Amazon Fire TV Stick is one of the most popular streaming devices that you can use in India. With the help of Amazon fire stick you can not only watch your favourite shows on several streaming sites like Hotstar, Prime Video, etc., but if you are having a small media server in your home, you can even use the Amazon Fire TV Stick to watch the shows, or listen to music that is stored in that media server. Most people still have their library of movies and songs on the computers and laptops, but watching a movie or TV show is far better on the Amazon Fire TV Stick, as you can control the playback with the help of a handy remote, which is not the case if you do that on your computer or laptop.
But in order to make your Amazon Fire TV Stick be able to play music and videos on a local media server, you need to download a UPnP client, which can help your Amazon Fire TV Stick streaming media contents from your media server. Apart from movies, TV shows, and music, you can even see the slideshow of the photos, which is stored on the media server, which can also be really cool. So today I will talk about, how you can set up the UPnP client on your Amazon Fire TV Stick and access the contents from your media server right onto your Amazon Fire TV Stick.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick and Fire TV screensaver can be changed to slideshow your personal Google Photos, Flickr, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive or Dropbox photos and videos quite easily by switching it to use one of my folio apps. Since you’re reading this, you probably already know my apps provide a much better slideshow. To see your photos via with the Fire TV Amazon Photos app, first add the Amazon Photos app to your phone, tablet or computer, and then upload your photos to the app on those devices. In minutes, you’ll see them appear in your Fire TV Amazon Photos app. You can also set a Fire TV screensaver or play a slideshow of your photos.
So, without any further delay, let’s get started with, how you can set up the UPnP client on your Amazon Fire TV Stick.
Even though you can find the number of UPnP apps available for Amazon Fire TV Stick but I recommend you to go for VLC Media Player for obvious reasons.
Step 1: Just search for VLC Media Player in the search bar of the Fire TV Stick or you can even call your personal assistant Alexa to take you to the download page of VLC media player for Amazon Fire TV Stick.
Step 2: After you have downloaded VLC Media Player on your Amazon Fire TV Stick, just open it. Before you open VLC Media Player, make sure that the media server is turned on and is discoverable.
Step 3: Now open the VLC Media Player on the Amazon Fire TV Stick, navigate down unless you find the ‘Browsing’ tab and when you are there, select ‘Local Network’ and open it.
Step 4: You can find all the discoverable media service that is present on your Local network. For me, it is the ‘My media server’. Just navigate to it and open it.
Here, you can find all the folders to play whatever you want.
You can press the back button multiple times to come back to the home screen of your Amazon Fire TV Stick, or simply tap on the ‘Home’ button for a one-tap solution.
The VLC Media Player is one of the mightiest media players that are available. Besides watching videos on your Local network and listening to music you can even stream online content on the VLC Media Player, which can sometimes be useful if not every time.
Amazon Fire TV Stick does not have its own memory to download media content in an easy way, and thus, VLC Media Player can actually be used for this purpose and that is why you should keep it downloaded and installed on your Amazon Fire TV Stick. This is going to work for you, no matter which Amazon Fire TV Stick device you are using, as long as you have enough space to download it on your Amazon Fire TV Stick.
So, that was all about how you can install the VLC Media Player on your Amazon Fire TV Stick to stream content from your local media server. Do you have any questions? Feel free to comment on the same below.
New Amazon Firestick vs new Google Chromecast; which is the best? This is the question.
On a serious note though, we see a lot of confusion out in the tech streets when it comes to deciding on which option to choose. This is because Amazon decided to introduce the Fire TV Stick 3rd generation device right after Google TVs Chromecast streamer.
To solve this quandary, we decided to do some research and testing to bring you a comprehensive review of both devices so you can make an informed decision based on a fair comparison.
Next in our new Amazon Firestick vs new Google Chromecast comparison, we look at features. Thanks to having Alexa Voice Remote, the Fire TV Stick is easy to navigate. You can fast forward, rewind, and search for shows using voice commands.
And you don’t have to know the name of the program either, you can just mention the director or actor’s name to get to the movie. The Firestick is also easy to use and you can easily figure it out. The included app can be synchronized with your TV. But you can watch shows on a computer or a laptop too if you like.
The Chromecast is also easy to set up using your phone or tablet since it doesn’t come with a remote controller. The great thing about this device is that you can also control it through voice commands.
Although simpler and more versatile, the Chromecast lacks some of the features that come with the Firestick such as Advanced Streaming and Prediction (ASAP) from Amazon, which studies your preferences in order to prepare your Prime Video experience accordingly. The Amazon Fire TV Stick comes highly recommended for Alexa fans.
Both streamers offer a fair amount of content in a wide variety of options. Regardless of which device you choose, you’ll have access to all the big streaming services including YouTube,Netflix, Apple TV, and of course, Prime Video. The only downside with Chromecast is that you can only use a computer or laptop to watch content from Apple TV+ and not your smartphone.
Both Chromecast and Firestick come optimized for gaming, notably the Firestick with its flexible remote which can be turned into a game controller. But, obviously, the best place to play your games is through a PS4 or an Xbox and nothing can replace them.
Because it comes with Google TV, the Chromecast remote control can be utilized to control the device’s new TV service.
There’s one screen available for you to use when looking for new content and everything is in one place. The great thing about this is that you can view up to three different types of content at once and on the same screen seamlessly. No need to switch between screens.
When it comes to the Fire TV Stick, they basically put the Prime service in your face first and shows from other streaming services are placed in the background.
It’s also important in our comparison between the new Amazon Firestick vs new Google Chromecast to see how these devices stack up in terms of performance. You’ll be glad to know that both devices stream content in 1080p HD resolution quality.
When it comes to the Firestick, this translates to a crisp and clean picture quality where bright colors really pop while adding depth to dark scenes. The Chromecast performs similarly with detailed imagery and sharp contrasts between bright colors.
It gives the feeling of being right there on the scene with the rest of the characters. But the device’s detailing of dark colors is just not as thorough and we’ve noticed a fair amount of judder and blur here and there.
The Fire TV Stick uses Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 for sound and the Chromecast is powered by the Dolby Digital Plus 5.1. This translates to clear speech on both devices. However, the Chromecast exhibits a lip-sync effect on the average blockbuster soundtrack.
Otherwise, both devices offer great value for money and decent performance. If you want to get the most out of the content that you watch on streaming services like Netflix and YouTube, then it’s worth investing in either of these devices.
It’s also worth noting that both devices have upgraded versions, including the Fire TV Stick 4K which retails for $42.99 and the Chromecast Ultra which retails for $69.
Governments and ISPs across the world monitor their users online activities. If found streaming or browsing content on your Fire TV Stick, mobile or PC, you could get into serious trouble.
Currently, the following information is visible:
If this is your real information, you need to use a VPN to protect your identity.
We strongly recommend you to get a good VPN and hide your identity so that your online experience doesn’t take a bad turn.
We use IPVanish which is the fastest and most secure VPN in the industry. It is very easy to install on any device including Amazon Fire TV Stick. Also, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like their service, you can always ask for a refund. IPVanish also runs a limited time offer where you can save 74% on your VPN and they allow you to use one account on unlimited devices.
This is a flash sale that can expire at any time!
Next in our comparison of the new Amazon Firestick vs new Google Chromecast is price. Retailing for $39.99, this device comes with 2nd generation Alexa Voice Remote and a basic remote that complements its basic design as well.
On the other hand, we have the Google Chromecast device which retails for $35.00 and operates on a plug and play model with a flexible HDMI cable. This means there’s no remote for you to control it from afar. But it’s cheaper than the Fire TV Stick in some regions and it sports a stylish design.
So, what’s the verdict in the comparison of the new Amazon Firestick vs new Google Chromecast? Honestly, both devices deserve five stars.
Both have incredible features that are worth mentioning. For instance, the Alexa device sports a responsive and easy to use interface that makes it easy to navigate the different features that are included.
It’s even better if you’re an existing Amazon Prime subscriber. But, we recommend opting for the Fire TV Stick 4K if you really want to get the most out of this particular device in terms of both performance and value.
However, if you’re working within a confined budget, then you should definitely look into the Chromecast. It’s easy to use and comes with a lot of great features. Plus, if you have a Google smart speaker or an Android device then you can get even more out of this device.
Between the new Amazon Firestick vs new Google Chromecast, which option offers the best value for money in your opinion? Sound off on the comments below. We love hearing from you!