>The fact that Google is making me suffer for their partnership details demonstrates that they don't value us as customers.
It's a tough position for them, since Amazon has been blatantly inimical to consumers of Google products for years. It seems like they finally decided to use the point of leverage they have.
If they produced a device that was compelling or competitive, remember with Chromecast, content must be sent from a compatible device.
But a quick search shows that the Chromecast Ultra is available at the following locations near me.
Fred Meyer, Best Buy, WalMart, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target etc... Plus thousands of online stores.
It isn't like Amazon is the only place to buy these devices. The difference is that to sell content they need to be inside peoples homes. They just made the decision that they don't want to sell content/ads to Fire TV users.
Except for vendor lock in, which is why they want to sell ChromeCast devices, they have made the decision that their content consumers are less important to them than their device sales.
Last I looked YouTube made money from ad views and/or subscriptions and not through device sales.
I don't understand how anything you're saying addresses the fact that Amazon is deliberately sabotaging their product for users of Google hardware. Years of consumer complaints haven't solved the issue. So what's the resolution? I'm not saying this is a great move by Google, but if it results in Amazon finally supporting my Prime membership to the same extent it does for Fire TV owners, then I'll take it.
None, because Google itself is engaging in anti-competitive behavior left and right. They sure as hell aren't going to lobby for the government to crack down on these practices when they are so dependent on keeping the status quo.
The problem is Amazon anti competitive behavior. Amazon banning the Chromecast from the Amazon marketplace while Google allows Amazon to use them is ridiculous. Now Amazon has pulled Twitch from the Roku. Amazon anti competitive behavior had to be checked and this appears to be the only way.
Heck Google created the Chromecast in 2013 and then added a YT app to the Roku or the opposite of Amazon anti competitive behavior.
It's a tough position for them, since Amazon has been blatantly inimical to consumers of Google products for years. It seems like they finally decided to use the point of leverage they have.