Anyone with a recent Amazon Fire TV Stick stuck in the back of their TV will be able to enjoy a new and improved remote next month. The online retailer has just announced the launch of its Alexa Pro Voice Remote which offers numerous improvements over what is normally shipped inside the packaging. For starters, there are now backlit keys that make trying to spot the volume button or hitting the channel list much easier at night.
The premium accessory also has a built-in remote pager alarm that can be activated when it disappears over the side of the sofa.
In case the worst happens and you can’t locate it, users simply shout “Alexa, find my remote” or use the dedicated Remote Finder button in the Fire TV app, and the Alexa Voice Remote Pro’s built-in speaker will broadcast an audible ring to get your attention. This siren is something signature devices like Sky have had for a while, so it’s good to see Amazon now adding it.
Another perk of the Pro remote is two new customizable buttons that Amazon says will make accessing favorite content and Alexa commands quicker and easier.
Owners will be able to personalize their remote by programming these buttons to create one-touch shortcuts to favorite apps and channels and anything Alexa can do.
For example, you can choose to program a button for Alexa to dim the lights, check the weather, or start an Alexa routine for movie night.
Of course, you still get dedicated buttons for popular streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video, and there’s a dedicated headset button that provides quick access to the Bluetooth menu where your favorite audio device can be paired.
If all that sounds appealing, the Alexa Voice Remote Pro is coming in November, though at £34.99 it’s certainly not cheap.
It is compatible with most Fire TV streaming media players, Amazon Fire TV smart TVs, and smart TVs with Fire TV built-in.
Along with the Alexa Voice Remote Pro, Amazon is also launching a new Fire TV Cube. This set-top box has had a design update and it also has more power under its shell. In fact, there’s a new octa-core chipset that Amazon says is about 20 percent faster than the previous generation.
Not only will that make scrolling and launching apps feel faster, but this new chipset also enables so-called super-resolution upscaling, which converts high-definition (HD) images into razor-sharp 4K Ultra HD for get better details, contrast and clarity.
On the back of the device are USB and HDMI input ports that offer more ways to connect external devices such as USB drives and webcams for video calls.
Amazon also added an HDMI input, so you can connect game consoles and set-top boxes to the Fire TV Cube. This means you’ll have the same number of HDMI ports as you did before you plugged in the Fire TV Cube, which is handy if you’re having a hard time juggling multiple devices on the back of your TV.
“The new Fire TV Cube is a huge step forward for Fire TV – it’s the fastest, most powerful and most versatile streaming media player we’ve ever created,” said Daniel Rausch, vice president of Amazon Entertainment Devices and Services. “This Fire TV Cube’s powerful processing and Wi-Fi 6E support deliver an incredibly smooth streaming experience, and the HDMI input means you can instantly extend the simplicity of Fire TV and hands-free control from Alexa to your home system.” home entertainment”.
