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Amazon is clamping down on illegal pirating and streaming using their Fire TV Sticks, and users are starting to see warnings already.
Many people have been using 'jailbroken' Fire Sticks in order to access premium content such as the latest movies, boxsets and sporting events without paying the fee.
It was being achieved through unofficial apps which were 'sideloaded' onto the gadget.
But now, when someone loads up an app that has been identified as pirating content, many users are starting to see a pop-up warning onscreen which advises them the software has been flagged.
The good news is, if you have a Fire TV stick to trade in, Amazon are offering a great discount of 20 percent and a gift card if you swap your old device for a new one.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select
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$34.99 (or $27.99 after 20% off when you trade in)
It reads: "Warning. One or more apps on your device have been identified as using or providing access to unlicensed content, including this app, and will be disabled. To remove this app now, select ‘Uninstall’.”
At present, users can opt to ignore the warning, clear it from their screen and continuing using the app.
The warning advises the user that Amazon is aware of the illicit activity.
Eventually, Amazon will block any unofficial apps, and some reviewers have written already that they cannot use any or they have been blocked from loading them on.
One wrote: "Amazon has removed the Developer Options completely, which means you can no longer enable ADB Debugging or install apps from Unknown Sources. Because of this, it’s now impossible to download third-party apps such as VPNs or IPTV apps, or anything that needs sideloading through Downloader. This feature was always available on older models, including the one I bought in 2021, but that version is no longer sold."
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An Amazon spokesperson told The Mirror “Piracy is illegal, and we’ve always worked to block it from our Appstore. Through an expanded program led by the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), a global coalition fighting digital piracy, we’ll now block apps identified as providing access to pirated content — including those installed from outside our Appstore.”
Paolo Pescatore is a media analyst and said to The Mirror the ban is a 'long overdue...step in the right direction'.
He said rising prices for streaming and the increasing number of platforms requiring subscriptions are leading to an increase in pirating.
“Broadcasters are spending more to secure live sports rights and passing these costs onto consumers who can’t afford them, leading to a messy, fragmented experience,” Pescatore said.
The trade-in deal with Amazon means you can get a new Fire TV Stick 4K select for 20% off, as well as a gift card.
With the trade in, you can get it for $27.99 (down from $59.99)
The device isn't just for watching tv, either.
As well as smooth 4K streaming, it also comes with Alexa voice control, which you link to any smart home devices you may have.
You can then give verbal instructions to switch things on and off, or change the volume, and so on.
If you have zero patience for long set-up times, apparently it couldn't be easier to get the Fire TV Stick going.
One happy customer shared: "Considering the size, this is a great little streaming stick. I found set up to be less than 10 minutes, including software upgrade and installing and logging into my apps."
"Straight off the bat, I instantly noticed how fast fire tv 4K select devices are. Moving through menus is slick with apps loading much faster. The difference in speed is really noticeable from the off," added another.
Topics: Amazon, Technology, Film and TV
Jen Thomas