The Amazon Fire TV Cube and the Fire TV Stick 4K have received a few software updates during the past few weeks, but now a new set of updates has started rolling out to older devices that bring their operating system up to pace with the newer Fire TV models. All Fire OS 5 models, which includes the Fire TV 1, Fire TV 2, Fire TV Stick 1, Fire TV Stick 2, and the 1st-generation Fire TV Edition televisions from Westinghouse and Element are being updated to software version 5.2.6.8 with a build number of 630508320. Fire OS 6 devices, which include the Fire TV 3, Fire TV Cube, Fire TV Stick 4K, and 2nd-generation Fire TV Edition televisions from Toshiba and Insignia are being updated to software version 6.2.5.8 with a build value of NS6258/1604.
These updates don’t add much in the way of new features, but they do serve the important purpose of re-syncing all devices back to the same software versions. Individual devices tend to branch off and get unique software versions that address something about that one device. Every few months it seems, Amazon releases updates like the ones that are rolling out now that unify all operating system versions once again.
One new feature that is being added with these updates is the option to select between always-on HDR or adaptive HDR, which only switches modes when HDR content is played. This setting can be found under the Display options. It was originally only available on newer Fire TV models, like the Fire TV Stick 4K, but it has now come to older devices. Oddly, the setting is even now on non-HDR/non-4K devices like the original 1st-generation Fire TV box. I might be missing the reason to have the option on those devices, but this seems like a mistake to me and it may be removed in the next update.
Update
Amazon has told me that the new HDR setting coming to older devices is, in fact, a mistake that will be removed in a future update. Adaptive HDR is only supported on the Fire TV Stick 4K, so this setting does not do anything on all other Fire TV and Fire TV Stick models.
Other than the new HDR setting, the only other visual changes are tweaks to the various Fire TV Recast DVR interfaces. These improvements make it a bit easier to delete recordings and get to series recording options by providing additional actions in the menus that appear in the lower-right corner of the screen when you have an item highlighted and you press the menu button on the remote. These improvements arrived first on the Fire TV Cube and Fire TV Stick 4K, but now they’re available across all Fire TV models.
@AFTVnews
AFTVnews
If I remember correctly, when my Toshiba was brand new switching to adaptive made a big impact on picture quality when I was setting up the various inputs.
For good or bad?
There’s no reason why the Fire TV 2 shouldn’t be getting the features that seem exclusive to the 3rd gen of hardware. Other than Amazon trying to force people to upgrade.
Has it been documented that the FTV 2Gen has the same hdcp hardware as the newer models?
Frame rate matching doesn’t even rely on that, the specs of FTV2 are easily enough to run frame rate matching. It is only (!) a matter of software. The weird thing is: Amazon subsidized my FTV2 back in 2015, it only cost me 50€ during a sale. And they stated before, that they plan to support their older models as long as possible, in order to get return on investment on these subsidies. Their actions contradict this statement.
I agree, I hope this doesn’t mean that Amazon is going to be the same if not worse than the cable company that we have had to deal with all these years.
We’ve already signed back up with the cable company. This “cord cutting” just simply ain’t all it’s cracked up to be, for many reasons. We are much happier now that we’ve gone back to cable. We’ll use the stick when we just want to Netflix and chill, but cable is our go-to entertainment from here on.
Good to see the FTV2 receiving this much needed hdr update, so it isn’t left behind unsupported in the dust by 3rd gen and newer hardware. And allow people to possibly enjoy Amazon prime 4k content and netflix 4k with hdr.
———
Cord cutting is meant for people who prefer on demand over live tv & saving on monthly fees from the cable company.
But I like both worlds (enjoying netflix,etc) and better to have reliable nonstop broadcast cable networks vs trying to stream live tv from apps in slightly lower quality…
but more convenience comes at a much higher price depending on your cable packages.
I still have like 4 Fire TV 2 Boxes down since an OS upgrade about 2 months, because I am upgraded to several Samsung 40 inch UN40MU6300FXZA 4k TVs. Works perfect with the Fire4K stick, 4K pendant and Roku Ultras using the same cable and TV. Amazon’s response, wait until the Upgrade – and I am waiting with just dead boxes and source not found as error on them – no matter what cable I use or reset to factory.
Did you enable ADB before they “died”? Try connecting via ADB. Also, check your router to see if they are trying to communicate to anything inside or outside your network.
Frame rate Matching?
You may be experiencing the problem that prevents one from changing the Network settings on hard wired ethernet ports. Switching to a wireless connection works fine. Im told this should be fixed in this release. It affects my FireTV 2 Box. Ill let everyone know if it works after I get the update.
Interesting to see someone commenting about the 2 issues that I had with my fire tv 2 in the last few months. The previous update in August put my box into a state that was unusable until a factory reset, and then after that I had the issue which I think is the same as you have mentioned. Not able to “forget network” on wired connection and when trying to update for configuration of the current connection the changes don’t take. Agree with the comments about the fire tv 2 box being better than the Firestick 4k. Can’t wait to get back using this as my main box as have apps that record onto the SD card too.
Fortunate I have none of those issues using my AFTV2
Have there been any recent changes to the domains Amazon uses to force updates?
Yes. There was an article about it here at AFTV News. Can’t find it right now but it was not so long ago.
Here’s the article H.E.C mentioned: http://www.aftvnews.com/amazon-has-changed-the-domain-that-they-use-to-serve-fire-tv-software-updates/
Is this why my fire stick 4 isn’t working at all? It was fine, but now won’t find internet. The internet works on all other HDMI ports. Not sure what to do
Mary, how are you trying to connect to your internet? Hard wired or WiFi? If WiFi, 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz? If 5GHz, what Channel? About half of the 5 GHz Channels don’t work.
Hulu stopped supporting my Gen 1 Fire Stick and therefore stopped working. Will this software update allow me to use that app again?
Try using the internet app and going direct to your account via the web browser.
The update bricked my fire tv 2 box. The forced update started and that was it, it went straight to the black screen with the white amazon logo. And the slow pulsing off and on white led light on front just stays that way. I’ve tried everything to get it to work when it got bricked almost 2 months ago and nothing works. So amazon sent me the new 4K firestick and put 30 dollars on my prime account. But the new 4k stick doesn’t compare to the later 2015 fire tv 2 box. And amazon fire tv device team told me that they have had several calls about the update bricking the 2nd gen firesticks and boxes so be carefull.
You are one lucky dawg. When my device wouldn’t work from update ,customer service told me to buy a new fire TV. That’s awesome you were able to get new one for a almost 4 year old device
Customer service told me that they couldn’t help me fix my fire tv 2 which seemed like it bricked but the reset using a press of certain buttons on the remote worked and then i have been able to use it. Still got the issues as mentioned in my post above but hopefully the update will fix it. Customer service took the attitude with me that it was out of warranty so i had to buy something new. I said that it was clearly affected by the software update and their response was that they do software updates all the time so if a unit gets affected then they can’t help. What sort of justification was that??
They did the same to me until I copied and pasted the headquarters of Amazon to them. That shut them up very fast.
Yeah, wish I knew how to do that, as my Fire TV2 have been in Non-useable status with my new 4K Samsung TVs
hold down the play/pause button and the select button together for 10-15 seconds. It will restart the box with a factory reset. A bit of a pain to get all the apps back but better than having no box at all.
And amazon fire tv device team told me that they have had several calls about the update bricking the 2nd gen firesticks and boxes so be carefull.
Hey look, another reason why you want root on your device.
Good for David, but bad for the folks that don’t think to call Amazon and can persuade the hired tech that they’re sophisticated enough to take seriously as a potentially vocal customer. I imagine this update resulted in quite a few “spontaneous” decisions to “upgrade” to a 4k Firestick, certainly way more than exceptional cases like David’s in which they sacrificed a free replacement.
Meanwhile, I’m still comfortably rocking the last solid firmware and am feeling no pressure to upgrade from my FireTV 2, the most powerful hardware Amazon ever put out.
But really, there’s no reason to want root access on a device you think you bought instead of just renting. You guys just keep asking “duh… why root”, the companies love you.
The updates are automatic correct? Wasn’t sure if there was anything I needed to do on my Firestick?
I would love to see HDR come to 1080p content. 4k takes most of my data allowance and I’ve run over a few times. I know it’s possible to do it, so why not? Depending on how far you sit from the tv HDR on 1080p will look the same as 4k.
A quick one did anyone try and use the original wall plug and powerin it up that way…
My firestick alexa remote is not running latest update until now,,the current version is 5.2.6.7.
I am still running OS 5.2.6.7 on my FTV 2nd Gen box. Has this update been stopped because of issues with the 5.2.6.8 Update? I assume that is, because when I manually check, it says tat I am all up to date, even though I am running OS 5.2.6.7
Actually I just checked my Fire TV 2nd Gen box a few minutes ago, and I indeed received the Update automatically Thursday the 10th.
However, when I cross-referenced what the Amazon site says the latest update is, I have a newer Build, then what the site indicates.
The OS and Build I have received is: 5.2.6.8 (630508620). On the site, it indicates the last three digits in the Build are “320”. So IMO, they stopped the initial rollout of the update, and fixed whatever the problem(s) were with said initial update, and pushed out a newer Build.
I am glad I finally received it.
P.S. I have several Echo’s and Echo Dots of various generations, and I received updates for them back in December, before Christmas. The site still does not reflect those Updates. I am on newer versions and Builds of those, then the site says. Why does it take so long for them to update that site, so people know what the true latest versions and Build are?
I got the update eventually and as mentioned on the comments here a few weeks ago it has fixed my issues with not being able to configure DNS which were screwed up in the update in August