Amazon announced on Wednesday (Sept. 28) the launch of the all-new Fire TV Stick that includes an Alexa Voice Remote. The streaming stick is up to 30 percent faster than the original, offers access to more than 300,000 movies and TV episodes and includes the Alexa Voice Remote. The streaming video stick is selling for $39.99.
Amazon said it is currently taking pre-orders as of Thursday (Sept. 29) and will begin shipping on Oct. 20. Customers who purchase and activate their device by Oct. 31 will get a free content package, which Amazon said is worth up to $65, including one month of Sling TV, two months of Hulu and a $10 credit for Amazon Video to rent or purchase movies or other content.
“We are proud that our customers have made Amazon Fire TV the #1 streaming media player in the U.S. With more than 120,000 reviews and a 4.2 star rating, they’ve also made the Fire TV Stick the most reviewed product ever on Amazon,” said Marc Whitten, VP of Amazon Fire TV, in a press release. “Today, we are excited to make it even better. The new Amazon Fire TV Stick has been completely redesigned with incredible performance, powerful voice search and the included Alexa-powered remote to deliver instant access to a vast selection of movies, TV shows, games and Alexa skills at just $39.99.”
According to Amazon, by incorporating the Alexa Voice Remote into the new Fire TV Stick, Alexa instantly responds, making it easy for users to search for content across more than 90 apps and channels. For instance, users can say “find suspense thrillers” or “launch Hulu,” and Alexa will do the work for them. The device will also show the best viewing options to help customers choose apps and channels based on the value.