Amazon has, today, started releasing the next Fire TV software update to a small subset of devices. Wider availability is expected in the coming weeks. The update brings FreeTime, a feature promised at launch, to the Fire TV. We speculated this update would be coming soon when we spotted a mysterious “FreeTime Edition” app in the Fire TV Appstore. The update also includes a highly sought after feature which allows you to filter searches to only display content that comes free with an Amazon Prime subscription. No word yet on whether this update blocks the recently released root procedure. We haven’t received the update ourselves, but if you have, we’d love to hear your impressions in the comments. The update is definitely being kept under wraps as there is no mention of it on Amazon’s software update page, and the Fire TV product page still lists FreeTime as “coming this spring”.
Update
6/19 @ 1:00 pm PT: In addition to adding FreeTime and the ability to browse only Prime content, this update also includes Amazon Music which lets you listen to your Amazon cloud music library from your Fire TV. Lyrics display on screen as music plays. Unfortunately, Prime Music is not included with this update. Amazon says it Prime Music is “coming later this year”.
- New Features List
- Prime browse: Browse several categories of Prime content, including, but not limited to: Top Prime TV, Top Prime Movies, Prime TV for Kids, Prime Movies for Kids, Prime TV by Genre, Prime Movies by Genre
- Amazon FreeTime: Create custom profiles for up to four kids, choosing the movies, TV shows, apps, and games they can access. Easily set up daily screen limits and restrict certain types of content.
- Amazon Music: Listen to music from your Amazon Music Library. See lyrics that display line by line while you listen to many of your favorite songs (Prime Music coming later this year).
6/19 @ 1:15 pm PT: Amazon is now saying the update will begin rolling out next week.
SourceThe Verge
@AFTVnews
AFTVnews
Now if they can just get the WWE Network app on the Fire TV I can retire my Roku 3.
Good news, WWE has confirmed that they will be bringing their app to the Fire TV. http://www.aftvnews.com/video-streaming-apps-coming-to-the-fire-tv/