The Firefox browser for Fire TV is the second official browser for Amazon’s TV-connected browser following the Silk Browser onto the Amazon App Store. After years of clever Android fans loading mobile browsers onto the device, which have varying degrees of effectiveness depending on what sort of remote one has, the company is finally embracing its Android capabilities and allowing full browsers onto its devices.
Why the new browsers are so important for Fire TV Users
Amazon has changed the form factor of the Fire TV dramatically. The first two generations of the device were equipped with multiple slots for accessories. Most importantly when it came to browsing was the USB slot, which could support a dongle connected airmouse or keyboard. That meant that users could sideload a browser onto their device and navigate it as though they were using a computer or other Android devices. But the new device is much smaller and does not have a USB port, nor an SD card slot for that matter.
This meant that it just got that much harder to use a browser on Fire TV devices, at least the new ones. Mobile browsers take care of that problem.
Strengths of the Firefox Browser For Fire TV
First of all the Browser itself is set to an aspect ratio that works on an HD TV screen. Its fonts are large enough for users with normal eyesight or glasses etc to read from a couch without having to adjust anything. On top of that, like other TV-based browsers, the Firefox browser has an easy to follow on-screen cursor that allows users to select items, scroll and drag the screen etc.
The starting pages. The Firefox browser for Fire TV is set up with video in mind. Its home screen is set up with direct links to video-based websites. Most notable of course is YouTube’s TV-centric set up. This allows users to pretty easily replace the soon to go YouTube app. It also links to a Google search that defaults to video results. Users can easily change the filters to get anything they want. When playing videos the Amazon controller can play and pause as they would with full-fledged apps. Firefox also connects to popular Pinterest, Instagram, and Flickr. Users also have quick links read Reviews on Movies from Rotten Tomatoes, learn more about them through IMDB and buy movie tickets from Fandango.
It is also very easy to get into the search with Firefox for Fire TV. One quick click of the setting button jumps into the search area and pressing the back arrow will push the browser back to the previous screen. Something very helpful is how easy it is to just clear everything out of the browser via the settings tab of the app.
By adding browsers to the Fire TV it means that there is almost nothing on the Internet that you can’t get to on the Fire TV. There are many websites that do not have apps for the device including things like your local news station that can now be accessed when the need arises.
Weaknesses of the Firefox Browser for Fire TV
The Firefox Browser for Fire TV does not have bookmarking. Despite the obvious ability to handle bookmarks, the app does not have an option to do so. This means quick start pages are limited to what Firefox wants. This is odd when considering how open the browser is on other devices.
I was not able to download anything via the browser. When going to sites like Kodi.tv and choosing download options the webpages would alert me that a download was in progress yet, there would be no indicator, nor would I get a prompt to install anything. A quick check of my file managers also showed that no new aps or APKs had been added to my downloads.
Step in the right direction
Browsers where always a plus that Actual Android boxes had over Android-powered devices like the Fire TV and Android TV boxes and TV’s. But the rollout of apps like the Downloader, Puffin TV, Silk and now Firefox are really changing the game for set-top box and smart TV owners,
