Google TV Will Gain Support for Pointer Remotes
At Google I/O, Google announced that its Google TV platform will now support pointer‑style remotes, letting users move a virtual cursor by waving the remote in the air. The new input method mirrors LG’s webOS remote design and is positioned as a replacement for the traditional D‑pad navigation. Google is urging app developers to add pointer compatibility ahead of a rollout later this year. The feature will debut on both new and existing Google TV devices.
Alexa+ Comes to Fire TVs in the UK, Canada, Mexico, Italy, Germany, and Spain
Amazon announced that Alexa+, its AI‑powered voice assistant, is now available on Fire TV devices in the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Italy, Germany and Spain. The service lets users ask natural‑language questions about Prime Video content, retrieve scene details, and...
Yet Another New Onn Streaming Stick Passes Through FCC Approval
Walmart’s budget Onn brand has added another FCC‑cleared streaming stick. The new Full HD model (HP47R/HP4718) looks identical to the 2023 version but features updated internals and is built by Skyworth instead of SDMC. By diversifying manufacturers, Walmart hopes to ease...
Fake Onn, Fire TV, and Xiaomi Streaming Devices Are Becoming More Common and Harder to Spot
Counterfeit streaming sticks and boxes—most notably fake Onn 4K Plus, Fire TV, and 3rd‑gen Xiaomi TV Box S—are now indistinguishable from genuine units and are appearing on major U.S. retailers like Amazon and Walmart. The fakes replicate hardware design, packaging, and even the modern Google TV interface,...
HBO Max Drops Support for Millions of Older Fire TV Models
HBO Max announced that its Fire TV app will no longer run on devices using Fire OS 5, raising the minimum supported version to Fire OS 6. Amazon’s Fire TV lineup, including the popular 2nd‑gen Fire TV Stick, has not received major...
Amazon Ditches ‘Fire TV’ Name for Its Smart TVs — They’re Now All ‘Amazon Ember’ TVs
Amazon announced it will retire the Fire TV name for its smart televisions, rebranding the entire lineup as Amazon Ember TVs. The Ember name, first used for a high‑end framed series earlier this year, now covers all Amazon‑made TVs. Fire...
Google TV Streamer on Sale at a New Low for the Year — Just $76.99
Google has reduced the price of its Google TV Streamer to $76.99, a 23% discount from the regular $99.99 and the lowest point it’s hit all year. The device now sits just $2 above its all‑time low of $74.99, making...
Walmart’s New Onn Streamers Get Closer to an ‘Official’ Release
Walmart is quietly expanding the availability of its new Onn 4K Pro and Onn 4K Stick streaming devices. After weeks of sporadic in‑store sightings, the products now appear on the retailer’s website for most U.S. zip codes, though they remain...
Amazon Upgrades to Gigabit with Its New Fire TV Ethernet Adapter, but There’s a Catch
Amazon has launched a new Fire TV Ethernet adapter that pairs with the 2nd‑gen Fire TV Stick HD’s USB‑C port and is technically capable of Gigabit Ethernet. However, the adapter’s specifications list a maximum of 480 Mbps, reflecting the stick’s likely...
Fire TVs to Gain Adaptive Display Option to Increase Text and Menu Size
Amazon announced that its Fire TV lineup will receive a new Adaptive Display accessibility feature in the coming months. The option enlarges text, menus, and on‑screen content, using intelligent scaling that boosts smaller fonts more than larger ones to preserve...
Onn 4K Pro 2 and Onn 4K Stick Prices Fluctuate by as Much as 50% From Store to Store
Walmart’s new Onn 4K Pro 2 and Onn 4K Stick streaming devices show dramatic price swings across stores. The Pro 2 typically retails for $59.88 but can be found for $49.88, while the Stick usually costs $39.98 and drops to $19.88 in...
Amazon Will Reportedly Never Release Another New Android-Based Fire TV Stick — It’s Vega OS only From This Point On
Amazon is ending the production of Android‑based Fire TV Sticks, moving all future stick models to its proprietary Vega operating system. The latest Fire TV Stick HD, the second device powered by Vega, confirms the shift despite Amazon’s silence in official...
2nd-Gen Onn 4K Pro Does Not Support Lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS:X Audio Passthrough Like the Onn 4K Stick
The second‑generation Onn 4K Pro streaming stick cannot pass lossless Dolby TrueHD or DTS:X audio, unlike the earlier Onn 4K Stick which uses a Realtek processor and supports lossless formats in Kodi. Benchmark tests with Kodi and Plex showed the...
2026 Onn 4K Pro and Onn 4K Stick Benchmarks — The Pro Gets a Much-Needed Power-Up, and the Stick Holds...
Walmart’s new 2nd‑gen Onn 4K Pro streaming box delivers a 50 % performance boost over its predecessor, making it the fastest Google TV device tested, second only to Nvidia’s Shield line. The Pro also outperforms Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max by about 12 % while costing roughly two‑thirds...
New Fire TV Stick HD Announced with the Much-Hated Vega OS — A Downgrade in so Many Ways
Amazon unveiled a new Fire TV Stick HD that runs its proprietary Vega OS, replacing the long‑standing Android‑based HD stick. The device is marketed as the slimmest streaming stick and adds Wi‑Fi 6 and a USB‑C port, but retains the same...