Fstop12 wrote:
Other than the photo viewing capabilities from Firestick is there any other benefit to using Firestick over Roku?
I think they are very similar, but besides the excellent photo stuff the Firestick also has Amazon Music, which like photo storage and display is free with the firestick if you have Prime. The voice recognition is a lot better with Fire as well. Also, Volume doesn't work on my TV's with Roku, but works with Fire, including on 2 TV's with sound bars. Programing however, like YouTube, Pluto and all that is about the same. Speed and connectivity are the same, which for me is very reliable although my Fire TV occasionally, about once a month or so needs restarted. Also, unlike Jaymatt, I think the Roku interface is a tad clunkier than Roku. Overall, and I've had Roku for many years, even updated the module, I would recommend Fire over Roku, way over Roku due to the photo apps and music, and just a tad over otherwise.
Since this is a photography forum, I'll expand some on that aspect. Amazon Directory besides being free and unlimited, allows uploading with ease. I have TV folders with favorite jpgs formatted (16x9) for HD TV. With Amazon I can simply drag a file[s], or whole folders to Amazon Drive. Roku allows only 10 files at a time. Also, the Roku photo app sucks compared to Amazons PHOTO app. With Amazon's photo app I can mark and unmark favorites, and display them in a slideshow, or pick out specific folders to display, or show individual files, sort them or mix them up, play amazon music in the background and so on.
In the past I had to copy photo's to a Thumb Drive, then take the thumb drive to ONE TV, and to add/remove files had to take it out of the TV and plug it into my PC, and it was a PIA. Now, I edit my photo's on my PC, open Amazon Drive in my browser, drag and drop the file or files or folder to Amazon Drive, and they immediately are all viewable on ANY of my TV's.
Right now I have around 3500 jpgs in folders and a bunch of those marked as favorites. I look at some of them every day on my bedroom TV when I get up, and every night when I go to bed. If company comes I can show them my pictures on any TV with a few clicks. Also, Amazon gives you 5 gigs of free movie storage which you can also play on any TV. I don't make many movies but I do have 11 movies I made (4.5 gigs) and can "entertain" the heck out of company if I wish.
I know I sound like an Amazon Ad, but trust me, I'm no fan of Bezos, and for me to recommend his product is not easy, but what is good is good, no getting around it.
Just to trash Amazon a bit, I just bought a Hay Rake for $47 with free delivery from Home Depot. A week later I got an Ad from Amazon for the exact same Ames Hay rake, "on Sale" for just $72 (regular price, $80?) You gotta be careful with Amazon.