Amazon shakes up Fire TV interface again in the name of easier use
Amazon shakes up Fire TV interface again in the name of easier use
A new interface test is shifting the preferred apps row lower down in the interface so that it can be expanded to include more options.
Amazon is constantly thinking about the best ways to get viewers watching content faster on the Fire TV interface. That’s the end goal in mind behind its latest change; an eagle-eyed Reddit user has spotted a new change on their Fire TV interface, noting that the apps bar usually found at the very top of the screen has been moved and expanded to provide viewers with more of the options they use most often.
Key Details:
- The old app row had six options in it, but was placed at the top of the screen.
- The new row has been moved down two places, but expanded to include more choices.
- The change also makes it easier for Fire TV customers to browse all of their downloaded apps.
Until now, Fire TV customers have been able to scroll to the right and quickly access one of six streaming apps right at the top of the user interface. Reddit user Ryeallen noticed that now, that row has been moved down two spots, and is now integrated with the other tile rows on the Fire TV home screen.
Image courtesy of Reddit user Ryeallen.
This leaves the navigation bar at the top of the Fire TV screen more open to new options, and it expands the app row to fill the screen and include more choices. As a Fire TV owner myself, I’m hopeful that I’ll see the change roll out to my TV soon. Having more than six app choices available in the row is a big improvement that will save me a lot of scrolling in the end.
Since the top-row navigation bar has now seen those apps removed, it’s easier to pull up the grid-style overview of all the apps I’ve downloaded on my Fire TV. That makes it easier to locate streamers and services I use less often, another improvement.
The change could make room in the Fire TV home screen for a tab taking viewers to free, live channels more easily. Amazon has rebranded its free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels as “Fire TV Channels,” and it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see a Fire TV Channels button pop up on the home screen in the near future, now that the navigation bar at the top of the screen will be so open.
If you own a Fire TV device like I do, keep an eye out for the changeover soon. It could be making its way to your smart TV or streaming stick in the coming weeks.
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