Amazon is cooking up two new products that will help to broaden its Fire TV lineup, according to AFTVnews.
Among them, a new HDMI-connected dongle will become the Fire TV’s “mid-tier” product, as it will support 4K and HDR, putting it in better position to compete with Google’s 4K-capable Chromecast streaming adapter, AFTVnews said. Amazon’s current-gen Fire TV Stick doesn’t do 4K, but the Fire TV box Amazon sells now does support the emerging video format.
The report said a new cube-shaped box will also support 4K and represent Amazon’s new flagship model for the Fire TV lineup, and will feature far-field microphones, a built-in speaker and an LED light bar that enables it to support and integrate functions found in the Alexa-powered Amazon Echo Dot. An IR emitter will let users control the TV and other A/V equipment, AFTVnews said.
Last month, Amazon added far-field control to its Fire TV platform, enabling those streaming devices to pair up with a separate Alexa-powered Echo devices for hands-free navigation. This new cube-based product would effectively take that integration up a notch.
RELATED: Fire TV Lights Up Far-Field Control
AFTVnews said it expects the new Fire TV dongle to be announced later this month, with the new top-end model to be announced at a later date, possibly later this year
Amazon has been asked for comment, but has yet to announce when it intends to unveil any new Fire TV products.
But it would make sense for Amazon to place new products into the market prior to the holiday buying season.
It would also be updating its wares to keep pace in a competitive streaming player market that continues to be led by Roku, which is now in pursuit of an IPO. Apple is expected to introduce a next-gen, 4K-capable Apple TV box on Tuesday (Sept. 12).
RELATED: Roku’s Share of Streaming Market Rising
--Image source: AFTVnews
