Amazon has managed to develop one of the most successful and original Android forks.
If you want to give an example of total dominance, you can refer to the situation that has developed in the mobile operating system market. According to statistics, by 2019 Android occupies over 86% of the market – 6 times more than the nearest chaser, iOS. According to these statistics, only 1% is allocated in the “Other” column – although in fact this percentage can also be attributed to the share of Android. Why Simply “green robot” forks (or modifications) are most often associated with the “other” operating system.
Fork Fire OS is a program developed by Amazon, “OS“, which has no flaws that critical Seattle companies are. First of all, Amazon experts solved the problem of insufficient autonomy of devices with the “green robot” and they succeeded – Google should definitely send its technicians to Jeff Bezos for an internship.
Table of Contents
What is Fire OS?
Fire OS is an operating system developed by Amazon based on Android for tablets and phones of its own production. The most known version has gained Fire OS 3.0 Mojito, released in 2013 and the “patch” of Android 4.2. However, the “roots” of Android in it are difficult to detect, because not only the interface has undergone major changes, but even the menu navigation format itself – Fire OS uses the “carousel” method.
The all-knowing Wikipedia claims that the latest version of Fire OS is version 5.3.3.0, released in April 2017, but this is a misconception. There is also a sixth version of “OS” from Amazon, based on Android Nougat, but in RuNet there is almost no information on this topic.
Functions and main functions of Fire OS
One of the key features of Fire OS is its independence from Google services. In particular, if you want to download a game or application, you don’t have to go to Google Play, but to the Amazon Appstore. Not here, but Google Maps instead – a map service from Amazon. The second important point is its own launcher, which is no different from the traditional Android launcher. The screen displays large icons that the user must flip svaypami left and right.
The operating system has other, less important distinguishing features, which, however, can not be ignored either:
- Firefly is something that the developers of Samsung as part of Bixby gave as part of the “innovative” dressing in 2017. It is a technology that recognizes objects that fall into the camera lens and offers the option of buying them. It is true that if you try to recognize processed Drużba cheese, you will fail – the technology only works with foreign goods.
- “Mayday” button – a button for calling for technical support. Pressing this button causes a specialist to contact you within 15 seconds, who can, if necessary, obtain remote control of the device. In this case, the user will not have to worry about the security of personal data – the specialist will not reach them, because they will only be stored in encrypted form. Mayday Button is a great idea, but not for the Russians; because Amazon’s support for the “great and powerful” does not speak.
- The second screen is a function that allows you to transfer video and photos from a small screen of a tablet or smartphone to a large screen TV. Works with Samsung TVs.
- Reading mode after switching on reduces energy consumption to a maximum. In this mode the device can work continuously for 17 hours. This function is necessary for every operating system.
What devices can I meet Fire OS on?
The Amazon smartphone market after the only failed attempt to invade decided to leave alone. The Fire Phone, which worked on the proprietary Fire OS, failed in 2014, although it looked interesting as a concept.
Thanks to tablets and electronic “readers” it turned out better. Tablets from the Kindle series with Fire OS at some point “on the hill” were quite popular, but in 2013 they began to lose their share due to increased competition. In 2019, Amazon e-books are more popular, but there is no branded operating system for them. But this operating system comes with an Amazon Fire TV decoder.
Here are the devices on which you can meet Fire OS:
- Kindle Fire.
- Kindle Fire HD.
- Kindle Fire HDX.
- Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 inch.
- Fire phone.
- Amazon Fire TV (3 generations).
Summarizing
The chances of an ordinary American user to get acquainted with Fire OS and the gadgets that work on it are extremely high, due to Amazon devices in USA, All the services are widely available. Yes, and the Seattle company is now enjoying the audience with new mobile devices for the “big holidays” – apparently this segment is less and less interested.
However, there is nothing surprising – at Amazon and in such a full order of things. According to eMarketer, the company’s share in the US online trading market in 2018 was almost 50%! Then comes eBay , which has only 6%, which looks just pathetic. Thanks to these indicators, Amazon has the full right to rest on its laurels and postpone plans for further diversification for an indefinite period.
