The 1st-generation Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick are starting to receive a new software updated, carrying version number 5.2.1.2 and build number 562254320. I’ve received the update and, unfortunately, this update does not bring the new user interface to 1st-gen devices. The new interface is still coming to older devices, but that will happen at a later unknown date. The update with the new interface will likely carry a version number of 5.2.4.0 or greater. I’m told this 5.2.1.2 update’s purpose is to patch various security vulnerabilities within Android. Assuming there aren’t any issues with the update, most devices should receive it by the end of the week. I haven’t noticed any new features or obvious changes with this new software version, but I’ll be doing my usual digging shortly.
@AFTVnews
AFTVnews
Is OTG enabled on the Fire TV stick with this build like it was for the 2nd gen model?
I haven’t received it on a Stick yet, but when I do I’ll be sure to test for OTG.
Great, thanks.
What is otg how do i test for it?
It allows you to connect devices (like keyboards, mice, ethernet adapters, flash drives, etc..) that use full sized USB ports to the Fire TV’s micro USB power port. You need an OTG cable to test if it’s enabled.
See:
http://www.aftvnews.com/amazon-fire-tv-stick-2-supports-usb-storage-keyboardsmice-and-ethernet-adapters-via-usb-otg-without-root/
and
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-connect-a-usb-keyboard-or-mouse-to-a-rooted-fire-tv-stick-with-an-otg-cable/
Has anyone tested if OTG is now enabled?
Hey, Have you had the chance to check the OTG capabilities?
Bummer…I was hoping for the new interface. Oh well, I can wait a bit longer if I must. Thanks for keeping us posted.
I’m surprised anyone would actively want the new interface. All it does is spam your home screen with massive half screen ads and make you wait for them to load before you can get to your Recents to launch an app.
If there’s one single reason to root, it’s to undo this obnoxious vandalism.
To each his own I suppose. I haven’t noticed any load times before getting to “Recents” on my Fire TV2. If anything it seems to run smoother and seems more intuitive to me. As it is now, I primarily use my Shield TV in the living room and Fire TV2 upstairs. The 1st Gen Fire TV is used for Amazon Prime in the living room and by my girlfriend (she used to the interface). However, when the new update happens I’m hoping I can get her using the Shield TV, we’ll see….she’s stubborn that way. :)
I was almost set to place an order for Fire TV when I came upon the Shield. We’re not gamers. But it seems that the Shield is the best that’s out now in terms of speed and has HDR. Would you recommend going for the Shield or is Fire TV sufficient (albeit not having HDR and HDMI 2.0)? Which one has the best interface for being a true replacement of cable TV channel surfing?
Now that the Shield is receiving an official Amazon Video app it pretty much has all of the big streaming apps. Netflix, Hulu, PS Vue, Sling TV, Google (Movies, TV, Music and Youtube) and Vudu…among others.
As far as I know Amazon doesn’t have Vudu, which I believe people use to access their Ultraviolet collection, nor does it have Google services. The Youtube app on Fire TV is horrible in comparison.
In the end it comes down to which ecosystem you prefer, Amazon or Google. I prefer Google, and while Google Home isn’t as robust as the Echo, it’s getting there.
“Which one has the best interface for being a true replacement of cable TV channel surfing?”
Neither is really a very good replacement of “cable TV channel surfing”, although Android TV does have a Live Channels app the pulls streams from other apps (Pluto, Haystack, Weather Channel) and shows the content in a TV guide type layout. At this point the app is just okay, but if more content could be added from say PS Vue or Hulu, I might find it more useful.
If you really looking for a cable tv replacement, go to Expattelevision.com. There you can get a a true cable tv experience, and its way cheaper than whatever you got now ;-)
I work for them, but also use the service myself. Really good! You can use your fire stick, or whatever you want..
Agreed. New Interface is a step backwards when it comes to usability and honestly I think it looks too busy or something. It just doesn’t do it for me, that’s just my opinion. Also don’t like how Amazon removed the seamless integration of Music and Photos. With the old interface it was nice and easy to scroll down and see your Music without having to open “new” separate Music app! Lame! Same goes for Photos.
Just get a shield TV. No ads.
No ads but the recommendations row is all but useless.
You can turn off the autoplay in the settings.
Nope. It’s just your preference. Most people, including myself prefer it.
Just installed, lets hope it works ok!
no, it won’t, because I’ve blocked all fire stick updates from getting near the stick, ie at router level. So, no updates for me thanks!
Be sure your router can block HTTPS requests, because most can’t. You can try downloading some of the update files here with your PC to see if they’re blocked: http://www.aftvnews.com/amazon-fire-tv-fire-tv-stick-software-update-history/
I had already checked, and the file downloads worked before, and didn’t work after I made the change. Thanks though!
Elias, Do you know if Amazon updates are still coming from the same 4 domains originally posted in your blocking guide?
If a new domain is used I assume we would get the update. I’ll cross my fingers, updating an older device that adds no apparent functionality smells a little fishy to me.
If my first gens start updating they’ll be on Ebay before the update completes!
Don’t know yet with this latest update, but all past ones have still come from the same domains.
Hmmm I wonder if it would work if we disabled the write access to the folder the firetv downloads the update file to?
Does anyone know if I need to reblock updates on Fire TV 1 if I had already done that when I first rooted?, I believe I used an adb command to do that, and there has been no automatic updates ever since.
I recently updated to FireOS 5.0 (not sure which firmware, probably the latest before this new one).
The only thing that re-enables updates is a factory reset, but it won’t hurt to re-run the adb command from Method 1 at http://www.aftvnews.com/block
Thanks
I did a factory reset on my Fire TV and the updates are still blocked. I blocked using the adb command. I had undo it using adb before it would update even after factory reset.
I just installed the new update in one of my 4 fire sticks fingers Cross it doesnt hice me Abu problems
Does it provide Alexa functionality for UK owners?
Good question. Hopefully someone from the UK will chime in once they get the update.
Any feedback on whether 5.2.1.2 is rootable by any method on Fire TV 1 or Fire Stick 1 ? I guess it’s unlikely but hey so was the 5.2.1.1 on Fire TV 2 with KingRoot.
Here’s hoping.
I tried KingRoot on the Fire TV 1 running 5.2.1.2 and it was not able to root. Will try Kingo Root soon, but I doubt it will work. I still haven’t received the update on a Stick yet.
Is Alexa ever coming to 2nd Gen Fire TV boxes?
I assume you mean in the UK or Germany, since the 2nd-gen Fire TV already has Alexa in the US. Yes, Alexa is coming to the UK and Germany.
This new update killed my Fire TV box 1st gen. It won’t load beyond the pulsing logo screen now. :(
Hmm, try disconnecting it entirely from HDMI and power. Then try a different HDMI port.
I’ve tried unplugging it and leaving it off for a while, different HDMI ports, a different TV, checked the ethernet cable, tried to see if it would use Wifi, tried unplugging the USB stick from the back of it; All with the same result. I’m hoping Amazon support will come up with a resolution.
My fire tv got updated last night and it was stuck on Amazon fireTv Logo for a few hours. Unplugged it, tried different cables, TV, wall power connector and nothing helped. I’m on the phone with Amazon now. Hope they replace it. I bought since May 2014. I was very happy and now I’m sad.
Don’t suppose you have the links for the .bin files yet?
They’ll be on the update page linked in the post as soon as I get them.
1 out of my 3 fire sticks got bricked by this update. Will Amazon cover this?
You’ll have to ask Amazon. Can you describe what happened exactly?
My fire stick was working perfectly fine in the afternoon, came back at night to find my fire stick with this message.
https://postimg.org/image/3o2jb7r6h/
Checked my other 2 sticks(different bedrooms) and 1 of them updated to 5.2.1.2 the same day, while the other updated on Tuesday. Could it be a coincidence? I think the update went wrong somehow and bricked my fire stick, I could be wrong.
Anyway I can’t get out of that Amazon system recovery screen no matter what I do.
Any suggestions?
Amazon needs to bring the whole home ethos that Play-Fi is integrating into their numerous participating entertainment systems. FireTV control via the Alexa app would be a start. Whole home audio control of Echo’s and FireTV’s would be next. There’s a good reason Sonos’ CEO is stepping down, they’ve missed the moment- Amazon is defining the moment and needs to integrate the Voice Control into everything they make and make everything work together.
And… bricked! Thanks Amazon, assuming that it was the update that bricked it. I just came home Friday evening and found it stuck in a slow but unending boot loop. At first I thought it was just stuck at the Amazon Fire TV animated logo, but it eventually rebooted itself.
Anyway, have there been any other reports of problems with the update?
On the plus side, Amazon gave me a $60 credit towards the purchase of a new Fire TV box (or a free FTV Stick). They are out of stock until February.
You could argue that Fire TV box customers are better Amazon customers than stick customers. As a box customer, you probably bought the controller (which itself costs more than the stick), you probably bought games from the Amazon Appstore that you would not be buying if you only had a stick.
I haven’t had a resolution from Amazon yet for my bricked device but if they offered me a new Fire TV box for 1/3 of it’s retail then I would still be disappointed. Until their mistake I had a fully functioning device. If your credit offer is a typical, a cynic could suggest that Amazon benefit financially from distributing forced faulty updates to older devices and so would therefore lack the motivation to distribute fully tested and functioning updates. Why should their mistakes cost the customer anything?
Hello, it is now possible with this firmware to get vpn on the stick??
Looks like another bricked Fire TV Gen 1 box here. I just tried to watch it after a few days (probably last week) and now I am stuck. Any suggestions as to how to determine if Amazon sent the update and now I have a bricked FireTV?
Amazon offered me $15 toward a new device. Unbelievable. I am so pissed off by this. So they purposely brick the device to get rid of devices to have to support?
They initially offered me something similar when I reported the issue. It was a cheap discount or wait for the technicians to get back at me in a few business days. I’m going to see what happens when they get back to me. I’m 99% sure it was the update that killed my fire stick. They should replace it imo.
Same thing happened to me with my Fire TV gen 1 box. Amazon put in a ticket to the technicians and told me they would call back in a few days – I had to call back. Talked to two additional customer services associates and was eventually offered a $40 credit. I asked for a supervisor. I explained as politely as possible that I didn’t feel that it was a reasonable compensation considering the box was fully functional until Amazon pushed an automatic update to the device that broke it. The supervisor eventually offered a $100 credit towards the purchase of a new Fire TV box. The new box should arrive tomorrow!
Hey DG,
Thanks for posting this, I took your advice and spoke with a supervisor today and he gave me $40 credit. Those fire tv techs never got back to me, oh well at least the problem is resolved.
Does anybody else have a problme with adblink with the FW 5.2.1.2 ?
i can’t connect anymore to my Stick, which works before flawlessly..
This update came in last night and my sony and it killed hdmi control of firestick v1 via my sony Bravia TV remote. TV remote controll ftv last night, doesn’t control this morning. Hdmi control is still enabled in the TV. Looks like hdmi CEC is not something I get get to in current FTV.
Anyone else run into this?
Turns out it’s buggy detection on part of the TV, but it was never buggy until this update.
Ever since this update I have trouble starting up my firestick when I switch it from one tv to another. It’s like it’s not getting any power but then after plugging it and unplugging like 5 times it’ll finally come on. Anyone else having this issue?