Amazon's Fire TV set for major OS upgrade
It’s that time of year again when Amazon tends to unveil its latest batch of gadgets, and it seems like this year we might be in for a pretty significant shift under the hood. Rumors have been swirling for a while now, and now it looks like the company is finally ready to pull back the curtain on something big for its Fire TV platform. We're talking about a whole new operating system, reportedly named Vega OS, which is set to replace the current Fire OS that's been powering our streaming devices for years.
As reported by Lowpass on The Verge, Amazon has been working on this Vega OS for quite some time, with the first hints popping up as far back as 2023. It’s built from the ground up, based on Linux, and apparently uses React Native for its app framework. This could mean developers can build apps more efficiently, and that those apps might even work across other TV operating systems too. While Amazon hasn't officially confirmed anything, a recently altered job listing accidentally spilled the beans, mentioning the development of a "Vega OS product" with an app launch slated for 2025. This makes the upcoming Amazon event a prime candidate for an official announcement.
Now, for those of us with existing Fire TV devices, there’s good news. Amazon doesn't plan to force an update onto older hardware, so our current Fire TV Sticks and smart TVs will continue to run on Fire OS and be supported. This is a relief, as I know how frustrating it can be when a beloved device suddenly becomes obsolete. However, it does mean that for a while, we'll be in a bit of a transition period where new devices will run Vega OS, and older ones will continue on Android. This could raise questions about app compatibility and whether all our favorite streaming services will be readily available on the new platform from day one. It's understandable that some developers might feel a bit hesitant, having to potentially support two different operating systems for Fire TV.
What this means for the future of the firetv experience is still unfolding, but the move to an in-house OS signals Amazon’s ambition to have more control over its hardware and software ecosystem. It’s fascinating to think about how this could shape the content-first home screen experience, potentially offering even more personalized recommendations and seamless integration with Prime Video. Will Vega OS usher in a new era of smarter, more streamlined streaming, or will it create new challenges for users and developers alike? Only time, and Amazon’s upcoming announcements, will tell.
As reported by Lowpass on The Verge, Amazon has been working on this Vega OS for quite some time, with the first hints popping up as far back as 2023. It’s built from the ground up, based on Linux, and apparently uses React Native for its app framework. This could mean developers can build apps more efficiently, and that those apps might even work across other TV operating systems too. While Amazon hasn't officially confirmed anything, a recently altered job listing accidentally spilled the beans, mentioning the development of a "Vega OS product" with an app launch slated for 2025. This makes the upcoming Amazon event a prime candidate for an official announcement.
Now, for those of us with existing Fire TV devices, there’s good news. Amazon doesn't plan to force an update onto older hardware, so our current Fire TV Sticks and smart TVs will continue to run on Fire OS and be supported. This is a relief, as I know how frustrating it can be when a beloved device suddenly becomes obsolete. However, it does mean that for a while, we'll be in a bit of a transition period where new devices will run Vega OS, and older ones will continue on Android. This could raise questions about app compatibility and whether all our favorite streaming services will be readily available on the new platform from day one. It's understandable that some developers might feel a bit hesitant, having to potentially support two different operating systems for Fire TV.
What this means for the future of the firetv experience is still unfolding, but the move to an in-house OS signals Amazon’s ambition to have more control over its hardware and software ecosystem. It’s fascinating to think about how this could shape the content-first home screen experience, potentially offering even more personalized recommendations and seamless integration with Prime Video. Will Vega OS usher in a new era of smarter, more streamlined streaming, or will it create new challenges for users and developers alike? Only time, and Amazon’s upcoming announcements, will tell.
