Several months after it first launched on just a couple of devices, the redesigned Amazon Fire TV interface is coming to more models of Amazon’s streaming devices.
The new interface brings with it a fresh look, more content recommendations, user profiles across the whole system, and more.
The new Fire TV UI was first announced back in September and was presented as “the biggest interface update ever” for the Fire TV devices, which have been around since 2014.
The roll-out began in stages, so the only Fire devices that got it last December were the new Amazon Fire TV Stick (HD, 3rd Generation – see our review of it), and the new Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite,
Starting today, the redesigned interface will begin rolling out to additional devices in the UK:
- The Fire TV 4K Stick
- The 3rd Gen Fire TV (Pendant design)
- The Fire TV Cube (1st and 2nd Generations)
The Fire TV Stick 2nd Generation and the Fire TV Smart TV (such as the JVC Fire TV Edition TV) will have to keep waiting, with the rollout for them planned for later this year.
As for older devices, it sounds like the 1st Generation Fire TV Box, 1st Generation Fire TV Stick (both from 2014), as well as the 2nd Generation Fire TV Box, won’t be getting the new interface.
Since the rollout is going to be gradual, some users might get the new interface a bit later than others – Amazon told us the rollout will take place over the coming weeks.
What’s The New Fire TV Interface Like?
If you’re familiar with the old Fire TV interface, the changes might not seem major – it looks bit different, there are new content recommendations and a few sections (like the search function) have been improved or at least sprayed with a new coat of paint.
Having spent time with the new interface, I can say that it’s a big improvement in some areas – but also, makes the Fire TV even more confusing to use than before, at least for some.
It now becomes even harder to understand where content is coming “from”, which content you can see for “free” (via an existing subscription), and what you would need to pay more for (by renting it, for example).
Still, it’s a good start which will surely be improved further – and some of the new additions do make it better than before.
The New Home Screen / Main Menu
In the old Fire TV interface, the Main Menu was kind of hidden at the top. In the new interface, the main menu is right at the centre, giving you fast access to the search (“Find”) function, your full library of purchased content (and your watchlist), and shortcuts to your most-used apps.
The main menu now gives you fast access to several main sections:
- Library – Which holds content you’ve purchased from Amazon
- Home – Which brings you back to the main screen
- Find – The new search screen
- Live – A new section that consolidates apps and Prime Video channels that offer live broadcasts.
- App List: Quick access to your most-used apps.
System-Wide Fire TV Profiles
The Amazon Prime Video app already supported user profiles for some time, giving you the ability to set different watchlists, watch history and personalised recommendations for different members of the family.
Now, those profiles are built into the Fire TV OS itself, so the whole experience can change a bit for each member of the family.
It’s not just about Prime Video now – but the system-wide content recommendations, global watchlist, etc. will now all be personalised for each user.
Improved Search / Find
The new “Find” tab combines the regular “Search” function, which you can do either with your voice (if you have the voice remote) or by using the virtual keyboard.
But on the new Find screen you can now also browse and discover content – by genres (Action, Sci-Fi, Horror, etc) and categories. Plus, it’s where you access the app store, to find more apps to install.
You can find a more detailed look at the new Fire TV interface here.
Firstly,I cannot describe myself as technically competant in this area. At my age it’s all wizzing past me! However, I have sort of converted my aging flat screen telly by installing the latest Firestick – amazing I did it without help from my young tech-savvy neighbours. It was llike magic as I told Alexa to do things and she did!
However,my issue now which is getting more confusing as I delve into it is this. I intend moving to freesat and ditching Sky. However,I have found that Sky also offer freesat but you have to pay to record and,as most of our viewing is via recordings,this would present a problem if I adopted the very tempting Sky option. However,the BBC/ITV freesat has a problem as it as the new 4k boxes have terrible reviews.
I believe I could record using my Firestick but it looks complicated to navigate. I follow online methods but still cannot find how to easily record. Any ideas? Keeping the Sky box would be very tempting as,preumably, I could continue to use my magic eyes which I find essential and maybe get my dish updated to a quad thingy?
All very exciting if I can sort it so any advice would be much appreciated
Many thanks
John on the Wirral
You can’t record TV shows on the Firestick, I’m afraid – you can only use it to stream them from services such as Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, etc. For recording over-the-air shows, you would indeed need something like a Freesat (or Freeview) recorder, if you don’t want to remain with Sky.
Hi,
Many thanks for your speedy response. I had begun to realise that I couldn’t use my Firestick to record. If I keep Sky on their freesat I believe I would have to pay to record which I want avoid. However, I also need to make use of the existing Sky cabling to other rooms but can find no freesat pvr that enable this to happen. We used magic eyes to transmit whatever we were watching on the main set to other rooms. If I keep the Sky box presumably I will still be able to use my magic eyes.
There seem to be very few alternatives for freesat boxes and the one recoomended by Which – Freesat 4K – has some appalling user reviews as though they have yet to develop the software. Can you suggest a box that would allow 1 or 2 gb of storage, as we seem to live on recordings, and ensble us to play tv in other rooms.
With Freesat you are indeed mostly limited to the new(ish) 4K boxes. (You might be able to find older Humax Freesat boxes, but they no longer receive updates, so that’s probably not a good idea. What about Freeview? Is that not an option in your area (because of bad reception)?
Hi,
I very much appreciate your advice.Thankyou.I live in a wooded valley so getting a dish many years ago was magiic to us.
At the moment Sky is looking more promising at least until they’ve sorted out a decent reliable box but what is the monthly Sky charge for recording and is it a 12/18 month contract? It is the contracts I am getting fed up with. I suppose I could make a cheeky call to Sky and push for a good deal – I have been with ’em a long time. However,it is disappointing that there are are very few freesat boxes out there. I believe there are those are asking whether Freesat will disappear.