Amazon's New Fire TV Sticks No Longer Support Sideloading

[ncted]

This has been coming for a while.

Amazon is Warning Some Users That You Can't Sideload Apps on the New Fire Stick HD | Cord Cutters News

This week, Amazon announced the upcoming launch of a new Fire TV Stick HD. The new model will run on Amazon’s Vega OS, rather than Android, so most streaming apps will be supported, but users won’t be add third party apps. Now, on the product page to preorder the new Fire Stick, some Amazon...

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[fmj77]

Without sideloading this new Vega OS will kill sales of Firesticks.

 

[Bruce]

Without sideloading this new Vega OS will kill sales of Firesticks.

The vast majority do not care about sideloading, doubtful this will affect sales that much.

 

[klang]

I agree, most Firestick users won't care what OS the thing is running as long as the apps are available.

I have a couple I never use.

 

[Ronnie-]

Without sideloading this new Vega OS will kill sales of Firesticks.

I doubt it.

They are cheap, and will still have the apps most that buy them use them for.

I dont know what percentage of people actually side load apps on any of these things, but outside of forums like this that lean tech based, most probably dont even know what that means.

 

[dishdude]

What apps are you sideloading onto a Firestick?

 

[ncted]

What apps are you sideloading onto a Firestick?

Back in the day, I sideloaded Youtube because there was no YT app. Not sure if that is the case any more.

 

[dishdude]

Back in the day, I sideloaded Youtube because there was no YT app. Not sure if that is the case any more.

This is what I like about Android/Google TV, all the apps for your phone are in the play store for the streamers. I can download a VPN and use it when I travel overseas and I haven't seen and dispute preventing an app from being available in the store.

I remember YouTube not being on the Firesticks back in the day because Amazon was being weird about putting anything Google on their devices, and I think when HBOMax launched Roku didn't have them for a month or two.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

I wish some of the Android Apps would make Android TV versions, I have sideloaded apps like Guarding Vision (for my security cameras). PlexAmp, Immich and others.

 

[meStevo]

This is what I like about Android/Google TV, all the apps for your phone are in the play store for the streamers. I can download a VPN and use it when I travel overseas and I haven't seen and dispute preventing an app from being available in the store.

I remember YouTube not being on the Firesticks back in the day because Amazon was being weird about putting anything Google on their devices, and I think when HBOMax launched Roku didn't have them for a month or two.

The Google Play Store is another popular sideload app iirc, as otherwise you were restricted to the Amazon Android Store of apps.

We've got Chromecasts on all our TVs though, retired the Kindle Fire Cube and Sticks years ago. Lone exception is I picked up an Apple TV to play w/ in my office, which is nice.

 

[fmj77]

The vast majority do not care about sideloading, doubtful this will affect sales that much.

I doubt it. Practically everyone I know who buys Firesticks does it for 1 reason.

 

[navychop]

Practically everyone I know

Yep. That's the point. Those YOU know.

 

[fmj77]

Yep. That's the point. Those YOU know.

We'll see. I believe they'll lose a lot of sales. There's a reason why Walmart can barely keep ONN boxes in stock.

 

[Bruce]

I doubt it. Practically everyone I know who buys Firesticks does it for 1 reason.

Dude, the best selling streaming device, has been and still is, the Roku, by millions every year, if people cared about sideloading, why is that device selling so well, where that option is not available.

Again, the vast majority do not care.

 

[Juan]

Yep. That's the point. Those YOU know.

There is nothing special about a firestick no.. cheaper to get a ROKU

 

[navychop]

Walmart appears to sell a good box at a good price. Roku sells very well, thank you.

 

[fmj77]

There is nothing special about a firestick no.. cheaper to get a ROKU

Roku has always been a closed system that doesn't allow 3rd party apps. Firesticks were not and are cheap. That's what made them popular.

 

[Juan]

Roku has always been a closed system that doesn't allow 3rd party apps. Firesticks were not and are cheap. That's what made them popular.

Exactly

 

[ncted]

Roku has always been a closed system that doesn't allow 3rd party apps. Firesticks were not and are cheap. That's what made them popular.

Most people I know that have Firesticks have them because they are inexpensive and work with Alexa, not because of side-loading. I originally got one to use instead of a Joey with my Hopper3 in one room. Then I got a Recast OTA DVR, but it didn't work particularly well for me. Once they ruined the UI with ads, I switched to NVIDIA Shield and then ATV4K.

I am sure there are plenty of people who get them for various "grey area" activities, but I cannot imagine it is particularly significant percentage of the total user base.

 

[savarese04]

Amazon's market penetration on the storefront side + ridiculous "sales" (they're always like 50% off) make the Firesticks seem like an attractive deal to most consumers. You need one? they'll often have it delivered to you within 2 hours. Most consumers have no idea what the heck sideloading is nor do they care. the device "works" or it "doesn't have my programs."

Trying to conflate firestick's demise with sideloading is like claiming everyone signed up with T-mobile because they sold unlocked phones. Again, most consumers don't care about or even understand what an unlocked phone is. Their motivation was more likely price, deals, and marketed free add-ons (like netflix)