Hi, Does anyone use an Amazon Firestick ?
If so, what does it do ?
Thanks
This is really a situation for an AI answer!
We had one. I never really got to grips with it, but as far as I could gather, it allowed you to watch (on the television) content that was available with my Amazon subscription. That included tv programmes and films.
Itâs basically duplicates what a Smart TV does.
You use âappsâ to watch TV by internet. Itâs app store is better(less restricted) than the app store on TVs.
Thats the one line explantion
2 Likes
Since we are in France, not UK (or US) you may be asking why would you want one here?
The answer is that by installing a VPN app on the stick, you can fool the UK tv suppliers into thinking you are in the UK, thus gaining access to UK tv content which is unavailable outside the UK, unless you have a satellite tv system.
A âgoogleâ stick, or chromecast will do similar, as will other devices including smart tvs.
A search on google will give you all the information you may need.
1 Like
They were also a cheap way for people to install IPTV apps that allow you to watch all sorts of TV channels from all around the world at a fraction of the normal cost - including premium sports and movie channels, etc⌠Youâd have access to thousands of channels for only a couple of ⏠per month instead of paying Canal+ or Sky or BeinSports, etc⌠up to 100⏠per month.
In addition, for football fans this was interesting because the Football Association in the UK doesnât allow broadcasting of matches at 3:00 on Saturdays⌠But they are shown on foreign channels. By having access to IPTV, fans in the UK could tune in to those channels and watch games live.
However, recently Amazon has restricted Fire sticks and made installing unapproved apps, such as the IPTV ones, not possible. So theyâre no longer sought after for IPTV watching.
Yes I have two for my TVâs and itâs a short cut to the streaming services I have that are not the norm for most brits here. In fact I ordered a replacement this week as one had stopped working but then I tried a different sort of battery and it did so sent the replacement back and was refunded by Amazon the same day. I can get some of the services on my internet control box but the fire stick is smaller and âless busyâ
What does a Smart TV actually do then ?
Sorry for being think.
What can be streamed exactly ?
Sky or TNT for example, is a subscription still required ?
It allows you to install apps on the TV itself, much like how one can install apps on a smartphone. You can then launch those apps from a menu on the TV, and navigate using your remote control. It does away with needing, for example, to have a satellite receiver or a Freeview box plugged into the back of your telly.
Yes, those sorts of things can be streamed over the internet these days. Same for BBC (via their iPlayer app), ITV or Channel 4. Those ones are free-to-air so no subscription would be required - other than a valid TV licence for the UK.
But there is a myriad of paid services too, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount, Apple TV, etc⌠They each charge a monthly fee.
Your questions are perfectly valid, but the correct answers can be complex. Would it be easier if you specify what you want to achieve?
I donât have those as they are subscription, so only pay for Amazon Prime which I share with my son and the other streamers are done via the US side of my family plus Apple etc. I also have TF1 plus on it for catchups of my French soaps when I miss them being broadcast. As explained above, no dish or box required, just loaded into the TV sets via onscreen instructions and keypad.
What does a Smart TV actually do then ?
Donât forget a VPN for the UK TV stuff.
2 Likes
Is it possible to replace the Sky satellite system with a Firestick ?
Without paying for subscriptions .
I currently use Smarters IPTV, which works ok on some channels.
You can get some of the Sky stuff using Now tv, but you need a VPN which Now isnât that happy about. I use it to watch F1 and very occasionally football.
I have heard from a most reliable source that Nitro IPTV gets you all the channels you need.
Folks wanting to side load apps onto Firesticks need to find the versions of the 4K stick that came before the current 4K Select models.
1 Like
We have a Firestick, itâs possible to get all the channels you could ever want without subscription, not sure off the legalityâŚâŚ
Without passing judgement (as I myself use IPTV) I would advise potential customers to inform themselves about it (legality etc) to see if they feel comfortable with it before purchasing any particular service (often in bitcoin) Not all IPTV is equal.
2 Likes
And I would add, donât spend any money that youâre not prepared to lose. Itâs not unknown for providers to vanish.
2 Likes
Where does Kodi fit into this?