Amazon Fire Phone packed with 3D effects
Amazon hopes the Fire Phone will stand out in a crowded market with head-tracking 3D effects and a smart shopping tool called Firefly. And Facebook wants its new Slingshot app to catch on with the Snapchat crowd.
- Bridget has spent over 18 years as a consumer tech reporter, hosting daily tech news shows and writing syndicated newspaper columns. She's often a guest on national radio and television stations, including ABC, CBS, CNBC and NBC.
In this CNET Update, get a quick breakdown of the Fire Phone's unique features . The first smartphone from Amazon has extra sensors to create 3D effects on the screen, and there's a smart-scanning program called Firefly . But what's not unique is the price tag. The Fire Phone starts at $200 with an AT&T contract. But it does come with a free year of Prime, worth $100.
While Amazon created a new type of phone 3D effect, Facebook created a new type of messaging app. It's called Slingshot, and it's for sending short-lived photos and videos with friends. The catch is that you can't see any photos or video right away. Messages are pixelated and can only be seen once you sling a photo back to that same friend. Facebook hopes this will catch on with the same younger crowd that uses Snapchat.
CNET Update delivers the tech news you need in under three minutes. Watch Bridget Carey every afternoon for a breakdown of the big stories, hot devices, new apps, and what's ahead. Subscribe to the podcast via the links below.
Subscribe:
iTunes (HD) | iTunes (SD) | iTunes (HQ)
RSS (HD) | RSS (SD) | RSS (HQ)| RSS (MP3)
Download the audio version of today's episode: