GoKawiilTL;DR The new Fire TV Stick HD is the second Amazon streaming stick to launch with Vega OS.
Some customers looking to buy the device are being warned that they won’t be able to sideload apps.
Amazon has also announced that it will continue to support a majority of Fire TV streaming sticks and cubes until 2030.
A few days ago, Amazon announced the new Fire TV Stick HD. This will be the company’s second streaming stick with Vega OS, Amazon’s new Linux-based operating system. As the device ditches Fire OS, a forked version of Android, there are some concerns about app support and sideloading. It appears the company is trying to get ahead of the issue by issuing warnings to customers. Amazon is also extending support for a wide range of Fire TV products.
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The new Fire TV Stick HD is available for pre-order on Amazon right now. If you head over to the store page, there’s a chance you might see the alert box in the image below (via Cord Cutters News). The warning reads, “For enhanced security, this device prevents sideloading or installing apps from unknown sources. Only apps from the Amazon Appstore are available for download.”
The warning seems to confirm fears that Vega OS devices won’t allow sideloading. While sideloading has never been officially supported on Fire TV sticks, it’s something that has been commonly done on Amazon’s devices. What’s strange about this, however, is that the warning is only showing up for some shoppers. When I navigated to the page, there was no alert box to be found.
In related news, Amazon announced it is extending software support for its current lineup of Fire TV devices. The company promised that a wide range of its hardware will continue to receive compatibility and security support until December 31, 2030. This includes the following devices:
Fire TV Stick 4K Select
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