Amazon Unveils $39 Chromecast-Like Fire TV Stick

Amazon on Monday announced Fire TV Stick, a small Google Chromecast-like stick that connects to the HDMI port on your HDTV, giving you access to movies, TV shows, music, photos, apps, and games. Fire TV Stick is priced at $39 (approximately Rs. 2,500) and is available for pre-order starting Monday on Amazon's website and will ship November 19. The Fire TV Stick is available at a special price of $19 to Amazon Prime members for two days, Monday and Tuesday.

Amazon Fire TV Stick comes with a dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, and 1080p output capability with access to video and music services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Instant Video, Hulu Plus, WatchESPN, NBA Game Time, Twitch, SHOWTIME ANYTIME, Prime Music, Spotify, Pandora, Vevo, Plex, A&E, PBS, PBS KIDS, WATCH Disney Channel, YouTube.com, and more.

"Fire TV Stick is the most powerful streaming media stick available-a dual-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of storage, dual-band and dual-antenna Wi-Fi, included remote control, voice search with our free mobile app, easy set-up, an open ecosystem, and exclusive features like ASAP for instant streaming," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com Founder and CEO. "The team has packed an unbelievable amount of power and selection into an incredible price point-Fire TV Stick is just $39."

It comes with additional features like the ability to 'fling' movies from your Fire phone or tablet to the to Fire TV Stick, similar to Apple's AirPlay.

"Fire TV Stick supports standards like DIAL so you can also fling services like YouTube, Spotify, and coming soon, Netflix, from your Android phone or iPhone," says Amazon.

You can also mirror popular Android phones to your TV using a Fire TV Stick, and get more information about videos and music playing on the screen thanks to X-Ray. Similar to the Amazon Fire TV (Review), you can also play casual games like Monsters University, Ski Safari, and Flappy Birds Family on the Amazon Fire TV Stick.

As you would expect, the Amazon Fire TV Stick ties-in with the Amazon ecosystem to offer additional features like Whispersync, so media and game playback is synced seamlessly across various Amazon devices.

Microsoft earlier this year introduced its Wireless Display Adaptor, a similar thumb-drive-size gizmo that plugs into HDMI and USB ports in televisions, and then wirelessly connects with tablets, computers or smartphones running Miracast software.

Several companies already make Miracast plug-in devices for televisions.

Amazon this year launched a $99 Fire TV streaming media box, which offers some additional features for gaming and other services.

Written with inputs from AFP.