Amazon this week unveiled its Fire Phone, a 4.7-inch device that incorporates some nifty 3D tricks but sticks to the usual carrier structure. Prior to Wednesday's launch event, though, we asked the PCMag staff what they wanted from Amazon's new smartphone. Let's see if we got what we wanted.
Amazon Prime: Free access to Amazon's $99 free two-day shipping and streaming service was a no-brainer. Surely, this would be included, right?
Did we get it? Yes, anyone who buys a Fire Phone gets one year of Amazon Prime for free. It's not exactly a lifetime subscription, but we'll take it.
Service Plan Goodness: PCMag's lead mobile analyst Sascha Segan wanted subsidized phone plans, an Amazon-run MVNO, and incentives for switching.
Did we get it? Nope. Amazon went the traditional route by offering the Fire Phone for $199 with a two-year contract - exclusively from AT&T.
Amazon Mayday: Amazon's live customer service feature, Mayday, was only available on the Kindle Fire HDX. It only made sense to bring it to the new phone.
Did we get it? Indeed. With the press of a button, you can also get live customer support on your smartphone.
Carrier-Free OS Updates: One aggravation for Android users is that OS updates are controlled by carriers, so your friend might get KitKat before you simply because you're on different carriers. Can Amazon stop the madness?
Did we get it? The Fire phone is running Amazon Fire OS, Amazon's version of Android. Until now, it's only been available on the Kindle tablets, and updates have rolled out uniformly over the air. Amazon didn't specifically mention updates, so we'll have to see how it works once it rolls around.
Rugged: PCMag's Will Greenwald wants a rugged Amazon Phone, particularly one that's waterproof.
Did we get it? Unfortunately, it seems like water would put out this Fire.
E Ink Option: Segan thought Amazon should take a page from the YotaPhone and provide an E-Ink reading option.
Did we get it? Nope. Typical slab smartphone here. But you can still read all the e-books you want, of course.
No 3D: Meanwhile, Segan was really not jazzed about 3D and was hoping that Amazon would leave it out.
Did we get it? Nope. Dynamic Perspective is a big part of the Fire Phone: "A custom-designed sensor system that responds to how you hold, view, and move your phone," Amazon says. That includes immersive apps and games, one-handed short cuts, and one-handed reading. For more, check out our Dynamic Perspective hands on in the video below.
The phone is available for pre-order now and arrives on July 25.
For more, check out The Amazon Fire Phone Event's Biggest Surprise and Amazon's Fire Phone Threatens Wal-Mart, Not Samsung or Apple. Also see our Hands On With the Amazon Fire Phone.