Well, it looks like the YouTube app on the Fire TV was pulled early from the Fire TV. A few weeks ago Google announced plans to pull their YouTube app from the Fire TV on January 1st 2018. This is not the first time Google has pulled a YouTube app from an Amazon device. Earlier this year Google pulled the YouTube app from the Echo Show. Last week though the YouTube app returned to the Echo show but Google didn’t release that app it came from Amazon and Google didn’t learn about it until they saw it in the press according to TechCrunch.
Last night though if you opened the YouTube app on the Fire TV you found a screen offering to open YouTube on the FireFox or Silk browsers. We are not sure if Google or Amazon pulled the app early. It is very possible that Amazon did this to get a jump start on Googles plans to pull the YouTube app.
Update: If you have no browser installed it will still take you to the YouTube app. Yet come January 1st it will no longer offer that option.
Recently The Verge reported that a Google spokesperson has told them that they are in “productive discussions” with the hopes of reaching “an agreement for the benefit of our mutual customers.” Though as of today nothing has come from these talks.
Google has for some time offered limited versions of the YouTube app on the Fire TV. Google also left the Fire TV off the list of streaming players to be supported by YouTube TV in what is likely a continuation of their fight with Amazon. The lack of YouTube and YouTube TV will leave the Fire TV short a major app that other devices like Roku, Apple TV, and Android TV all offer. Hopefully Amazon and Google can work this issue out in the next few weeks.
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