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New Amazon Fire TV Cube will upscale older content into 4K

The next-generation Amazon Fire TV Cube is seen in an undated handout image.
The next-generation Amazon Fire TV Cube is seen in an undated handout image. (Photo courtesy Amazon, Graphic by The Desk)

A new version of Amazon’s premium streaming device will include upscale technology that will make low-resolution content look like it was shot and produced in ultra-high definition (UHD/4K), the company announced this week.

The next-generation Amazon Fire TV Cube will incorporate “Super Resolution Upscaling,” which will convert high-definition content into UHD for better detail, contrast and clarity, the company said in a statement.

“With Super Resolution Upscaling, content — from movies originally made in HD to grainy family photos — will look sharper on a 4K display,” an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement.

The $140 device is currently available to pre-order on the Amazon website and will be released on October 27.

In addition to the upscale technology, Amazon says its next-generation Fire TV Cube has a few more tricks up its sleeve, including support for the new wireless data standard Wi-Fi 6E, which promises faster video streaming on Internet connections that support it.

The Amazon Fire TV Cube also includes an HDMI input, which allows streamers to control their cable boxes, Blu-Ray players and other devices with their Alexa remote. The remote is getting an upgrade too: Amazon is bundling the new Fire TV Cube with its Alexa Voice Remote Pro, which includes backlit keys, a dedicated button for pairing Bluetooth headphones and two customizable shortcut buttons.

One thing the Fire TV Cube won’t come with is an HDMI cable for connecting the device to a television set — customers will have to buy that separately. Thankfully, Amazon’s own line of HDMI cables cost just a few dollars and come in a wide variety of lengths.

The Alexa Voice Remote Pro is also compatible with many of Amazon’s line of Fire TV devices, including its popular Fire TV Sticks and the older-generation Fire TV Cube. Streamers can buy the Amazon Voice Remote Pro separately for $35, though it won’t be released until mid-November.

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About the Author:

Matthew Keys

Matthew Keys is an award-winning journalist with more than 10 years of experience covering the business of television and radio broadcasting, streaming services and the overall media industry. In addition to his work as publisher of The Desk, Matthew contributes regularly to StreamTV Insider and KnowTechie, and has worked for several well-known news organizations, including Thomson Reuters, McNaughton Newspapers, Grasswire, Comstock's magazine, KTXL-TV and KGO-TV. Matthew is a member of IRE, a trade organization for investigative reporters and editors, and is based in Northern California.

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