Amazon Aims to Put Fire Phone Nightmare behind with “Ice” Smartphones

Megalith

Megalith

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The only thing most people remember about the Fire phones is how badly they flopped, but Amazon is giving mobile another shot with what sounds like a hasty April Fools’ Joke: their new phone line is brilliantly called “Ice” (although that could remain only as an internal name). The devices are actually meant for India and other emerging markets, but if successful, I am sure they will make their way over here in some similar shape or form. Android 7.1.1, a Snapdragon 435 SoC, and a 5.2-inch to 5.5-inch display is expected in the sub-$100 phone.

The ecommerce giant, which killed off its Fire Phone in 2015, is working on a new lineup of smartphones branded as "Ice", according to two sources familiar with the matter. Unlike the Fire Phone — for which Amazon focused largely on the US and a couple of other western markets — the company is eyeing emerging markets like India for selling its new phones, said the sources. Amazon's upcoming smartphones run the latest version of Google’s Android operating system with Google Mobile Services (GMS) such as Gmail and Google Play, the people said.
 
When the Fire phone got down to firesale prices, it was pretty decent, other than you had to swipe up instead of having a back button (using the middle finger to swipe up recommended); oh and the launcher was terrible, but easy to fix. If they make a phone intended to be inexpensive but keep some amount of quality, it might be a good deal. A cheap phone with updates is a deal regardless.
 
toast0 said:
When the Fire phone got down to firesale prices, it was pretty decent, other than you had to swipe up instead of having a back button (using the middle finger to swipe up recommended); oh and the launcher was terrible, but easy to fix. If they make a phone intended to be inexpensive but keep some amount of quality, it might be a good deal. A cheap phone with updates is a deal regardless.
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Exactly this.

Hell, for shit and giggles, make it exactly like a nexus, updates and all, just push via the store their amazon apps and make the phone decent and cheap enough, instead of the 700 plus $$ that everyone seems to push these days.
 
I feel personally like the Fire Phone got a bit of a raw run - it was actually a pretty decent device for its time. The issue was of course being locked to Amazon but this wasn't the case and sideloading apps was in the end quite simple.

I've had a bit of hands on with one and I liked it. The main issue they had was the launch price - if they'd gone with the price they eventually were selling for I think it would have been more of a success.
 
Sounds like Windows Phones... nobody wanted them so they sent them to India/Eastern Europe.
 
It's their locked down Amazon environment that killed the Fire Phone. Release it in the states at that price with GApps on it and it will sell.
 
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