Katarzyna Petru
Amazon has finally admitted what users have known for a long time: navigation on Fire TV has been a nightmare. The giant has just presented the first significant overhaul of its system. Instead of a chaotic grid of icons, we are getting a command centre that is meant to be faster, smarter, and most importantly; it finally allows pinning more than just a few apps at a time.
More apps in the main menu
What was the biggest complaint about Fire TV according to users? The limitation to 6 pinned apps on the home screen. In the new version, Amazon has finally changed this and, thanks to smaller icons, allows you to pin up to 20 shortcuts. If you are using a system based on Fire TV, regularly juggling between Netflix, Disney+, YouTube and HBO Max, you will no longer have to sift through a full list of installed programmes.
It's faster (even by 30%)
Amazon did not just round the corners and introduce new gradients. Engineers rewrote a significant portion of the code responsible for the operation of the interface. According to leaks, the system is set to respond to commands 20% to 30% faster. This is a crucial change, as we know from our tests of Panasonic televisions that this system could be rather "clunky".
It certainly gets interesting in the topic of anything else but: AI. The built-in Alexa+ is no longer just a tool for checking the weather and simple commands. Now you can talk to it in natural language, for example about what you want to watch.
You can ask: "Find me thrillers in the style of this particular film XYZ."
AI understands the context and will ask for details during the conversation.
The only downside, or rather two, is that the Alexa system is best used in English. However, in terms of Alexa+ itself, it is free for Prime subscribers. Others will have to pay separately for this pleasure.
When is the new Fire TV?
At the moment, a rollout is underway in the USA, which has covered the latest devices (Stick 4K Max 2nd gen, 4K Plus) as well as Amazon televisions such as the Omni Mini-LED or the Ember Artline, which is the new series of Amazon televisions that, like Samsung's The Frame, pretend to be framed pictures when turned off. In spring, the update is set to launch globally. It will roll out to newer Fire TV players and partner televisions (including Panasonic, TCL, Hisense).
Source: flatpanelshd, techcrunch
