The release of Amazon’s second generation Fire TV in September of last year brought a number of new features with it, but one of the most intriguing was the inclusion of Alexa, the virtual assistant that premiered with the Amazon Echo. Owners of the first generation of Fire TV devices might have felt left out, but that won’t be the case for much longer.
Today Amazon announced a software update coming to the original Fire TV and Fire TV Stick that will bring in a number of new features, the highest profile of which is Alexa. Voice search was already available in both devices, but Alexa brings a number of new functions that approximate many of those available in the Echo.
The software update also brings a feature to the Fire TV Stick that was previously only available to owners of its bigger brother: Fire TV Stick users will now be able to connect Bluetooth headphones for private listening. If you’re curious how to set this up, we’ve got a guide on how to get started.
Finally, the update brings improvements to the Amazon Video’s new add-on subscription service. Those looking to sign up for free trials of Starz, Showtime, or any of the other services offered through the bundle service can now sign up directly from their Fire TVs – no need to head to another device.
The update is free and is rolling out automatically, so all Fire TV owners need to do is wait for the new features to arrive. Amazon says the update will start today and roll out over the next few weeks, so if you don’t get the update right away, don’t fret.
Since the launch of the latest Fire TV, Amazon has been on a roll adding new features and services to the entire line of devices. In December of last year, Amazon said it had added more than 1,000 channels, apps, and games to its app store since September alone.
