Amazon announced more new additions to its hardware portfolio. Its Fire TV Stick receives an upgrade with a faster processor and 4K, and a new Alexa Voice Remote is available to use with all the Fire TV devices. The new products will be available in the US and Canada from 31 October and in the UK, Germany and India from 14 November.
Amazon said the new Fire TV Stick 4K is "over 80 percent more powerful" than its previous model, with a new quad-core, 1.7GHz processor and internal antenna technology to boost the dual-band Wi-Fi connection. In addition, the device supports 4K, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision.
The 4K stick costs USD 49.99/EUR 59.99 with the new Alexa voice remote. Customers can buy two sticks for USD 89.98, or buy the stick with an Echo Dot at USD 79.98, a 20 percent savings. With a Fire TV Recast antenna to receive free-to-air TV, the Fire TV STick 4K costs USD 249.99, a savings of USD 50.
The new Alexa Voice Remote works with any of the Fire TV devices. With Bluetooth and multidirectional infrared technology, the device can also power compatible TV and AV equipment, switch inputs, or tune to a channel on a set-top box. New is more buttons, to control the power, volume, and mute buttons, while the Alexa voice commands are extended to more third-party apps, including A&E, AMC, Sony Crackle, Hallmark Movies Now, HBO Now, History, IFC, Lifetime, and VH1.
The remote control can be purchased on its own for USD 29.99/EUR 29.99. In addition to the US, Canada, Germany, UK and India, the device will be available in Japan before the end of this year, Amazon said. It's also offered in a package with the Amazon Fire TV Cube streaming player for USD 119.99. Customers who buy a Fire TV streaming device will receive three months free of Amazon Music Unlimited.
