Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

As an owner of rokus, firetv stick, and gen1 firetv box, i'm pleased thus far with this upgrade. Everything has been beefed up, but a couple of downsides also still exist/have been added. Plus one big bonus (for me at least): It can play files off a usb stick! If you're looking for a quick summary: This box is IMO the new standard in media boxes, it has the most power, a ton of features, and if you're a prime member you have access to a ton of content. The new game controller is a nice refinement over the gen1 controller and amazon seems intent on really expanding their game library. They should have also included the standard remote, since gaming isn't its sole purpose! Now let's break down the key points: -New game controller is more ergonomic than the gen1 and adds a headphone port(seriously a great thing to have) -Doesn't come with the standard remote, rather annoying to use the game controller for media... -Adds 4k ability, but you need 4k content(netflix charges $4 extra for this), and newer TV with latest HDMI & HDCP spec -Can play (some) files strait off a usb drive, i tried a 1080 mp4 file, played perfectly. MKV played but no sound (will investigate further) -Adds more power, it operates very snappy, even the terrible HBO Go app works well -No more optical output was a big bummer for me, had to purchase an hdmi to optical box (may not pertain to everyone) -Microsd card port is a great addition and has me hopeful that they will add beefier games for it -Adds alexa for voice operations, but i already own an echo :) Gaming I'm not seeing a big difference over the gen1 box, but i'm rooting for them to really step up their game with... games. The hardware is beefier, the the microsd port takes care of storage needs, and the new game controller is right up there with the best of xbox and playstation. Let's see some action! I also really really like that they put a headphone port on the game controller, just really convenient. Plays video files! This was a big curiosity for me, because i have a lot of videos on drives (being a videographer does that to you), and being able to just take a usb stick with a file and plug it in is great. I downloaded ES file explorer, navigated to the file, and the darn thing played with no fuss! Then i loaded up an MKV and another mp4 4k file. The MKV played the video, but with no audio. I need to investigate more, since i'm using the hdmi to optical adapter. the 4k mp4 would not play at all. More testing shall be done! 4K Sweet! Oh wait.. i don't have a 4k tv... no matter, it still looks fantastic on my 1080 projector. If you have a 4k tv though, it's certainly a great perk. Be warned though that just because you have this 4k box and a 4k tv it doesn't mean everything is automatically 4k. Some amazon prime content is 4K, and some netflix content as well, but netflix will want you to fork over another $4/month to unlock the higher resolution. Also, other reviewers have found out that 4k will not work unless your tv has hdmi 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 Optical port GONE While i like the micro sd card port, i really wish they kept the optical port. For many folks this will not matter, but for my particular setup it necessitated buying a box that pulls optical out of hdmi. I use a projector with a sound bar. Alexa voice control I've been using the amazon echo for months, and we love it. It's interesting that they added it to the firetv, but i don't see yet if there's any real reason for us to talk to the tv vs the echo. Hopefully they add more firetv specific controls for it. Stability I'm seeing a lot of reviews reporting bugs, but thus far i have not experienced any. Could be a quality control issue, could be internet connectivity. I have been using a direct Ethernet plugin even though it has wifi. So that could be a reason for other's troubles. Amazon does release updates quite regularly, so i would be optimistic about them sorting out any bugs floating around. Frequently asked questions: -How do i open the remote's battery door? A: Hold the remote so your thumb is over the bottom rear end (there's a little symbol), press in and down -Does it come with netflix? A: netflix is a free app, but you still need to pay the monthly subscription -Are there free channels? A: Yes, there are several free apps which contain lots of free movies and TV, just don't expect new releases -My TV already has apps like netflix, is this box worth the upgrade? A: I would say yes, it contains a lot more functionality than most TVs, and can connect other devices like game controllers -Does it make everything 4K? A: No, unless something is listed specifically as UHD/4k/SuperHD, you're just getting plain old 720/1080 Recommendation If you already have a gen1 box, i don't think this is worth the upgrade unless these extra features truly apply to you. It feels much the same as the gen1 box in my day to day uses, but i will find use for the new features as well. If you're looking for your first streamer, most folks do perfectly fine with just the fire tv stick, it does most of what these boxes do at a fraction of the cost. weigh the options and choose what's right for your needs!