Amazon has alerted some Fire TV and Echo users that one of its smart products, the Fire TV Blaster, will soon cease to function permanently. The Blaster, which provided hands-free voice controls for home theatres when paired with a Fire TV Stick or smart speaker, will be officially discontinued “in the coming weeks.”
Initially designed to enable tasks like turning off soundbars, adjusting volume, and changing channels on set-top boxes through Alexa voice commands, the Fire TV Blaster was withdrawn from the market a year ago due to complex setup issues and lukewarm reviews. Amazon subsequently introduced the Fire TV Cube, a more user-friendly alternative with similar functionalities.
According to Amazon, the Fire TV Blaster fulfilled its purpose during a transitional phase in the smart home sector, but advancements in technology and the evolution of other Fire TV products have rendered the standalone IR blaster obsolete.
Current Fire TV Blaster owners have been informed that the device will soon become inoperable. In the U.S., owners are offered the option to exchange it for a Fire TV Cube at a discounted price. Meanwhile, in the UK, purchasers will receive a £34.99 gift card automatically credited to their accounts.
In an email obtained by AFTVnews, Amazon notified Fire TV Blaster buyers, stating, “In the coming weeks, support for the Fire TV Blaster will be discontinued, and the device will stop working.” Additionally, Amazon is facilitating the recycling of old Fire TV Blasters at no cost to users, who only need to print a shipping label and return the device.
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