Amazon is updating Fire TV with new features and a stricter app policy, introducing changes that may impact how some users access their streaming apps.

AMAZON appears to have ramped up illegal streaming restrictions on Fire Sticks by blocking a popular loophole. The tech giant is taking a much tougher approach to prevent rampant illegal streams

The Amazon Fire TV Stick HD is back on sale at Amazon, and if you're wanting to upgrade your streaming device before Christmas, now is the time. As of Dec. 16, you can save $16 with the new price of $18.99. That's a 46% savings on list price.

A streaming stick connects to your non-smart or even smart TV to provide access to all your favorite streaming apps through an intuitive interface. If you're considering one, you're probably deciding between two of the top players in the business: Amazon ...

Our electronics writer has tested every streaming device on the market, and spent a week with Amazon’s new $40 stick to see if it’s worth it.

According to AFTVNews, Amazon is now actively blocking apps that enable piracy on its Fire TV streaming devices. If an app is blocked, users will see a notification when trying to launch it, stating that the app has been "disabled" because it was "identified as using or providing access to unlicensed content."

The $29 price tag is a 40% discount that makes high-quality 4K streaming more affordable, especially since most budget streaming sticks from other brands don’t have Wi-Fi 6 or advanced HDR formats. You get hardware from the current generation that will stay useful for years, and you can access Amazon’s growing library of free content.

Amazon's streaming sticks have been Android-based for years, but the experience has shifted bit by bit. The new Fire TV Stick 4K Select is the first to move to Amazon’s Linux-based Vega OS, marking a clear break from the older software.

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max usually costs £69.99, but Argos is selling it for just £39.99 - that’s £30 off. That’s not the only deal on these dongles. Argos also has other options which start from under £20. These include the more basic Amazon Fire TV Stick HD (now £19.99) and the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, which is just £24.99.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick HD plugs into your TV’s HDMI jack to give it the functionality of a full streaming center. You get a compact stick that hides behind the TV, plus an Alexa Voice Remote that handles navigation, volume, and playback. It’s easy to set up, and once you connect to your Wi-Fi and all your streaming accounts, you’re good to go.