Amazon is opting for its own system for Fire TV

Amazon plans a significant change - it intends to abandon Android in Fire TV devices and move to its own operating system, named Vega OS. The aim is to become independent from Google and build its own ecosystem of applications and services. The first devices with the new system are expected to go on sale later this year.

It is important to add one important clarification: the current Fire TV devices do not operate on the Android TV system or Google TV – this is a completely different version of the software. Amazon has been using what is called Fire OS for years, which is indeed based on Android, but is heavily modified and does not use Google services, such as the Play Store. It's a bit like having the same foundation, but with a completely different facade and interior.

Vega OS – what is it?

The new Amazon system, Vega OS, is based on Linux and will not work with applications written for Android. In simpler terms – it will not be possible to simply transfer existing applications, such as Netflix or YouTube, to the new platform. Everything will have to be created from scratch, using a new tool called Kepler SDK. This is quite a challenge, but Amazon believes it will be worthwhile.

Is Fire TV without Android a good idea?

Amazon is already in talks with major players, and some – such as Paramount, Rakuten, and UKTV – have agreed to prepare applications specifically for Vega OS. There will also be a Prime Video app. The question is what giants like Netflix, Disney, etc. will do... If their apps do not appear at launch, the new devices may struggle significantly. And we know this from the early days of the Philips operating system known as TitanOS.

Initially, Vega OS will appear in streaming sticks and set-top boxes. TVs with Fire TV from manufacturers such as TCL (yes, in the USA, TCL uses not only Google TV but also Amazon's system) or Panasonic will stick with Android TV 14 for now.

Does Vega OS have a chance to establish itself? That depends – on the quality of the first devices and on how many application developers Amazon can persuade to its vision.