Amazon makes moves to block Firestick 3rd party software

Paul - TV Techie · by **Paul - TV Techie** » Thu Feb 24, 2022 11:09 am

If you have an Amazon Firestick with a problem today, it may be caused by some 3rd party launcher apps, now blocked.

https://www.aftvnews.com/amazon-blocks-custom-home-launchers-with-latest-fire-tv-software-update/

It was inevitable, but a new software update that is currently rolling out to Fire TV devices appears to break the ability to circumvent Amazon’s own Fire TV interface and use custom launcher home screens, as reported by Finnzz on Reddit and XDA. Amazon has a long history of quickly patching workarounds that allow Fire TV owners from using anything but Amazon’s own home screen interface on Fire TVs, but, for over a year now, it has been possible to do just that through a Launcher Manager that first appeared in late 2020. That seems to now be coming to an end as the workaround used by the launcher utility no longer works in the latest software updates for the Fire TV Cube, Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV Stick 4K Max, and other Fire TV models

Paul
www.televisiontechnology.eu

jpeg · by **jpeg** » Thu Feb 24, 2022 1:53 pm

Yes they have stopped you using a Launcher with the latest update so best to stop all updates it you have not installed the latest update
I can not see how it can be legal for Amazon stopping a Firestick or Fire device owner from installing what they want on it , surely it is your property not Amazons

Paul - TV Techie · by **Paul - TV Techie** » Thu Feb 24, 2022 3:07 pm

jpeg wrote:Yes they have stopped you using a Launcher with the latest update so best to stop all updates it you have not installed the latest update
I can not see how it can be legal for Amazon stopping a Firestick or Fire device owner from installing what they want on it , surely it is your property not Amazons

Amazon is a content provider, with partnerships with other strategic partners - they want to protect this and have you pay them, rather
than use anything outside of their control. I´m sure that in their T & C´s we all rush through they´ve covered themselves.

Ultimately they are designed to keep you in Amazon´s fold, spending money with them, so external software will be discouraged. We´ve heard stories previously of sticks bricked by Amazon software.

If you want a Firestick to use within the Amazons own eco system, for Netflix, Prime, Youtube etc - then it does the job well enough - as do the main approved applications. But as a piece of flexible hardware, its underpowered & there´s much better out there. If not using for Amazons services, then probably best to look elsewhere & even if you are, its not like you can´t get prime app on many other devices.

Paul
http://www.televisiontechnology.eu

Amazon makes moves to block Firestick 3rd party software