Sounds to me like it might be worth keeping an eye open for Black Friday deals on something like the Nvidia Shield TV. If side-loading disappears, so does my affection for FireTV devices !
For most users, if there is no sideloading, that basically makes the Fire devices useless. Humble and fast opinion. We'll have to see how it plays out.
I would definitely stop using the firestick and Amazon as well as they are now showing their greed. I'll be researching alternative devices regardless of price
I wonder how long it would take, before Amazon will realize the mistake, when sales for the Firestick etc go down hill MASSIVELY because users won't be able to sideload anymore.
It won't make any difference at all to Amazon Fire device sales. 99% of Fire device customers don't sideload apps just like 99% of Android device users don't sideload apps either.
But it's always a way to sideload on Amazon firestick people think it's just one way to sideload things to Amazon and it's not that's the thing I'm a computer geek I say bring on the challenge Amazon
Could be a big mistake for Amazon to remove the side loading facility, that could extend beyond the drop in firesticks and fire tv sales but could extend to their online shopping channel, as there are new kids on the block knocking on the door.
Thanks for the heads up Tanya, much appreciated indeed 👍🏻 I think I would probably still use FireTV devices but look for an alternative for side loading. Have a great weekend.
I don't think Vega would be loaded on current devices, only devices introduced after the new OS comes out. These aren't PCs where a new OS can easily be installed, there is a good chance that the specs on current devices won't even allow for installation of Vega -- especially remotely in a forced install.
With so many Fire products already out there I'm sure someone will just figure a way to install a custom ROM on these new devices. There are already lots of android based device options available and if Amazon decides to decapitate themselves another device will become the preferred for us lot.
I gave up with the Amazon Fire stuff a good years back and I just went down the Nvidia Shield route and I haven't looked backed...keep up the good work.
I first started with Roku but was happy to change to firestick because of side loading and then upgraded to FS 4k and been happy for many years but might have to consider something else if Amazon make changes
Thanks for the info, it might explain some of the issues I have been having with my fire OS8 stick. As for no side loading, I am definitely moving on to an Android device if that happens...
I have a fire cube and fire stick. I don’t care about side loading so I don’t have a problem with a new OS, especially if it is snappier. Good content, thank you.
I have 2 fire cubes and I’m very happy with them . The ability to have more storage space is welcome . However if you can’t side load I would appreciate knowing my options 😊
Love your videos! Thanks for the info. If this happens ill go to the Onn box. I already have one and it works great. I use your videos to load it. Keep up the good work! Cheers🎉
I'm like the vast majority that are commenting on this forum, in as much as I would not keep my FS if I couldn't side load apps. Its the primary rationale for buying a FS in the first place, so if this prediction becomes reality they would lose an awful lot of customers and their money would go to competitors. I personally don't think they would allow that to happen.
This is about money and control. Amazon gets no financial incentive from allowing you to jailbreak fire tv. They are taking a page from Roku with this move. Really, how huge a loss would it be to Jeff Bezos? It would be a pittance. Happy Holliday's to you.
It is actually good to hear that Amazon is moving to Linux based solution but I majorly use fire stick for side loading apps and if Amazon stops. I guess I will have to turn to nvidia shield in future 😢
So what do you think Android is based on ?? Most OS are derivatives of Linux ... Chromebook is no different. Mac OS is a Free BSD derivative. Fire OS is an android fork whereas Vega is a true Linux OS.
Thanks Tanya for the info, as usual good video. Excellent clear voice you have which helps someone like me who is not that techy, understand stuff far better. Cheers.
Thanks for the update Tanya. Your Channel is awesome. I'm afraid that if there's not going to be any side loading capabilities then there's no more Firesticks for me. I think they'll be shooting themselves in the foot. Cheers, Bob from Oz😅
Thanks for the important information. I would bin it and use Nvidia Shield, as it looks like Amazon wants to dictate to all its users. Thanks for your time Tanya, much appreciated
I use Fire TV for the side loading ability. If that is removed I will have to find something else. But even if side loading is available, I wonder if the apps will install and run on the new operating system, Vega.
I have Fire TV and multiple Firesticks. If sideloading goes away, I will be moving on to something else. It's probably a good idea for everyone to start looking for an alternative now so you don't get blindsided.
Interesting, but I've just got one of the new 16GB firesticks for the extra storage space, and it's working well. If the next one offers me something I can't already do then I might consider it, otherwise I'll keep what I have until there's a reason to change. Love the new hairstyle by the way.
I have 2 Nvidia Shields, 2 Firesticks & 1 Roku device .. I much PREFER the operation of the Nvidia Shields, without a doubt & quite frankly would replace the Firesticks with 2 more😉 .. Not sideloading is a 'deal breaker' for me ..Thanks for the always informative video & the 'heads up' Miss Tanya💕
Xiaomi stick or xiaomi box. have them both plus the firestick and so far I still prefer the xiaomi box, then firestick and then xiaomi stick as I have the old model stick.
I recently purchase the newest fire stick and I’m now regretting it. I will definitely chuck them. This is so stupid of them to make side loading impossible. Thank you for the info. I might even stop buying from Amazon aswell.
I would definitely stop using Amazon products if I can't sideload. Alright for the kids, but not for me. I will just find a good quality streaming box. I already use my streaming box more than I do my firestick and fire cube. Thank you so much for the heads-up Tanya. 💋💋
thanks for the heads up, i knew sooner or later that this would happen. i just got the new firestick 4k and i hope the changes will not be anytime soon. thank GOD i have the NVIDIA SHIELD PRO
Maybe the developers of the various apps we've come to know & love that we have to sideload bc they're not available on the Amazon store will figure out how to configure their apps to be compatible with the new OS Amazon will be switching to?
I still have a 2nd gen cube but was not impressed by it's limitations so i jumped ship and went for the latest Apple TV which has a much better spec on the top model. Only time will tell if i made a good or bad decision, but with Amazon locking down the sticks and cubes i thing the future looks bleak for sideloading.
I have a number of Fire Sticks but... I hardly ever use them. I switched to Onn (Walmart's Android device) and actually have better performance than Fire TV as well as no interference from the maker of the devices. The Fire devices are still on all of my TVs but they sit idled. I also have Roku and they also sit idled.
Yes if known side loading like Kodi etc My sticks would go by by and I would be using The Nvidia Shield instead right now I have 4 TV running two on Fire Stick and two On Nvidia Shield. Thanks for your great Videos and support 👀😎
Personalmente me gustan mucho los firestick que son muy buenos y por su sistema basado en Android, no me gusta la idea de que sea un sistema único como Roku, me parece que es solo para tener mayor control sobre los dispositivos y me parece que esto no es buena idea. Gracias por la información Tanya.
If this happens I will just go back to Apple TV because I'm mostly in the Apple ecosystem anyways but this would be a bad mistake on Amazon's part if they do this I will want nothing else to do with any Amazon product just my thought on the matter
I haven’t had a fire stick in years but this is a big gamble from Amazon. A lot of people are not going to like this at all and could cost them subscriptions.
They already have. The Chromecast (2020), Onn devices, Nvidia Shield, Mi Box to name a few. They're all using Android natively (Google TV, Android Boxes)
@kennyfoster9064. I'm not from The United States, sir, but from what I've 'heard' the Onn TV Box, which is available from Walmart, is a good TV Box, which DOES allow sideloading, might be worth considering. It's also a comparatively cheap product. (I'd have purchased one myself, but Walmart isn't available in the UK, and the price of postage and Import Duty wouldn't, I don't think, make it a viable alternative for me.)
I assume probably 90% of more Firestick owners use it for sideloaded apps, So no more sideloading means Amazon is gonna lose alot of money! People will go to Google tv, or other andriod devices
At one point I had three 4K Firesticks . Now I'm down to one. I replaced the other two with a 2019 Shield Pro and a Walmart ONN box. I actually prefer the ONN box to the firestick.
I agree with you on the Walmart Onn, i replaced 2 4k Firesticks with the Walmart Onn, they work like a charm, plus you can load what you want on them. They cost me $19.98 each, great price for a nice little box
@@markbunnell5288 I currently have 3 Amazon 'Echo Dots' that I use in conjunction with my FireSticks. I have read that 'Chromcast w/Google TV' (which I believe the Walmart 'Onn 4K boxes' use?) is able to be used with the 'Alexa' voice comands. Do you know if this is true? And would my Echo Dots work with the Onn 4K boxes? I would hate to have wasted my money ... and don't have spare cash to be buying the Google equivalent for these speakers. As it is, I still have my 'Amazon Recast DVR' for OTA recording (which they stopped selling and barely support now), but it ONLY works with FireOS devices ... so that will have to get replaced by a 'Tablo' at some point (which will work with the 'Google TV' platform, but they don't have the 4-Tuner model available yet and I don't know how expandable it will be for External Hard Drive space? Anyway, do you use any Echo devices in conjunction with your Onn 4K boxes? TIA!
Good walkthrough and informative thank you Mrs T 👍👍👍👍. I see this will stifle amazon devices in many hope it doesn't come forward as they think. I have a shield and Nokia google box so I have,choice 👍👍👍👍
Great information! Linux is an open source language so who knows, developers that promote android type apps may also great Linux based apps and it could actually be a good thing, hopefully!
This would only affect new hardware. I cannot imagine anything released with an Android OS be upgraded to a Linux OS. So anything manufactured in the next few years will probably still be supported for a good few years with sideloading. If Amazon do lock down their devices then their sales will just plummet. They will still get those people that are interested in the paid services but that's gonna be a fraction of current owners.
I commented on this yesterday on one of your latest videos didn't know if u read it or not I read the article about this yesterday mark my words if they end support for sideloading there will be a max exodus on Amazon devices and when there install base goes down the toilet they'll panick and act stupid like they can't understand why there customer base went down the crapper
They will lose customers but there are many people out there who are fully ignorant about sideloading & installing 3rd party apps. But like you I will be looking at other boxes out there, I'm already thinking of it now anyway.
If, when this comes to be, I will dump Amazon in a" N.Y. minute" !!!!! I'm already workin on 4 new Onn 4k's and think they're fabulous, n just $20 little bucks😊😅
I highly doubt that the new OS is related to existing hardware. It will be an option for new products, but here in Europe Amazon could get in trouble for changing products after selling them. The intention (more control) is clear, but only for hardware sold with the new OS, which is still being developed.
I use a 2019 Video Shield mostly anyway but I do have a Firestick aswell mostly only really use the Firestick for official apps anyway. The biggest problem Ivhave with the Firestick is the bery limited storage space. Video Shields are not as good as the first generation though in my view. So it's handy to have both.
