Click on and download four apps and the fire phone can use the google play store. Install the google now launcher from the play store. Voila, you don't need to use the amazon app store anymore and the phone is now an $89 flagship class phone with similar specs to the nexus/galaxy/iphone 5 series.

Go to XDA's fire phone section and look for the thread to install google play on the phone. Step by step and a video on how to do it.

I love the phone. I got it for $189 with a $99 year of Prime thrown in, and I was going to buy that anyhow. The only thing I wish it had that it doesn't is a notification LED. The camera is excellent. Performance is very good. You simply can't find a phone of this quality without spending $200+.

As far as developers porting to the phone, its dead simple to do. Nobody cares whether apps use the 3d perspective and there really aren't any other unique aspects to the phone. 3dp is nice to look at the loads of 3d wallpaper unlock screens. That's it.

The phone/os runs every google play android app I've thrown at it with no problems. I don't see the story here.