• realcaseyrollinsOP
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    3
    arrow-down
    7
    ·
    3 months ago

    Honestly it’s just a glorified Google TV with a nicer remote. I feel like the only Fire TV device that might be interesting enough to consider buying would be the Fire Cube or the Fire Recast but IDEK if they still work anymore.

    • Ebby@lemmy.ssba.com
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      8
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      3 months ago

      While based on Google TV, they lock down the OS, control the app store, and force their apps. You’re in their walled garden and it’s a pain to break out in any meaningful way.

      • realcaseyrollinsOP
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        4
        arrow-down
        7
        ·
        3 months ago

        Hmm…well it’s been a couple years since I used my Fire Stick but I remember being able to sideload Android TV apps on there just like I can now with my Google TV device.

        • Ebby@lemmy.ssba.com
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          4
          ·
          3 months ago

          If I recall you still can through ADB, but it’s a pain and they started locking that down too. Ad blocking VPN (at least the one I tried) didn’t work.

          There was a big update about a year ago that very clearly sent the message “this device will show what we want you to see.”

          • realcaseyrollinsOP
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            arrow-down
            3
            ·
            3 months ago

            Ah, that doesn’t shock me. Yeah I left when they started like disabling custom launchers or something, and I realized getting a Google TV would be easier than getting around that restriction.