Amazon Fire TV Stick review: UI and voice search

Amazon Fire TV Stick review: UI and voice search Welcome to a Laptop AC Adapter specialist of the Dell Ac Adapter
We’ve already noted that the extra grunt of the Amazon Fire TV Stick’s dual-core processor makes it feel more responsive than the Roku Streaming Stick, but the UI is otherwise unremarkable, and that’s just as it should be.
It’s simple and straightforward to get to grips with, with an emphasis firmly on Amazon services. It’s effectively the same as the Fire TV’s interface, with categories of content accessible through a side panel on the left, and horizontally scrolling carousels displayed on the right.
There’s one big difference with adapter like Dell Inspiron 1318 AC Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1545 AC Adapter, Dell Inspiron 1750 AC Adapter, Dell XPS M1330 AC Adapter, Dell inspiron 1210 AC Adapter, Dell inspiron 910 AC Adapter, Dell inspiron Mini 10 AC Adapter, Dell Inspiron Mini 12 AC Adapter, Dell Mini 9 AC Adapter, Dell Inspiron 9100 AC Adapter, Dell Latitude D820 AC Adapter, Dell latitude d620 AC Adapter, however: since the £35 model's remote control has no integrated microphone, you can’t search by speaking your keywords, so you’re left pecking away at an onscreen keyboard instead. Don't fret, though. It is possible to add the feature without stumping up extra cash via the free Fire TV Remote app (available on iOS, Android and Fire OS devices).
The only downside of doing this is that the app isn’t the greatest triumph in UI design we’ve ever come across. You have to pull down and hold your finger down from the top of the screen and hold it there to activate voice search, which feels unnecessarily awkward, even if the voice-recognition function itself works as quickly and accurately as it does on the Stick’s big brother.
The other option is to buy the version that comes with the microphone-equipped voice remote, which is one and the same as the remote bundled with the Fire TV. This used to cost a whopping £25 extra, but Amazon is now bundling it for £45 all-in. Unless you're really strapped for cash, it's well worth shelling out the extra for.
It’s also worth noting that it's possible now to mirror the screen of almost any Android, Fire OS or Windows tablet, smartphone or laptop. Originally, the feature was a touch limited, only working with select Fire OS devices and Android tablets; it's good to see Amazon continuing to keep the device up to date.
It’s tempting to write the Amazon Fire TV Stick off as a device only for Amazon Prime customers, too, who benefit from unlimited streaming of movies and TV from the Prime library. But it’s important to remember that there are plenty of other ways of accessing content via the Fire TV Stick.
Movies and TV programmes can be rented or purchased outright via a one-off fee. Music CDs and MP3s you’ve bought via Amazon sit in the Music section, ready for streaming regardless of whether you are a Prime customer or not. And there’s plenty of third-party content available via installable apps: Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Demand 5 are all available, as well as a host of other specialist providers.
It’s also possible to install Plex for streaming locally stored video files, while the presence of a dedicated app makes it more convenient for Spotify than the Chromecast 2, which still has no official app support from the popular music-streaming service.
Along with the hits, though, there are some significant content misses. For UK viewers, the lack of Now TV, ITV Player and All 4 and Now TV support is disappointing.
Amazon Fire TV Stick review: Verdict
Amazon’s Fire TV Stick is a decent bit of kit. It’s cheap at £35 (£45 for the voice-enabled remote isn't bad either), and in some ways it’s more flexible than Google’s Chromecast. The bundled remote control means anyone can pick up the remote and use it without having to get to grips with the casting side of things. We’re also pleased to see support for dual-band networks, while its nippy performance makes it much more of a pleasure to use than the Roku Streaming Stick.
As with all streaming devices, there are some things the Amazon Fire TV Stick does well and some it doesn’t, and the selection of content is hit and miss for non-Prime customers. However, if you’re considering purchasing a streaming stick of any description, it’s a very, very strong rival to the Chromecast 2.