It is dangerous to generalize in these perilous economic times, but market indicators across the Western world suggest that older generations are having a better time of things financially than anyone else. That’s certainly a trend in Australia right now, a nation that has recovered better and faster from the events of 2020. As always, there are exceptions, but in the main, Australian seniors are retiring younger, living longer and spending more. So what are they spending their money on? Seniors in other parts of the world might spend it on travel to exotic locations like Australia. Yes, of course, Aussie seniors travel, but most commonly within Australia and New Zealand. Australian seniors have money to spend on other leisure pursuits, and you might be surprised to hear that for almost half, that includes gaming.

A dramatic rise in silver gamers

Over the past four years, the number of over-65s in Australia who describe themselves as gamers have almost doubled to just over 40 percent. It is easy to place responsibility for the events of 2020 and 2021, but that would be an oversimplification. For one thing, it is fair to assume that everyone over 61 who identified as a gamer four years earlier would now say they are a gamer aged 65 plus. Secondly, there will always be some newbie gamers in every age group who decide to give it a try. It is in this area that the mass closures in 2020 and 2021 had some influence, in two areas especially.

You can’t keep Australians from casino games

When calculating on the basis of money spent per capita, Australians are mathematically the biggest gamblers in the world. They wager as much per capita as the second and third-highest-spending nationalities put together. Around 50 percent of all betting is on pokies or slot machines. Obviously, the closure of casinos, bars and so on had a significant impact, and in 2021, older Australians were poring over Australian online casino reviews in record numbers. Online platforms offer the same casino games with which customers are familiar, as well as a good range of classic table games like 3-card poker, blackjack and roulette.

Gaming is a way for families to bond

 The other way in which those difficult months encouraged older generations to try gaming was as a way to feel a little closer to loved ones who were temporarily out of reach. We all saw the awesome phenomenon of over-65s taking to platforms like Zoom like ducks to water so they could chat with family and friends. They soon found out that chatting was only the beginning. Traditional games like chess, Scrabble and even Monopoly were given new leases of life as they provided a way for families and generations to interact – and probably better than they had in years in a lot of cases!

Silver gaming is more popular than ever

From the above, it is easy to conclude that the primary driver for the rise in silver gamers happened in 2020 and 2021. However, if that was the case, you would expect the numbers to have tailed off over the past two years. But on the contrary, the number of over 65s playing casino games continues to rise. In subsequent surveys this year, games like Wordle have taken ascendency. Silver gaming is here to stay, and habits are changing with each passing year. The real question is when developers will catch on to this new, wealthy demographic.

Opportunities abound for game and gadget makers

It is plain to see that players of all ages can enjoy games from Wordle to Monopoly Live to Subway Surfers. The same goes for sports management games. But to look at the way they are marketed and packaged, you would find it hard to believe. There is an immense opportunity there for the taking in Australia, and if things go the way they tend to go, it is one that will soon be replicated in the rest of the western world. Sports games are actually an excellent example – over 65s born in the 1950s would undoubtedly relish the chance to play and manage teams from the 1970s, but apart from a few “all-time” teams, it has never really been explored. Similarly, gadget makers selling peripherals such as game controllers could do far more to pitch them at older players. Even at 30 or 40, touchscreen controls can be fiddly. These are the sorts of gadgets that are perfect gifts for older players. For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For the newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App. You can find the latest car and bike news here.

Amazon’s Fire TV streaming devices are incredibly popular and widely regarded as the pinnacle of the Fire sub-brand. While each Fire TV and Fire TV Stick model offers unique features, there are several Amazon Fire TV tips, tricks, and hidden features that can truly enhance your streaming experience. Whether you’re looking to add Alexa capabilities to your TV or enjoy 4K Ultra HD content on your new set, there’s a Fire TV option that suits your needs. The more affordable Fire TV Stick is perfect for Full HD TVs, while the Fire TV 4K is designed for those who’ve invested in UHD. Although there are some differences between them, these Amazon Fire TV tips will come in handy for every type of device.

8 Essential Tips for Amazon Fire TV Stick in 2023

#1 Speed up Fire TV

To boost the performance and speed of your Fire TV, try these initial tips and tricks. When you require quick access to settings on your Fire TV device, simply hold down the home button for a few seconds. Navigate to Settings, then Applications, and click on Manage Installed Apps. Find the app that’s running slow, then use the rewind button to clear the app cache. The purpose of the app cache is to speed up app loading, but it can become problematic after updates, resulting in slowdowns.

#2 Use of Alexa

Now that both the Fire TV Stick and Fire TV 4K feature Alexa, take advantage of its voice assistant capabilities. You can use Alexa to control playback, play music, and search for content by name, genre, or actor. It can even find Netflix content if you have a subscription. If you need inspiration for what else to ask, check out the helpful guide on the Fire TV. Go to Settings > Alexa > Things to Try for ideas.

#3 Use Amazon Fire TV in Another Country

This tip is useful both in the Fire TV beginners guide and for more experienced users. You can read more about how to use VPN on Amazon Fire Stick in the thematic instructions. For example, in the article about unlocking Fire Stick’s from VeePN. I would like to say more about the advantages this gives. Firstly, you will be able to unblock geo-restricted content. Secondly, this approach ensures the safe viewing of content. Thirdly, it protects your Internet channel from throttling.

#4 Have a Private Movie Night

Do you ever desire to fully immerse yourself in a movie while the rest of the household is asleep? Thanks to Fire TV, you can easily redirect the audio of even the most boisterous television shows to a set of Bluetooth headphones, ensuring absolute privacy. This feature is particularly convenient for action movie enthusiasts. To pair your headphones, simply go to Settings, then navigate to Controllers and Bluetooth Devices, and select Other Bluetooth Devices.

#5 Change Your Location

Alexa’s cleverness becomes evident when provided with the right information. If you change your location or use Fire TV internationally, re-enter your postcode to receive personalized updates, such as weather forecasts tailored to your area. To accomplish this, navigate to Settings > Preferences > Location and input your current postcode. This will work for Alexa, but it won’t work for Netflix. To make Netflix work in another region, install a free VPN from a trusted developer. Only changing the IP address will help, since Netflix targets it.

#6 Clean up Background Processes

If you want to stop all background apps running, it might be time-consuming. But there’s a shortcut. Return to the Home Screen and locate the find feature, indicated by a magnifying glass icon. Search for ‘background apps & process list’ and download it. Once downloaded, hold down the home button again. This time, access the apps section and you’ll find it in the list. Highlight it and press the menu button on the remote, characterized by three lines. Some people call this the hamburger menu, but now I’m craving one. Let’s get straight to the point. Clicking on this menu allows you to bring the background app to the forefront for quick access. Upon opening the app, you’ll find a close all apps option at the top, which does exactly what it says. By selecting this, you’ll navigate to each open app, allowing you to close them one by one.

#7 Get rid of Targeted Advertising

Consider us influenced, but if we absolutely must endure advertising, we’d rather have it tailored to our specific interests. However, if you’re one to keep your enthusiasm for Taylor Swift and Friends reruns clandestine (or if you simply oppose Amazon creating an advertising profile based on your preferences), you can disable targeted advertising on Fire TV. Rest assured, you’ll still encounter advertisements, but they’ll be the generic kind, unrelated to your browsing habits. To make this adjustment, access Settings > Preferences > Advertising ID.

#8 Find out more about the film

Amazon’s X-Ray feature is an all-knowing film buff, putting an end to the frustration of getting lost in a film’s plotline and wondering where you’ve seen that actor before. With just a click of a button on the remote, IMDB’s profile on the movie will appear. Moreover, you can access this information seamlessly on an Amazon tablet in Second Screen mode, without any disruption to your viewing experience.

Conclusion

Your Amazon Fire TV Stick can work better if you customize it. Here are 8 tips to improve your visual TV viewing experience. With them, you can increase the performance of your device and get access to more content. For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For the newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App. You can find the latest car and bike news here.