We’ve all acquired sensible TVs, however as they age they have a tendency to get outdated and sluggish. That’s why the Fireplace TV platform has remained so well-liked, because it’s a neat approach to improve any TV and continually get new options and apps.
Right here, we’ll take you thru every part you’ll want to know concerning the platform, which has just lately been revamped, plus present loads of suggestions and tips to get essentially the most out of your Fireplace TV expertise.
The brand new Fireplace TV interface
Pretty much as good because the Fireplace TV vary is, the interface had change into slightly cluttered and greater than a bit complicated to make use of.
Fortuitously, Amazon is on the case with its brand-new interface, which first appeared on the brand new Fireplace TV Stick and Fireplace TV Stick Lite, and was added to the Fireplace TV Persist with Alexa Voice Distant (2nd-gen) in July 2021.
Amazon tells us that this new interface will roll out to the opposite merchandise within the line-up, too, together with the Fireplace TV Dice, later this yr.
Higher it could be, however when confronted with the brand new interface attempting to work out what every part is and the place it goes might be complicated. Right here’s every part that you’ll want to know concerning the new interface.
Profiles are greater and higher
Amazon Prime Video lastly launched profiles just lately, however the Fireplace TV Stick takes it one step additional with its personal profiles. As much as six individuals can have their very own profile, giving every particular person their very own watchlist, suggestions and watch historical past.
The present profile is highlighted on the principle display screen on the left of the navigation bar. Simply transfer to the profile image and also you’ll see the profile menu beneath, which helps you to change between your profiles or create a brand new one.
If you choose a brand new one, you’ll be able to pull in any profiles that you’ve saved in your Amazon account, though Children profiles aren’t but supported. Don’t have any present profiles? You’ll be able to simply create a brand new one anyway.
Slightly than the uninteresting profile photos that the system launched with, now you can decide funky cartoon characters for every one.
There’s a brand new principal menu
Amazon has revamped the principle interface, giving a very new manner of discovering and enjoying content material.
Many of the new interface is focussed across the navigation bar, which defaults to choosing the House part.
That is very similar to the house display screen of outdated, you get rows of sections for suggestions (from all supported streaming providers and apps you could have put in, not simply Amazon), plus latest apps, and Prime Video suggestions.
There are different choices on this menu, which we’ll take you thru.
App shortcuts
Your most-used apps will seem as thumbnail icons to the precise of the navigation bar. You’ll be able to shortly choose and launch an app this manner, however there’s a brand new trick: Peek into Apps.
Choose an app from the checklist, and also you’ll see suggestions from simply that app seem under it, so you’ll be able to shortly dive into content material.
Not all apps help this function, although. For instance, Netflix does, however choose BBC iPlayer and also you solely get a listing of different apps that individuals obtain.
Choose the three dots on the finish of the row and you may view all your channels and apps.
A brand new Settings menu
Settings on the outdated Fireplace TV interface the place a little bit of ache to seek out, so Amazon has now made them entrance and centre within the new interface.
Go to the cog icon on the finish of the navigation bar and beneath you get all your settings, making it quicker to make adjustments.
Stay TV
If you wish to watch something dwell from the Fireplace TV, the brand new Stay part is for you.
This at present highlights apps that offer you dwell feeds, together with TV and streaming content material, akin to Twitch.
Amazon just lately added a bunch of recent providers to the Stay part options, together with Xumo, IMDb TV and Amazon Information.
Amazon tells us that there are actually greater than 400 dwell streaming channels, from greater than 20 suppliers that may be accessed from the Fireplace TV’s Stay part (relying in your area).
This contains the likes YouTube TV, Sling TV, Tubi, Pluto TV, Philo, Prime Video Channels and Prime Video Stay Occasions within the US; and BBC iPlayer, Eurosport Participant and My5 within the UK.
Discover makes it simpler to work out what to look at
The brand new Discover menu is there to, properly, allow you to discover what to look at. Search is the primary tile, though it’s often simpler to only use Alexa to voice search by way of all your apps.
Nonetheless, you can too use the Discover menu to browse content material by class: movies, TV exhibits, documentaries and so forth.
Content material is pulled in from supported apps that you’ve subscriptions, too, so that you’ll discover the likes of Disney+ and Netflix content material alongside Prime Video content material.
Library makes it simpler to seek out your purchases and Watchlist
The brand new Library part accommodates your Watchlist (Amazon Prime Video solely) and all purchases and leases. It’s far simpler to seek out this content material right here then it was with the outdated interface.
Choose an merchandise in your Watchlist and you should use the Take away from Watchlist choice to take it out; discover an merchandise to look at in the principle interface, choose it and use Add to Watchlist to put it aside for viewing later.
Amazon Fireplace TV: Suggestions and Tips
Wish to get extra out of your Fireplace TV, right here’s what you’ll want to know, with our information to the perfect suggestions, tips and hidden options.
Disable auto-play
Although the brand new Fireplace TV structure is fairly nifty, the auto-playing choice can shortly change into a burden in your sanity in case you’re the form of particular person (who is not?) that takes upwards of quarter-hour to pick some nighttime viewing.
To disable auto-playing, head to Settings > Preferences > Featured Content material and switch off the Enable Video Autoplay choice.
And when you’re all up within the settings, why do not you de-select the auto-playing audio, as properly. Feels higher, does not it, this hesitating in peace factor? Now, if solely Netflix added an analogous function.
Change the title
Similar to Amazon’s vary of tablets and Echo sensible audio system, your Fireplace TV will routinely be assigned a reputation as soon as you have acquired all of it arrange.
Nonetheless, you probably have multiple, issues can shortly get slightly complicated.
Since the very last thing you need is to ping paid-for apps to the flawed gadget, you’ll be able to take some management again by renaming your Fireplace TV gadget.
The simplest manner to do that is inside the Alexa app. You’ll be able to then assign your Fireplace TV to be managed by sure Echo sensible audio system.
Kill the centered adverts
Sadly, you’ll be able to’t kill adverts altogether on Fireplace TV, however in case you’re uncomfortable with the concept of being tracked for promoting functions, Amazon does embody the choice to show this off.
You will nonetheless get adverts, however they will as a substitute be rather less tailor-made to your style, with the algorithm now not clocking your each transfer.
To do that, this is the equation: Settings > Preferences > Privateness Settings > Promoting ID > flip Curiosity-based Adverts off.
Add parental controls
Should you go away your Fireplace TV connected and within the attain of a youngling, there’s an opportunity they may do one thing reckless like unintentionally sticking on The Grand Tour once you’re not round.
Nonetheless, you’ll be able to assist them keep away from such irreversible mishaps by including some parental controls.
If you do not need your youngsters watching R-rated or TV-MA bits from Amazon, head over to Settings > Preferences > Parental Controls and click on on that.
Learn this: How one can watch YouTube on Fireplace TV
From right here, you will be requested to arrange a PIN code that’ll have to be entered to entry sure materials and make purchases. Including these controls additionally bars using video games, apps and photograph viewing by unauthorised individuals.
Simply bear in mind that this solely covers Amazon’s personal providers. If you wish to add restrictions to apps akin to Netflix, you are going to have to do this individually.
Shortly change profiles, sleep or leap to settings
Can’t be bothered to undergo the principle interface?
Press and maintain the House button on the distant and also you’ll get a pop-up menu that allows you to change Profile, open Apps, Sleep, Mirror your display screen or open settings.
Restart utilizing the Distant
The Fireplace TV is a reasonably sturdy gadget, however that does not imply you will not expertise the odd hiccup. Naturally, the primary little bit of troubleshooting you need to be performing is the traditional off-on trick, however that is made unreasonably arduous by the very fact you will must get off your sofa to take action.
Or, wait, do you? Utilizing the ability of the Fireplace TV Distant, you’ll be able to reboot issues with out sacrificing the mould your physique has fashioned into the sofa.
You even have two choices: go to Settings > System > Restart, or just press and maintain the Play and Choose buttons concurrently for roughly 5 seconds.
Re-pair a Fireplace TV distant management
We have not had any explicit issues with our 5 TV Distant, however pairing points can, and doubtless will, happen at some stage.
Fortunately, holding down the House button for round ten seconds ought to often re-pair it to your Fireplace TV. The identical trick will also be used to pair new remotes or recreation controllers, offering they’re appropriate with the platform.
Use your cellphone as a Distant
Perhaps you are simply not prepared to spend money on the Distant, or maybe you have merely misplaced it down the aspect of the sofa – both manner, you should use your iOS or Android gadget to regulate the Fireplace TV utilizing the Fireplace TV app.
And, you get the additional benefit of a keyboard, which makes looking simpler in case you don’t wish to use your voice.
You will want to verify your cellphone is on the identical Wi-Fi community as your streamer, however this provides you each little bit of management you’ll often get from the Distant, plus the additional benefit of that smartphone keyboard for typing issues in and voice management (significantly helpful for many who do not have Alexa constructed into their older Stick).
As soon as downloaded, your gadget ought to seem within the checklist, and also you merely must comply with the on-screen sync directions to pair the 2.
Share your smaller display screen
Handily, Fireplace TV helps Miracast, an app that lets you present movies and the like throughout a few screens.
You will must be in possession of an Android gadget operating Android OS 4.2 or later, a third-gen Kindle Fireplace HDX 7-inch, 4th-gen HDX 8.9 or fifth-gen Fireplace HD 8/HD 10, however in case you do, head to Settings > Show and Sounds > Allow Show Mirroring after which head into your cellular settings and begin Miracast.
Alternatively, maintain the House button on the Distant and choose Mirroring.
Once more, you will must be on the identical community as your Fireplace TV, or utilizing the identical Amazon account, for this to work.
Pair your headphones with Fireplace TV
It is 3am and you’ve got snuck away out of your accomplice to look at the following episode of Making A Assassin with out them, however how do you go undetected with all that meddling sound primed to wake them up?
Nicely, by no means concern, you morally bankrupt TV present cheater. With the Fireplace TV, you could have the depraved means to pair your Bluetooth headphones and beam all of the sound straight to your ears. Merely head to Settings after which to the Bluetooth part, with the 2 pairing identical to they might in your cellphone.
Simply, you recognize, do not blame us when stated accomplice wakes up and catches you within the act, oblivious – you probably did this to your self.
Flip off navigation sounds
In an analogous vein to auto-play on the Fireplace TV dashboard, the default navigation sounds is usually a actual ear-grater in case you’re taking a while flicking by way of the menus.
Okay, okay, so the clicking on the Fireplace TV is not truly that dangerous, however you do have the choice to show it off altogether by navigating to Settings > Show & Sounds > Audio and turning them off.
Get extra data
Because it’s unimaginable to get by way of any form of viewing lately with out checking with Google the place you recognise the actor/actress from, Amazon Fireplace TV has taken among the legwork out of the method with its X-Ray function.
Because the firm owns IMDb, it is managed to combine data from the location into Amazon Video that can assist you shortly pull up participant’s profiles and filmography.
To do that, press the up or down key in your Distant when watching and scroll by way of the solid and even obtain a little bit of trivia. Wish to know the music enjoying in a sure scene? That is accessible right here, too.
Amazon Fireplace TV: Alexa options
Naturally, Alexa performs a starring function on Amazon’s Fireplace TV platform, and Amazon’s units even include the Alexa Voice Distant, which has a devoted button to begin Alexa up.
That’s, except you could have the Fireplace TV Dice, which builds its mic into the field. Like with the Echo units, you’ll be able to merely say “Alexa” to get the assistant listening. It’s also possible to hyperlink your present Echo gadget to your Fireplace TV.
To do this, open up the Alexa companion app.
1. Go to the menu and choose Music, Video & Books.
2. Choose Fireplace TV.
3. Comply with the directions.
4. Click on Hyperlink Units.
What precisely are you able to do with Alexa on Fireplace TV although?
Alexa is your leisure assistant on Fireplace TV. Meaning you are able to do issues like open apps akin to Netflix or seek for motion pictures based mostly on style or actor. Or you may ask it to look inside an app, like, “Alexa, seek for Ladybird on Netflix.”
When you’ve got a Fireplace TV-equipped TV set or the Fireplace TV Dice, you additionally get the additional benefit of asking Alexa to show your TV on or off, change the amount or change the enter on the TV.
In case your cable service performs good, you can too command what you watch in your cable or satellite tv for pc field.
Should you’ve acquired a Fireplace TV Recast, which helps you to add native broadcast channels to your Fireplace TV gadget, you can too use Alexa to report exhibits, management dwell TV and play again your recordings.
Naturally, you can too do every part else Alexa can do on different units. That features ordering popcorn, checking the climate, and asking for random details or what have you ever.
Finest Alexa Fireplace TV instructions
“Alexa, watch Fireplace TV.”
“Alexa, seek for Ladybird on Prime Video.”
“Alexa, what is the climate right now?”
“Alexa, flip off the TV.”
“Alexa, flip up the amount.”
“Alexa, change to enter two.”
“Alexa, present me motion pictures with Tom Cruise.”
“Alexa, present me comedies.”
“Alexa, rewind 30 seconds.”
“Alexa, quick ahead 30 seconds.”
“Alexa, pause.”
“Alexa, go house.”
“Alexa, play Fox Sports activities on cable.”
Amazon Fireplace TV: Appropriate providers
Fireplace OS is Amazon’s custom-made model of Android. Whereas it permits Amazon to craft its personal distinctive expertise on its tablets and TV units, it extra importantly lets Amazon construct out its very personal app retailer.
Within the case of Fireplace OS, that app retailer is used to ship video apps and video games. All the large names are right here, from Netflix to Disney+, to HBO to Hulu.
After an extended, annoying hiatus, even YouTube has lastly returned – hallelujah. The spat between Google and Amazon on that entrance seems to be on maintain, for time being.
Apple TV is now accessible on the Fireplace TV stick, getting you entry to Apple’s catalogue of exhibits, plus film leases and purchases.
Vudu is one other large video retailer that does not have a presence on Fireplace TV. It is a disgrace as Vudu has help for HDR 10 and Dolby Atmos, which might give Fireplace TV quantity of 4K leisure with Atmos help. Whereas Vudu is not accessible on Apple TV both, it’s accessible on Roku.
In truth, Roku has a bonus on Fireplace TV in that it is a common platform that does not have a canine within the streaming combat, as Google, Apple and Amazon do. It will probably merely open up and let anybody in its app retailer – because it does.
The most important new service to Fireplace TV is native broadcast channels. If you purchase the $229.99 Fireplace TV Recast (remember to purchase an HD antenna tuner too) you’ll be able to add in broadcast channels to your Fireplace TV. This allows you to watch dwell TV from ABC, FOX, CBS, NBC, The CW and native public entry channels proper in your streaming stick in a brand new DVR menu.
Moreover, Amazon is partnering up with a number of TV producers to construct Fireplace TV proper into TV units. That is one thing Roku has performed efficiently with TCL on the Roku TV line, however Amazon is choosing a extra blanket method, beginning with Toshiba, and with JVC within the UK.
Fireplace TV: 4K, HDR and Dolby Atmos
Certain, smarts are necessary on this planet of streaming packing containers, however what’s additionally necessary is the geeky audio-visual stuff. You understand, the stuff that impacts the way you truly watch and listen to all these leisure choices.
4K help means outputting a decision of as much as 2160p, although the Fireplace TV may also output at each 1080p and 720p do you have to not have a 4K TV but.
It additionally helps 4K at as much as 60 frames per second, permitting for some tremendous easy viewing because the quicker the body price, the smoother the picture you are seeing. One caveat right here: Most motion pictures and TV exhibits are shot at 24 frames per second. Nonetheless, that is good for the odd YouTube video or GoPro footage do you have to wish to watch it.
It is crucial to know that solely the Fireplace TV Dice and Fireplace TV Stick 4K and Stick 4K Max 4K help 4K. The Fireplace TV Stick doesn’t help 4K, as a substitute providing a max of 1080p.
The brand new Stick 4K Max, launched in September 2021, is 40% extra highly effective than the usual 4K model, with a 1.8GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM, plus a quicker GPU.
It additionally brings Wi-Fi 6 expertise to the desk, which ought to make for smoother and extra dependable streaming throughout extra units, and help for Dolby Imaginative and prescient, HDR, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos audio.
HDR stands for high-dynamic vary. It is a function of contemporary TVs that pumps up the colour to make what you are extra vivid and brilliant. When you see it in motion, it is troublesome to return to non-HDR content material.
There are two principal HDR codecs supported by streaming media providers. HDR 10 is the bog-standard model that every part helps. Dolby Imaginative and prescient is an enhanced HDR commonplace.
Dolby Imaginative and prescient makes use of dynamic HDR, customizes the colours and temperature of the image based mostly on the scene. HDR 10, however, retains the identical colours and temperature all through your TV present or film. There may be additionally HDR 10 Plus, which fixes HDR 10’s static HDR, however it’s a chunk of Samsung tech that can have a tough time changing into as prevalent as HDR 10 or Imaginative and prescient.
There are two newer HDR codecs, though there’s not an enormous quantity of help for them. HDR 10+ makes use of dynamic metadata, very similar to Dolby Imaginative and prescient, whereas HLG is a broadcast type of HDR that enables the usual and HDR variations of a programme to be transmitted on the identical time.
All the present Fireplace TV line-up (Fireplace TV Stick LIte, Fireplace TV Stick (third Era), Fireplace TV Stick 4K and Fireplace TV Dice (2nd technology) help HDR 10, HDR10+ and HLG. Solely the Fireplace TV Stick 4K and Fireplace TV Dice help Dolby Imaginative and prescient.
Then, there’s Dolby Atmos, a 3D sound format that may audio sound as if it’s coming from above you, in addition to round you. Dolby Atmos requires a soundbar, TV or receiver that may play the format, such because the Sonos Arc.
All the Fireplace TV line-up helps Dolby Atmos, though help varies by app. For instance, solely the Fireplace TV Dice can play Dolby Atmos through Netflix.
