Amazon just announced[1] several new Fire TV[2] devices, not only for the US market but across Europe and Japan. The company's streaming television platform has gained new partners, new hardware, and for the first time, is now built into a soundbar for your TV.
The new Fire TV Cube[3] is a modest, but minor upgrade from the first-generation device. The processor is now twice as fast when compared to the first-gen model. According to Amazon, Fire TV Cube owners use eight-times more voice commands to control their TV when compared to other Fire TV users. The additional voice interaction is due to the multi-directional microphones built into the Cube, allowing for voice commands to be given, free of any need to interact with the remote.
The new Fire Cube TV[4] will be available in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, and Japan. It's available for preorder right now, priced at $119, and will begin shipping Oct. 10. In Japan, it will start shipping Nov. 5. There's also a $249 bundle that includes the new Fire TV Cube and a Ring Video Doorbell 2.
Amazon partnered with prolific accessory maker Anker to create the Nebula Soundbar Fire TV Edition[5]. The soundbar acts and functions as a normal soundbar, improving your TV's audio, but also have Fire TV support built into it. You only need to hook up the soundbar to