Google has once again blocked YouTube from running on the Amazon Echo Show, as well as the firm’s Fire TV devices.
Update: An Amazon spokesperson has provided Trusted Reviews with the following statement:
“Echo Show and Fire TV now display a standard web view of YouTube.com and point customers directly to YouTube’s existing website. Google is setting a disappointing precedent by selectively blocking customer access to an open website. We hope to resolve this with Google as soon as possible.”
It’s a continuation of the feud which started earlier this autumn over Amazon’s alleged poor implementation of the app, which Google said was “creating a broken user experience.”
This time though, the block hammer has been dropped over the Amazon retail empire’s perceived lack support for Google’s growing array of hardware.
In a statement aGoogle spokesperson said: “We’ve been trying to reach agreement with Amazon to give consumers access to each other’s products and services. But Amazon doesn’t carry Google products like Chromecast and Google Home, doesn’t make Prime Video available for Google Cast users, and last month stopped selling some of Nest’s latest products.
“Given this lack of reciprocity, we are no longer supporting YouTube on Echo Show and FireTV. We hope we can reach an agreement to resolve these issues soon.”
Related: Amazon Echo vs Google Home
However, a Google source told Engadget, the resentment over the implementation of the YouTube app on Amazon devices, which Google previously said “violates its terms of service,” continues.
Amazon is reportedly refusing to work with Google on creating an official YouTube experience for the Echo Show and Fire TV devices, and apparently wants to go it alone.
As a result, the YouTube app won’t work on the Echo Show from today, while the Fire TV will lose support from January 1st, unless there’s a solution in the next couple of weeks.
Tit-for-tat
The tit-for-tat feud over reciprocal support mirrors Amazon’s beef with Apple which has rumbled on for the last year.
Amazon was upset Apple would not allow a Prime Video app on the Apple TV, so pulled the set-top box from sale.
Earlier this year Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed Prime Video was coming to the tvOS App Store, but six months on the app is nowhere to be seen. You still can’t buy an Apple TV from Amazon either.
Is Google right to withdraw the YouTube app as a result of Amazon’s actions? Or is the company only hurting the consumer? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
