Posted Thu Dec 14, 2017 at 01:15 PM PST by Steven Cohen
The streaming media devices will finally be available for purchase again through Amazon.
According to a report from CNET, Amazon has confirmed plans to begin selling Apple TV and Google Chromecast products. The online retailer previously stopped offering media players from both companies a couple of years ago due to competing interests related to its own Fire TV lineup and Prime Video app.
Product listings are already up for Apple TV 4K, Apple TV 4th Generation, Google Chromecast, and Google Chromecast Ultra models, though sales are not live as of press time. The decision comes following the recent addition of the Amazon Prime Video app to the Apple TV lineup. Meanwhile, Google recently announced plans to remove YouTube from Amazon's own line of Fire TV devices due in part to the retailer's refusal to sell its Chromecast dongles. This new change in policy should hopefully now result in YouTube remaining on Amazon players, though no confirmation has been made yet.
Google's Chromecast Ultra ($69) plugs into a display's HDMI port, allowing users to cast all of their favorite content from thousands of apps using a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. In addition, the device supports 4K, HDR10 and Dolby Vision content, offering playback capabilities for videos with higher resolution, expanded colors, and enhanced contrast.
Meanwhile, the Apple TV 4K ($179) utilizes the A10X Fusion chip and offers 4K playback capabilities at up to 60 frames per second with support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision content. Users can currently view 4K HDR titles from iTunes, Amazon, and Vimeo, and HDR support for other services like Netflix is expected to be added in the coming months. In addition, the device includes 4K scaling for HD sources, Siri voice search, iCloud support for media sharing, standard AirPlay capabilities, and the ability to serve as a smart home hub for HomeKit accessories with remote access and automated control.
Finally, Amazon's latest Fire TV ($70) device offers access to a growing collection of apps and Alexa skills. Under the hood, the device is powered by an Amlogic Quad-core 1.5GHz processor and Mali450 MP3 GPU, along with 2GB of memory, dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and 8 GB of storage. The player also features a new compact dongle-like design that fits behind a user's TV. In addition, the unit includes support for up to 60fps 4K Ultra HD playback with HDR10 and Dolby Atmos audio.
Source: CNET
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