Amazon has notified certain Fire TV and Echo users that one of its smart products, the Fire TV Blaster, will soon be discontinued. The Blaster, which provided hands-free voice controls for home theatres when paired with a Fire TV Stick or smart speaker, will cease functioning “in the coming weeks.”
Initially designed to enable tasks like switching off soundbars and changing channels via Alexa voice commands, the Fire TV Blaster was removed from sale a year ago due to complex setup issues and the introduction of the more user-friendly Fire TV Cube with similar functionalities.
Amazon stated that the Fire TV Blaster served its purpose during a transitional phase in the smart home industry but is now obsolete due to advancements in technology and the evolution of other Fire TV products that eliminated the need for a standalone IR blaster.
Affected Blaster owners in the US have been offered the opportunity to exchange their device for a discounted Fire TV Cube, while UK customers will receive a £34.99 gift card automatically credited to their accounts.
In an email received by customers, Amazon confirmed the discontinuation of support for the Fire TV Blaster, leading to the device’s permanent shutdown in the near future.
Apart from providing incentives like discounts on the Fire TV Cube and gift cards, Amazon announced a free recycling program for old Fire TV Blasters. Users can print a shipping label to return their devices for recycling.
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