Amazon. com Help Alexa Doesn't Respond on Fire TV Cube

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The Amazon Fire TV Cube with Alexa gives me access to all my favorite streaming services right on my TV — here's how it works

While many TV manufacturers are continuing to push out the latest and greatest 4K/UHD-TV sets, chances are you might not be ready to make the jump just yet. Waiting might not be such a bad idea given that the industry is still working out the standards for high dynamic range (HDR), and 8K might not be that far off, either. The point is, if your current HDTV works, there is no reason to replace it – instead, you could add the Fire TV Cube from Amazon to give it a little more life, like streaming capabilities.

The need for a device like the Fire TV Cube became essential in my home theater setup thanks to a perfect storm of cable, satellite, and streaming issues. I'll spare you the details, but I will say our trusty smart TV wasn't so smart anymore, and some of our streaming services weren't getting the updates they needed.

My household is so entrenched into the Amazon ecosystem that Fire TV Cube made sense over the other options out there: The device is compatible with all the streaming services I use, like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Now, and the Fire TV Cube also comes with an Ethernet adapter. Since my husband is unwilling to trust a wireless stream, plugging in is a requirement. Plus, w e like that Amazon's well-designed interface is easy to navigate and works across streaming services and apps.

When it comes to cost, $119.99 is on the high end, but still reasonable. I recommend trying to catch one of Amazon's frequent sales if you're patient enough.

Fire TV Cube specs

Dimensions: 3.4 inches x 3.4 inches x 3.0 inches Weight: 16.4 ounces Far-field and near-field voice support and eight microphones Alexa and Alexa skills Free cloud storage for digital content purchased from Amazon Ports: HDMI, power, micro USB, wired infrared support Output: 2160p, 1080p, 720p up to 60 fps Wi-Fi: dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO). Supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi networks Included parts: Fire TV Cube, Alexa voice remote (second generation), power adapter, Quick Start Guide, marketing guide, two AAA batteries, infrared (IR) extender cable, Amazon Ethernet Adapter

What sets the Fire TV Cube apart?

The Ethernet cable means there are fewer, or hopefully no, interruptions when streaming. You can get an adapter for the Fire TV Stick and other streaming devices, but this one comes with Ethernet support while still allowing for wireless streaming if you prefer it.

The main menu screen integrates content from all the apps you have installed, with Prime Video in more prominent placements. You can choose to go directly to an app like Hulu or browse through trending content from each. If you search for a particular series or movie on the Cube, it brings up content across all services, including ones you don't subscribe to. The search results also show recommended programs — for example, a playlist highlighting films and TV series for each of the main actors from content you've searched for.

If you end up making digital purchases, the Fire TV Cube has 16GB of internal storage, compared to 8GB on the Fire TV Stick. If you plan to purchase content, video can start to fill your storage space quickly, so this is a definite advantage. There's also free cloud storage for content purchased from Amazon. What the Cube doesn't allow you to do, however, is to record content the way a DVR can record programming. Amazon has a different device for recording over-the-air TV.

The Cube also offers better integration with Alexa than any other device. You can use the voice assistant when the TV is turned off, but you'll have the best interaction when you can see results on the display at the same time. You can also integrate home automation through Alexa, the way you would with an Amazon Echo or other Alexa device. You can have her dim the lights to your home theater setting, or start popping popcorn in your Alexa-enabled microwave when getting ready to watch a movie, all without having to get up from the couch. I look forward to adding more devices that will make my TV experience, and maybe my life, that much better.

Setting up the Fire TV Cube and connecting your accounts

Out of the box, the Fire TV Cube only takes a few minutes to set up. The first step is to connect it to your home network (a requirement, of course) via Wi-Fi or an Ethernet adapter, and to the TV via HDMI.

Then, you'll log into your Amazon account, which allows you access to both free and paid content from Amazon. You can pick the various streaming services you want to use — such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now, etc. — and either log in with your existing account or set up a new account on the interface. Access to your computer or smartphone is all that's required — enter a few codes and you're ready to stream.

Getting used to the Fire TV Cube — quirks and all

Just minutes after opening the box and setting up the Fire TV Cube, I was quickly streaming content onto my TV, and just as quickly, I discovered some nifty features. Fast forwarding on Prime Video can be done in 10-second intervals, and you can skim forward on Netflix and HBO easily by selecting a frame or screenshot. None of this is as easy as the fast forward or rewind on cable or satellite, but that's the price of streaming.

In many ways, the Fire TV Cube is close to perfect for our viewing habits. There are far fewer glitches streaming through the Cube than with the smart TV, or even on Xfinity, Comcast's cable service. However, there are some strange nitpicks with the Cube. The most notable is that Alexa – like many Amazon devices, seems to always be listening. While watching "Game of Thrones" on HBO Now, my husband turned to me and said, "Thank you for setting up Alexa." The screen froze as Alexa waited for the next command. I pity any household with a family member named Alexa or perhaps Alice, Alex or anything similar!

Another time, in the middle of watching a police drama, Alexa paused and offered us a selection of music from the band the Police, complete with an Amazon Prime playlist. Amazon recommends that the Cube be placed at least two feet from the TV speaker – and now we know why. The Cube does have a blue strip that lights up when Alexa is activated, so you theoretically know when the device is listening.

We're still getting the hang of Alexa, and we've found that she's ready to answer a question or two or tackle the usual virtual-assistant tasks. But while you can interact with her on the Fire TV Cube the same way you would with any other Alexa-enabled device, it works better when used in conjunction with a display, which makes sense since this iteration was designed to work with a TV.

The Bottom line

Once you have the Fire TV Cube in your home, you might not be able to do without it. You can connect just about all of your services to it, and when you're ready to upgrade your TV, the Cube supports 4K TV. The interface is smooth and easy to use, and the setup only takes a few minutes.

Should you buy it? If you want an Alexa-powered streaming device with a decent amount of storage for content, voice control, and an Ethernet port for a wired internet connection, then yes. It is pricey, though. What are your Amazon alternatives? If you want an Alexa-powered TV streamer, you have several other cheaper options, including the $34.99 Fire TV Stick, which is good for Full HD 1080p TVs, and the $49.99 Fire TV Stick 4K, which is ideal for 4K TVs. Both offer Alexa voice control and work with the most popular streaming apps just like the TV Cube. The main difference is that they use your Wi-Fi and do not have a wired Ethernet connection. They also have less onboard storage, but if you only stream content, that won't matter to you. What are your non-Amazon alternatives? If you're open to non-Amazon devices, you can check out the Roku line of streaming devices here. If you want a Roku with an Ethernet port like the Fire TV Cube has, you can grab the Roku Ultra for less at $89.99. It has many of the same features, minus Alexa and the smart home controls, though it does have its own voice control remote. You can read our guide to the best streaming sticks and boxes here.

Pros: Ethernet port, works with most streaming platforms, Alexa voice controls, works with smart home devices

Cons: Pricey

Buy the Fire TV Cube on Amazon for $119.99

Find all the best offers at our Coupons page.

Amazon FireTV Cube

Today on the hookup we’re going to take a look at the brand new Amazon Fire TV Cube and figure out if it is the right device for your specific situation.

According to the marketing information the amazon fire TV cube combines the functionality of 3 great devices: An amazon fireTV 4k, an amazon echo dot, and a smart universal remote like the harmony hub, all in one device for around one hundred and twenty dollars.

In practice it falls short of completely replicating the functionality of these three devices, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth buying. Depending on your specific situation it might actually make a lot of sense for you.

Lets start out by comparing the fire tv box to each device it is replacing.

The first device the cube replaces is the Amazon fireTV 4k. The fireTV 4k and the fireTV cube are extremely similar devices. They are both android streaming devices, they have the same processor, support the same resolutions, and have the same apps. The fireTV cube has 16 gigabytes of internal storage compared to the 8 gigabytes found in the fireTV 4k, but since the internal storage is mostly just used for apps this shouldn’t ever be an issue. If you’ve ever used a fireTV 4k you will not notice any significant differences in the fireTV cube.

The second device the cube replaces is the amazon echo dot, and this is where the differences start to show. The main functionality of the amazon echo dot is to respond to voice commands. An amazon echo dot has an array of 7 microphones and has what is called “far field voice recognition”, and in my personal experience the echo dot is pretty great at detecting my voice, even over moderately loud background music. The fireTV cube adds an additional microphone for a total of 8, and a software addition that amazon is calling “beamforming technology” that’s supposed to increase the accuracy of voice detection. So far I haven’t been able to tell any difference between the echo dot’s voice recognition and the fancy beamforming recognition found on the fireTV cube, they both respond to my commands 99% of the time. The fireTV cube can control all of your smart home devices and use custom skills just like the echo dot, but that’s where the similarities end.

The fireTV cube is missing some of the key software features of the echo dot. I imagine these features may be added at some point in the future, but at the time of publishing this video these features are not currently available on the fireTV cube.

First is multi-room audio.

Multi-room audio allows echo devices to become part of a group to allow you to stream your music to multiple devices in your house. Multi-room audio is supported by the echo, echo dot, echo show and echo spot, but not the echo tap, or the fireTV cube.

Second, the fireTV cube doesn’t support Alexa’s calling or drop-in intercom capabilities and instead results in this message…..

If these are features that you commonly use in your smart home, then this device is probably not for you, if not, keep on watching.

The third device the cube replaces is a universal remote hub. I use a Logitech harmony hub to control my main TV and entertainment center, and it is a fantastic device with a beautiful simple remote and a ton of great features. Both the fireTV cube and the harmony hub have the ability to turn your TV on and off, change inputs, control the volume, and change the channels using voice commands. But since the fireTV cube lacks the full standard button set of the Logitech remote, you’re stuck using your voice for the majority of those commands. And while the fireTV cube can control a select feature set for your devices and uses a simple wizard for setup, it lacks the full control and customizability of a Logitech harmony hub, which depending on your home theater setup may be an issue.

Even with all those differences, I’m still happy with my fireTV cube, and I won’t be returning it. Here’s why:

I wanted to add an echo dot to this room anyway and I won’t miss intercom or multi-room audio in this particular room. I already have a harmony hub in my house, and didn’t want to have to deal with the irritation of installing a second alexa skill explaining to my wife and 6 year old that if they want to control the family room tv they need to say “alexa turn on the TV” or “alexa turn up the volume on the TV”, but to control the exercise room tv they need to say “alexa tell harmony to turn on the TV”, or “alexa tell harmony to turn up the volume on the TV”. Because the fireTV cube has a single HDMI output there’s no need for me to switch inputs on my TV or my receiver to play music or watch shows like I previously had to do with my roku and chromecast audio setup. And… number four My favorite thing about this device is that being in our exercise room we often want to use Bluetooth headphones while working out or running on the treadmill. Our previous solution was to plug this Bluetooth transmitter into the headphone jack of the receiver and fumble through the sketchy pairing process, but on the fireTV cube you just turn on your headphones and they automatically connect and pump all of the audio straight to your ears whether it’s a movie or music. I’d imagine this would be a great solution for bedroom TVs, or watching TV after the rest of the family has gone to bed.

If your situation is similar to mine, the fireTV cube may be a great solution for you. But there’s one last thing that needs to be discussed: bugs. I saved this for last because I’m confident that amazon will release patches to fix these problems quickly, but at the time of publishing these major bugs still exist.

Priority device: The fireTV cube can do things that your other amazon devices can’t, so it’s important that if multiple echos hear your command to turn up the volume or turn off the tv, the fireTV cube responds instead of your echo dot. Let’s check out how this feature actually works in practice. Device control: This is a major bug for me. My fireTV cube knows that when I tell it to turn on the TV it powers on both the TV and receiver like this.

It also knows when to power them both off when I tell it.

But if I tell it to do anything else, like the advertised “Alexa play this is us” it only powers on the TV and leaves the receiver off, resulting in no sound until you specifically ask alexa to turn on the receiver. I’d imagine this bug is due to controlling the TV via HDMI commands and the receiver through infrared, but I honestly can’t believe it wasn’t addressed before release.

So, lets do a quick recap and address the original question: Should you buy the amazon fireTV cube?

Here’s the checklist:

If you are primarily using streaming services for your media and don’t often change channels like you would on a cable or satellite box you will be happy with the fireTV cube

If you already have a harmony hub in your house and don’t want to deal with the multiple skill setup you’ll love the simplicity of the fireTV cube

If you want hands free alexa control and you don’t use drop-in, calling, or multiroom audio the fireTV cube will act as a perfectly acceptable replacement for an echo.

If you want to occasionally use Bluetooth headphones without the hassle of re-pairing and messing with cables every time you’ll love the simplicity of the fireTV cube.

Based on your answers to the previous four questions, here’s what you should buy, and the total cost for each the setup.

US and UK Amazon links to all of the items discussed in this video are in the description below. This was my first review video on this channel. If you have suggestions for improving any future reviews please leave them down in the comments. If you enjoyed this video, please consider subscribing, and as always thanks for watching the hookup.

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Amazon Alexa's New WHISPER MODE [How To Activate & Hands On]

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Welcome to the home of the best How-to guides for your Samsung Galaxy needs. In today's video, We will go over another great product in my household. The Amazon Products now have Whisper Mode (Whisper Responses) where Alexa will respond in a whisper if you whisper to her. Update rolls out starting today Thursday October 18th.

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