The Amazon Fire Phone gets a big performance boost with software update
The US-only Amazon Fire Phone had added a host of new features at its disposal thanks to a new software update.
Owners of the 4.7-inch Amazon-centric device can now download Fire OS v3.5.1 automatically over the air or by tethering the device to a computer via USB.
The update brings several new features that probably should have been available when the Fire Phone launched two months ago.
The enhancements include a Quick Switch multi-tasking feature that allows users to easily flitter between open apps using an iOS-like double click of the Home button, while flicking them off the top of the screen will close the apps.
Users can also pin their favourite apps to the ‘Enhanced Carousel,’ while also deleting emails directly from the OS’s carousel without entering the Email app. It’s also possible to create app folders using the App Grid Collections tool, which is also part of the update.
As part of the software bump, Fire Phone buyers can sent hi-resolution video via MMS or email, while the unique-but-gimmicky Lenticular photographs can now be composed with 11 frames rather than just three.
The update also features “dozens of system updates for enhanced battery performance,” which should keep the handset running for longer.
The Fire Phone was announced two months ago and was released to the public on July 25, exclusively on the AT&T Network.
The quad-core handset boasts a unique Dynamic Perspective interface, which works thanks to the motion-sensing cameras placed in each corner of the handset. Users can use tilts and flicks to access content rather than the traditional swipes.
The device has received a mixed reception, thanks largely to the overwhelmingly Amazon-focused experience, which makes the handset little more than a personal shopping device.
It also arrives packing a super premium price tag akin to the top-end iPhone and Samsung Galaxy handsets, that's difficult to justify considering its upper-mid-range specs and bland design.
Amazon has advised Brits to 'stay tuned' for news of a UK launch, suggesting the handset may arrive in Blighty sooner rather than later.
We recently spent some time with the Fire Phone and will be posting a full review in the coming days.
Read more: Amazon Fire Phone: 8 things you need to know
