Amazon is betting on its own system for Fire TV

Amazon plans a major change – it intends to abandon Android on Fire TV devices and switch to its own operating system, named Vega OS. The goal is to become independent from Google and build its own ecosystem of apps and services. The first devices with the new system are set to go on sale later this year.

It’s worth adding one important clarification: the current Fire TV devices do not operate on the Android TV or Google TV systems – they are a completely different version of the software. Amazon has been using what is called Fire OS for years, which is actually based on Android, but it is heavily modified and does not use Google services such as the Play Store. It’s somewhat 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 be compatible with applications written for Android. Simply put – existing applications like Netflix or YouTube cannot just be transferred to the new platform. Everything will have to be created from scratch, using a new tool called Kepler SDK. It's a significant challenge, but Amazon believes it will be worth it.

Is Fire TV without Android a good idea?

Amazon is already in talks with major players, and some – like Paramount, Rakuten, and UKTV – have agreed to prepare applications specifically for Vega OS. There will also be a Prime Video application. The only question is what giants like Netflix and Disney will do... If their applications do not appear at launch, new devices may have a very hard time. And we know this from the beginnings of the Philips operating system, which is TitanOS.

Initially, Vega OS will appear in streaming boxes and set-top boxes. TVs with Fire TV from manufacturers such as TCL (yes, in the US, TCL uses not only Google TV but also the system from Amazon) or Panasonic are currently sticking with Android TV 14.

Does Vega OS have a chance to succeed? It depends – on the quality of the first devices and on how many app creators Amazon can convince to its vision.