You’ve got a big smart TV with amazing picture quality, and you also have the largely desired Amazon Fire TV hardware. Since you’re now past the question asking what is Amazon Fire TV, you’re probably wondering, which Amazon Fire TV apps are worth downloading? There are a couple of essential ones that are necessary for every audience, and there are others that might be shelved away for life after a single day of use. An app that goes to waste only takes up space, almost like a garage filled with old junk from decades ago. Here are some apps that are bound to be used on a regular basis. All of these are free to download and use, with the exception of Netflix which requires a monthly subscription.
FreeTime for Kids
FreeTime is a fantastic application used to make sure children don’t get more TV than they need. A parent can create a separate profile for children and handpick the videos and programs that can be watched under that profile. They can also set a time restriction for that profile which ensures that their children won’t be watching Pokemon for 12 hours straight, even when mom and dad aren’t home. To secure things even further, a pin must be entered when exiting the child’s profile which prevents the child from sneaking his or her way out of the boundaries and into unrestricted TV.
YouTube
There’s no contest when it comes to deciding the best free video streaming app. YouTube is the king of video sharing platforms, so what kind of smart TV would be at its best without YouTube under its belt? Share those funny cat videos or crazy sports highlights on the big screen using the very popular YouTube app. With the application, you can search directly using the on-screen keyboard, or you can use Miracast to mirror the app from an external source and type using the touch screen on your mobile device.
Amazon Cloud Drive
Amazon Cloud Drive offers a massive 5GB storage space for photos (Amazon Prime members get unlimited space). You might be wondering why anyone would need photos on a TV. Simply put, photos serve as a better backdrop than videos. Videos tend to get noisy and interrupt conversation. Even on mute, the visuals can be distracting. A smooth photo slideshow however, can add to the atmosphere and even offer itself as a conversation starter. Just make sure that the photos are saved into the Cloud Drive.
Firestarter
If you’re one who loves to explore outside of the box, then you’ll need to install Firestarter. This application allows for easy setup and sideloading of applications that are not available in the default Amazon App Store. Funny enough, this application which allows external applications is available in the Amazon App Store. There’s not much to it other than its utilization as a sideloader, but it’s a darn good one at that.
Kodi
Since I recommended a sideloader, it’s only right that I recommend an app that has to be sideloaded. Introducing Kodi, the multimedia platform that supports all types of files on one application. On Kodi, you can watch TV, play movies or view photos from an external source, browse music videos, and even listen to the radio. This app is extremely flexible and diverse so if you hate switching apps just to view a certain file, I highly recommend Kodi as it will make your life much easier.
Netflix
Just a few years ago we used to talk about renting DVDs. That all changed when Netflix came into play. A TV is not much of a TV without a solid collection of movies or TV shows, and Netflix makes sure you have both. Certainly one of the best Amazon Fire TV apps, when you have a TV equipped with this app, you’ll never run out of things to watch, ever.
Pandora/Spotify
Sometimes you don’t really feel like watching anything. You just want to sit down and relax with some nice music playing in the background. Pandora or Spotify can help simplify the process of browsing music and playing them. Installing Pandora or Spotify also saves you the trouble and money of purchasing speakers, since you’ll be listening to music using the sound system connected to your television. Both applications are very popular and come packed with all of the latest music as well as the old favorites.