Amazon Phone Rumors: Leaked Images Confirm 4 Eye-Tracking Cameras For 3D Interface

Images that purport to be of a prototype of a coming high-end smartphone produced by Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) leaked on Tuesday and confirmed some of the device’s rumored elements, including an innovative new 3D interface powered by several cameras on the phone’s body.

The images, obtained by BGR from “trusted sources,” reveal a prototype protected by a case to hide the aesthetic details, but the Amazon phone at first glance resembles the rectangular design of other touchscreen phones like the Nokia Lumia 920. The noticeable difference is the addition of what appear to be cameras in each corner of the phone’s front face.

If the leaked photos are legitimate, they would confirm an October report from a supposed Amazon insider who said the cameras would track eye and head movements in relation to the phone’s display. The insider, using the code name “Helvodka,” reported that the Amazon phone would adjust the position and perspective of on-screen elements to create 3D effects without special glasses or a barrier in front of the screen.

The Amazon phone has a fifth camera on the body for taking pictures, and a sixth camera on the back of the phone. It is rumored to run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and possess 2GB of RAM. It will likely run a version of Google’s Android operating system that is customized to highlight Amazon’s online retail platform and features like the Mayday customer service video chats.

It’s unclear how exactly the 3D technology will contribute to the Amazon phone’s user interface, but one thought is that it could be used to show features and textures of products on Amazon that aren’t possible with 2D pictures. It might also animate app icons and wallpapers, like an advanced version of the parallax effect Apple included with the iOS 7 operating system.

Amazon is also reportedly developing a second, lower-end phone for budget-conscious consumers.

The company is aggressively moving into the hardware field. It recently released the Amazon Fire TV, a video-streaming set-top box that was rumored alongside the Amazon phone in 2013.