Amazon seems to be looking to replace the Operating System used in Firestick and Fire TV Devices in the near future.
These popular media devices currently run on a version of Android OS known as Fire OS, which is also available on Fire HD Tablets.
A newly discovered job listing from Amazon, first seen by AFTVNews, suggests that these devices will be moving away from the current OS.
The job listing, no longer accessible, is for a Software Development Engineer with Fire TV Experience in Berlin, Germany.
The post’s crucial information includes plans to transition the Fire TV client codebase from FOS/Android to native/Rust and React Native.
This update further supports rumors of an Operating System revamp indicating a switch from Fire OS (FOS) to native Rust and React Native.
The new OS, called Vega, is anticipated to replace Android in upcoming Fire TV devices and has been in development for over 5 years.
According to an Amazon employee, most of the OS development is complete, with the company now focusing on encouraging developers to utilize it.
There is a possibility of rolling out the new software as early as next year with the launch of a new Fire TV device.
Vega, based on Linux OS, will feature a more web-oriented application model with an emphasis on the React Native software framework.
An important note is that Vega is likely to restrict the ability to sideload apps on Firestick & Fire TV devices, making it a closed-source system similar to Roku and Apple TV.
Fire OS has been developer-friendly, allowing Android Apps to run seamlessly on various devices.
With the integration of Vega, Fire HD Tablets will also lose access to Android Apps.
Vega is expected to expand beyond Fire TV and could be integrated into other Amazon products such as smart displays and vehicles like the Jeep Wagoneer.
There has been no official statement from Amazon regarding this development, but updates will be provided as information becomes available.
This story was originally reported by Janko Roettgers on the blog site Lowpass.
Our Perspective
The Amazon Firestick is among the most popular streaming devices available today.
Its popularity largely stems from its sideloading capabilities, enabling users to install third-party applications.
However, a transition to Vega from Fire OS may eliminate these functionalities, potentially reducing the appeal of Firestick & Fire TV devices.
There have been hints of Amazon imposing more restrictions on these devices, like blocking third-party launchers and altering shortcut buttons on the Firestick remote.
For these reasons, we recommend Android TV/Google TV Boxes that offer fewer restrictions compared to Amazon devices.
Popular alternatives like BuzzTV, Formuler, onn. Google TV, and more run on the Android TV Operating System.
Refer to our resource guide for an updated list of the best alternative devices to use instead of Amazon Firestick/Fire TV.
The shift from Fire OS to Vega may reshape the future of the Fire TV lineup.
It is more likely that Fire TV devices will continue to run on Fire OS while Vega could target other Amazon products.
Your Opinion Matters
We are interested in hearing your thoughts on the potential transition from Fire OS by Amazon.
Would you continue using a Firestick without sideloading capabilities?
Which device would you consider switching to in the future?
Share your insights in the comment section below!
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