Amazon extended support for HTML5 apps to its Fire TV, broadening the range of content available for the bigger screen, and opening up a new opportunity for web developers to push their HTML5-based titles.

It also means that developers with web apps already available for Android-based Fire tablets and Fire phone can easily bring their titles to the living room.

As part of this, Amazon has added features to its web app management tool WebView, including support for analogue input from the Amazon TV game controller and other gamepads, access to the in-app purchase API, and a new template for optimising HTML5-based apps for TV.

When it launched its Fire TV box in April, Amazon enabled apps designed for its Android-based Kindle Fire tablets and other Android devices to be brought to living rooms.

The device allows users to download and use app and games — as well as stream movies, television and music — to their HD TVs via their mobile device.

The technology means the TV screen can be used in situations when a mobile device might have been used previously — for example to display weather or traffic information. It also supports multi-player games.

Amazon touted the technology as providing a means for developers to increase their reach.