Amazon has made a significant shift in the technology world, abandoning the Android-based platform for some of its new-generation devices. In its newly introduced Fire TV Stick 4K Select model, the company has replaced the Android-based Fire OS with a new Linux-based operating system, Vega OS. This change opens a new chapter in Amazon’s fight against pirated streaming, a long-standing criticism.
Amazon’s new weapon against pirated streaming: The Linux-based Vega OS era
The primary reason behind this strategy shift is to prevent pirated streaming and unauthorized app installations. According to a published report, Vega OS prevents users from installing apps from outside the device through a method known as “sideloading.” Unlike the Android-based Fire OS, this new system, built on the Linux kernel, only directs users to Amazon’s official Fire TV Appstore. This makes it particularly difficult to install illegal streaming apps on the device.
Following the news, Amazon released a statement clarifying the matter. An Amazon spokesperson emphasized that Vega OS “expands, rather than replaces,” their existing operating system strategy. The statement emphasized that the company is a “multi-operating system company” and that its Android-based Fire OS isn’t going anywhere. According to Amazon, Vega OS was developed to provide flexibility on more affordable devices with low memory and advanced devices running complex artificial intelligence programs like Alexa+.
Amazon maintains that this move was made to “support content creators and protect customers from malware, viruses, and fraud.” The company is collaborating with the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), a group of approximately 50 media companies, including UEFA, to combat pirated broadcasting. Sports events, in particular, account for a significant portion of pirated broadcasting, and according to MUSO’s 2024 report, broadcasters are losing millions of dollars in revenue. This move follows Amazon’s recent password sharing restrictions for Prime.
Vega OS protections, currently available only on the Fire TV Stick 4K Select model, are planned to be extended to older devices in the future. However, how older Android-based devices will be ported to this new Linux-based system remains a technical question. Amazon will allow verified developer accounts to test apps on the new platform. What are your thoughts on this new step Amazon is taking to prevent piracy?
