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Amazon smart TVs could soon replace Fire OS with Linux-based Vega OS | TechSpot
The big picture: Amazon uses a fork of Android called Fire OS to power its tablets and smart TVs, but it has also been developing a new operating system called Vega, with plans to ditch Android for good. A new report suggests the first Vega OS device could debut later this year.
Electronics newsletter Lowpass reports that Amazon is preparing a new TV streaming device powered by Vega OS. With development nearly complete, the company is now negotiating with major app makers to bring their services to the platform. Amazon expects to release the device later this year.
Vega is a Linux-based operating system meant to replace Fire OS across Amazon's smart home lineup. It already powers several devices, including the Echo Show 5, Echo Hub smart displays, and the Echo Spot smart clock.
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Lilbits: Amazon to ditch Fire OS for smart TVs, Ubuntu 25.04 is here, Android 16 is coming, and so is Playdate Season 2
Amazon uses an Android-based operating system called Fire OS for its Amazon Fire line of tablets and Fire TV line of smart TVs. But a few years ago we learned that the company was looking to move away from Android for at least some of its devices.
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Amazon’s Fire OS for Smart TVs and tablets may drop Android for a new Linux-based OS
Amazon Fire TV and Fire tablet devices ship with an operating system called Fire OS. And for more than a decade, that operating system has been a fork of Android.
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Amazon's reportedly ditching Android OS on its Fire TVs later this year
Amazon has been quietly working on ditching the Android-based software its Fire TV streaming devices run on in favor of its own OS, and a new report claims the replacement will launch later this year.
As first reported in 2023, Amazon is cooking up a Linux-based OS, codenamed Vega, to eventually replace Fire OS, a fork of open source Android that sits inside the likes of the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Fire Tablet series and Echo Show speakers.
Now, LowPass, which has a great track record with insider Amazon information, reports that Amazon will release its “first TV streaming device powered by its still-unannounced Vega OS later this year.” The launch is a bit delayed, as the company initially aimed for a late 2024 rollout, according to sources familiar with Amazon's plans. Since Vega OS requires all new apps to be written in a web-forward format for the platform, Amazon has been “courting major publishers" to bring their apps on board.
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Amazon is set to launch Linux-based Vega OS for its TVs to replace Fire OS
Amazon is preparing to announce a big change that could impact its smart device ecosystem. The company is by developing a new operating system called Vega OS, to replace the existing Android-based Fire OS for its televisions.
LowPass, which is a reliable source for Amazon leaks, reports that Amazon has been working on a Linux-based OS which is codenamed Vega, since 2023. This operating system is set to launch later this year. Amazon is actively courting major publishers to bring their apps for Vega OS. Unlike its predecessor, Vega will require apps to be designed in a web-forward format. This could significantly restrict users' ability to sideload third-party apps, which has been a popular feature for accessing non-native streaming services and customizing user experiences on Fire TV devices.
The impact of this change could resonate with Amazon's loyal customer base, who have grown accustomed to the flexibility offered by the Android ecosystem. Many users rely on sideloading to access popular apps not available in the Fire TV app store, such as Kodi , IPTV emulators. Many users also use SmartTubeNext to watch YouTube without ads on their TV. If Vega OS does limit sideloading capabilities, it could alienate a key segment of their market.
FUDzilla:
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Amazon ditches Android for its Linux-based Vega OS
Amazon is taking a huge swing at the tech world by dumping Android and rolling out its own Linux-based Vega OS. The retail giant reckons it can reshape how millions use Fire TV devices and other hardware.
The move Low Pass the move is part of a growing trend where big tech names are trying to escape Google's ecosystem and stand on their own feet, according to industry analysts.
Amazon has been quietly building Vega OS, which is a full-on proprietary Linux system, to replace Android across its device lineup. The Seattle-based outfit is finally cutting ties with Google's Android Open Source Project (AOSP), which has powered its Fire gadgets for years. The shift is about more than just control, it is about getting away from a competitor’s leash.