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The best deals we found this week: 'The Sims 4,' Fire TV Sticks and more
Digital deals dominated this week, but there are also numerous deals on gadgets as well. Some of the highlights include an early start to Origins' annual spring sale, which brought steep discounts on The Sims 4 expansion packs and dropping the price of the base game to $5. Square Enix cut the prices of all of its Nintendo Switch games, so now's the time to grab a Final Fantasy title (or three) while they are up to 50 percent off. Amazon Prime members can also snag a Fire TV Stick 4K for only $25. Here are all the deals from this week that you can still get today. The Sims 4 This is a great time to get into The Sims—or to jump back into it—while the base game and most expansion packs are still on sale. The Sims 4 costs $5 right now, and some of the most popular expansion and game packs, including Parenthood, Realm of Magic and Spa Day, are as low as $15. Be careful, though — once you start playing The Sims, it's pretty hard to stop. Buy The Sims 4 on Origin - starting at $5 Buy The Sims 4 on Amazon - starting at $5
The best Alexa-compatible smart-home devices for Amazon Echo
By Rachel Cericola This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full guide to Alexa-compatible smart-home devices for Amazon Echo. Imagine walking into your home at night, arms overflowing with groceries. Even if you've installed smart lights, you'd need to put the bags down, pull out your phone, unlock it, open the app, find the control for the lights you want, and then tap the icon—might as well just stick with a plain old wired switch. But with an Alexa, you simply say, "Alexa, turn on the kitchen lights." And it's not just lights; Alexa is capable of controlling everything from basic smart plugs to garage doors. All three smart-speaker platforms (Alexa, Google Assistant, and to a lesser degree, Siri) can control a variety of smart-home devices and add an extra level of convenience to your smart-home system. We think Amazon's Alexa has a slight edge over the others because it works with more devices, and the wider family of Amazon Echo products makes it easier to fit them everyplace in your home. However, if you already have a Google Home speaker, the differences aren't large enough for you to need to switch platforms. We have guides for the best devices to use with Google Assistant and Siri/HomeKit. The Amazon Echo (or Echo Dot) offers a convenient interface for your smart home and provides functionality that an app on your phone can't. If you already have some Alexa-compatible devices or one of the three major smart-home hubs (SmartThings, Wink, or Insteon), adding an Echo can make accessing those devices more interesting and convenient. Taking advantage of its near-instantaneous response time and reliable voice-recognition processing is significantly faster than pulling out your phone and opening an app just to turn the lights on or off. Some products, such as Philips Hue lights and Nest thermostats, have native Alexa support, while others require you to enable a third-party skill. We tested plenty of both varieties to come up with the best-performing and most reliable recommendations, which we're continually testing to ensure that each new firmware and app update meets our high standards. Over the past several years, Wirecutter's editors and writers have tested just about every smart-home device of consequence. As more people end up buying smart speakers and platform support gets more and more important, we wanted to provide one place where you could access all of our picks that are compatible with the devices you already own, across all of our smart-home recommendations. Because these devices receive regular updates with additional compatibility and new features, we are continually testing and reevaluating our picks in our own homes to confirm that they still meet our recommendation standards. We'll update this guide as we learn new information, but be sure to read the full reviews if you'd like more details and test notes. If you don't yet have an Alexa-enabled device, or you want to learn more about what Alexa is and what you can do with these things, check out our full guide to Alexa and Amazon's Echo line of smart speakers.
Amazon's base Fire TV Stick now comes with its new Alexa remote
You don't have to sacrifice all the bells and whistles to get Amazon's entry-level Fire TV hardware. The internet giant is releasing an updated edition of the basic Fire TV Stick (that is, the 1080p version) with the new Alexa Voice Remote it unveiled alongside the Fire TV Stick 4K. That may not sound like much, but it means getting Bluetooth support, multidirectional infrared and dedicated power and volume controls (that steer devices beyond the Stick and the TV, we'd add) for the same $40 as before.
Apple reportedly considered creating a Chromecast-style TV dongle
With a streaming service on the way, Apple has reportedly started looking for new ways to get its content in front of as many eyes as possible, including releasing a streaming dongle, according to The Information. The device would be in the style of Google's Chromecast or Amazon's Fire TV Stick and would bring the price down considerably from the cost of the $180 Apple TV set-top box.
Amazon is discounting Echo and Fire devices for Black Friday
You're probably familiar with the 12 days of Christmas, but how about the seven days of Black Friday? Amazon is getting the savings started early by cutting the prices on its own devices starting November 16th. The sale will run through Black Friday, November 23rd, and features some pretty steep discounts on Amazon's line of smart speakers, tablets and other devices.
Amazon's latest Fire TV Stick offers 4K for $50
After years of offering 4K playback on its higher-end Fire TV devices, Amazon is ready to bring that extra resolution to its most affordable hardware. With a base of active users that's 25 million strong, it's launching the Fire TV Stick 4K, delivering Ultra HD and HDR streaming through an HDMI dongle that costs a modest $50. The stealthy device isn't as affordable as Roku's $40 Premiere, but it's also billed as the first media stick to support Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision and HDR10+. You won't have to settle for lower-quality output just to save some cash or avoid using your TV's built-in apps.
Amazon's Silk web browser is now on Fire TV devices
If you've been looking for a way to browse the web on your Amazon Fire TV, now's the time. The company has just released its Silk Browser for its media gadgets, making it compatible with the first and second generation Fire TVs, the second generation Fire TV Stick and the various smart televisions with Fire TV Edition built in.
The best Cyber Monday deals
This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, they may earn affiliate commissions that support their work. Read their continuously updated list of deals here.
Amazon's new Fire TV is a 4K-capable, Chromecast-style dongle
One of our complaints with last year's Fire TV stick is that there was no 4K support. Fortunately, Amazon now has an answer for that. Say hello to the new Fire TV, a dongle-based competitor to Google's Chromecast Ultra. It has 4K HDR video at 60 frames per second and all of the features of Fire TV as before. Audio is also getting a big upgrade, as it now supports Dolby Atmos sound.
The best media streaming devices
By Chris Heinonen This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. The best media streaming device for most people is the updated Roku Streaming Stick. It's as fast to use as any streamer available and has a wider selection of apps than others offer. And unlike its main competitors, Roku doesn't try to sell content from its own store; rather than prioritizing one streaming service over another within its interface, it lets you customize what it displays to suit your preferences.
The CW's free Seed app is now streaming on Amazon Fire TV devices
The CW has just launched its CW Seed app for Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Edition television. The app doesn't require a subscription, there are no added fees and you don't need a cable service provider in order to access its shows. However, you will have to sit through ads and the app doesn't have any currently running series.
The first television with Amazon Fire TV built in is just fine
Sure, you can get a Fire TV stick with an Alexa remote and plug it into your existing television set to make it smart. But that setup can't pull in streams from all the devices you have connected, like your PlayStation, antenna and whatever else you have stuck in your HDMI ports. Nor can it integrate all those inputs seamlessly into the OS. But if a central hub for all of your streaming content is important to you, and if you have money just laying around, consider the new Element Fire TV Edition. It's the first television with Fire TV OS built in, thanks to a collaboration between Amazon and TV maker Element. Starting at $449 for a 43-inch version, the Edition adds a few conveniences to the existing interface that you won't get with only the stick.
Amazon's Fire TV Stick with Alexa remote hits the UK for £40
At long last, Amazon is selling its new Fire TV Stick in the UK. The cheap media streamer, which comes with an Alexa-enabled voice remote, first debuted in the US last October. As you would expect, the hardware lets you search for movies and TV shows, launch apps and control playback. Like the Echo, however, Alexa can also be used for a number of "skills," such as asking for the weather or dimming your smart lights. The stick itself has also been upgraded with a new processor, making it 30 percent faster than the previous model, and supports the speedy 802.11ac WiFi protocol.
Amazon's Fire TV Stick with Alexa is hitting the UK for £40
The latest iteration of Amazon's Fire TV Stick, first launched in the US last October, is finally UK-bound. While the little streaming dongle still won't admit 4K is a thing, it boasts a quad-core processor that Amazon says makes it 30 percent faster than the previous generation of Fire TV Stick. Navigating around the new "cinematic" Fire UI should be pretty slick, then. The £40 steamer also supports the speedy 802.11ac WiFi protocol, but the biggest upgrade has to be the snazzy new Alexa remote.
Amazon's Fire TV software is getting a new look soon
Amazon's refreshed Fire TV stick with Alexa-enabled remote started shipping today, and along with the new hardware, we're getting a look at the new Fire TV software update. The new look is said to be a "cinematic" experience, with video trailers and screenshots aplenty. Another change is how it features content from non-Amazon providers, which may increase support from other services on the Fire TV platform.
Amazon's new Fire TV Stick comes with an Alexa remote for $40
Amazon's next take on the Fire TV Stick looks pretty much the same as before, but it brings along some useful upgrades to keep it current. The biggest difference? It now includes an Alexa-enabled remote at the same $40 price. It also packs in a faster quad-core processor (compared to a dual-core chip before) which Amazon claims is 30 percent faster than its predecessor, as well as speedier 802.11ac WiFi. Mostly, it seems like Amazon is trying to keep the Fire TV Stick more competitive with Roku's excellent $50 streaming stick.
Amazon Fire TV update gives you much wider voice search
Amazon's Fire TV devices just became much more useful if you prefer to talk to your media hub. An update rolling out to the Fire TV and Fire TV Stick gives you dramatically improved search: you can now use voice to search over 75 apps and services, including Netflix and (soon) HBO Now. If the show you're looking for is available on multiple services, you'll see all your choices. And if you're content with watching Amazon Video, you're still getting an upgrade. You now have voice control of playback with Amazon's service, so you can skip to your favorite Transparent scene without using the fast forward button.
All Amazon Fire TV devices now have the major UK catch-up apps
If you prefer to catch-up on TV shows instead of watching them as they air, Amazon's latest announcement might be of interest. After bringing all major UK broadcasters to the Fire TV, the company has turned its attention to the streamer's smaller sibling, the Fire TV Stick, confirming today that the HDMI dongle now supports BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4 and My5. It doesn't matter which Fire TV or Fire TV Stick model you own, they now all feature catch-up apps provided by the UK's biggest broadcasters. Add to that support Amazon's own Video service, Netflix and other major streaming services and you've got yourself a few reasons to skip your traditional TV box entirely.
Kodi takes the fight to sellers of pirate TV boxes
Pirate TV boxes have existed since about five minutes after TV boxes were first introduced. Whether it was rewired cable boxes or satellite TV setups with hacked cards, it's been a reality of the business for decades. The latest iteration on this idea involves a number of Android-powered boxes that are preconfigured to find and stream pirated content from the internet. I noticed right away that the Fire TV is a perfect vessel for Kodi (back then it was still called XBMC), and I wasn't the only one -- which is causing a ton of problems for the developers who actually make Kodi.
Google staffer makes his own smart bathroom mirror
Smart mirrors are everywhere in tech companies' visions of future homes, but they never seem to show up in real homes -- at best, you might find them in fitting rooms. That just wasn't good enough for Google's Max Braun, though. He recently built his own smart bathroom mirror, and it even matches some of the lofty expectations set by concept videos and sci-fi movies. Thanks to the combination of a two-way mirror, an Amazon Fire TV Stick and a display board, Max gets the weather, news headlines and other key facts while he's busy brushing his teeth. All it's doing is calling on data that would normally go into a Google Now card -- Max can even use his voice to search for info, like a tech-savvy version of Snow White's Evil Queen.
