Amazon has alerted certain Fire TV and Echo users that one of its smart devices, the Fire TV Blaster, will no longer be operational. The Blaster, which provided hands-free voice controls for home theaters when paired with a Fire TV Stick or smart speaker, will cease to function “in the coming weeks.”
Initially designed to enable users to control soundbars, adjust volume, and change channels on set-top boxes through Alexa voice commands, the Fire TV Blaster was discontinued from sales a year ago due to complex setup issues and mixed reviews. Amazon introduced the more user-friendly Fire TV Cube with similar functionalities, rendering the Blaster obsolete.
Amazon acknowledged that the Fire TV Blaster served its purpose during a transitional phase in smart home technology but became redundant with the advancement and increasing adoption of newer technologies and other Fire TV products, eliminating the necessity for a standalone IR blaster.
Owners of the Fire TV Blaster in the US have been given the option to exchange it for a discounted Fire TV Cube. In the UK, purchasers will receive a £34.99 gift card automatically credited to their accounts.
Notifying users via email, Amazon stated, “In the coming weeks, support for the Fire TV Blaster will be discontinued, and the device will stop working.” Additionally, Amazon is extending discounts on the Fire TV Cube and gift cards while offering a free recycling service for old Fire TV Blasters. Users simply need to print a shipping label and return the device for recycling.