Amazon's Fire Phone is the company's attempt to break into the high-end smarphone market. However, it was regarded as a flop since sales weren't as good as expected.
Amazon has tried several ways to boost its sales but none are indicating strong sales. As a product from the retail giant, the Fire Phone is not going to stay put and plummets between its sorrows because Amazon is taking a huge step in upgrading it.
On May 7th, 2015, Amazon released a huge update for Fire Phone. Claimed as the first smartphone with 3D perspective, the Fire Phone can be updated with Android 4.4 KitKat.
The Fire OS 4.6.1 that is built upon Android, but completely independent platform that Amazon customized, includes a fair number of changes, such as:
- Support for Bluetooth Low Energy.
- The ability to change the Home screen wallpaper.
- Improvements to the Lock screen notification.
- Additional keyboard options.
- Ability to convert video clips into lenticular images and set HDR to auto.
- Smarter calling options.
- Improvements in Messaging.
- Ability to change different colors for calendar events.
- Added ability to print documents, emails, and other things, straight from the device.
- Enhanced enterprise features.
- Improvements in Accessibility.
- User interface improvements.
- Bug fixes.
Better Late Than Never
Amazon in enhancing its Fire Phone is more or less late. Most, if not all, Android smartphones and other competitors can do just those for quite a long time. The addition are less major, but should be appreciated by Amazon's small number of Fire Phone owners.
One of the new features that can't be found anywhere is its ability to record video clips, and have them automatically converted into a lenticular images. With its perspective 3D display, this feature can be seen as one of a kind that differentiate Fire Phone from any other mobile devices.
However, much of the updates are meant to please the already existing Fire Phone customers. The device was already getting unfavorable reviews when compared to high-end smartphones coming from other vendors, powered by the likes of Android, iOS, and Windows Phone.
Despite being a 'scar' for the company, Fire Phone owners and future buyers can at least be assured that Amazon is not abandoning the product.