Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K Select uses Vega OS, limits app installs

Amazon has begun selling a new Fire TV Stick 4K Select that runs a redesigned operating system intended to tighten control over which apps can be installed on the streaming device, a move that company officials say will make it harder to use the hardware to access unauthorized content. The device, announced by Amazon and now available for purchase, replaces the Android-based software used on previous Fire TV models with a new Linux-based platform called Vega OS.

Amazon said the 4K Select delivers HDR10 4K picture quality and faster app performance enabled by Vega, and that it will soon support Xbox Cloud Gaming, Luna, and Alexa. In a statement, Amazon said, "Our newest Fire TV Stick, the 4K Select, helps you maximize every pixel of your 4K TVs at an incredible value. It delivers vibrant 4K picture quality with HDR10 support and apps that launch remarkably fast. The performance comes from our new operating system, Vega, which is responsive and highly efficient. Everything you need is right in the boxit works with your favorite streaming services, and will soon support Xbox Gaming, Luna, and Alexa."

The technical change has broader implications for how software is installed on the...