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Amazon Tips New Fire TV Stick With Alexa Voice Remote

Heads up for those of you in the market for a media streamer for your TV.

Angela Moscaritolo
 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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Amazon on Wednesday introduced an all-new version of its Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote.

Priced at $39.99, the next-generation Fire TV Stick is up to 30 percent faster than its predecessor, is "more powerful," and offers access to more than 7,000 channels, apps, and Alexa skills in addition to 300,000 movies and TV episodes, so you should never run out of things to watch.

The device is available for pre-order today and begins shipping Oct. 20. Those who purchase and activate the device by Oct. 31 will receive up to $65 in free content, including one month of Sling TV, two months of Hulu (with limited commercials), and a $10 credit for Amazon Video.

In terms of content, the device gives you access to all the big streaming services, including those from Netflix, NBC, HBO, Fox, ESPN, Disney Channel, CBS All Access, Twitter, and, of course, Amazon's own Prime Video offering. Amazon promised "great picture quality and performance" without buffering, thanks to the little streamer's quad-core processor, and said it offers the "fastest Wi-Fi" of any product of its kind.

With the handy remote, you can search across more than 90 apps and channels using just your voice; ask Alexa to play TV shows and movies, launch apps, and more. Just say "find suspense thrillers" or "launch Hulu," for instance, and Alexa will get to work. You can also ask Alexa to do things like get the news or weather, play music, or check local movie times.

To set up, just plug the Fire TV stick into your HDTV, attach the power adapter, connect it to Wi-Fi, and you'll be streaming "in minutes," Amazon said.

Amazon today also announced plans to launch a free Fire TV software update later this year that will deliver a "new on-screen experience that makes finding what to watch next even easier and more enjoyable" along with a new customizable apps list on the home screen and accessibility improvements. The new "cinematic experience," will offer video trailers and content screenshots.

Amazon's new Fire TV Stick comes shortly after Roku launched its tiniest streaming player yet this week: the $30 Roku Express with 1080p HD streaming. Google is also expected to unveil a new 4K Chromecast at its event on Oct. 4.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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