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Ryan P.[_2_]

On 2/25/2017 4:10 PM, Poco Deplorevole wrote:
On Sat, 25 Feb 2017 16:20:41 -0500, wrote:

On Sat, 25 Feb 2017 12:59:22 -0600, "Ryan P."
wrote:

On 2/24/2017 2:13 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 24 Feb 2017 11:11:54 -0600, "Ryan P."
wrote:

My one complaint is that the voice search feature only searches Prime

Well that fact alone will keep my Echo in the box until I can regift
it. The only reason I wanted it is so my wife could call up movies and
we have a bunch of movie channels. I was already disappointed that it
could not talk Samsung and I was going to buy a stick. Now that is not
happening either.

So I did a little experimenting... I meant to answer Poco with
something that I knew to be true, and then discovered something else new.

Apparently in a recent update, the added the complete "Alexa"
interface (its seamless, so you don't have to do anything but push the
talk button on your remote). Along with this, searching for movies DOES
now access Amazon Video AND Netflix (and apparently 75 other "top
streaming services" including HBO.

I assume you have to have these services installed on your device for
Alexa to bother searching them. I tested this, and it does indeed
work... It gave me results from Amazon Video, Netflix, HULU and STARZ.

This was added in late 2016... I generally ignore most "What's new
with Alexa..." emails I get, so I missed it!

What is the stick to TV interface? HDMI?

Yes.

As an added FYI, if your TV has a USB port, you can use the Fire Stick
WITHOUT having it plugged into a wall outlet for power. Its a standard
USB-type charger with a micro USB port on the stick itself to receive
power. You can take a cable and connect it directly from the Stick to
the USB port on your TV (if it has one) for power. The "sownside" is
that it runs just a bit slower to compensate for the lower power level.
Not enough to be bothersome, though.

On newer TV's, these ports stay powered even when the TV is turned
off, so the stick just goes into "sleep" mode, which allows you to
resume wherever you left off with minimal effort...usually. On older
(and newer cheapo TV's) the USB port probably loses power when the TV is
turned off the Stick will be powered down, requiring a reboot and slower
startup of the Stick.

Lots of free movie apps to choose from, if you don't mind occasional
commercials. Crackle is a good one.