February 21, 2025
Tech News
Amazon has announced it will discontinue Android support for its Appstore on August 20, 2025. This change was shared via an FAQ support page, though no detailed explanation was provided. The Appstore will remain accessible on Fire TV and Tablet devices, retaining its default app marketplace role.
Further complicating the situation, Microsoft plans to end support for Amazon’s Appstore on Windows starting March 5, 2025, as part of its broader deprecation of the Android subsystem. This coordinated withdrawal from Android support raises questions about the future of Amazon’s Appstore given its Android-based Fire OS.
In addition to shutting down Android support, Amazon is ending its Amazon Coins program. Following February 20, 2025, users will no longer be able to purchase new coins, although existing balances can still be used until August 20. After this date, leftover coins will be refunded, with additional details to follow.
On a different front, Spotify is enhancing its platform by introducing more AI-narrated audiobooks through a partnership with ElevenLabs. This initiative aims to capitalize on the potential of digital narration to expand the audiobook market, making it easier for authors to produce content.
Previously, Spotify had strict regulations surrounding AI-narrated audiobooks that only permitted recordings from select partners. With ElevenLabs now in the mix, authors can create audiobooks in 29 languages using a variety of synthetic voices, making production more efficient and cost-effective.
Despite advocating for the importance of human narration, Spotify acknowledges the benefits of AI voice technology, particularly for smaller authors and previously overlooked titles. All AI-narrated audiobooks will be distinctly labeled in the metadata to inform listeners about their digital narration.
Tech Explained
Appstore – An Appstore is a digital distribution platform where users can browse and download applications or digital content for their devices. Amazon’s Appstore specifically targets Android-based applications, allowing users to access various apps and games primarily designed for Fire OS devices.
Windows – Windows is a personal computer operating system developed by Microsoft. It enables users to run applications on their PCs and has supported various third-party applications, including those from Amazon’s Appstore. The planned cessation of support indicates a shift in focus from Windows to more direct platforms.
Audiobook – An audiobook is a recording of a book being read aloud, often by a narrator. The rise in popularity of audiobooks has encouraged platforms like Spotify to explore new forms of narration, including AI-generated voices for a broader range of titles, connecting listeners to more diverse offerings.
Speech synthesis – This technology converts written text into spoken words through computer algorithms. ElevenLabs specializes in speech synthesis, allowing authors to utilize AI-generated voices in numerous languages for their audiobooks, which promotes wider accessibility in the audiobook market.
Metadata – Metadata is information that describes other data, such as the details of a digital file. Within Spotify’s context, metadata for audiobooks will explicitly indicate whether a title is narrated by a human or an AI voice, ensuring transparency and helping listeners make informed choices.
