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: 5th June 2012

Don't expect a positive answer from the Oracle

Mark Bridge writes:

Here in the UK, we have a double Bank Holiday weekend to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. That means two days away from work for many of us (and also two days of unseasonably bad weather, according to tradition).

In fact, the three of us at The Fonecast are celebrating our own anniversary this month. It’s been six years since we started podcasting about the mobile phone industry. We’ll be revisiting some of those early programmes - and the biggest mobile news headlines from 2006 - in this week’s podcast on Wednesday.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: 4.0

Over The Air 2012 preview

The fifth annual Over The Air event - a combination of 36-hour mobile hack day and conference - takes place at Bletchley Park on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd June.

This year’s event is also honouring the contributions of mathematician Alan Turing to the invention of the programmable computer, code-breaking at Bletchley Park during World War 2 and developments in other scientific fields.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: 5.0

Last week at The Fonecast: 28th May 2012

Motorola gets Google, HP gets frugal

Mark Bridge writes:

Just over a week ago Motorola Mobility lost a patent-related legal case against Microsoft in the USA. A couple of days later the company was formally acquired by Google – and a few days after that it lost a patent case against Microsoft in Germany. Business as usual, you might say.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Last week at The Fonecast: 21st May 2012

A different kind of share for Facebook CEO

Mark Bridge writes:

What a week for Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Not content with transforming his company through its stock market flotation, he then went on to marry. What does this reveal?  Well, he’s clearly capable of multi-tasking and he’d rather wear a suit for social occasions than for work.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: 5.0

How mobile technology is keeping the BBC Olympic Torch coverage on the air

Mark Bridge writes:

A horse box and eight SIM cards. That’s the basic technology keeping the BBC’s Olympic Torch Relay broadcasts on the air and on the road.

The converted DAF horse box is being driven in front of the runners as they carry an Olympic torch along the relay route. It’s equipped with four cameras and a mixing desk, enabling a choice of views to be recorded and broadcast for 12 hours per day throughout the 70-day relay.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
First3738394042444546Last

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
12345678910Last

Follow thefonecast.com

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

Archive Calendar

«November 2024»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
28293031123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
2526272829301
2345678

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement