Amazon new launch event June 18th

[WT Sharpe]

Engadget also has the story, now with this: "update: yep, it's a phone." So it looks like all who are saying it's a phone are correct.

Next bit of speculation: Cost, quality, and will any MobileRead moderators be tempted to buy one? (Nate the Great doesn't count, as he already has one of everything ever designed and Bezos has probably given him one to evaluate for his Digital Reader blog. )

[RZetlin]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

It's a phone.
It uses the typical phone sensors and a set of cameras to track eye position and movement to create a 3D illusion. The screen acts like a glass pane atop a box.
Rumors and pictures have been floating about for months.

It's probably the 3D parallax effect found on Apple iPhones.

Of course, people got motion sickness from it.

[Shane R]

From here: http://www.engadget.com/2014/06/04/Amazon-phone-june18/

[tubemonkey]

Depending on price, this is a phone I'd consider. Of course I'll never use it as a phone. It would be a shirt pocket tablet, like my Nexus 4.

[LovesMacs]

Just speculating, but what if this were indeed an Amazon phone, and Amazon Prime members could make free calls and texts? Think that would tempt people to switch?

[tubemonkey]

So, what will it be called?

Ember ... Spark ... Kindling ... Tinder ... Flare ... Flicker ... Flame ... Blaze ... ???

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by LovesMacs

Just speculating, but what if this were indeed an Amazon phone, and Amazon Prime members could make free calls and texts? Think that would tempt people to switch?

I suspect there will be some type of Prime tie-in. Maybe free service for Amazon specific content - streaming, browsing, purchasing, downloading, etc.

[Shane R]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

So, what will it be called?

Ember ... Spark ... Kindling ... Tinder ... Flare ... Flicker ... Flame ... Blaze ... ???

Introducing the Kindle Glow.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Shane R

Introducing the Kindle Glow.

I thought about the glow, but there are already several glows around - Kobo Glo, Nook GlowLight.

[Josieb1]

I'd be interested, my contract is nearly up on my iPhone and I can't justify the cost of an upgrade to the 6 now I have the mini, but of course I doubt it will hit the UK anytime soon.

Although my requirements are a decent battery and at least 32gb internal storage so everything would depend on price and specs.

How about the Flameout. I'm sure it will sell dozens of units like its cousin the AmazonTV! But then people will realize that it is just a modified Android device that cannot use the Google Play Store, and they will notice that whatever Amazon Prime perks it comes with won't amount to the value of a wooden nickle. So it will flameout just like the AmazonTV will. I think the only person dumb enough to buy an AmazonTV was Gary Busey.

[mewmartigan]

i have verizon.

a phone made by amazon has a snowball's chance in hell of coming to verizon.





I assume it will go on ATT networks just like the 3G Kindles. Will be interesting to see what they do with the 3D tech but if it cannot be turned off, it will kill sales.

[QuantumIguana]

I use a prepaid cell phone. I'd consider an Amazon phone if it would work with prepaid phone services, and if I got free data for Amazon content.

[Barcey]

Judging by the anti-Amazon cartel campaign the last couple of weeks I think it's going to be the dried shrunken heads of the Hachette negotiating team.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Skeeve

From how some of them move their head I think something with a 3D display.

I'm guessing you're right. Can you imagine people swaying back and forth like that every time they looked down at their phone? Kind of creepy. But, even if 3D is a gimmick, it would probably make the kind of splash Amazon wants to get into the phone business -- and more importantly, to promote whatever tie-in they have planned.