Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredguy123
One reason is that the Firestick is made by Amazon, and like other Amazon devices, they try to restrict or block some apps from being installed on the stick for proprietary reasons. Apparently, there are ways to work around some of these restrictions, but why bother? The Roku doesn't have these restrictions.
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This post is so wrong, not sure where to start. I've owned both. I've been in IT at fortune 500 companies for 40 years, so I understand technology.
Roku is a hardware device - there is no OS to speak of. If Roku doesn't allow the app to run, it doesn't run. Period. Case in point is their recent fiasco with YouTube TV. If you didn't have the app installed already, you were screwed as Roku didn't allow you to load it (and there is NO work around).
FireStick is an actual android device running android OS (similar to your phone). This allows you to easily sideload any app IF Amazon tries to block it (they haven't blocked any apps to date, unlike Roku).
In addition, I can run VPN on FireStick - I can't on Roku.
Not arguing as to which is better, just replying to the post concerning restricting apps on a FireStick. I haven't seen it, but anyone wanting YouTube TV over the past 8 months has witnessed it on Roku.
I like both device interfaces, but Roku lost me forever when they decided to shutdown access to the single most popular streaming service in the US. I had 3 Roku's at the time, and switched to FireSticks when one of the Roku's lost the YouTube TV app.