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Amazon Fire Stick

(31 Posts)
merlotgran Sun 06-Nov-16 15:23:12

DD thinks we should get one because DH is constantly moaning about the lack of decent programmes to watch. We just have Freeview at the moment.

We have a fast broadband connection so that won't be a problem.

Anyone else got one of these and is it worth having?

grannylyn65 Sun 06-Nov-16 15:24:44

Have something similar and it's great !

Alima Sun 06-Nov-16 15:29:32

My daughter has one and loves it. To get the most out of it I believe you have to you subscribe to Amazon Prime, £79 per year.
I have just bought DH a Kodie box for Christmas. I first heard of them on here a week or so ago. They sound amazing, it remains to be seen if we can connect/use it easily. Look them up on Amazon, may be your answer.

Badenkate Sun 06-Nov-16 15:36:51

We have one and it means you can connect to all the catch-up services on your TV, plus they have more and more programmes which they produce themselves - at the moment we're watching Goliath with Billy Bob Thornton which is as good if not better than almost anything on normal TV. We also watch Netflix through it. We have Amazon Prime so I'm not sure how different it is if you just have the fire stick.

mrsjones Sun 06-Nov-16 16:16:53

I have one and for £34.99 it's really good. I think you need to be a Prime member to get the most out of it at a cost of £79 a year. I also use Amazon Prime for free music and borrowing books for free so for me it's good value.

grannypiper Sun 06-Nov-16 17:06:26

I think i may have to get one, even with freeview we only get 9 channels and on of those is ALBA, but to be fair they have great programmes and helps with the Gaelic

merlotgran Sun 06-Nov-16 19:44:52

Thanks everyone. I've ordered one so will report back.

We used to have Amazon Prime when the DGCs were small then cancelled it when they only wanted money for presents. I think it might be a good idea to subscribe again.

merlotgran Fri 11-Nov-16 13:18:12

Very pleased with it. Easy to install and no problems with picture quality etc.

The Crown has now become my guilty secret.....I'm hooked!

Badenkate Fri 11-Nov-16 14:52:28

I'm saving 'The Crown' until the weekend when DH is on a course for 2 days.

Annitona Sat 12-Nov-16 09:35:34

I got a Fire Stick as a present a few months ago but haven't installed it yet as it's difficult to get to the back of the large TV.

BRedhead59 Sat 12-Nov-16 09:48:58

The Crown - excellent

Leva Sat 12-Nov-16 09:52:58

It is brilliant! Don't hesitate. It's so easy to use and much better than Apple TV and it's cheap too.

Thingmajig Sat 12-Nov-16 09:53:59

I got one from Santa last year, primarily to use on our spare tv during the hours and hours of football.

SIL put Kodi onto it so the possibilities are endless.

The selling point for me was that it didn't need an aerial to work.

radicalnan Sat 12-Nov-16 09:54:55

I love mine got the voice activated one and it speaks cockney and so much easier than buttons to press when my hands are bad.

Badenkate Sat 12-Nov-16 10:00:09

For those of you who like slightly edgy (whatever that means) dramas, and aren't put off by some swearing, can I recommend Goliath with Billy Bob Thornton on Amazon. I think it's better than most of the other serials on at the moment.

annifrance Sat 12-Nov-16 10:01:18

Any ideas for one of these devices that will work for us expats?

Badenkate Sat 12-Nov-16 10:03:09

Sorry I realise I've now recommended it twice - I'm not getting paid, honest.

Skullduggery Sat 12-Nov-16 10:13:05

anniefrance I'm in Ireland and can't access U.K. TV channels online so I'm using a Roku stick with the FilmOn app downloaded. (You need to create an account on the Roku on your computer.) You can use the filmon app to watch live UK tv channels or record up to an hours worth of tv for free. FilmOn also includes access to channels from around the world.

I didn't like the Amazon stick much as a lot of Amazon content charges extra to watch it. Paying for Prime is pointless if you're outside the UK. I only use the stick on the other TV as a back up now.

The Crown is a great series!

merlotgran Sat 12-Nov-16 10:36:06

I was playing around with it yesterday and clicked on Music.

Hey presto! My entire collection of Amazon downloads appeared before my very eyes! shock

The telly has good speakers so no more messing around with CDs and our ancient stereo system so will be great for when I finally get round to do the ironing.

Bez1989 Sat 12-Nov-16 14:50:36

We have it.....It's great. Our fave programme is BONES....Based on real life forensic anthropologist working with FBI
to slove murders.

Purpledaffodil Sat 12-Nov-16 15:18:05

I found that recently too*Merlotgran*. Have you found it also streams other music e.g. 60s music with words so you can sing along as you do the ironinggrin
We have the Fire stick AND a Now box and I still can't find things I want to watch. Now is owned by Sky but there is no commitment. You just buy vouchers for the bits you want and they are often available at bargain prices on....Amazon.

Victoria08 Sat 12-Nov-16 15:27:31

We are thinking of buying a fire stick, but do you have to subscribe to Amazon prime.
Would very much like to know before I buy one
I thought that once you had bought the stick, that was it.
Can anyone tell me for sure please.

Also, do you have to pay extra for certain programmes or films.

merlotgran Sat 12-Nov-16 15:33:37

I love the words on the screen as well, Purple. It will be great for Christmas singalongs with the DGCs. No more 'dah-de-dah-de-dah' until the bit you know comes around again. grin

You don't have to subscribe to Amazon Prime, Victoria but I think it's better value for money if you do.

Skullduggery Sat 12-Nov-16 16:02:29

There's not much on Amazon that's free so I subscribe to Netflix rather than pay for Amazon Prime as I think the range of programmes is better and I can watch Netflix on various devices. You can still buy individual episodes or series on Amazon, but I haven't bothered to.

For music, try Spotify online. It's a free service with a short ad break every thirty minutes or add free, if you subscribe. I have it on my iPhone and plug that into my radio in the kitchen when I'm cooking. You can search for music styles or particular artists and albums. The bonus is that there's no irritating chat between tracks.

Peaseblossom Sat 12-Nov-16 17:10:50

I have a Chromecast which cost about £30. It's very useful for screening programmes from my laptop/phone via BBC iplayer, Netflix and Amazon Prime.