Amazon Steps Up Attempts To Block Illegal Sports Streaming Via Fire TV Sticks (nytimes.com) 27
Amazon is rolling out a tougher approach to combat illegal streaming, with the United States-based tech company aiming to block apps loaded onto all its Fire TV Stick devices that are identified as providing pirated content. From a report: Exclusive data provided to The Athletic from researchers YouGov Sport highlighted that approximately 4.7 million UK adults watched illegal streams in the UK over the past six months, with 31% using Fire Stick (this has become a catch-all term for plug-in devices, even if not made by Amazon) and other IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) devices. It is now the second-most popular method behind websites (42%).
Amazon launched a new Fire TV Stick last month -- the 4K Select, which is plugged into a TV to facilitate streaming via the internet -- that it insists will be less of a breeding ground for piracy. It comprises enhanced security measures -- via a new Vega operating system -- and only apps available in Amazon's app store will be available for customers to download. Amazon insists the clampdown will apply to the new and old devices, but registered developers will still be able to use Fire Sticks for legitimate purposes.
Amazon launched a new Fire TV Stick last month -- the 4K Select, which is plugged into a TV to facilitate streaming via the internet -- that it insists will be less of a breeding ground for piracy. It comprises enhanced security measures -- via a new Vega operating system -- and only apps available in Amazon's app store will be available for customers to download. Amazon insists the clampdown will apply to the new and old devices, but registered developers will still be able to use Fire Sticks for legitimate purposes.
LoL! (Score:1, Insightful)
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"Amazon secures one streaming device in a landscape of tens of thousands" Yuge News!
Exactly, this will have little impact. The problem looks like it's with the broadcaster's pricing model instead of "piracy". The cost for broadcast rights to professional sports has gotten insane. The broadcasters have to gouge their customers because they decided to overpay for a sports entertainment asset. It's their own fault, so I won't feel bad about people pirating their content.
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Yeah... everybody stopped recommending jailbroken Amazon Fire Sticks months ago, and now they recommend the ONN Android streaming pucks from Walmart instead.
When those get locked down, they'll just recommend something new. Or, just get a Raspberry Pi instead.
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... now they recommend the ONN Android streaming pucks from Walmart instead...
I had one of those for a while, it didn't play nice with my home theater system. When switching apps, or whenever it feels like it, the Onn box, receiver and TV got into some sort of 3-way shit show over some or another HDMI parameter, resulting in the screen flashing between black, pixelated green and an annoying loading spinner, and the receiver clicking audio relays and generally having a fit. Got a 4K fire stick too, and that works fine, as does the little x86 SBC I'm currently using.
Another annoying
But ... (Score:2)
... Pittsburgh is my favorite team!
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People will just stop using Amazon devices and buy a dbox instead
That's exactly what I'd do if I still watched TV, broadcast or streaming.
A $30 "Universal Receiver box" (lol) will get you all the TV you can stand, and there are tons of them on Amazon, eBay, Temu, Aliexpress.
Other developers.... (Score:2)
This concerns me from the standpoint of using FireSticks for TV signage purposes.
Our workplace uses the "ScreenCloud" software to turn a number of our TVs around our offices into digital sign-boards displaying things like employee birthdays and general office news, calendar info, etc.
We already had issues where Amazon decided to lock down a newer model of FireStick to the point the ScreenCloud app refused to run on it anymore. At first, the makers of ScreenCloud expected us to "root" each FireStick and do a
Re:Other developers.... (Score:4, Interesting)
Would the $20 ONN sticks from Walmart work better for you?
I have an puck-style device of theirs which is just an Amtel SoC with GoogleTV Android on it. Probably doesn't get updates but then you don't let them have unfettered access to the Internet either.
I've sideloaded Jellyfin, SmarTube-Next, etc.
I used to have a half dozen Fire sticks and have removed all but one, in a kid's bedroom. They haven't banned Jellyfin ... yet... but aren't they dropping Android as well?
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This concerns me from the standpoint of using FireSticks for TV signage purposes.
Our workplace uses the "ScreenCloud" software to turn a number of our TVs around our offices into digital sign-boards displaying things like employee birthdays and general office news, calendar info, etc.
We already had issues where Amazon decided to lock down a newer model of FireStick to the point the ScreenCloud app refused to run on it anymore. At first, the makers of ScreenCloud expected us to "root" each FireStick and do a bunch of steps to it in "developer mode" so their app could keep working on one. Then, Amazon locked them out of even that work-around. It seems the two companies got together at that point, and the result was a requirement we buy some more pricey variant of the same FireStick that's designed just for use with ScreenCloud!
They're getting to the point where it's cheaper to buy a load of used mini-PCs, load them with simple boot->screencloud (or equivalent), and use those instead of the firesticks. We used to use Raspberry Pis, but those became unobtainium at some point so we switched to just whatever mini or micro-PC was available cheap yet still had HD output. In a pinch, we've even used retired laptops strapped to the back of the TV.
Re: Other developers.... (Score:2)
Mini pcs and pis are great but the remote, low power usage and form factor still make the stick an attractive option.
My Device (Score:3)
I'm still at a loss as to why they care what I stream. It's my device, right? ...right?
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So yes, they very much care what you stream.
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Why does Amazon care exactly? (Score:2)
Why does Amazon care what software someone chooses to run on a device they own? Is there a law (or a court ruling) somewhere that requires Amazon to act against these apps? Have rights holders told Amazon that they wont be able to continue distributing content belonging to those rights holders unless they do this?
Although since this talks about "sports streaming", my guess is that the pressure is comming from entities involved with European soccer competitions, the companies with the legitimate rights to st
They're not just blocking (Score:2, Troll)
They're also putting news stories [metro.co.uk] out that users of these so-called "dodgy boxes" are putting themselves at risk of having their bank details stolen. Legality aside this really does stink of desperation.
It's not just Amazon though. Most of the people I know with these things have the app installed on Nvidia shields and they're not using them to watch Prime content; mostly they have them to avoid the massive costs that Sky charge for sports coverage. The article linked above tries to downplay the savings as
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Why would anyone store their primary banking credit card info on a hackable electronic device? I have a low limit card through a bank that I do no other business with. Hack it and charge maybe $1K before it limits or you get caught. Not attached to an account with a balance, so nothing to drain.
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Why would anyone store their primary banking credit card info on a hackable electronic device?
I said that's being alleged, not that it actually happens.
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The cited article says two in five claim to have been hacked. Sounds like a reasonably credible allegation.
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Your primary banking card can be 'hacked' without a device, sort of. Give it to your restaurant server, and it is out there. Forbid they take a moment and scrape it.
Stuff it into a reader somewhere. Forbid it is actually the reader covered by a shim.
Read it off to someone to pay a bill. You may never know who that is.
There is no perfect security.
Amazon's appstore? (Score:2)
Didn't they give up on that some time ago?
LOL Cracks to follow in 1....2....3... (Score:2)
This won't last a week, maybe two. Cracks and new FW will appear in no time.
I'll honestly be surprised if their new anti-pirate scheme survives to the end of the year.