Amazon Ditches Android for a Linux-Based OS
Amazon has migrated from Android to the Linux-based Vega OS for its Fire TV.
Amazon has built a new OS for Fire TV based on Linux. Given that Fire TV is one of Amazon's most successful ventures, this should be big news (especially for Linux fans).
According to Amazon Developer, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select is the first device to use the new Vega OS. The Amazon Developer site says that Vega OS is "highly responsive with an efficient footprint, enabling fast app launches and smooth navigation."
The Fire TV Stick 4K Select makes Vega OS run smoothly with only 1GB of RAM, which is 50 percent less than was used in earlier iterations of the device thanks to the Linux-based OS.
If you're a developer, looking to jump on board the new Vega OS-powered devices, Amazon has created a set of developer tools you can use. From the Amazon Developer site, Vega OS appears to be the future of Fire TV (and maybe even more Amazon devices, such as the Kindle). The developer tools include React Native, CLI, Simulator, VS Code Extensions, Vega Libraries, APIs, and more.
One thing to keep in mind is that Vega OS only allows installation of apps from within the Amazon Appstore, so if you're used to side-loading apps to your Fire TV stick, Vega OS will prevent that.
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