Amazon has been working on a new operating system to replace Android on Fire TVs, smart displays and other connected devices, I have learned from talking to multiple sources with knowledge of these plans, as well as job listings and other materials referencing these efforts.
Development of the new operating system, which is internally known as Vega, appears fairly advanced [Ed. note: the links on the linked page use what I assume is some weird tracking nonsense. Do not click on them. This kind of linking is how the web dies. Sadly, this page is the original source, hence why I’m linking to it.]. The system has already been tested on Fire TV streaming adapters, and Amazon has told select partners about its plans to transition to a new application framework in the near future. A source with knowledge of the company’s plans suggested that it could start shipping Vega on select Fire TV devices as early as next year.
Is it a Linux distribution?
Amazon’s new operating system is also based on a flavor of Linux, and is using a more web-forward application model. App developers are being told to use React Native as an application framework, which allows them to build native apps with Javascript-powered interfaces.
Of course it’s a Linux distribution.
I’m glad Amazon are moving away from Android. Google have basically dropped any kind of focus on Android TV and are making it more and more difficult to disentangle from Google and it’s services.
While Amazon failed when it tried the Android Phone, the Fire TV is more self contained and controlled by them.
Only downside is the inevitable creation of e-waste as old devices won’t get the update and the Devs will probably lose interest in updates to their apps in the old OS
Adurbe,
I am not sure old devices need necessarily be left out.
On a similar track, when Google developed Fuchsia, the first real targets were already released devices:
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/08/googles-fuchsia-os-lands-on-its-second-device-the-nest-hub-max/
(If you have a Nest Display, it is very likely it is now running Fuchsia under the hood, compared to previous “Cast OS”. You can check this from device info).
Of course there are no guarantees, but if Amazon chooses to do so, they can replace the OS from under without anyone realizing. (Especially if they add a support layer for existing Android apps).
I mean its Google, which means the name of things changes every two years. Its not Android TV any more its Google TV. I don’t think they’ve lost focus with it, I find it to be the best experience of The Tv streaming stick platforms for the lowest cost. Amazon as the story tells it is throwing a lot of advertising on Fire devices, with the TV no exception. Somehow Google, the largest advertising company has kept the ads to a minimum and are targeted pretty well. Plus I’m well versed in Android problems, so when they happen on my TV stick, I know how to fix them. I’m really interested in trying Apple TV someday, but its too expensive for me to justify just for kicks
@Adurbe
From the article, the move to React Native “will likely enable them to build the same apps for newer Vega-powered devices and legacy Fire TV hardware still running Android”. We will see I guess. It does no make sense though for Amazon to abandon those devices as their whole model is increasing the number of eyeballs consuming their services.
My bigger concern would be a lack of applications on the new platform. It was easy for Android devs to support Fire but it may not be a big enough ecosystem to draw in developers on its own. The big streaming services will be present of course. I am a daily user of Jellyfin though. Will it have a client available on the new Fire? How about my local news channel? We will see.