Amazon today announced that an upcoming software update is going to bring several new features for the Amazon Fire TV set-top box and the Fire TV Stick. These are some of the most commonly requested features by Fire TV users so they’ll no doubt appreciate that Amazon has heard them and did what they wanted. Amazon did not provide a concrete release date for the software update, it says that the update will be released in “the coming weeks.”
After the update the Amazon Fire TV set-top box will support expandable USB storage. Users will be able to connect a USB mass storage device to the Fire TV in order to expand available storage for apps and games.
Fire TV and the Fire TV Stick will both support hotel and dorm room Wi-Fi after this update. Basically all Wi-Fi connections that require web authentication will be supported by these media devices. Amazon says that this will make the Fire TV and Fire TV Stick the first streaming media devices that allow users to do this.
Amazon is also bringing wireless Bluetooth headphone support to the Fire TV so that users can continue watching content even when they don’t want to bother someone else in the room with the audio.
Others features included in this update are new shortcuts that enable users to quickly put their Fire TV or Fire TV Stick in sleep or enable display mirroring by pressing and holding the Home button on the remote. Prime Playlists will now be directly available from both media streaming devices as well.
Amazon also announced today that starting today the Fire TV Stick is available for purchase in the United Kingdom and Germany.
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