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I've tried PS4 Pro, Fire TV ~ 3 years ago with the new remote (w/ power button!), old Chromecast, and the new Chromecast with Google TV. So far the new Chromecast with Google TV has blown away the rest. I'm waiting on the Ethernet adapter to arrive but its wifi has been strong. It's the only one of the bunch that has a positive experience with Paramount+ if that matters to you.
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I'd recommend the new Roku Ultra or the Nvidia Shield TV (Not the Pro one). Roku has a great OS and lots of free content, which will include their own propriety content in the future. The remote also has really nice features like a headphone jack input and find my remote feature, and supports all of the newest video and audio standards such Dolby Vision and Atmos (Need to check if DTS and DTS:X are supported). You can cast from any device (including Apple) and can even mirror your screen from your laptop and tablets. Incredibly user friendly and capable device. Ethernet port is 10/100 compared to 10/100/1000 on the Nvidia Shield TV, but from what I understand this is more than capable for streaming non-local 4k content.
If you're someone who rips your dvds and blurays and watches them via an application like Plex, the Nvidia Shield might be the better option as it supports the "non-streaming" Dolby Vision and is the only player that can support this (You'd need 4k rips that have Dolby vision for this). It supports more video and audio formats than other players, and if I remember correctly it's the only one that lets you pass through video. There's one more feature that also makes the Shield an interesting alternative; it has the best AI up-scaling of any player. I haven't personally used the shield so I can't speak to it in depth, just based on what I've read/seen on YouTube. If you would like to use an Antenna to get TV as well you can plug in a USB TV Tuner to the PRO version of the Nvidia Shield TV and it will give you a TV guide feature as well.
Regarding the remote question, reviewers have used their LG Harmony remotes with the Nvidia Shield. Not sure if that would work with Roku.
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I have found the “Internet” browser in fire stick to work with “putlocker”, the successor to “couchtuner”. It is primitive enough to not be consumed by the pop-ups, but functional enough to run putlocker. Firefox on Fire Stick cannot run putlocker.
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I've used both, but prefer the Roku. I find the UI more intuitive than on the Fire Stick, but that really is more of a personal preference.
I have found that the Amazon Prime app on Roku doesn't seem to sync as well as the Fire Stick across devices, e.g. a view of a show on the Roku won't necessarily show up on my Fire Tablet. Also, the Roku doesn't seem to carry over the multiple Amazon profiles.
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I'm a big fan of the Roku and have now bought 4 of them. They work well and support all services. The big reason I didn't switch to the Fire Stick is because Amazon and Google don't get along, so Amazon does not support Google Play services. You may not care about that, but if you buy or rent from Google Play Movies, you won't be able to stream those on a Fire Stick.
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I have both and there are pros and cons for both. Why not buy one of each, try them out and return the one you don’t like. An alternative is to get a new smart TV that has the streaming apps you need.
Biggest con for Firestick is the horrid user interface. But it’s cheaper and from my experience works more smoothly once you get streaming.
The Roku user interface is better but the system is buggier.
Like most things these days, you have to pair the streaming device to your TV/audio system. Do you need 2K, 4K or 8K? HDR? If so, what spec? What sound output do you need? What’s going to be your main streaming app, YouTubeTV, Hulu or something else? All of these can affect which device suits you best. For example, we’ve had problem recently with YouTubeTV on Roku that we haven’t seen with the Firestick.
I have two different Harmony remotes and neither works with Roku or Firestick. The Harmony remotes are IR. The Roku and Firestick use RF.
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matblue25 wrote: An alternative is to get a new smart TV
I have a smart tv - I refuse to connect it to the internet.
matblue25 wrote: we’ve had problem recently with YouTubeTV on Roku
I refuse to pay Youtube for anything
matblue25 wrote: I have two different Harmony remotes and neither works with Roku or Firestick. The Harmony remotes are IR. The Roku and Firestick use RF.
A friend told me they were able to use a universal remote with their roku. I haven't tried it yet, so I cannot verify.
I bought the roku.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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#realJSOP wrote: I have a smart tv - I refuse to connect it to the internet.
But you have your BluRay connected? I don't see any real difference there.
#realJSOP wrote: I refuse to pay Youtube for anything
That's the way I feel about AT&T and Spectrum (my non-streaming choices). You have to pick something, I liked YouTubeTV over Hulu at first but YouTubeTV has been raising prices while, at the same time, dropping channels so we may switch soon.
Hope the Roku works out. I have 2 Rokus, one connected via Ethernet and one to 5Ghz AC Wifi. Can't tell any difference in the performance. I get 150Mb on the Wifi which is plenty for 4K HDR. My internet service is only 200Mb.
BTW - I googled using a Harmony Remote with Roku and it came up with this. I tried it and it works!
Harmony and Roku[^]
modified 16-Apr-21 14:45pm.
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The DVD player doesn’t have a camera or microphone in it.
YouTube has been pissing me off for a year or two with their censorship. That’s why I refuse to buy anything from them.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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Impressively equipped but exploited aquifer (4, 7)
Unrelated note: I was going to go with "It's lovely under the tree (7)" which I'd had "in reserve" for a couple of weeks, but the sods at Metro newspaper used it last week! Extra kudos if you get that one too...
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Well dressed / drilled ?
"I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
modified 13-Apr-21 6:04am.
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I suspect you need to think more "Black & Decker" but as I've got to be collecting the car after a small repair tomorrow morning at the appointed hour, I won't risk a guess!
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close but no cigar... 
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WELL ENDOWED?
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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As you said only yesterday, "And you sir, are up tomorrow!  "
("It's lovely under the tree" was, of course, SUBLIME).
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How is endowed exploited ?
"I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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That's what I wondered - hence the question mark ...
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Weird because the first thing I thought of was well hung endowed 
"I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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An aquifer (layer of water-bearing rock) with a well would be exploited, and endowed with a well.
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That level of indirection is not very crossword like - more like a treasure hunt
"I didn't mention the bats - he'd see them soon enough" - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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Got no idea but for kudos maybe, Sublime.
"Rock journalism is people who can't write interviewing people who can't talk for people who can't read." Frank Zappa 1980
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Nah. Dij doesn't rely on luck - he puts some effort into his computer "work".
He has genuinely made phone calls and sent emails ... 
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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OriginalGriff wrote: He has genuinely made phone calls and sent emails
Oh, believe me, I know.
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