AMAZON UNVEILS NEW FIRE TV STICK 4K AND ALEXA+ UPGRADES

Amazon has launched a new Fire TV Stick 4K, priced at $59.99 and available immediately, which draws power directly from a television's USB port rather than requiring a separate power adapter. The device runs Amazon's refreshed TV operating system and includes Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 and Bluetooth Low Energy. Amazon has also reduced its streaming stick range from five devices to four, with the new Fire TV Stick 4K replacing the earlier "Select" and "Plus" 4K models; the line-up now consists of the Fire TV Stick HD, Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV Stick 4K Max and Fire TV Cube. Alongside the stick, Amazon has introduced a redesigned Fire TV remote with an asymmetrical shape and what the company describes as more tactile controls, compatible with all Fire TV devices and Amazon-branded televisions from 2019 onward.

The new remote will be sold separately for $14.99 and begins shipping in late October. Amazon says it plans to release a "Plus" version of the remote in early next year, featuring an aluminium design, backlit buttons and a "Find My Remote" feature. Fire TV is also gaining software updates, including a new Alexa+ hub and Alexa+ integration within the Fire TV mobile app. According to Amazon, the assistant will gain reasoning capabilities that let it handle more complex prompts, drawing on users' subscriptions, watch history and real-world context such as awards and events to suggest shows and films.

Amazon says the mobile app will let users add titles from shared article links to their watchlist and receive recommendations based on uploaded photos, such as a poster or screenshot. The app will also support deep linking to streaming services, letting users start watching on their phone and resume on a television via the "Continue Watching" row. Fire TV now offers integrated live content from more than 40 apps, including YouTube TV, Peacock, Tubi, Sling and DirecTV, alongside a Games Hub for cloud gaming through Xbox, Luna and NVIDIA GeForce NOW. Amazon says these updates will roll out to US Fire TV users later this year and to other markets in early next year, alongside a new Music app launching this autumn.