There’s no web browser on Amazon’s Fire TV and Fire TV Stick boxes. But developers web apps can now easily bring their apps to Amazon’s TV box using new tools for publishing HTML5 apps.

In other words, the number of third-party apps available for the Fire TV product family could get a shot in the arm soon if developers start bringing existing web apps to the platform.

amazon fire tv web apps

Amazon already allowed developers to publish HTML5 apps for its Fire tablets and the Fire phone. But now Amazon WebView has been updated to support the Fire TV and Fire TV Stick remote controls, the Fire TV game controller and other gamepads, and other TV-specific features.

There’s also a new starter template app that’s optimized for a 10-foot experience (which means it looks good when you’re sitting on the couch staring at a TV rather than when you’re holding a tablet a foot or two from your eyeballs).

I’ve been pretty impressed with the Amazon Fire TV Stick I picked up last month and I’ve been using it to stream content from Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Music, Netflix, and YouTube. But I wouldn’t mind seeing a wider selection of apps for the Fire TV family.

via TechCrunch

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One reply on “Amazon Fire TV gains support for (some) web apps”

  1. I’ve been amazed at what the FireTV Stick can do (for $20-$25.)
    1.The Amazon ecosystem/Prime experience is top notch. I think they are pre-loading content, which makes the next HD episode of a show ready and smooth. I have Chromecast, which also does well with HD streaming video, but the FireTV is better in its ecosystem then Chromecast is with google play or Youtube.
    2. Sideloading opens up a world of content. XBMC/Kodi works perfectly. Other apps like Firefox, Slingplayer, HBOgo and “other” streaming apps work well but require the use of a mouse. The Wukong app works well as an android phone mouse for the FireTV, but ideally, a native app that used the remote would be that much better. I’m hope for root access so that I can install google apps.
    3. 3rd party streaming solutions like DLNA Player and AllCast work well enough that I stream anything I would normally send to my Chromecast- but the experience is not as seamless as it is with Chromecast.

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