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Amazon Confirms Dual-OS Plan as VegaOS Debuts to Curb Fire TV Piracy

Amazon positions VegaOS for low-end Fire TV hardware to curtail sideloading through Appstore-only installs.

Overview

  • The Fire TV Stick 4K Select ships with VegaOS, reported as Linux-based, which blocks sideloading and limits apps to the Amazon Appstore.
  • Amazon says VegaOS will not replace its Android-based Fire OS and describes the new system as an extension within a multi-OS strategy.
  • The company confirms a crackdown on piracy-related apps has begun in Germany and France, with more regions to follow.
  • The Athletic previously reported Fire TV devices were the second most common source of illegal sports streams in the UK, prompting tighter controls.
  • Amazon says VegaOS targets devices with lower-end hardware, and it has not confirmed plans to deploy it on higher-end Fire TV models.