http://www.wirelesshack.org/top-best-working-kodi-video-add-ons.html

Optional:
Installing repositories and addons can involve significant typing; it's a little bit of a pain in the ass to point-and-click letters on the screen with the remote. One of these saves me considerable time and annoyance:
https://www.amazon.com/Favormates-W...hpad-Raspberry/dp/B01MSX306Z/ref=pd_sbs_147_1

To use it with the FireStick (which only has a single micro USB port to power it) you have to do a little inexpensive jury-rigging with chained USB adapters/hubs, but afterward you can connect keyboards, external hard drives, even connect an ethernet cable for the fastest streaming:
Click to expand...

You just saved me a bundle.

:rim:
 
For the record I have both the Stick and the regular Fire TV. The full box (which is still pretty tiny) performs much better than the stick because it has a faster processor and more RAM, as well as more storage. That makes a big difference in the performance of apps like Playstation Vue. The guide loads faster during scrolling and you have a longer pause period for live TV. It's generally a smoother experience. We have the stick on the bedroom TV where we watch much less often.
 
GilmourD said:
For the record I have both the Stick and the regular Fire TV. The full box (which is still pretty tiny) performs much better than the stick because it has a faster processor and more RAM, as well as more storage. That makes a big difference in the performance of apps like Playstation Vue. The guide loads faster during scrolling and you have a longer pause period for live TV. It's generally a smoother experience. We have the stick on the bedroom TV where we watch much less often.
Click to expand...
I was considering the stick but researched and found the Fire TV to be a better performer. I'm still not sure if I'd rather buy the Roku Ultra, though.

Anyone have experience with Roku Ultra?
 
Tig said:
I was considering the stick but researched and found the Fire TV to be a better performer. I'm still not sure if I'd rather buy the Roku Ultra, though.

Anyone have experience with Roku Ultra?
Click to expand...
I've used previous Roku versions and find Fire TV to be superior.
 
GilmourD said:
I've used previous Roku versions and find Fire TV to be superior.
Click to expand...

Same here.

The Roku is alright, but with the ability to side-load apps like Kodi, the FireTV is better IMHO.

Plus, as of the past 2 weeks, my Amazon Echo gives me a measure of voice control for the FireTV.

I just say "Alexa, launch Plex on FireTV" and it does it.

Lots of FireTV info here: http://www.aftvnews.com/
 
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I just want to watch the Goddamned
World Series.

images.jpg
 
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With Fire TV, how/what type of port do you output audio to a surround system?
My TV has only one HDMI port, so there is no pass through, just the input.

From the spec's:
Ports - DC Jack, HDMI output, 10/100 Ethernet, microSD slot, USB 2.0
Audio Support - Dolby Audio, 5.1 surround sound, 2ch stereo, and HDMI audio pass through up to 7.1
 
Tig said:
I was considering the stick but researched and found the Fire TV to be a better performer. I'm still not sure if I'd rather buy the Roku Ultra, though.

Anyone have experience with Roku Ultra?
Click to expand...

I've been using Roku for about 5 or 6 years. I'm not sure which model I am using now, but I've had no issues with it ( I bought a new one a couple of years ago). I mainly just stream Netflix, HBO and every now and then NFL Sunday Ticket.
 
Tig said:
With Fire TV, how/what type of port do you output audio to a surround system?
My TV has only one HDMI port, so there is no pass through, just the input.

From the spec's:
Ports - DC Jack, HDMI output, 10/100 Ethernet, microSD slot, USB 2.0
Audio Support - Dolby Audio, 5.1 surround sound, 2ch stereo, and HDMI audio pass through up to 7.1
Click to expand...

I have the original FireTV, which had an optical audio port (TOSLINK). The new one doesn't have that, but supports surround sound through HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel, I think). So if your TV's HDMI and surround system/home theater supports ARC, you should be good.

What's your make/model TV and surround sound system?


______________________________________________
Here's an example from here: http://www.tomsguide.com/answers/id-3388887/amazon-fire-surround-sound.html

Question:
I recently purchased and installed Amazon fire tv but my surround does not work with it. My Vizio tv model is E550i-B2 and my Panasonic surround model is SA-BTT196. What adapter do I need to purchase as my surround system only has one hdmi port?


Best Answer:
Connect a HDMI cable from the HDMI 1(arc) socket on the TV to the HDMI socket on the surround sound receiver.
This will carry all 5.1 audio signals from the TV.
In the sound menu on the TV select the "Digital Audio Out" option and change it to "Bitstream"
On the Amazon Fire TV under "Display and Sound settings", set Dolby output to Dolby Digital Plus Automatic
Now anything connected to the TV will send the audio to the receiver.
Not all apps on the Amazon Fire TV will output 5.1
 
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