Amazon has announced that a major software update is being released for Fire TV devices now. The update brings a new home screen and support for six different individual users. There is also a new Alexa voice remote with shortcuts to Disney Plus and Netflix.
The renovation was originally announced in September, but was limited to the newest Fire TV devices. Now, those with Fire TV Stick Lite, Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV Stick (3rd generation), Fire TV Cube (1st and 2nd generation) and Fire TV (3rd generation) will have access to the update.
Amazon says the “new Fire TV experience” makes it easier to access your favorite apps and that the new Find Now page allows you to search by genre and other categories. There are also cooking classes with Food Network Kitchen and daily fitness sessions with Peleton.
Member of a large family? Separate user profiles now provide each person with recommendations on what to watch. And if you set up a voice profile, Alexa will automatically recognize your voice and switch to your individual profile. Nice.
As for the new Fire TV remote, it looks a lot like a Roku remote. There is now a button to access a live TV guide and a blue ‘Alexa’ button near the top, for users who want to search for TV shows using voice commands. Amazon has generously added four shortcuts to streaming services, such as Prime Video, Netflix, Disney Plus and Hulu.
The new remote control will be available from April 14 in the United States, with a separate purchase option, for those who want to update the existing Fire TV remote control. There is no news as to when the remote will arrive in the UK, but we expect a global launch later this year.
At this point, those with a Fire TV (2nd generation) or Fire TV Stick (2nd generation) smart TV may be wondering why they were left out. Good news – Amazon has promised to launch the new features “later this year”, but there seems to be no plans to bring the software to older Fire TV devices. If you’re considering an upgrade, here are the best deals for this week’s Fire TV Stick.
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