Posted Wed Dec 6, 2017 at 09:00 AM PST by Steven Cohen
The streaming service will no longer be available through Amazon products.
According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Google is set to remove its YouTube app from Amazon's lineup of media players, including the Fire TV. The move comes in response to Amazon's continued refusal to offer Google media devices through its site.
Starting January 1, Google plans to block all access to YouTube through the Amazon Fire TV. Likewise, the service has already been removed from Amazon's Echo Show device. The move comes as a result of Amazon's decision to keep Google products like the Chromecast and Google Home smart speaker off of its retail site, and the company's refusal to make its Prime Video app available via Google Cast or Android TV. For its part, Google says that it hopes the two companies can reach an agreement soon. A similar dispute between Amazon and Apple has also been in play over the last few years, but those issues seem to be on the mend. While Apple TV devices are still not available for purchase on Amazon as of press time, the Prime Video app was just added to the Apple TV channel lineup.
Amazon's latest Fire TV ($70) device offers access to a growing collection of apps (sans YouTube) and Alexa skills. Under the hood, the device is powered by an Amlogic Quad-core 1.5GHz processor and Mali450 MP3 GPU, along with 2GB of memory, dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and 8 GB of storage. The player also features a new compact dongle-like design that fits behind a user's TV. In addition, the unit includes support for up to 60fps 4K Ultra HD playback with HDR10 and Dolby Atmos audio.
Meanwhile, Google's latest Chromecast device, the Chromecast Ultra ($69), plugs into a display's HDMI port, allowing users to cast all of their favorite content from thousands of apps (sans Amazon) using a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. In addition, the device supports 4K, HDR (high dynamic range) and Dolby Vision content, offering playback support for videos with higher resolution, expanded colors, and enhanced contrast.
Sources: The Wall Street Journal, CNET
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