Normally $100.
I'm guessing they dropped price to $80 because the ratings are bad so sales are likely moving slow.
SNAFU is the Fire does not do Dolby for non-Amazon sources. Here is a relevant review:
I was so excited for this -- Plex, Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, and SlingTV are the dream team!
Then I learned that Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound (AC3) is only supported with Prime Video. That means that any 5.1/DTS/DD audio from Plex, Netflix, etc., is all in 2.0 audio, downgraded. This is unacceptable--grounds for immediate return, and honestly, shame on you Amazon for misleading consumers! An email from Amazon support confirmed this for me.
Honestly, if a "new" device can't do basic things that the Roku 3 could do in 2012, it has no business being compared to any of the current generation of media players.
Here is Amazon's response:
Thanks for the feedback on Dolby surround sound and Netflix. We have identified the issue and will be releasing a software update to resolve it. We expect all devices to be updated by October 22nd. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused.
If, like me, you believe Amazon will resolve this and you can live with no Dolby surround for a few weeks, this is a good deal. (I'm not sure how often they discounted the old Fire TV).
As with the previous generation Fire TV, know that this unit will give preference to Amazon's own content: if you do a search for a show, it will only search Amazon's own content. For example, if you search for "Orange is the New Black", it will give you the option of buying the show through Amazon rather than tell you it is available free from Netflix.
The Roku 4 is soon to be released and will equally search all sources (including Amazon), but will cost $130. It is also the only non-Amazon device to access your Amazon music library (free content through Prime plus many albums you buy include "Auto-Rip which adds the album in MP3 format to your personal music library).
There is a lot to like about the new Roku:
http://www.fastcompany.com/3051880/roku-is-solving-the-most-frustrating-thing-about-streaming-tv-boxes
Also note that Amazon is being aggressive against other media streaming "hardware plus content" providers and will not support Apple TV or Google Chromecast. So if you have either of those formats, you will not be able to access the Amazon content. Amazon just did Roku a huge favor! Not sure how that call will effect Amazon's own Fire TV sales.
Otherwise this is a very capable unit - fast processing and I think there is a new hopped up graphics/gaming capability (but check me on that, I'm not a gamer).
