Amazon has silently introduced its in-house Vega OS on the third-generation Echo Show 5 smart speaker, marking a strategic move in the competitive tech market. While Huawei and Vivo have launched HarmonyOS and BlueOS systems in China, Amazon has kept Vega OS under wraps, not officially unveiling its specific features and benefits.

Amazon Echo Show 5

Vega OS: Amazon’s New Direction with Echo Show 5, Distancing from Android

Vega OS version 1.1 has quietly made its debut on the latest Echo Show 5 model, and it bears a striking resemblance to Amazon’s familiar Fire OS interface, commonly found on its screen-equipped devices. However, one notable difference is that Vega OS does not support Android apps, unlike its Fire OS counterpart.

The third-generation Echo Show 5, released in May 2023, boasts enhancements in key areas such as speakers, microphones, and the display compared to its predecessor. But it’s in recent shipments that Amazon has chosen to pre-install Vega OS on this smart speaker.

Amazon’s transition to Vega OS marks a significant shift from its reliance on Android-based Fire OS, which was built on Android 9. This strategic move allows Amazon to better integrate its hardware and software, potentially leading to higher profits. The development of Vega OS, a Linux-based system, indicates Amazon’s ambition to gain more control over its devices, ranging from smart displays to Fire TV.

The switch to Vega OS could also have implications for advertising revenue and software updates, as Amazon will have more control over these aspects. However, there is some concern among users about the potential loss of power user features like sideloading. Additionally, the introduction of a new OS means developers must create new app versions specifically for Vega OS. The popularity of Amazon’s devices, having sold over 200 million globally, is likely to motivate developers to adapt to this new platform.

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