Fire stick

[Fredman]

Looking for someone to install a fire stick. Willing to pay an reasonable amount
412-585-6668

[EdFNJ]

"Install it" or "load it up" ? Installing it simply requires plugging it in an available HDMI port on your TV and following the instructions that come with it to connect to WIFI. Loading it with "other stuff" than what it comes with may present some legal issues depending on what you are loading it with. I'd gladly do the "former" for free (if there is access to the back of the TV) as that is a 3 minute job assuming you have WIFI as for the "latter" you'd have to find someone else. :)

[Babubhat]

Roku is a much better device. I have both and detest the fire stick

[SFSkol]

Roku is a much better device. I have both and detest the fire stick

I have both, I prefer Firestick by far. I find the Roku interface difficult at times.

But, I also prefer vanilla ice cream.

[thevillages2013]

Looking for someone to install a fire stick. Willing to pay an reasonable amount
412-585-6668

You really should do it yourself it’s not difficult at all

[Bill14564]

Looking for someone to install a fire stick. Willing to pay an reasonable amount
412-585-6668

If you can connect the fire stick device to an HDMI port, set your TV to look at that port, then enter your wifi password you have everything you need to configure it yourself.

My father and my in-laws would not be able to do all that so I set up their devices. Unfortunately, I have commitments all morning.

[JerryP]

Roku is a much better device. I have both and detest the fire stick


What exactly makes Roku better than the fire stick?

[retiredguy123]

What exactly makes Roku better than the fire stick?
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.

[PoolBrews]

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.

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.

[Jimbob the Newbie]

Use this guide. It's perfectly legal and allowed.

How to Jailbreak FireStick [New Secrets Unlocked in Dec 2021] (https://www.firesticktricks.com/jailbreak-fire-stick.html)

[retiredguy123]

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.
As I understand it, you can now install the youtube tv app on a Roku device. Even when they blocked it, you could still access youtube tv from the youtube app. I don't know of any other apps that are blocked by Roku.

The Firestick, and other Amazon devices, are not a true Android devices. For example, they do not support the Google Play Store app without doing a sideload installation. I once tried to install the Google Play Store app on a Fire 7 tablet, but the installation failed due to an insufficient amount of memory.

Every independent review of streaming devices I have read rank the Roku devices higher than the Firestick. I own several Amazon devices, including tablets and Ereaders. They are good, economical devices. But, for streaming videos and movies, I think the Roku is a better way to go.

[EdFNJ]

Use this guide. It's perfectly legal and allowed.

How to Jailbreak FireStick [New Secrets Unlocked in Dec 2021] (https://www.firesticktricks.com/jailbreak-fire-stick.html) First of all they aren't being "jailbroken" because they aren't in jail (or locked blocked or anything else) it's just loading programs.

There is absolutely NOTHING illegal about installing KODI, what is illegal is what you do with it which is the obvious meaning behind your comment and the article you posted.

No one is going to be arrested (not really true) but that doesn't make it "legal" or "right" and saying so is not being truthful.

This kind of explains it:
Youtube: Four arrested for selling illegal Amazon Fire TV Sticks - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLncBSR4Sy8)
Article: Suspects sold ‘jail broken’ Amazon Fire Sticks at Florida flea market, deputies say (https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2020/12/21/suspects-sold-jail-broken-amazon-fire-sticks-at-florida-flea-market-deputies-say/)

[Jimbob the Newbie]

First of all they aren't being "jailbroken" because they aren't in jail (or locked blocked or anything else) it's just loading programs.

There is absolutely NOTHING illegal about installing KODI, what is illegal is what you do with it which is the obvious meaning behind your comment and the article you posted.

No one is going to be arrested (not really true) but that doesn't make it "legal" or "right" and saying so is not being truthful.

This kind of explains it:
Youtube: Four arrested for selling illegal Amazon Fire TV Sticks - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLncBSR4Sy8)
Article: Suspects sold ‘jail broken’ Amazon Fire Sticks at Florida flea market, deputies say (https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2020/12/21/suspects-sold-jail-broken-amazon-fire-sticks-at-florida-flea-market-deputies-say/)

Thank you for interpreting my post for me. I was merely quoting the opening line of the website. And what it says , and what you said, is absolutely true: there is nothing illegal about using KODI or Venom with an opened Fire Stick, just as there is nothing illegal about driving your car at the speed limit. What you choose to do with the apps, or your car, is up to you.

[JoelJohnson]

TROYPOINT - Firestick, Android TV Box, Kodi, VPN & Streaming Tutorials (http://WWW.TROYPOINT.COM) this site will walk you through the set up.

[EdFNJ]

Thank you for interpreting my post for me. I was merely quoting the opening line of the website. And what it says , and what you said, is absolutely true: there is nothing illegal about using KODI or Venom with an opened Fire Stick, just as there is nothing illegal about driving your car at the speed limit. What you choose to do with the apps, or your car, is up to you. Except there probably aren't 2 people in 1 million (hyperbole of course as I have no real data) who doesn't load those apps only to get free stuff they should be paying for.

Just to be transparent ..... I've done it for a few days because I like to mess with that kind of stuff and found mostly crap quality and erased the stick (still have it in my drawer if anyone wants to buy a factory reset 4K Firestick since I now use Apple TV) and I've also driven my golf cart and car over the speed limit and have watched movies and listened to music I should have paid for. My point is all the posters who make it seem like it's just the normal thing to do then out of the other side of their mouth complain that someone is breaking the law by walking on the wrong side of the road bugs me. :)

[PoolBrews]

As I understand it, you can now install the youtube tv app on a Roku device. Even when they blocked it, you could still access youtube tv from the youtube app. I don't know of any other apps that are blocked by Roku.

The Firestick, and other Amazon devices, are not a true Android devices. For example, they do not support the Google Play Store app without doing a sideload installation. I once tried to install the Google Play Store app on a Fire 7 tablet, but the installation failed due to an insufficient amount of memory.

Every independent review of streaming devices I have read rank the Roku devices higher than the Firestick. I own several Amazon devices, including tablets and Ereaders. They are good, economical devices. But, for streaming videos and movies, I think the Roku is a better way to go.

Yes, Roku finally reached an agreement with Google, and you can now load YouTube TV. That doesn't change the fact that they blocked loading it for nearly 8 months.

Yes, you could access YouTube TV for a period of time through the YouTube app. How is it reasonable to expect a user that uses YouTube TV as their primary TV to have to go to YouTube and log in each time through a link buried at the bottom of the app? The only reason this worked is because Google modified their app to provide access when Roku blocked the main app.

Then Roku somehow magically "broke" the YouTube app as well so the workaround didn't work in a new release pushed to all Roku's.

Now the big story is that Roku is in a disagreement with Amazon, and may block all of those channels.

My point here is you are directly at the mercy of Roku, and there is no workaround that an end consumer can do other than to move to a different device than the Roku.

You are correct, the FireStick is not a full OS - but it is an OS and is capable of far more than a Roku. Just the fact that I can sideload an app at any time removes the possibility that I'm left out in the cold due a decision by Amazon.

With regards to reviews, I can find just as many reviews that list the FireStick #1 as reviews that list Roku as #1. The reality is that both work well (far better than the "free" apps included on smart TV's), but Roku has demonstrated to me on multiple occasions that they could care less about their end user.

[EdFNJ]

You are correct, the FireStick is not a full OS - but it is an OS and is capable of far more than a Roku. Just the fact that I can sideload an app at any time removes the possibility that I'm left out in the cold due a decision by Amazon. They can at "anytime" change that ability as well with a simple update and unless you are in the minority of folks who know how to go around that you'd be SOL. Just like cable tv as well as C-Band satellite sellers/buyers went full encrypted many years ago to stop the piracy. My neighbor many years ago had a BUD (big ugly dish) in his yard and it was great back in the 80's but he used it as a bird bath for years after. :) Best part was watching the live network news feeds in between commercials.

[rjm1cc]

It should plug into your TV in an Hdmi port. If you do not have the port you can not use. Then you have to use your TV remote to change the source of your programs to the hdmi port you plugged the firestick into. Be sure to write down the TV port before you change it. You use the TV remote to get back to TV. It is possible that your TV will switch to the firestick when you turn on the firestick using its remote and maybe back when you use the TV.

[EdFNJ]

It should plug into your TV in an Hdmi port. If you do not have the port you can not use. Then you have to use your TV remote to change the source of your programs to the hdmi port you plugged the firestick into. Be sure to write down the TV port before you change it. You use the TV remote to get back to TV. It is possible that your TV will switch to the firestick when you turn on the firestick using its remote and maybe back when you use the TV. It seem the OP wants a bit more than "just plugging it in" since he hasn't replied to the thread and has logged in multiple times since. My offer remains to plug it in for free but if he wants to load it with other stuff Google is his friend.

[ROCKMUP]

Unless I'm mistaken, with the newer smart TV's you don't need any of that stuff.
Maybe I missed it in this thread somewhere though.

[PoolBrews]

Unless I'm mistaken, with the newer smart TV's you don't need any of that stuff.
Maybe I missed it in this thread somewhere though.

The apps in the Smart TV are nowhere near as well designed and programmed as the apps for FireStick or Roku. The TV makers goal is to sell a TV, not provide you with the best apps. Those are added to sell the TV.

TV apps, in most cases, will not provide the video and audio quality of the apps specifically designed for streaming platforms like FireStick, Roku, or Apple TV. Many of them will experience buffering issues (freezing momentarily), and lock ups.

So, yes they may be easier to use, but the number and variety of issues in the built in apps will cause more long term problems for the end user than the short term issue of learning to use one of the streaming platforms.

When you buy a new TV, you'll have to learn that interface all over. If you are already using one of the streaming devices, just move it to the new TV, and everything works the same.

[capecoralbill]

Small point, but I like the remote control that is supplied with the firestick better than the Roku remote control. I like to button layout better.