Developer.com content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.
As expected, Amazon yesterday unveiled a new smartphone called the Fire Phone. The new device is full of interesting features, but two of the most noteworthy from a mobile development point of view are Firefly and Dynamic Perspective.
Firefly allows users to identify real-world objects that they can see or hear. For example, if users press the Firefly button while a particular song is playing, it can identify the name of the song and tell you the lyrics. “The Firefly SDK is available starting today so developers can invent new ways to use this advanced technology,” Amazon announced. “Later this year, Firefly will include artwork recognition, foreign language translation, and wine label recognition powered by Vivino.”
Dynamic Perspective uses the device’s four cameras to provide a 3D-like effect to the display. It also provides the capability to interact with apps by moving your head. That opens up a host of new possibilities for app interfaces, like allowing gamers to move a character left or right simply by looking left or right or hiding extra menus on the left or right of the screen and opening them up when the user looks for them.
