Amazon’s Fire Phone gets its first update, mostly things it should have had in the first place

Amazon’s Fire Phone didn’t get off to the best of starts, with most reviews panning it, but it just got a little better thanks to its first over-the-air update – mostly providing things it should have had in the first place.

Fire OS 3.5.1 provides a quick means of switching between apps, app folders, pinning of favorite apps to the home carousel, improved battery-life and more. To install it, swipe down from the top of the home screen to open Quick Actions, select Settings, then tap Device > Install system updates > Check Now to download. Once it’s downloaded, tap Install System Update and wait for the restart.

If the improvements are enough to make you consider a Fire Phone of your own, it’s available direct from Amazon from $649 outright or from $0 to $299 on contract.

You can read chapter-and-verse on all the improvements below. 

Fire Phone Software Updates

Fire phone software updates automatically download and install on your Fire phone when connected wirelessly. You can also manually download the software to your computer and transfer it to your device with a USB cable.

The latest software version is Fire OS 3.5.1 (111009920).

The software version includes new and enhanced features:

• Quick Switch With a double-press on the home button, Quick Switch allows you to easily alternate between or shut down running apps and tasks. To learn how to use Quick Switch, go to Switch Between and Close Recent Apps.
• App Grid Collections Create folders of apps or content right on the app grid. To learn how to use Collections, go to Navigate Your Fire Phone.
• Carousel Pinning Pin your favorite apps to the front of the home carousel. To learn how, go to Navigate Your Fire Phone.
• 11 Frame Lenticular Photos Create Lenticular photos using 11 still images instead of 3. To learn how, go to Take Photos & Personal Videos.
• Enhanced Carousel E-mail Delete e-mails directly from the home screen. To learn how, go to Email Basics.
• Improved Video Sharing Share high-resolution videos via MMS or e-mail. To learn how, go to View Edit & Share Photos.
• Improved Battery Life Dozens of system updates for enhanced battery performance. To learn more about optimizing battery life, go to Conserve Battery Life.

To determine the current software version on your device:

1. From the Home screen, swipe down from the top of the screen (or swivel your phone) to open the Quick Actions panel.
2. Tap the Settings icon, and then tap Device > Install system updates. You will see the current software version.

To check if an update is available from your device:

1. From the Home screen, swipe down from the top of the screen (or swivel your phone) to open the Quick Actions panel.
2. Select the Settings icon, and then tap Device > Install system updates > Check Now. Fire phone will download the latest software update if it’s available.
3. After the download is complete, select Install System Update to install the update immediately. Your device will restart during the software update.

To manually download and transfer the latest software version via USB:

Note: Before you begin, follow the steps above to determine the current software version on your device, since you may already have the latest version.

1. Click Download Fire OS 3.5.1 to download the latest software version to your computer.
2. Transfer the software update file to your Fire phone:
   1. Connect your Fire phone to your computer using the included USB cable.
   2. If you have a lock screen set, unlock your phone so it can be accessed by your computer.
   3. Open the Fire folder, and then drag and drop the software update file into the Internal storage folder.
3. After the file transfer is complete, disconnect the USB cable from your Fire phone and your computer.
4. Swipe down from the top of the screen (or swivel your phone) to open the Quick Actions panel, tap Device, and then tap Install System Update. Your device will restart during the software update.

Photo credit: TechCrunch