Amazon Fire TV Stick apps
Most of the major players in livestreaming TV are available on Amazon Fire TV Stick—a notable exception being YouTube TV (though regular YouTube is there). Besides the ad-supported oddity of Pluto TV, nearly all charge a monthly subscription fee.
Some channel-specific apps, like CNNgo and Watch TBS, offer livestreaming TV but require login info from a cable or satellite provider. What part of the phrase “cord-cutting” don’t they understand?
Amazon Fire TV Stick TV and video apps (partial list):
Amazon Fire TV Stick isn’t just about TV apps—it’s also good for entertainment, music, and gaming. For the last one, we’d suggest buying a separate gaming controller, as the included remote control offers little, well, control for games.
Amazon Fire TV Stick entertainment apps (partial list):
App and channel guide user experience
Once you’re set up, you’re greeted with a screen filled with TV show and app choices, headlined along the top with Search, Home, Movies, TV Shows, Apps, and Settings. Navigate via buttons the old-fashioned way or press the microphone icon and tell Alexa what you’re looking for.
Unlike Roku or Google Chromecast, Fire TV Stick isn’t neutral in its search functionality and program recommendations (both of which work speedily and smoothly): Amazon content is always front-and-center. Kind of like how “Amazon’s Choice” for socks is always above the pair you really want.
For anyone whose viewing habits line up with what Amazon is throwing down, Fire TV Stick’s navigation and browsing is a breeze, barely distinguishable from that of its larger Cube cousin. Unlike the Fire TV Cube, though, the Stick doesn’t allow for a direct Ethernet-cable internet connection, so it’s still susceptible to occasional Wi-Fi lag (not that we noticed any).
Chances are, if you’re buying a Fire TV Stick, you’re already an Amazon fan and its brand-heavy interface won’t be all that obnoxiously off-putting. But, if you’d like broader and deeper searches outside of the Amazon realm, try one of the other sticks.