Author Retires Fire TV Stick for Android Phone as Play Store Apps Broaden TV Use

3 articles · Updated · Android Police · Aug 21

A spare Android phone permanently replaced the author's Fire TV Stick after a TV hookup delivered a fuller smart-TV experience with broader app support.
Google Play Store access drove the switch, letting the phone run apps such as YouTube, Google Maps and Gmail that are more limited or cumbersome on Fire OS.
A USB-C-to-HDMI cable, a wireless keyboard with trackpad and a screen-orientation app turned the phone into a wired TV setup with audio carried through HDMI.
Amazon's planned shift from Fire OS to Vega OS further weakened the stick's appeal, while the phone offered familiar software, more flexibility and no new streaming-device purchase.

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