- Fire TV’s massive makeover is also coming to the phone app
- The app becomes a second screen to control your Fire TV
- Rolling out to everyone in the coming weeks
Amazon’s Fire TV mobile app just got an upgrade, and it looks like it could become your go-to remote for all your Fire TV needs, whether you have a Stick or a full Fire TV set.
The app hasn’t just gotten a makeover. It’s designed as a second screen to your Fire TV, allowing you to search for things to watch on your phone and manage your watchlist, then play titles on your TV by selecting them in the app.
You can also use your phone as a full remote control, and it seems like it could be a lot more convenient than endlessly scrolling using your TV remote, especially to look at different categories.
It’s also been redesigned to match the current, recently updated Fire TV user interface that we saw Amazon announce last week. And it looks like it’s coming faster than the TV upgrade, especially if you’re outside the US.
What’s new in Fire TV?
The Fire TV redesign is the most significant redesign in five years, and while it’s currently US-only and for three Fire TV models, it will roll out to more devices in more countries this spring. The redesigned mobile app isn’t rolling out so slowly, and it’s not limited to the US: it will roll out to all customers over the next few weeks, starting today.
Amazon says it’s redesigned the Fire TV user interface to be “cleaner, faster and better organized,” so you’ll spend less time searching and more time watching: Amazon cites research that says US customers spend an average of 12 minutes deciding what to watch, and Amazon wants to reduce that.
In addition to the redesigned layout, Amazon’s engineers have also made Fire TV faster: according to the company, “we’re seeing up to 20-30% speed increases” in some cases.
One of the simplest and most effective changes in the new user interface is that you can now pin up to 20 apps to your home screen, up from the current six. And the menu button on your remote provides faster access to games, art and images, and Amazon’s Ambient Experience.
Alexa is also a big part of the new interface, especially in its Alexa+ incarnation. It’s free for Prime subscribers and available as a separate subscription for non-subscribers. Amazon says you’ll be able to ask Alexa+ for informed recommendations, such as telling you about movies that share a visual style and asking questions as if you were talking to a friend instead of your TV.
The Amazon Fire TV update is rolling out to US customers now and more widely this spring.
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