Want to read Slashdot from your mobile device? Point it at m.slashdot.org and keep reading!

 



Forgot your password?
typodupeerror
×

Comment Re:First impressions from an owner (Score 4, Informative) 96

One other silly note... I can't find an "off" button or a menu item to turn it off other than unplugging the device. And plugging back in turns it back on. It has a 16W power brick so there might be some continual background power drain if this thing is plugged in. Also, for some reason, the AC adapter made sparks at the plug both times I tried plugging it in. I was a little scared that I might have burnt it out but it seems to work fine.

Comment Re:First impressions from an owner (Score 2) 96

Also, there is a USB Port. I've got a keyboard hooked up to it right now. However, not all the apps support input with the keyboard and some are clunky. I was hoping to avoid using the remote / controller for passwords and usernames during setup. It worked for a number of things. However, not all apps support the tab key to switch between fields or the enter key (it acts like the select button rather than a completions). The Amazon Video PIN entry also doesn't recognize numbers on the keyboard so you have to use the arrow keys and the enter/return key for select.

I'm hoping that software updates bring a little more polish to using the keyboard but it's not terrible if you consider it to be sort of a public "beta" until a couple software updates occur.

Comment Re:no local content playback == mess (Score 3, Informative) 96

There is support for Plex. I have the Amazon Fire TV and I bought the Plex App for it. It's $0.99 (or 99 Coins) on sale from $4.99 for an introductory period. This works with your PC Plex server or a Drobo or Synology box running Plex server apps.

Also, there is a USB Port. I've got a keyboard hooked up to it right now.

Comment Re:First impressions from an owner (Score 2) 96

FWIW, I also own two Apple TV's, an Atom-based HDMI-out net top, a Chromecast, and now the Amazon Fire TV. I think the software needs a little work. They need to figure out the pairing issue with the remote. The game controlled needs a serious redesign though. It's painful. Or hopefully they will support third party controllers.

The Plex App on Fire TV is $0.99 and I bought it as well with some of the free Amazon "Coins" that I got from buying the Amazon Controller. I'll update some info when I get the device paired with my Plex Server.

Comment First impressions from an owner (Score 5, Informative) 96

My Amazon Fire TV arrived today. Initial impressions:

The box is a lot bigger than Apple TV and includes an external power brick (unlike AppleTV). The physical look and feel of the device and remove are very premium.

The controller is big and uncomfortable. D-PAD is very poorly positioned. This is worse than the Pre-S XBox Controller. It feels like the NVidia Shield a bit but that at least has an entire computer (roughly as powerful as the Fire TV) inside the controller. Seriously, I think they hired the Atari Jaguar controller design team here

First impression is that the UI is not as polished or pretty as the Apple TV but it seems usable. Voice Search is fairly fast but not nearly as "instant" as the commercials and videos online make it seem. Also, the results are only for Amazon Instant Video, Amazon App Store (and supposedly Hulu but I haven't seen any of those).

HBO GO is not on it yet. I installed Flixster to access my Ultraviolet Collection. Unfortunately, Flixster will not play any of my movies in HD and highly compressed 480 SD resolution is a mess on my 65" TV.

And my Fire TV remote seems to lose "pairing" a lot. I sometimes have to use the game controller to go to settings and then to Add Remote and it will find it again.

Comment Re:I think this is bullshit (Score 1) 1746

Mozilla is an organization that officially places a higher value on openness and inclusiveness than profit in its charter and mission.

Having someone who is perceived as being bigotted and biased against a minority community as CEO is at odds with Mozilla's reason for existence.

Hence, he is a bad fit for CEO despite his other qualifications.

Comment Re:I think this is bullshit (Score 1) 1746

What if he had said, "blacks don't deserve the right to vote"?

If someone said that in Alabama in 1957, would it be justified to deny them employment for the rest of their life even if they changed their mind after the Civil Rights Act passed?

Nope... but I certainly wouldn't put them as the CEO of an organization that officially places a higher value on openness and inclusiveness than profit.

Comment Re: That logic totally holds up (Score 1) 824

As a CEO, can I not have any beliefs?

The CEO of a company can have religious beliefs. However, the Supreme Court of the US is about to decide if the a Corporation can have strongly religious beliefs based on the beliefs of it's CEO and if those beliefs justify not complying with Federal Laws (Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc).

Comment Re:Not Obsolete At All (Score 1) 365

A number of missile defense systems involve using a high power laser that is reflected off a highly controllable (both in speed and accuracy) aiming mirror to destroy the missile. Even flying low and at hypersonic speeds, if there is a line of sight, then the missile could be targetted by the defense system's laser. Light moves quite a bit faster than a hypersonic missile last time I checked.

Slashdot Top Deals

Never ask two questions in a business letter. The reply will discuss the one you are least interested, and say nothing about the other.

Working...