HIGHLIGHTS
- Amazon has launched Fire TV Blaster for $34 in the US.
- Fire TV Blaster brings hands-free voice control to TVs, soundbars and cable boxes.
- Fire TV Blaster works with Fire TV and Echo devices.
Amazon already offers a number of ways using which users can access control their smart TVs using voice commands. This includes Alexa voice remote and Fire TV devices connected with Echo smart speakers among other things. Now, the Seattle-based tech giant has introduced a new device – the Amazon Fire TV Blaster — that brings hands-free voice control to home theatre system.
The Amazon Fire TV Blaster is a companion device that connects with a compatible Fire TV device or an Echo smart speaker or an Echo smart display using infrared (IR) to help devices such as smart TVs, soundbars, satellite and cable boxes and A/V receivers work together wirelessly and it is compatible with devices from brands such as from brands like Samsung, Sony, LG, Vizio, Comcast, DISH, and DIRECTV/AT&T U-verse, and more.
Once connected, users can ask Alex to turn the connected device on or off, control the volume and playback. Users can say “Alexa, tune into HBO on cable” or “Alexa, play Ocean by Lady Antebellum on Prime Music” to use the connected device wirelessly.
To use the newly launched device by Amazon, users will need to have a compatible Fire TV or Echo device. The list of devices supported by the Amazon Fire TV Blaster include — Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote, Fire TV Stick 4K, or Fire TV (3rd Gen) and any Echo smart speaker or smart display (such as Echo Show and Echo Show 5). However, Fire TV Blaster isn’t compatible with Fire TV Edition televisions or soundbars.
In case you are wondering how you can use the newly launched device, the answer is really simple. All you need to do is connect the Fire TV Blaster to a plug and place it in the line of sight of the device that you want to control, download and install the latest version of the Fire TV app on your smartphone (you will need a device running on Android 5.0 or newer or iOS 10 or later), and then setup the Fire TV Blaster in the app and configure it with your compatible device.
As far as the pricing and availability are concerned, the Fire TV Blaster costs $34 in the US. Amazon will start shipping the new Fire TV Blaster in the US, Canada, the UK, and Germany on December 11.
