[toddhutch]

So what are the limitations of this device?

Does it output native 23.976 over HDMI?
Does it pass-through HD audio over HDMI? DTS HD? True HD?
What is the maximum bitrate it can decode? Can it do full BD remuxes at ~50 Mbps?
What codecs can it decode? Just H.264 or also VC1 and MPEG2?

Until those questions are answered, I'm not sure how this compares to the many other android boxes selling at similar prices.

1) Nope, Android has no control over display driver it cant dynamically switch from 60Hz to 24Hz though some Android boxes do have a manual 24Hz setting.
2) Wait and see if XBMC can work any magic here, the chip the FireTV uses is the Snapdragon 600 series 8064M which supported DTS-HD at one point but it's not supported by Amazon's own internal media player. DTS is not supported by the FireTV but has been proven to work with XBMC at least stereo decoding it.
3) According to the specs from Amazon average 20Mbps but other places in relation to Qualcomm SoC's mention a peak 40Mbps ?
4) H.263, H.264, VC-1, MPEG-4 ASP and VP8.

I believe Amazon mislabelled the part in it as an APQ8064 in their docs which is a tablet development platform but Qualcomm also had a TV version called the MPQ8064 which was renamed the 8064M and there is even a video demo on Youtube of the MPQ8064 sporting a cruder version of the FireTV UI from last year.

This tear down has a good enough image to see Qualcomm chip. I don't see 8064m, but it is likely a custom build with a unique model number. http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-wha...pen-2014-4