From CNET: It's smaller than a crowbar, but Amazon surely wants its new streaming stick to pry users away from Google's Chromecast.
Dubbed the Fire TV Stick, the streaming-media device connects to an HDMI port on the back on an HDTV and streams from sources including Netflix to Hulu Plus to, of course, Amazon's own Prime Instant Video. Owners will also find a wide range of other streaming apps, including Spotify, Vevo and A&E.
It was seven months that Amazon announced its Fire TV streaming set-top box. That device, which is designed to provide both streaming entertainment and gaming, goes for $99. The Fire TV Stick retails for $39. For the next two days only, new and existing Amazon Prime customers will be able to pick up the Fire TV Stick for $19.
The Fire TV Stick comes with a remote control and a free, 30-day trial of Amazon Prime and Netflix. The remote control is not the same one that comes with the Fire TV and includes voice search. Those who want the Fire TV remote with voice search will need to pay $30.
Gadget shoppers will have to stack up the Fire TV stick against a number of other options. One is Google's $35 Chromecast, which also plugs into a television and provides a wide range of streaming services. Chromecast owners can also toss up their apps and entertainment content to the HDTV from an Android phone, tablet, iOS device, Mac, Windows PC, or Chromebook. Meanwhile, set-top heavyweight Roku offers its own $50 Streaming Stick.
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