Amazon finally unveiled its first-ever set-top box on Wednesday: Amazon Fire TV. Once you look beyond the $99 price tag, the Fire TV looks pretty fantastic. Still, there are a lot of competitors out there, including Apple TV and Chromecast, so let's compare notes before we pull out our wallets.
Unique Content
Amazon already has the entire infrastructure it needs to make Fire TV a front-runner in the race to our living rooms. Fire TV boasts the entire Amazon Instant Video Library; original movies, TV series and video games; and a cache of MP3 music files available for download. Of course, all of this great content comes at the high price of an Amazon Prime membership, which costs $99 a year. If you're already a subscriber, this won't bother you in the least. But if you aren't, it could make you think twice about the idea.
Meanwhile, both Apple TV and Google Chromecast offer access to the impressive offerings in both the iTunes and Google Play stores respectively. Google Play may not have the same extensive collection of movies, music, games and TV shows as the iTunes store, but it's working on amassing more content. However, neither Apple TV nor Chromecast can offer the same buffet-like all you can watch option as Amazon, so your movie and TV show bill could add up to a lot more than the price of an Amazon Prime subscription.
Neither of these platforms offer original and exclusive content either. But what Apple TV and Chromecast lack in originality, they make up for in third-party partnerships.
Third-Party Partnerships
Chromecast seems the most intent on establishing third-party partnerships to flesh out its offerings. Chromecast currently only has Netflix, YouTube, HBO Go, Hulu Plus and Crackle onboard for video streaming and Pandora, Rdio, Vevo and Songza for music streaming. But since its SDK went out to third-party developers, it's been adding names frequently and is expected to add many more soon.
Apple TV has the biggest established third-party network of the three, with Netflix, YouTube, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, Vudu, Crackle, Vimeo, PBS, Disney Channel Watch ESPN, MLB.TV, NBA League Pass, NHL Gamecenter and more onboard over AirPlay. As far as music streaming goes, Apple TV has only Vevo and Quello, but with iTunes onboard, who needs more?
Amazon set Fire TV off right with a lot of third-party partnerships too and promises to add even more. At its launch, Amazon announced that Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Instant, Hulu Plus, Showtime Anytime, Crackle, Vimeo, Watch ESPN, NBA League Pass and more would be ready to go. For music streaming, Fire TV has Pandora, Vevo, Quello, TuneIn and iHeartRadio right now with the promise of "more to come."
Games
Amazon is taking the lead in making the set-top box a gaming machine. Amazon designed the Fire TV to make it easy to port popular gaming titles and will offer its own game controller for an additional $40. Amazon has connections with big-name gaming companies as well as indie developers, so it claims "thousands" of games will be available on Fire TV to play using the Amazon controller or their own mobile device.
Chromecast and Apple TV don't really offer gaming, nor do they sell controllers or have partnerships with big game developers. So if Amazon can makes its promises a reality, Fire TV could be the set-top box for gamers.
Price
Apple TV costs $99, as does Amazon's Fire TV, which disappointed many hopefuls, who had thought Amazon would go for a lower price like Chromecast, which only costs $35. Essentially, if cost is an issue, Amazon TV is not for you. For the most part, it seems Chromecast gives you the most bang for your buck. But in the end, it all depends on what content platforms you use. iTunes lover? Go with Apple TV. Amazon prime subscriber? Go with Fire TV. Fan of streaming and low-cost options? Go with Chromecast.
Right now, there is no clear winner of this battle.
