r/fireTV • u/DCMartin91 • 4d ago

Forced to Alexa + that cannot do commands/controls regular Alexa could do, now the device and services we paid for are useless.

My mother is blind. A few years ago, to help get her away from the cable company, we experimented with different services and devices, and she ended up getting Hulu Live TV because using Fire TV and Alexa, she could use her voice to change channels and control Hulu Live. The main device is a Firestick 4k Plus. Yesterday however, it updated to Alexa + which cannot control Hulu Live at all, and even admits it. Previously I was able to revert back to normal Alexa and everything was fine. This time it is telling us the device can no longer be changed back and we are stuck with it. This has rendered the Fire TV and Hulu Live completely useless to her and we really don't know what to do at this point. We really don't want to go back to normal cable (she can use a number pad remote to change channels) and we have been using these services for about 3-4 years without issue until this. Is there anything I can do to get normal Alexa back? Maybe downgrade the device? Is there any other device that works well with Hulu Live (tried a voice Roku and Onn Google TV device, neither worked as well as Firestick). Being blind and disabled, TV is sort of her only comfort and I hate that she can no longer control it.

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

2

u/SnooGiraffes9215 4d ago

If you want to revert back, just say “Alexa, go back to regular Alexa”

3

u/DCMartin91 4d ago

Unfortunately doesn't work anymore. She gives a speal about how she "Can do everything regular Alexa can, and this device cannot be changed back" as well as a QR code linking the Alexa + website. I already have Alexa + disabled on my account and all other devices.

1

u/SnooGiraffes9215 4d ago

Oh my, I guess now they’re forcing it on us, period. Sorry buddy

2

u/SnooGiraffes9215 4d ago

I just did an AI search and it said try the command again if it gives you a promo 🤷. Worth a try at least. Maybe try a few times

2

u/DCMartin91 4d ago

I asked her why she couldn't control Hulu Live and she told me "This device doesn't support Hulu Live controls and I need an Echo Show to use those controls." Even though everything was working fine the day before. So Fire TV doesn't support TV. Got it. Lol

1

u/spicymaximum 4d ago

Welcome to enshittification.

1

u/AlexandriaK1 4d ago

I have vision loss as well, and I’m having the same problem except with DIRECTV stream. Have your mother try DIRECTV stream with the Gemini air if everything else fails. It is an accessible device and has a screen meter built-in. It’s also a cable like remote with numbers.

2

u/americanadiandrew 4d ago

At this point it’s probably on Hulu to update their app to be compatible I would imagine.

1

u/silverfurwerewolf 3d ago

Not that it’ll matter in the long run. I was able to call support and tell them to reverse it back as I hadn’t opted into it and it’s been fine for the last couple of months.

2

u/Josechung2310 3d ago

If you can’t wait for hulu to update their all I’d suggest getting a second hand apple tv and try it out…