Amazons latest Alexa-powered gadget is a Fire TV and Echo smart speaker hybrid called the Fire TV Cube.
I wasnt prepared for the Fire TV Cube.
As a hardware reviewer, I try not to pre-judge equipment.
I think its important to keep an open mind.
Luckily for me, five minutes after I plugged it in, I knew this one was different.
It has the same processor as theFire TV 4Kwith twice the storage.
you might then utter commands such as select number four, or scroll right to navigate.
It’s free, every week, in your inbox.
It can also control an audio receiver or soundbar.
Basically the Cubes hardware can control your dumb gadgets and Alexa can control your smart ones.
The smart home of the future vision begins to come into focus when you combine the two.
Before I get ahead of myself, its worth mentioning that this thing looks absolutely ridiculous.
Its not even a cube!
And my objections to its looks arent solely geometry-based: Its a hunk of black plastic that attracts dust.
But, I very much dislike the fact that its all edges and sharp corners.
I think it was designed to be put inside of an entertainment center.
Perhaps the cube shape was meant to make it easier to squeeze along side your other gear.
Amazon needs to go with rounded edges on the next version.
Making it black is another strike against it.
In this case, I just think its a missed opportunity for this thing to be a smart light.
One thing it provided aesthetically that no other equipment could, was the beauty of subtraction.
The Cube brings extended visual functions to the Alexa experience that are otherwise only found on the Show devices.
With your TV turned off, for example, you might give the command Alexa, hows the weather?
to the Cube and itll give its normal audio report.
It can display news, recipes, nearby businesses, and other information as well.
But the most fun addition the added visual experience brings happens when you start playing music.
You dont have to do anything to make this happen, it just works.
The Cube is also the best value among Fire TV and Amazon smart speaker devices.
If youre buying an Amazon smart speaker or streaming gear any time soon, it should be this one.
