Amazon has informed me that, along with the 1st-gen Fire TV and 1st-gen Fire TV Stick from 2014, the 2nd-gen Fire TV box released in 2015 will also not be receiving the new Fire TV interace. I mistakenly thought 2015 and newer devices would receive the new interface update, and incorrectly stated so previously, but it turns out that the much-loved Fire TV 2 is just behind the cut-off of 2016 and newer models.
The 2nd-gen Fire TV was released in October of 2015 and quickly became the most sought after model by being the first Fire TV to support 4K video and having exceptional performance that wasn’t surpassed by a newer Fire TV model until the release of the 2nd-gen Fire TV Cube. Many home theater enthusiasts have held onto the 2nd-gen Fire TV for being the last model to support features like integrated Ethernet, a microSD card slot, and a full-sized USB port.
Original Fire TV interface (2014 to 2016)
The 2nd-gen Fire TV debuted with the original Fire TV interface that had a vertical navigation menu along the left side. About a year later, it was updated to the current interface, along with the 1st-gen Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. Had Amazon decided to update the 2nd-gen Fire TV to the new 2020/2021 interface, it would have been the only Fire TV model to receive two interface overhauls. However, it seems that Amazon has decided that one interface update is enough, making the 2nd-gen Fire TV Stick, which debuted in 2016 alongside the current interface, the oldest device to receive the latest interface update.
This news doesn’t necessarily mean that all support and updates are stopping for the 2nd-gen Fire TV. The 2nd-gen Fire TV and older Fire TV models are still receiving software updates as recently as this month. It just means that the current interface will remain on the device indefinitely.
@AFTVnews
Still amazed and ticked off that the latest so called “premium” devices, the Fire TV Stick 4k and Fire TV Cube 2nd Gen are the last to receive the new interface. Will be looking at other higher end alternatives like the Nvida Shield the next time around.
I think you mean the “latest” to receive the new interface, because the Fire TV Stick 2 from 2016 will the the “last” (as in oldest) device to get the new interface.
Not exactly. I’m venting that the current premier offerings of Fire TV devices still don’t have the new interface after all of this time. Meanwhile, entry level Fire TV devices have it.
Oh ok, my mistake. Vent away!
My guess is that they held back in order to sell as many of the latest sticks they could before servicing the higher end devices.
I have a Shield and not too long ago I bought the Ematic Adroid box on Amazon for 70.00. It started under another name as a Walmart exclusive. IMO it’s a lot better than a MiBox and has Ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports and even card reader. It’s not a Shield but it’s not bad at al.
Some of us got the new interface on our 4K fire sticks yesterday.
Very dissapointing to hear as my Fire TV Gen2 box is still my 2nd best FTV device (out of the 6 I currently use). I would think that having better specs than the aforementioned Gen2 FTV stick this behemoth of a device would have made the cut..oh well…will keep using it though regardless! Thanks Elias for the update!
I have the 2nd generation box with wolf launcher which is much better than the new interface which I have on my firestick lite
I have the fully customizable Wolf Launcher on my Fire TV Cube 1st ed, which because it has OS 6, I’m able to set Wolf as the default launcher (meaning I never even see the default Fire UI). [No more Amazon ads and countless tiles advertising services I’m not subscribed to.]
But my Fire TV 2nd gen box is stuck at Fire OS 5, and AFAIK, there’s no way / no easy way to set Wolf as the default (auto runs at start) launcher on an OS 5 device…
I have wolf launcher as my default launcher on my 2nd generation fire tv box. Tech doctor’s You tube channel has a video that will show you how
I still use my 2nd gen daily.
It’s still my favorite FTV device of all the various ones I’ve owned and used since the beginning. But very disappointing that, apparently, it’s never going to advance beyond OS5…
True but it works so well, what’s the need to? We are streaming movies and live tv effortlessly. That’s a very good wonderful thing. Correct?
Shame to hear that this is the case, but appreciate the update. On the enthusiast side of things, this device getting updated with new internals and codecs would have been ideal. Absolutely love the all-in-one form factor of the device and really would have loved to see it again moving forward. As noted, this doesn’t mean all updates are stopping for it, but I would have liked to see the new interface on this device.
Disappointing indeed. Is there a way to get the latest interface safely without jailbreaking the FireTV Gen2?
I don’t use them much but I have two second gen fire sticks will they get the new interface? I’m really not sure if I like the new interface or not so I’ve currently blocked updates on my 4K fire sticks.
Yes, the 2nd-gen Firesticks will get the new interface later this year.
Yeah I have blocked update on both my 4k firestick
I have blocked it on both 4K fire sticks also but I seen yesterday and Facebook groups some people got the new interface I was worried about it deleting apps but so far it doesn’t seem to be the case but I’m still going to wait and maybe update my third 4K fire stick to see if I like the new interface I run the wolf launcher on one and stock on the other two.
Who cares about the new interface. I have wolf launcher which is much better
Me too LoL
The interface needs to evolve as time advances, sometimes this requires older devices to be EOL. 5-7 years of support is not unreasonable for a customer to expect. Hardware advances so fast the time spent on backward compatibility simply isn’t a good business model so I’m not really that disappointed the older devices have been abandoned.
Directly associated with the EOL status bring us to how Amazon jumped the shark with updated hardware. I use to be a huge proponent of the FireTV devices. The best of which was the Gen2 box IMHO. My opinion every “BOX” type device that has been released after the V2 box was a mistake in customer expectations. In fairness there is a place for the CUBE but I’m not a big fan of voice control and I can say I have never used VC call me old fashioned but pushing a button just doesn’t require that much work. Personally, I think there is room for 3 product lines Sticks and all the versions (although having 4k and other one seems redundant), The V3 box basically the V2 with a slightly better CPU and the 16Gb memory maybe with a bit more ram, and the CUBE models for those who like one ring to rule them all, OOPs one device, that’s my 2 cents worth.
As a big Fire TV 2nd gen fan, I kind of have the same feelings about the Cube, and in my particular case, I didn’t like how it was interfering/overlapping with the audio-only Echo Dot/soundbar setup I have in the same room…
So originally, I simply muted the mic function on the Cube, which took away its audio response functions, making it more like my 2nd gen FTV box, and allowed my Dot to continue responding to voice requests, when I want that…
But after a while, I realized I could kind of accomplish the same result by changing the audio wake work on my Cube to something other than “Alexa” (which is still used on my Dot). So now, the Cube only activates by voice on my TV when I specifically call instead for the alternate wake word of “Amazon.”
I went through the same thing. I first had the Cube muted but then figured there’s nothing to lose if I just change the wake word. It’s a shame that the Cube and an Echo still can’t exist in the same room with the same wake word, but at least changing the wake word isn’t too bad of a fallback.
There was an update on my 2nd gen box today, but it didn’t change the interface.
How’s your memory I had 800 now 287
Getting low memory warnings
Not sure how to check the memory.
Settings, manage applications
myself I am happy they are not going to force all that busy stuff on me. I much prefer the Wuffy app launch with my stuff only on the page
That was my very first Fire device, and it’s outlived a firestick or two. As long as it keeps on chugging.
I have the box second-gen and it’s still top ten in performance. No issues whatsoever.
if people need a new interface you can always buy a tivo 4k stick. Slightly better specs than the fs 4k stick, has android 10, 2 interfaces. Is fast and easy to use. So if someone wants a home page with all that business tivo stick would work for you and only 30 something dollars to buy.
Tom could you please tell me where can I find the tivo stick for only 30 something dollars to buy? I could only find it for about 50 dollars when I looked.
Thanks in advance.
It is on for $37 at Walmart and Amazon until April 13th
tivo puts them on sale time to time with 10 dollars off. Also Ebay, and amazon marketplace you can find them.
And fyi, I was able this past week to set up and successfully install the Wolf Launcher as the default launcher on both my Tivo 4K and Sling AirTV Mini ATV devices… which ends up hiding the Tivo and Sling control of home screen content, and giving it back to the user.
I’m sorry, my Fire TV Stick is called Fire TV Stick Basic Edition in Brazil. Will he receive the new interface?
The Fire TV Stick Basic Edition is the same exact hardware as the 2nd-gen Fire TV Stick, so I assume it will get the new interface too, but I haven’t seen confirmation from Amazon yet.
The article in December about the new Fire TV interface didn’t mean much at the time since I knew I wouldn’t see it for months. Now that I have it, I’m completely baffled over the “next up for you” row. I can’t make heads nor tails of the logic being used there. Thoughts?
All I’ve been told is that it is supposed to provide better recommendations over time. Since I use a Cube as my main device, I haven’t had daily use of the new interface to know if that’s true or not.
Well, that’s a shame. I was actually looking forward to trying out the new interface as it seems to move more towards what I would want the UI to focus on: content, rather than apps.
Which is why Wolf Launcher, which others keep mentioning, is not a preference for me nor what I really want in a UI. I would prefer a unified UI that puts content (shows, movies, mylist and suggestions, because I don’t see those as bothersome “ads” the way others do), not apps that I have to launch – each with their own separate UI – in order to watch a particular show or movie.
Now, if there were something like Wolf Launcher that just put the *content* in the apps rather than the apps themselves on the home screen, *that* would be optimal IMHO. Essentially what I want is, say, something along the lines of what JustWatch or Reelgood do, but better, and as the home screen UI itself. Integrated search, integrated launching of *content*, with the apps in the background not the forefront.
BTW, I’d really like to know their reasoning behind this decision, even though I heavily doubt that they’ll actually provide it. The Gen 2 box has specs that are better than some of the later devices that did get the UI update, so it should be more than capable of running it. Was this a decision based on technical issues, or one based on business concerns?
all business im sure, you will have the older generation not see the update on their fire tv 2 and go out and buy a fire stick lite thinking the the box is old and “out dated” meanwhile they are getting a less cable device with a new UI.
The 2nd gen box does 4K but the new 3rd gen fire sticks do not so they wouldn’t be an equivalent replacement.
I have the AFTV 2nd Generation myself. Starting toag something terrible. Have a few streaming apps on there currently however not sure why it’s so laggy. Ive been tempter to format and start over to see if it improves. What would be the next upgrade to a newer device with better specs that isn’t the stick?
Did you move any apps to an SD card? SD card could be failing.
clear all the cache, unplug the box wait 5 minutes plug back in. do the same with your wifi router and modem if you have done so already.
Fire TV 2nd gen was my daily driver until now. I bought a Cube 2nd gen at less than half the normal price because I want to be ready for when Amazon Luna launches.
Fire TV 2nd gen will now go to my mother to replace her 1st gen stick.
I backed up the Luna on my 4k stick and sent it over and loaded it on my Fire tv 2 and it works fine.
I brought a couple of the Wi-Fi controllers way back when I thought I could use it as a gaming unit. Paid off. I really don’t know why they keep it off the FTV2 app store. Guess to just sell more newer units.
This sucks, I just setup the kids with 2 Fire TV Gaming Editions. Amazon always finds a way to screw people over. Reminds me of the Fire Phone.
will i receive this update on my toshiba 49 inch 1080 2018 tv?
Elias, I hace a 2nd gen Fire TV box that got hosed in a firmware update from Amazon. it reboots in a loop now at the black screen with the amazon logo. Prior to that update, I had it rooted. Is there a way I can still try to flash it form a computer? I have the USB-A to USB-A cable to connect it to a computer. I would love to revive it if possible…