New Amazon Device, June 18th

[gorcorps]

So we know for sure its AT&T exclusive?

The event hasn't started yet, so everything would be a rumor until that point.

Anyway, I hope it's not just a phone announcement. I hope they also tie in news about the next Kindles.

 

[Sheep]

So we know for sure its AT&T exclusive?

Judging from the way John Legere was complaining about the device yesterday, it seems likely.

http://www.theverge.com/2014/6/17/5818366/tmobile-ceo-slams-amazon-att-over-smartphone-exclusivity

Having not used an Amazon device since the original Fire, has their UI improved any since then? It was utter trash back then.

 

[SketchMaster]

Live blogs are starting up: http://www.engadget.com/2014/06/18/amazon-phone-liveblog/#!post=65646

 

[Red Storm]

If anyone other than Amazon was making this I would be interested, but their Android platform is buggy, slow, and inferior compared to Google's Android.

 

[darkewaffle]

http://live.arstechnica.com/amazons-smartphone-unveil/

Just another link for Ars' live blog

 

[dawheat]

So far so yawn. Display, camera, design all seem fine but nothing special.

Unlimited cloud photo storage is one notable. Otherwise so far, being able to use Amazon video, music, etc is hardly a differentiator.

 

[paperwastage]

If anyone other than Amazon was making this I would be interested, but their Android platform is buggy, slow, and inferior compared to Google's Android.

well, it's hard to differentiate between top-end android smartphones...

2K/1080p/720p screen, quad core qualcomm 800/801/805 (or in Samsung's case, Exynos), 2-3GB ram, ...

HTC M8 has their proclaimed "better" speaker and (crappier) dual lens

Sony Xperia has their water-resistant and "industrial" look

Samsung has thrown everything on the wall and see what sticks

Amazon would be playing their strengths, need to upgrade their software/cloud to play better

 

[darkewaffle]

Hahahaha this "Firefly" idea is funny as hell

 

[SketchMaster]

Hahahaha this "Firefly" idea is funny as hell

Does a lot of what the Amazon app already does, just a little bit more polished.

Edit: spoke too soon, looks like it does a bit more. I'll be interested to see how that app evolves.

 

[SketchMaster]

Half the fun of this is watching the stock ticker: https://www.google.com/finance?cid=660463

 

[pete6032]

Looks like a iPhone competitor? Not sure about aesthetics of it though.

 

[dawheat]

The Firefly app is interesting - smart detectors that can pair up with any number of data sources, including Amazon.

The SDK is probably more important as it can has the potential to make Amazon apps smarter than on iOS or Android.

 

[dawheat]

I'm not getting this 3D thing. Rotating wallpapers are fine, but I don't get this maps demo - instead of moving the screen with your finger, you move your head?

 

[darkewaffle]

The third party applications of Firefly could actually be somewhat interesting I suppose, but on it's own... it's basically "Let firefly show you the product page for this thing on Amazon!" so far as I can tell.

I feel like this business with the screen I'll have to at least see in video first.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I just caught up on the live blog. So far the specs are mediocre, but that was expected. Amazon has to be able to see this cheap.

I read that it has rubber sides, which I like a lot, but a glass back. Ugh Amazon, why? Glass doesn't make it feel better, it doesn't make it more durable, it doesn't do anything positive. Doesn't even look pretty because it'll be covered in fingerprints all the time.

The Firefly feature looks pretty cool. I don't know how much I'd use it, but still seems cool.

I'm sorry, the 3D bus crashed and burned a couple years ago. Not sure why Amazon decided to spend so much time on 3D UI gimmicks.

So far I'm quite unimpressed, which means no surprises.

 

[Unoid]

I'm yawning.

They really needed to implement Security features like that one phone startup with all end to end ecryption.

Nexus 6 please.

arstechnica: "
(We've found this on AT&T's site, by the way. Looks like $199 + a 2-year contract for 32GB, $299 for 64GB)"

BAHAHAH 600+ phone, shot in foot and will fail.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Wall Street claims it's an AT&T exclusive.

Not sure why? Also...correct me if I'm wrong, but Amazon's OS doesn't get regular Android apps, does it?

This thing seems doomed to fail.

 

[jmai87]

I'm pretty sure it'll be available on Amazon unlocked, full price.

I'd like to think Amazon has enough foresight and common sense to do this.

Wall Street claims it's an AT&T exclusive.

Not sure why? Also...correct me if I'm wrong, but Amazon's OS doesn't get regular Android apps, does it?

This thing seems doomed to fail.

It does support Android apps, but not all. Quite limited in what is supported actually, if the Fire tablet was any indication.

 

[Anubis]

No VZW no care. Actually I would not care if it was but limiting it to one carrier is stupid

 

[Ravynmagi]

Oh my god, $200 WITH a 2 year contract on AT&T? LOL, is that a joke, this phone is apparently much more expensive than I thought.

 

[SketchMaster]

Welp, it's confirmed that it'll be an AT&T phone.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Oh my god, $200 WITH a 2 year contract on AT&T? LOL, is that a joke, this phone is apparently much more expensive than I thought.

All aboard the fail boat.

 

[darkewaffle]

Head of AT&T at the presentation regarding Firefly

It is addictive, it is an absolute breakthrough. I'm gonna buy a whole lot more things with this technology.

Hahahahahaha

 

[Sheep]

Carrier exclusivity, $200 subsidized with not a whole lot of advantages over the competition? Amazon Phone, meet Facebook Phone and Kin.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Head of AT&T at the presentation regarding Firefly


Hahahahahaha

Firefly is kind of a neat feature I'll admit. I think this has been tried before, was Google Goggles something similar? I'm sure Amazon is doing Firefly much better, it helps to already have such a massive catalog of items already. But sadly this is the only outstanding feature the phone seems to have, everything else was kinda mediocre. And I surely wouldn't buy a phone for this feature.

I'm an Amazon fan, but wow. I'm just shocked at how disappointing this is. I wasn't expecting anything great. But I was expecting the price to make up for it.