As expected, Amazon (s amzn) launched its first smartphone at an event in Seattle on Wednesday. Amazon is calling its device the Fire Phone.
Although Amazon's not focusing on the specs for this device, instead opting to position the device based on its unique interface and the Amazon ecosystem, it's a very nice phone with the proper emphasis placed on ergonomics and features like the camera.
In addition to the four infrared cameras on the front, there's a 13-megapixel shooter in the back paired with a f/2.0 five-element lens. The camera has some interesting features, including a dedicated camera button that not only acts as a shutter trigger, but also as a universal shortcut to bring the Camera app up. The lens is paired with Amazon's optical image stabilization. Based on the time Amazon spent on the camera during the event, it appears to be one of the major features of the Fire Phone.
The specs are roughly what we expected, and match up well with last year's nicest Android smartphones. It's got a Qualcomm 800 processor with a Adreno 330 graphics processor, 2GB or RAM, and those 3D effects are running on a 4.7-inch 720p IPS display. "We picked 4.7 inches as the perfect size for one-handed use," Bezos said.
The Fire Phone's industrial design has been well considered: it's got a Gorilla Glass front and back, with a machined aluminum body. "We obsessed over the chamfers," Bezos said. Even the handset's earbuds got a little bit of attention with flat cabled and embedded magnets that should, hopefully, reduce tangling.
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