Amazon is reportedly working on its own Linux-based OS to replace Android on its Fire TVs, smart displays, and other non-tablet devices. —What's that?
  • guy@lemmy.worldEnglish
    81·
    10 months ago

    Despite not having the Google Play Store, the slew of apps I can find right now on my Fire TV is really appealing. This article says the new OS will be web focused. In fact, specifically React JS. Android can already do that, plus a lot more native development choices. So I guess this will lead to less app choices. Shame.

    I have an app that alters the colours of my TV at night. I can’t imagine that’ll be possible in a web based OS.

    • Kid_Thunder@kbin.social
      41·
      10 months ago

      I have an app that alters the colours of my TV at night. I can’t imagine that’ll be possible in a web based OS.

      It should be able to with no problem. It isn’t that it is web-based but that essentially, a developer can use JavaScript in the React Native framework that exposes the OS. In other words, developers can use JavaScript to do things native apps can do. This isn’t new at all and has been refined for years.

      These JS frameworks do have a bad reputation for things like Electron (performance concerns) and node.js (security concerns).

      I personally avoid software based on these technologies but then again, I also avoid Amazon devices too but some people love them.

      • guy@lemmy.worldEnglish
        5·
        10 months ago

        I have very low hopes that Amazon will add features to the SDK that expose the necessary parts of the OS. It’s that interface that matters and I’m almost certain it will be very locked down and minimal. Android has had plenty time to mature; the SDK is massively featureful

    • SpaceNoodle@lemmy.worldEnglish
      11·
      10 months ago

      Unfortunately, Google does not want that sort of intimate partnership with Amazon, as they see them as a direct competitor. Go read about the YouTube app debacle for even more historical corporate drama.

  • SpaceNoodle@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    10 months ago

    This makes sense for devices that don’t support a 3P marketplace, like Echo Show, Amazon Glow (RIP), or Astro (WTF are they waiting for?), but could spell disaster for Fire TV and surely for Fire Tablets.