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Blog Posts

Lawsuit Claims Amazon Deliberately Disables Fire TV Sticks After Support Ceases

Allegations have emerged indicating that Amazon might be deliberately causing its devices to fail, possibly compelling users to buy new ones. A recent legal action asserts that Amazon’s Fire TV Sticks encounter performance problems once software support concludes, a practice known as “software tethering.” The complainant, Bill Merewhuader, contends that Amazon has the ability to restrict or halt device features, resulting in diminished functionality and pressuring users to upgrade. This lawsuit aims to secure compensation for impacted consumers, raising issues regarding the intentional reduction of device lifespans. The verdict of this case could significantly affect consumer confidence in Amazon’s offerings.

Open-Weight AI Models — Software Engineering Daily

Open-weight models are AI systems whose trained parameters are publicly released, which allows developers to run, fine-tune, and deploy them independently rather than accessing them only through a hosted API. While closed-weight models from companies like OpenAI or Anthropic are delivered as managed services, open-weight models give organizations direct control over how the models are

The post Open-Weight AI Models appeared first on Software Engineering Daily.

It’s a busy time for sci-fi, but don’t miss Aphelion

The last few weeks have bordered on overwhelming for science fiction fans. While Project Hail Mary is dominating the box office, For All Mankind is currently in the midst of its penultimate season, with a spinoff streaming next month. When it comes to games, Capcom kicked off a new sci-fi franchise with Pragmata, and Housemarque […]

Amazon Fire TV Sticks Will Stop Getting Updates Post-2030

affordable Fire TV HD Stick to the premium Fire TV Stick 4K Max. These gadgets are excellent for transforming your old television into a smart TV by downloading and utilizing apps like Netflix, Apple TV+, and Disney+. Utilizing a Fire TV device also provides you with access to Amazon’s Alexa, which delivers tailored recommendations. Alternatively, you may simply favor a Fire TV device along with Amazon’s operating system over the native version found in your smart TV. 

While these devices are dependable, technology is always advancing, and Amazon has announced a schedule for when it will cease updates for certain existing models. According to Amazon’s specific page regarding software security updates, the company assures that it will support various Fire TV Stick models only until the end of 2030. This encompasses most of the current models — the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, Stick 4K Plus, Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation), Stick 4K (2nd Generation), Stick HD (2nd Generation), Stick HD (1st Generation), Stick Lite, Stick (3rd Generation), and the Stick 4K Max (1st Generation). 

The sole Fire TV Stick model that may cease receiving updates sooner, in just three years, is the Stick 4K (1st Generation), which is assured updates until December 31, 2029. The remaining listed models are noted as receiving “Software Security Updates At Least Through” December 31, 2030.