Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Amazon announces its Fire smartphone

Online retailer Amazon has announced its first smartphone. The new device is simply known as Fire - the same branding used to differentiate the company’s multimedia tablets from its eBook readers - and will launch next week on the AT&T network in the USA.

Fire will run Amazon’s own version of Android on a quad-core 2.2 GHz processor. It offers a 4.7-inch HD display, a 13 megapixel rear-facing camera, a 2.1 megapixel front-facing camera, 4G connectivity and stereo speakers with Dolby Digital Plus virtual surround sound.

Image

There are four cameras and four infrared LEDs built into the front of the Fire phone to offer 3D effects on some applications and the User Interface. It means the handset can respond to movements of the user’s head as well as their hands; this ‘Dynamic Perspective’ enables shoppers to look more closely at certain products and to play games that adjust the character’s viewpoint when the user looks round obstacles. It’s also possible to operate some features - such as scrolling online or turning eBook pages - by tilting the phone.

In addition, a new ‘Firefly’ feature can recognise products, music, films and text via the phone’s camera and microphone - making it easier to buy via Amazon’s web service.

Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon.com, said “Fire Phone puts everything you love about Amazon in the palm of your hand - instant access to Amazon’s vast content ecosystem and exclusive features like the Mayday button, ASAP [Advanced Streaming and Prediction], Second Screen, X-Ray, free unlimited photo storage, and more. The Firefly button lets you identify printed web and email addresses, phone numbers, QR and bar codes, artwork, and over 100 million items, including songs, movies, TV shows, and products - and take action in seconds. We invented a new sensor system called Dynamic Perspective that recognizes where a user’s head is relative to the device - we use it to offer customers a more immersive experience, one-handed navigation, and gestures that actually work. And this is only the beginning - the most powerful inventions are the ones that empower others to unleash their creativity - that’s why today we are launching the Dynamic Perspective SDK and the Firefly SDK - we can’t wait to see how developers surprise us.”

US pricing is $649 (£382) SIM-free for the version with 32GB memory (a 64GB model is also available) or from $199 (£117) with a two-year contract. There's currently no availability in other countries.

Print
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Rate this article:
No rating

Leave a comment

This form collects your name, email, IP address and content so that we can keep track of the comments placed on the website. For more info check our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use where you will get more info on where, how and why we store your data.
Add comment

Opinion Articles

Last week at The Fonecast: 12th August 2013

Welcome to the not-so-silly season

Mark Bridge writes:

August is traditionally known as the ‘silly season’… but last week’s mobile industry news was all very serious. Apple started with a move designed to reassure customers about unsafe iPhone chargers by arranging a discounted exchange scheme – and it ended the week with a patent victory in the USA.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Dual Core Smartphones only £7.70pm... whatever that means

Mark Bridge writes:

Don't sell the steak – sell the sizzle!  That's the mantra of many salespeople. It's all about emphasising the benefits of a product rather than its features. You don't tell people about the 13 megapixel camera when they ask about the new LG smartphone, you tell them it'll capture the first steps of their precious young nephew in pin-sharp accuracy. Or something like that.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Mobile retailers waste over £21.6 million a year on unnecessarily sending mobile phones for repair

David Heled of Cellebrite writes:

Smartphones are now by far and away the communication, payment and information device of choice for consumers and enterprises. Sales are set to overtake those of traditional feature phones this year for the first time. However, the increasing complexity of the devices’ technology means that there’s a lot more that can go wrong, and make it harder for mobile retailers to identify potential problems – and it’s costing them millions per every year.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Last week at The Fonecast: 29th July 2013

Surprises and statistics

Mark Bridge writes:

Google’s big announcement last week involved the company introducing Android v4.3 (as expected), launching a new Nexus 7 tablet (as expected) and also revealing a ‘Chromecast’ HDMI adaptor that’ll stream from most portable devices. That was more of a surprise.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Top Ofcom tips when taking your smartphone or tablet abroad

Mark Bridge writes:

With the school term over and August just a few days away, UK telecom regulator Ofcom has published a new guide to help travellers avoid ‘bill shock’ after using their mobile phones, tablets and laptops abroad.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
First1213141517192021Last

Recent Podcasts

Reviewing our 2015 mobile industry predictions... and looking forward to 2016

Podcast - 15th January 2016

Iain Graham, James Rosewell and Mark Bridge return to review their mobile industry predictions from last year. Which mergers, partnerships and developments did they forecast correctly... and which didn’t work out as planned?

Later in the programme, the team anticipates some of the topics that will be hitting the headlines during 2016.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Podcast from Mobile World Congress 2015

Podcast - 6th March 2015

Mark Bridge learns about the mobile technology trends at Mobile World Congress 2015 by chatting to James Rosewell of 51Degrees, Dr Kevin Curran from the IEEE and Chris Millington of Doro.

They talk about wearable devices, wireless charging, mobile operating systems and much more... including some of their favourite products from the exhibition.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Looking back at February: from security scares to multiple MVNOs

Podcast - 27th February 2015

We're taking a look back at the biggest mobile industry news stories from February 2015, including allegations that the UK's security service tried to breach SIM card security by hacking into one of the world's biggest SIM producers.

We also talk about the planned BT and EE merger, the creation of two new UK virtual networks, some acquisitions in the mobile payment arena and a new Ubuntu smartphone.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Interview with Chris Millington of Doro about mobile retailing, wearables and technology for older consumers

Podcast - 24th February 2015

In today's programme Mark Bridge talks to Chris Millington, who's Managing Director for Doro UK and Ireland.

They discuss the state of mobile retailing in the UK, the future of wearable devices and - as you might expect - smartphones for seniors.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

A month of mobile: O2 counts on 3, Microsoft counts to 10 and Apple counts its profits

Podcast - 30th January 2015

We're back with a month of mobile industry news, including takeover talks and takeover rumours. O2 and Three are said to be discussing a merger... but is there any truth in the suggestions that BlackBerry could be up for grabs?

We also discuss Apple's record-breaking quarterly figures, the highlights of CES and the launch of Microsoft Windows 10, as well as saying farewell to the current version of Google Glass.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
1345678910Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Twitter @TheFonecast RSS podcast feed
Find us on Facebook Subscribe free via iTunes

Archive Calendar

«December 2024»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
2526272829301
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
303112345

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement