The tale of the Fire Phone, Amazon’s very strange smartphone
- The Fire Phone was Amazon’s first foray into the smartphone market, launched in 2014 with a feature list that included a 3D screen effect and 400 cameras.
- The phone’s primary function was to allow users to buy things on Amazon, which was Bezos’ main goal at the time.
- However, this approach proved to be unpopular with consumers, who were more interested in using their smartphones for general communication and entertainment purposes.
- The Fire Phone also featured a unique “delighter” home screen that displayed various Amazon-related content, such as product recommendations and ads.
- The Fire Phone ultimately failed to gain traction in the market, marking a notable misstep for Amazon’s entry into the smartphone space.
When Jeff Bezos decided Amazon needed to get in the smartphone game, he went all in. And the resulting device, the Fire Phone, wound up more densely packed with big ideas than just about any gadget you’ll find anywhere. There was just one tiny problem: they were mostly bad ideas.
The Fire Phone shipped in 2014 with a feature list a mile long. The screen had a 3D effect! There were, like, 400 cameras! There was a whole home screen filled with something called “delighters!” But the Fire Phone was, above all, a way to buy things on Amazon. That was what Bezos wanted, after all. It’s just not what users wanted.
Verge subscribers, don’t fo …
Read the full story at The Verge.
Q. Who decided that Amazon needed to get into the smartphone game?
A. Jeff Bezos.
Q. What was unique about the Fire Phone’s feature list?
A. It had a mile-long list of features, including big ideas that were mostly bad.
Q. What was special about the screen of the Fire Phone?
A. It had a 3D effect.
Q. How many cameras did the Fire Phone have?
A. 400 cameras.
Q. What filled up most of the home screen on the Fire Phone?
A. Something called “delighters”.
Q. Why did Jeff Bezos want to create the Fire Phone?
A. To allow users to buy things on Amazon.
Q. What was the main problem with the Fire Phone?
A. Users didn’t want it, despite its many features.
Q. When did the Fire Phone ship?
A. 2014.
Q. Who are the target audience for this article?
A. Verge subscribers.
Q. Where can readers find the full story about the Fire Phone?
A. At The Verge website.