Amazon has already replaced Android with its operating system on some devices

Amazon I started saying goodbye to Android on some of my devices. More than a decade after running an open-source version of Fire OS, the e-commerce giant has rolled out its own operating system in the most recent version, Echo Show 5.

In accordance with Zatz is not funnyAmazon already uses the new operating system in the third generation Echo Show 5. A photo of a screen that says “Your device is running OS 1.1,” along with a warning message that the device is not compatible with Netflix, is the most compelling evidence.

The first signs of an Android replacement appeared a few days ago, when journalist Janko Röttgers reported that Amazon was going to introduce its own operating system. Vega OS, as it is called internally, will be improved. and only a few details of the developer tools needed to be adjusted before its official debut.

Internal sources confirmed to Röttgers that Vega OS It’s been tested on Fire TV for a while. and some Amazon partners are aware of the transition. What we didn’t know was that the new operating system was hidden in some consumer devices. It’s possible that the tech company chose the Echo Show 5 Kids as a test product because it has a shorter range than the Echo Show 8.

At this point, it’s hard to say whether Amazon will release it on more devices or wait until 2024 to introduce it with the next generation of Fire TV and smart screens. Judging by the photo, user interface similar to Fire OS. The third generation Echo Show 5 is compatible with services such as Amazon Music, Prime Video, Spotify and Apple Music.

Amazon is betting on a new operating system to take control

Transition to Vega OS will end the dependence on Android, the operating system that powers Amazon devices. Fire OS, a fork of AOSP based on Gingerbread, debuted in 2011 with the 7-inch Kindle Fire. The technology company has incorporated its own software and changed the user interface to improve its services.

After eight versions, the time has come for drastic changes and Amazon is confident it has a good product on its hands. According to internal sources, hundreds of people from the software and devices group are involved in the development of Vega OS. The company would hire Zibi Branetsky, a former Mozilla engineer responsible for Gecko and Firefox OS.

Rettgers’ report mentions that Vega OS is based on Linux and uses a web application approach. Amazon has asked developers to use React Native so that they can create native apps for other operating systems such as iOS and Android.

Perhaps the most important thing about this strategy is that the new Vega OS won’t be limited to Fire TV or Echo Show. The tech company plans to develop infotainment systems for cars, so it may launch a personalized version later.