Amazon has told customers that the Fire TV Blaster, a device that adds hands-free Alexa control to TVs and soundbars, will stop working in the coming weeks. The company is discontinuing support for the gadget, effectively bricking it remotely.
The Fire TV Blaster allowed users to control older TVs using voice commands via an Echo speaker. It was a cheaper alternative to the Fire TV Cube, but low sales and mixed reviews suggest it never became widely popular.
Support for the device officially ends on January 31. In the UK, customers will automatically receive £34.99 in Amazon gift cards as a refund. In the U.S., Amazon is offering an exclusive discount on the more advanced Fire TV Cube instead of a refund.
Amazon will not physically collect the devices. Instead, the Blaster will be rendered unusable through a remote software update, showing that the company can disable products without users’ consent.
This move comes amid broader changes to Amazon’s Fire TV ecosystem. The company has also been cracking down on pirated apps and dodgy Fire Sticks, warning users that some apps may soon be blocked entirely.
Consumers are being reminded that Amazon has the power to remotely disable devices, which could be an important consideration when purchasing smart home gadgets in the future.
