Gadgetory

although it's barely bigger than a fat USB stick Amazon's latest TV device packs some big-time features for just 40 bucks the sleek little stick is designed to hide discreetly behind your TV it plugs directly to the HDMI port and includes a slick adapter in case the fit is too cramped there's also a power plug so what sets it apart from Amazon's original stick and competitors like the Roku streaming stick and a word voice Amazon's new stick is the cheapest TV device to include a voice capable remote in the box you can use it to search across numerous apps for TV shows and movies launch apps and even ask it to skip ahead although that last feature only works with the Amazon videos for now Amazon stick also has Alexa the digital assistant found in devices like the echo and dot speakers just like those speakers the TV stick can read you the weather look up local restaurants or even answer weird questions it's a big disadvantage compared to those figures is that you'll need to have your TV turned on to use it its main task of course is giving you access to thousands of streaming apps like Netflix Hulu YouTube sling TV and PlayStation View as well as to Amazon's vast collection of TV shows movies and music for those functions we still like Roku better Amazon's interface pushes you too much to consume Amazon's own content as opposed to other apps like Netflix and doesn't offer any customization or price based search results Amazon's has a new interface of debuting later this year however that could change the equation