There’s no doubt that Fire TV Sticks are affordable, even the high-end models. That’s great because it allows users to stream content by simply plugging one into any TV and using it in unique ways wherever they go. However, there is one big annoyance that I consider the real cost of ownership of a Fire TV Stick: the home screen.
Whether you’re using an old Fire TV Stick with Android apps or new sticks with Vega OSThe home screen has always been a thorn in my side and I feel like I paid Amazon for a product, then I have to turn around and work to get them to clean up the mess on the home screen.
I am not the owner
It’s full of ads
When I buy a new Fire TV Stick and set it up, the initial reaction on the home screen is disgust. I am the product: I see tons of ads for other Amazon services and channels. It’s one of the most annoying things I have to deal with when using my Fire TV. Sure, I can set up Jellyfin and replace all that, but I shouldn’t have to. Additionally, some live movie ads, for example, are displayed in a large box when nothing is pressed on the remote control.
I don’t care how cheap they sell the clubs; When I purchase a product, no ads should appear on the home screen or in the Fire or Vega operating system of the device you own. So yes, the real price of having a Fire TV Stick or Fire TV smart TV is the home screen. I’ve already shown my appreciation for Amazon’s product, so why should ads litter the home screen landscape?
A messy mess
It takes forever to clean
When I install a new Fire TV Stick, I have to clean up all the mess. That’s in addition to being embarrassed by the advertising hassles. It contains miniature buttons for apps and channels I never asked for and will never use. I can easily get rid of everything by installing a self-hosted client like Plex or Jellyfin or a custom launcher, but custom launchers are a thing of the past with new devices running Vega OS.
Sure, some apps related to my account appear when I set up a new device, but not all, because you know, Vega OS. Still, the extra junk apps and channels that I don’t want in my TV experience take me several hours to clean up, so I can have a more enjoyable experience while using the new device. My time is valuable and “working” on Amazon’s failed home screen is a price I unfortunately have to pay.
Problems with Vega operating system
it’s a step back
Now, I complain about the clutter of apps included on the home screen, and it’s true on older Fire Sticks running Android OS, but it’s worse on newer Sticks running Vega OS. The main reason is that most apps on new devices running Amazon’s new Vega OS are worthless. Yes, there are some essential apps like Hulu, Disney, Netflix, YouTube and others, but some of the included apps are ridiculously useless.
The music video app, for example, I checked and it doesn’t even have a search function. Some of the news apps I reviewed also seem half-baked. Not to mention that the new Sticks do not allow custom launchersunlike older devices with Android operating system. Additionally, it only has approximately 3000 apps available. For enthusiasts, this is a big step back. Having to suffer as a user due to Amazon’s home screen ads, cluttered layout, and limitations is the straw that breaks the camel’s back that makes me want to quit completely.
It’s almost impossible
Since I’m ranting about the home screen, I’ll continue. It is not possible to remove tiles from your sponsored or promoted thumbnails on the home screen. I can hide apps and live channels, but not most of Amazon’s promoted material on new or old devices. It’s possible to hide individual apps or channels from appearing or alter some ad recommendations, but it requires navigating complicated system menu settings, which, again, takes time and comes at a price.
So on older devices I either bypass everything by using a custom launcher or turn my device into a self-hosted server (Plex, Jellyfin, embyor something else, choose) so I can see my own media. I can always go to the normal home screen to access something if I want to access an Amazon app, channel, or game that I like.
The Fire TV Stick home screen makes you the product, not the owner
While older devices have more customization with launchers and over 40,000 Android apps, the home screen is still a mess of apps with irritating ads and is difficult to clean. The same applies to new devices running Vega OS, but regardless of the operating system, the Fire TV’s home screen is simply a mess.
Still, Vega OS is the worst because it doesn’t allow custom launchers. Not to mention, there are only a measly 3,000 apps available for the new Fire TV Stick devices. Amazon has been trying to separate itself from Google, but enthusiasts who want to customize the home screen suffer as a result.
