Amazon has stated that it will not produce another smartphone after its experience with the Fire Phone.

      Amazon recalls the Fire Phone and isn't hurrying back.

      Amazon's Fire Phone was a significant misstep that blemished the e-commerce giant's foray into the smartphone market. Over ten years later, the company seems to be reconsidering the mobile sector with an AI angle but is not looking to create a direct sequel to its previous phone.

      In an interview with the Financial Times, Amazon's devices chief Panos Panay stated that the company does not have plans to simply create another smartphone. He emphasized that Amazon isn't "necessarily going after phone," while recognizing that mobile technology is evolving and that new AI-driven devices could redefine what is considered a phone.

      The lingering impact of the Fire Phone on Amazon

      It’s understandable that Amazon remains hesitant to re-enter the smartphone arena. The original Fire Phone was launched in 2014 and was discontinued a year later after failing to effectively compete with Apple and Android counterparts. The phone became an example of the pitfalls that occur when a company with a robust ecosystem misjudges the smartphone landscape.

      The Fire Phone was priced too high for impulse purchases, lacked a competitive app ecosystem compared to Android or iOS, and relied on features that did not entice consumers to make the switch. Thus, when Reuters reported in March that Amazon was developing a new mobile device under the codename Transformer, the immediate concern was whether the company was at risk of repeating the same mistakes. The report indicated a project centered on AI integration, Alexa functionalities, and mobile personalization led by Amazon’s ZeroOne group.

      Panay isn't declaring a smartphone revival

      While Panay hasn't rejected the idea that Amazon is considering mobile hardware, he clarified the distinction between crafting a conventional smartphone and developing an AI-centric device that functions as a mobile. An ordinary Amazon phone would have to compete head-on with iPhones, Pixels, and Galaxy devices, which is a challenging market even for established phone manufacturers. Therefore, a device focused on AI, incorporating Alexa+, shopping ease, smart home management, and other Amazon services is likely to be its unique selling proposition.

      Vikhyaat Vivek is a technology journalist and reviewer with seven years of experience in consumer hardware, specializing in...

      Meta announces WhatsApp as the safest app for chatting… with an AI

      WhatsApp's new incognito AI chat mode promises enhanced privacy.

      Meta, currently dealing with numerous lawsuits and various AI-related controversies, wants you to engage in more private conversations with its AI on WhatsApp. The platform has just launched “Incognito Chat” featuring Meta AI, a mode that enables completely private discussions with the assistant. Your messages won’t be retained and will vanish once the chat is closed. Meta claims that no one, including the company itself, can access your messages.

      Samsung’s forthcoming Galaxy Z foldables will enhance your experience with Gemini Intelligence.

      Gemini Intelligence could enable the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 to execute multi-app tasks from a single command.

      Samsung's next Galaxy Z devices are set to leverage mobile AI in a more practical manner. According to Seoul Economic Daily, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 are expected to be equipped with One UI 9 and Google's new Gemini Intelligence, which would provide a deeper layer of assistance than the current Galaxy AI features. Gemini Intelligence is designed to facilitate navigation through related apps and complete interconnected tasks, allowing an assistant to follow a sequence of actions across applications instead of halting after one response.

      Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide might disappoint with its “modest” camera specifications.

      Leaked specifications suggest that the main camera of the Fold 8 Wide may not compare favorably to the standard Fold 8 model.

      Samsung is gearing up to disrupt the foldable market this July with the anticipated Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide, a new wider version of its flagship foldable that is expected to launch alongside the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8. However, if you were anticipating premium camera specifications for the wide foldable, you might want to lower your expectations. No Ultra-level primary camera.