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Youtube removing app from Amazon fire devices
Youtube will no longer be available on Fire devices from 1st Jan 2018. This includes Fire Tablets, Fire TV and fire TV stick devices. I Know a lot of people who access Youtube solely through their Fire TV. In reality, the app simply acts as a browser to access a youtube web page designed with such devices in mind (same as Youtube on Xbox). I just can't figure out why Youtube would want to restrict access based on the device, when it will cause a reduction in views and revenue?
Mack.
I can only think that it sees Amazon as a major competitor, and, as I understanjd, Amazon has stopped selling some Google products.
It probably all stems back to this Google's Eric Schmidt Sees Amazon As Its Biggest Competitor In Search [webmasterworld.com] Oct 14, 2014
Yea all good points, Sending a clear message to a competitor is one thing, potential alienating users along the way is a grey area that I don't think Youtube have any need to explore.
Mack.
And this one: Amazon Reports Google Pulls YouTube from Echo Show [webmasterworld.com] from a few months back.
Looks like a small feud is going on.
>>Looks like a small feud is going on.
indeed!
this is a battle that is going to run and run..
i think amazon are a very real threat to google in a great many ways. and in my view their products are good
I agree Amazon does make some great products. I just don't see any reason for Youtube to move away from a successful platform and potentially risk losing users. I can see why a company would want to stop another company using their platform, but I really fail to see the logic of wanting your company away from someone else's platform.
Do Youtube really have enough clout that users will switch to another device simply to use it?
Mack.
There is now a solution, Firefox for Fire TV now on the Amazon app store.
Mack.
Just another follow-up. If you open your YouTube app now on a Fire TV device it prompts you to open the YouTube TV web page using Firefox :-)
Same UI basically the same service without the official YouTube app.
Youtube can't win this one unless all users have to do the same thing. As it is, the site is "public access" via any tool the user wants to use.
Killing an app by device merely means users will find another "app" that lets them do it.
Firefox is probably celebrating about now. :)
Accessing the Youtube webpage via web browser is a much different user experience than the social media enhanced app. This is a big loss for Amazon.
How different? I don't "phone" or "kindle" and so have no idea what the "app" experience might be. Enlighten, please!
What does Amazon LOSE and what does YOUTUBE gain (if Kindle users can still get YOUTUBE just by adding FF?)
OTOH, if YT opts to BLOCK BY DEVICE you can bet a chit storm of large proportions is on the horizon.
Appears to be nothing more than yet another attempt BY BOTH to have their Walled Gardens and Eat the Customers, Too.
The Youtube app on Fire TV was simply a web page designed for YouTube TV. Now when a user opens the app it prompts them to allow Firefox to open the very same page.
Mack.
That's what I thought. :)
Again, YT can't win this one.
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