Amazon Fire Phone Gets Major Updates
It may have been called a flop but don't write the Fire phone off just yet.
— -- Amazon is refusing to give up on its Fire phone and the users who snapped up the device, despite its lackluster debut over the summer.
Six months after its release, Amazon has rolled out a software update for the phone that brings with it a number of new and smarter features.
Among those are text translation in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. The upgrade also enables the phone's much-hyped Firefly feature to be able to recognize 2,000 famous paintings.
Another new feature is "best shot," which takes three versions of a photo, allowing the user to choose their favorite.
In September, the Fire phone, which featured what Amazon called "breakthrough" technology, was being sold for 99 cents with a contract.
Amazon revealed in its quarterly earnings call in October that it took a charge of $170 million for "inventory evaluation and supplier commitment costs" for the Fire, after it failed to create a spark in the smartphone market.
Critics have said the Fire is less a phone and more a "shopping machine" designed to capture more Amazon customers.
If you're still intrigued by the Fire phone, it's not too late to order one in time for Christmas.
Amazon announced today it will give free two-day shipping on most Amazon devices, including the Fire phone, through Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. ET.
After that, the retailer will provide free one-day shipping on those devices until Dec. 23 at 3 p.m. ET.