Software updates 51.1.6.3 for the Fire TV and 54.1.2.3 for the Fire TV Stick appear to consist of only bug fixes and no new features. These updates have patched the last remaining Stagefright vulnerable library. If you still have your hopes set on a new rooting method using the Stagefright vulnerability, you’ll want to avoid this update. Additionally, it appears these updates have also fixed the HDCP blank screen issue that some people have been experiencing. It does not appear as though Amazon has removed the newly added “always on” HDCP encryption, however several readers have told me, with this new update, they are no longer seeing blank screens when waking their Fire TVs and Fire TV Sticks from sleep mode.
The Amazon Appstore app, which controls the “Apps” and “Games” sections on the Fire TV, seems to have received a lot of attention with this update. Unfortunately, I could not find any indication with this update that Amazon is adding Amazon Underground to the Fire TV. This doesn’t mean the Fire TV will never have access to Amazon Underground apps. It just means that it’s unlikely to be part of this update. The Amazon Music app, which controls the “Music” section on Fire TV devices, has also received some care with this update. But again, no new features were found.
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Didn’t know that the blank screen was affecting other users. Thought it was just my sound bar not properly bringing it back on. So I would just restart the firetv. This is great news.
Perhaps we are finally moving close to Prime Stations on the Fire TV
Kodi still working? And sideloading?
Kodi still works great with the new update.
Thanks :)
Looks like they’ve finally fixed the no sleeping bug with the music app.
It used to be that the music app never unloaded, which meant that if you used the music app, the Fire TV would no longer sleep after a period of inactivity. If you wanted it to sleep as normal, you either needed to Force Stop the app through the application manager, or force the Fire TV to sleep or restart.
I reported this bug around a year ago…
At the time, they were aware of the issue, but didn’t know what was causing it. They even sent me a new device in hopes that the newer firmware would fix it. After the new unit started to exhibit the same issue, I was able to track it down to the music app.
I had rooted 3 Fire TVs. When I had a little trouble with one of them, I decided to restore it to factory and updated it to the latest version. I gotta admit that I am impressed with all these nice Amazon features that aren’t available on my rooted Fire TVs. I still prefer the rooted Fire TVs but the “benefits gap” between them got smaller.
Aren’t available???? Huh??…What’s the point of rooting if you’re not going to install any of the latest custom roms(51.1.6.2_user_516011120) which would of given give you the same features as of the latest factory amazon updates. You wasted a rooted fire tv when the latest custom rom, 51.1.6.2_user_516011120 would of brought you up to almost the most recent factory amazon update(two more after it 51.5.3.0_user_530042950 & 51.5.3.0_user_530042950)….
Couldn’t agree more! It’s a shame that he/she didn’t know about the custom roms. Another wasted root…makes me cringe!
I wasn’t aware that the custom ROM could give me all the features of the latest stock software. I was using with April 2014 software so I was missing a ton of Fire TV latest features.. even the simple features like screen cast or Sleep button. It was also pretty buggy. Even Netflix with ugly interface and Hulu stopped working. I am not even sure I would even try to install custom ROM because it seems way more advanced than the easier rooting process and there is a chance to brick the device. Even on the RBOX installation guide, they say it is a very delicate process and has a high chance of bricking the device if not followed precisely. Risk and reward. For me, I wouldn’t even take the chance to try. I actually installed a custom ROM for my 2012 Kindle Fire HD with a Lollipop ROM and it worked fine but if I were to mess up and bricked it, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal because it was old and I had another better tablet. I do not want to brick a Fire TV that I use a lot. The difference between my rooted box and latest version unrooted box isn’t that huge. I pretty much have all the 40 apps and everything else except google store. I use 1mobilemarket for my other apps. Still have browsers (chrome/firefox), kodi, usb storage and bunch of stuff. The difference for me is Google Store but I get many new Fire TV features that were missing and fixed bugs. If I were to lose browsers, outside apps, kodi, usb storage, etc. with latest stock version, I would be upset but I still have all that stuff and a lot more stuff that I don’t need.
Just read that it is still possible to use google store on unrooted fire tv even without markethelper. Sideload apk. There isnt much difference between my rooted and unrooted fire tv.
Not google playstore… just the google apps. Easier just to use 1mobilemarket.
Why not just update to the latest firmware AND keep root? I don’t see the point in getting rid of root to update to the latest firmware!? There’s an awesome person named rbox who creates rooted “stock” firmwares. DONT UPDATE YOUR OTHER ONES TO STOCK! There’s no going back to root once you get rid of it.
I don’t have a rootable one, but if I did what are the benefits?
Only root benefit for me between my 2 rooted boxes and 1 unrooted box? Just the Google Playstore but you can still install many outside apps from 1mobilemarket and I was still even able to install many Google apps like Drive, Gmail, Google Play Games, Movies & TV, Music, Search, Youtube, etc. If you really want, you could install custom ROM with rooted box though.
I really enjoy xposed framework which lets you mod many aspects of a droid device. In particular rbox made a xposed module that lets you remove menu items. It’s so nice using the Amazon home without all the clutter and NO ad at the top. Rooting gives you “root” access to the device so you can manipulate almost ANY file you want. Useful for hacking a game or disabling a sound in an app you normally couldn’t disable. You can also install SSH which is far superior to adb. There’s plenty more things but when I think of no root it reminds me of my Fire TV Stick with all the extra menu items, ads at the top, and no way to browse/edit the file system from my Win7 PC.
U can go back to rooted box. I think you need to do it the hard way. Take it apart. There is a way back! Soldering, programming, and some small equipment.
I’ve never heard of the method your speaking of. Only hardware mod in aware of is for the FireTV Stick.
Do I need to download KodI to my computer before installing it to the fire tv?
No. You dont need to install kodi on your pc.