Amazon's Apple TV Competitor to Launch in April as Chromecast-Like Dongle - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Amazon's Apple TV Competitor to Launch in April as Chromecast-Like Dongle

by

chromecast-stickDespite an earlier report suggesting a March launch, a new report from the Wall Street Journal now claims Amazon will start selling its video-streaming device in April through its own website and retailers like Best Buy.

The device will run a version of Android akin to the company's Kindle Fire readers and will support common media streaming services like Netflix.

The Amazon device will carry a variety of apps available on Roku Inc. and Apple set-top boxes and run on a version of Google's Android software, like Amazon's tablet computers, these people said. Roku's most popular apps include video services Netflix and Hulu Plus and music service Pandora, as well as Amazon's own video-streaming service.

An earlier report from TechCrunch claims the Amazon device will have a stick form factor similar to Google's Chromecast and will plug into the HDMI port of any HDTV. These same sources believe the device will support online gaming, streaming top-tier titles to the device at 30 frames per second from Amazon's servers in a manner similar to remote gaming service OnLive.

Pricing for the Amazon device is not yet known, but it is expected to be consistent with competing devices which are priced under $100. Google's Chromecast is the cheapest option at $35, while Roku's new Streaming Stick is priced at $49. Sources claim Amazon Prime customers will receive extra incentives for purchasing the device.

Top Rated Comments

163 months ago
Amazon- a company that tries everything and is good at very few things.

In other words, Amazon, just sell what people give you to sell and stop trying to make your own junk.

What have they made that hasn't been good or successful? The only true flop they've had would be the original Kindle DX.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rdlink Avatar
163 months ago
Actually when my AppleTV is acting up, I switch to the Chromecast for Netflix. It just works.

It's amazing how often AirPlay or Apple TV just fail to work, yet switching to Chromecast I get no issues.

What am I doing wrong? My ATV just always seems to work. I Airplay movies from every device in my house. I stream music from iTunes Radio from ATV, my iOS devices, my Macs using the Remote App. I watch movies and TV shows. I Netflix all the livelong day. Did I somehow get the only Apple TV that was built correctly? :rolleyes:
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
taptic Avatar
163 months ago
How so? Have you tried reading a book on a display? Your eyeballs want to bleed after quarter of an hour. The e-ink models are designed to be much easier on the eye like a normal book would be.

Did you even read my comment?

I was saying the e-ink ones are OK, it's the kindle fire and stuff that I can't stand.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
163 months ago
Actually when my AppleTV is acting up, I switch to the Chromecast for Netflix. It just works.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
roadbloc Avatar
163 months ago
In my opinion all kindles suck. bad. except the e-ink display ones.
How so? Have you tried reading a book on a display? Your eyeballs want to bleed after quarter of an hour. The e-ink models are designed to be much easier on the eye like a normal book would be.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
163 months ago
I hope they do better than Google in allowing the dongle to get the power through the HDMI port versus having a power cord connected to it -- that is ugly and kind of defeats the point of a dongle IMO.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone duo

Apple Announces Foldable 'iPhone Duo'

Wednesday September 9, 2026 10:56 am PDT by
Apple today announced the "iPhone Duo," a new kind of iPhone featuring two screens and a foldable inner display. The two halves of the iPhone Duo connect into a single continuous frame with the same aspect ratio across both displays, and Apple said the transition between open and closed is designed to feel fluid. When fully open, Apple says it is the thinnest iPhone ever made, with an...
Surprise and Shine Live Coverage Article

Apple Event Live Blog: iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, and More

Wednesday September 9, 2026 9:10 am PDT by
Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event kicks off today at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, where we're expecting to see the foldable iPhone Duo, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 models, new AirPods 5 earphones, and perhaps some other announcements. Apple is providing a live video stream on its website, on YouTube, and in the company's TV app across various platforms. We...
iOS 27 Feature Dark

Apple Announces iOS 27 Release Date

Wednesday September 9, 2026 10:46 am PDT by
At its event today unveiling the iPhone 18 Pro, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12, and more, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released later this month. iOS 27 has already been available as a developer beta since June and as a public beta since July, and Apple today said that the update will be released for all users with a compatible iPhone model on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 is...