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The latest Firestick software update is a great example of this. The new UI/UX aggressively de-prioritizes apps from content producers in favor of a "feed" that

The latest Firestick software update is a great example of this. The new UI/UX aggressively de-prioritizes apps from content producers in favor of a "feed" that lets them push their own content and intermediate content producers from their customers. They even go as far as to deliberately hide your saved items/watch next items three levels deep in a menu.

tssva 5y ago
They are not alone in this. Google has switched their UI/UX in the same manner. I haven't used Apple TV in a few years but when I last did they were headed in the same direction. Roku is likely not far behind in doing the same.
- ascagnel_ 5y ago
  Apple has made some moves in that direction, but they have a dedicated button on the remote that takes you directly to your queue (for streaming apps that support Apple's unified queue, which is all the major streamers with the notable exception of Netflix). That said, their UI for recommendations has gotten worse. You'd get some ML-driven suggestions pulled only from services you've marked as connected and don't need to pay extra to access, but they've pushed that set of recommendations further down the interface over time, offering up a combination of paid content, first-party content, and curated content in the mix as well, with no heed paid to what you already subscribe to.
daniellarusso 5y ago
Even worse, I bought a 4k Firestick about a month ago to replace an aging first-gen Firestick. I had other things come up and did not unbox it yet. After the first week, I have begun to receive emails from Amazon urging me to setup the Firestick, at least once per week. This is the opposite of motivating, Amazon.
WarOnPrivacy 5y ago
Amazon is doing the right thing to ensure a healthy piracy ecosystem
- Loughla 5y ago
  Honestly, one of the side effects of this sort of thing, and the splintering of streaming services into on-line cable bills, is that what used to be hard to find movies and tv episodes are no longer hard to find to add to my home collection. So that's a positive, I guess.
Traster 5y ago
This is one of the reasons why I've always been fascinated by people who claim Amazon has a customer focus. It is impossible to get what you awant from Amazon. If you go to Amazon they are going to make sure you get what they want to give you. You're going to watch the content they make, buy the white label goods they produce and click the adverts they put in front of you. It is the most customer hostile company I've ever seen.
- mjburgess 5y ago
  "Customer-focus" means focusing on customer satisfaction. There are many ways to make a person happy at the point of purchase: price, delivery speed, meeting expectations, etc. In this manner a casino is also customer-focused. The sense of "hostile" you're using supposes that customers are satisfied in cases where their long-term interests are being harmed.. and, indeed. This is where governments tend to step in.

tssva 5y ago

They are not alone in this. Google has switched their UI/UX in the same manner. I haven't used Apple TV in a few years but when I last did they were headed in the same direction. Roku is likely not far behind in doing the same.

ascagnel_ 5y ago
Apple has made some moves in that direction, but they have a dedicated button on the remote that takes you directly to your queue (for streaming apps that support Apple's unified queue, which is all the major streamers with the notable exception of Netflix). That said, their UI for recommendations has gotten worse. You'd get some ML-driven suggestions pulled only from services you've marked as connected and don't need to pay extra to access, but they've pushed that set of recommendations further down the interface over time, offering up a combination of paid content, first-party content, and curated content in the mix as well, with no heed paid to what you already subscribe to.

daniellarusso 5y ago

Even worse, I bought a 4k Firestick about a month ago to replace an aging first-gen Firestick. I had other things come up and did not unbox it yet. After the first week, I have begun to receive emails from Amazon urging me to setup the Firestick, at least once per week. This is the opposite of motivating, Amazon.

WarOnPrivacy 5y ago

Amazon is doing the right thing to ensure a healthy piracy ecosystem

Loughla 5y ago
Honestly, one of the side effects of this sort of thing, and the splintering of streaming services into on-line cable bills, is that what used to be hard to find movies and tv episodes are no longer hard to find to add to my home collection. So that's a positive, I guess.

Traster 5y ago

This is one of the reasons why I've always been fascinated by people who claim Amazon has a customer focus. It is impossible to get what you awant from Amazon. If you go to Amazon they are going to make sure you get what they want to give you. You're going to watch the content they make, buy the white label goods they produce and click the adverts they put in front of you. It is the most customer hostile company I've ever seen.

mjburgess 5y ago
"Customer-focus" means focusing on customer satisfaction. There are many ways to make a person happy at the point of purchase: price, delivery speed, meeting expectations, etc. In this manner a casino is also customer-focused. The sense of "hostile" you're using supposes that customers are satisfied in cases where their long-term interests are being harmed.. and, indeed. This is where governments tend to step in.