Amazon new launch event June 18th

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

What does Amazon plan on using for maps, browser, and email client?

They have adequate browser and email clients.
And they have their own map functionality:
https://developer.amazon.com/appsand...is/engage/maps

Both search and maps use Bing and Nokia.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

They have adequate browser and email clients.
And they have their own map functionality:
https://developer.amazon.com/appsand...is/engage/maps

Both search and maps use Bing and Nokia.

I know they have these, but I have no idea how good they are. I use Dolphin and Gmail on my Fire; and I don't bother with maps since there's no GPS onboard.

[tubemonkey]

oops

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I know they have these, but I have no idea how good they are. I use Dolphin and Gmail on my Fire; and I don't bother with maps since there's no GPS onboard.

Nokia street maps are very good and a solid complement to Bing maps.
Better than the mapping app that should not be named...

They'll be fine there.
Main question is how much pull the Amazon brand has.
Facebook proved theirs didn't have much.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Nokia street maps are very good and a solid complement to Bing maps.
Better than the mapping app that should not be named...

Thanks

[tubemonkey]

CNET is now live video blogging the event in their studios.

[fjtorres]

Here's ZDNET checklist of questions to be answered in the next few months.
http://www.zdnet.com/amazons-smartph...tag=TRE17cfd61

[tubemonkey]

The "fire phone" ...how clever
.

[JoHunt]

Did he mention anything about the vibrating hamster?

So far a big yawn....Seems like a smaller Kindle Fire with 3D BS that might look cool to some but isn't really anything to make people rush out to buy it. Nothing but proprietary Amazon OS crap. I really don't see this being any more popular than the Kindle Fires. Amazon Prime is really sucky IMO. They dangle a few free items like videos in your face, but almost anything worth watching cost an insane amount. And as an amateur photographer, any camera placed in a smartphone will be total crap. The lenses are the most important part of a camera, and those tiny little cracker-jack box lenses on smartphones are nothing but a joke.

A huge yawn and mehhhhhhhh! I'm sure dozens of people will rush out and get one.

[twowheels]

The lens has a lower f-number than other phones, so might be a little better in low light. For many people a cell phone camera is adequate, so improvements are still welcome.

[tubemonkey]

For me, everything hinges around the price. If this phone requires a contract from any phone company, then it's an absolute no buy. If it can be had unlocked in the $250~$300 range, then I'm definitely interested.

[tubemonkey]

Zombies!!!
.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

For me, everything hinges around the price. If this phone requires a contract from any phone company, then it's an absolute no buy. If it can be had unlocked in the $250~$300 range, then I'm definitely interested.

It is priced at $199 for 32GB and $299 for 64GB...
...on ATT 2 year plan.

It is not an entry level phone.
And while the 3D stuff looks to be useful, it is not the phone's signature feature, but rather the Firefly button is.
And that looks useful for things other than shopping.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

It is priced at $199 for 32GB and $299 for 64GB...
...on ATT 2 year plan.

It is not an entry level phone.
And while the 3D stuff looks to be useful, it is not the phone's signature feature, but rather the Firefly button is.
And that looks useful for things other than shopping.

Contract kills it for me.