Amazon is finally entering the phone market with a device that appears to have a strong focus on 3D operation. While Google is working on a device based around 3D mapping, Amazon is planning to launch a smartphone with 3D navigation.
Based on a report from Phandroid, Amazon's smartphone will feature 6 cameras. The device has 4 cameras at the front stacked upon each other, and 2 at the back. The 4 cameras at the front are used to track the user's face to create a 3D effect.
Users of the Amazon phone will be able to move their heads to reveal panels on the screen. In addition, if the phone is tilted to the right, the screen will reveal more details. According to an Amazon insider who spoke with Phandroid, users can expect the same thing which was shown in the teaser video.
We also understand that Amazon is using Omron's Okao Vision face sensing technology to pull off all the little 3D navigation effects. Omron is a Japanese company, and its technology was modified by an Internet Amazon team.
With all the 3D navigation and facial recognition features Amazon is throwing into this device, one might believe the specs are out of this world. Strangely enough, that is not the case, as device only comes with a 4.7-inch 720p display, 2GB of RAM, Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, and a 13 megapixel camera at the back.
These rumored specs place this device in the mid-range area, which means it shouldn't be able to have similar performance to the Galaxy S5 or even the LG G3. Chances are, Amazon will follow Apple's lead and try to sell this device on the features and services on offer instead of the hardware specification.
When it comes down to software though, we are certain the device will run a modified version of Android, which is similar to the one that powers the Kindle Fire devices. Users should also expect the new Mayday tech support feature to be installed and ready for use.
Folks who are interested in what Amazon has to offer will have no choice but to get the phone from AT&T, as the company has signed an exclusive distribution deal with the carrier.
Now, should Apple and Samsung worry about this device? We don't think they should. 3D navigation sounds great on paper, but how many users are interested in turning their heads to pull something up on their device when they can simply touch the screen. Furthermore, doing this in public is likely not something many users would be interested in doing.
It is likely folks will get excited for a short while, then the novelty will wear off quickly enough and they'll go back to the old way of doing this.
