Geeksphone Revolution Gets Software Update and Price Cut

Geeksphone Revolution

The Spanish smartphone maker announced that it will update Revolution to Android KitKat 4.4 in the upcoming days. People opting for Mozilla’s Firefox OS on the same device will also benefit from the latest version of the software.

On top of that, Geeksphone also said it will cut down the price of the Revolution smartphone, to make it an even more attractive option for whoever is looking for a nicely designed device with decent specs. In terms of operating systems, the Spanish company offers CyanogenMod 11, a heavily-modified version of Google’s operating system, as well as Boot2Geekco, Mozilla’s mobile OS that’s better known as Firefox OS.

Mozilla said that Firefox OS 2.0 will be available in beta quite soon, and Geeksphone, as an old partner of the free software community, promised its customers that they will get this soon after the launch.

May 1 marks the begging of the price cut for the Geeksphone Revolution. From this Thursday, whoever wants to buy the Spanish smartphone will have to shell out 199 euros ($276) instead of 222 euros ($307). While not exactly a major discount, this might be just enough for attracting new customers.

Revolution’s technical specs are by no means mind-blowing, since it only has a 4.7-inch display, a 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Atom CPU and an 8 MP camera that records video at 1080p resolution. This is not exactly a major downside, as both Android 4.4 KitKat and Firefox OS are optimized to run just fine on mid-range devices.

Besides the solid Revolution, Geeksphone has also worked on Blackphone, a smartphone running PrivatOS, a version of Android focusing on security and encryption. Given the waves that NSA made in recent times, the invention of such secure devices is mandatory. Most people believe that not only NSA is listening in, and that many governmental agencies from all over the world practice this sport. In this context, the idea of having a smartphone that encrypts both voice calls and text messages is really great. If only more smartphone manufacturers were as concerned about our privacy as Geeksphone is, the world would be a much better place.

Also, the idea of running multiple operating systems on mobile devices is very good, as it enables people to get a breath of fresh when they’re getting bored of one of their software.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the Geeksphone Revolution and the PrivatOS-based Blackphone on which Geeksphone collaborated.

OnePlus One Is a Potential Nexus 5 and iPhone 5S-Killer

OnePlus One

iPhone 5S and Nexus 5′s reign might come to a sudden stop once OnePlus One is released in Europe and the US in May. This highly customizable smartphone seems to be the perfect mix of sleek design and top specs.

LG and Apple’s flagship smartphones are in danger, as a Chinese startup launched in December 2013 is looking to launch an Android device capable of outsmarting both of these. The impressive specs of the OnePlus One include a Snapdragon 801 quad-core CPU running at 2.5Ghz, 3GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, 5.5-inch screen with 1080P resolution, 13MP camera with F2.0 aperture and Sony image sensor, NFC, and stereo speakers. In other words, plenty of processing power to run even the most demanding apps out there.

In a recent blog post, the company explained that “Embodying the OnePlus motto of ‘Never Settle’, the OnePlus One boasts industry leading design, superior build quality and top of the line specs at a disruptive price point.”

As the phone runs a custom version of CyanogenMod based on Android 4.4, Steve Kondik meant to express his enthusiasm: “I am incredibly proud of the effort our team has put in to the CyanogenMod build for the OnePlus One. We’ve brought out the full potential of the hardware and complemented it with innovative new features to give users a fresh new experience and the tools to tailor the One to their personal style. We will continue to expand this effort to provide a genuinely enjoyable and powerful operating system for the user.”

Pete Lau, CEO of OnePlus pointed out that “By paying attention to the smallest details, taking a holistic approach to product design, and working with the best partners such as Cyanogen Inc. and Qualcomm Technologies, we have been able to create the greatest day to day user experience in a smartphone without compromise.”

The manufacturers plan to launch OnePlus One in

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Hong Kong
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • Portugal
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Taiwan
  • United Kingdom
  • United States

There will be a 16GB Silk White version that will sell for $299/269 and a 64GB Sandstone Black for $349/299. That is considerable less than the $600+ people have to pay for a no-contract Nexus 5, iPhone 5S or Samsung Galaxy S5. Mind you, the price is only one of the aspects that makes this device a Nexus and iPhone-killer.

All in all, many aspects of this phone are rather impressive, but I wish they had come with a better name for it, as it’s very easy to mistake it for HTC’s One.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about Google’s Project Tango and Boeing Black, the self-destructing smartphone.

LG Launches G Pro 2 Ahead of the Mobile World Congress

LG G Pro 2 01

Since images of LG G Pro 2 started leaking two weeks ago, the South Korean company decided to launch this high-end smartphone ahead of MWC, at least in its homeland.

LG G Pro 2 was scheduled for an MWC launch, but the manufacturer went on to surprise South Koreans with an early release. Even so, the world has plenty of reasons to be proud of this flagship phablet, as it is a clear step forward from its predecessor, the Optimus G Pro.

Even though the resolution of the rear camera hasn’t changed, as it still has a 13 MP sensor, this aspect has also been improved, in that the camera can now record video in 4K Ultra High Definition.

This Android 4.4 KitKat phablet is powered by a Snapdragon 800 2.26 GHz Quad-Core CPU and Adreno 330 GPU to which 3GB of RAM were added. In terms of internal storage, people are able to choose between 16 and 32GB that can be furthermore expanded via a microSD card.

LG did not neglect the audio side of things, so it equipped the G Pro 2 with a 1 W speaker that’s not only clearer, but also 30% louder than the G Pro’s, while also providing a more powerful bass.

At 157.9 x 81.9 x 8.3 mm, the G Pro 2 is slimmer, wider and longer than the previous flagship. While increasing the size of the IPS display to 5.9 inch, LG decided to stick to the 1920×1080 resolution, which is a bit of a letdown, considering that the flagships of the other big players will feature qHD displays this year.

The capacity of the battery has also been slightly increased, from 3,140 to 3,200 mAh. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the device will have a longer battery life, since the new internal hardware might actually consume more power.

Besides the 13 MP rear camera featuring Optical Image Stabilizer Plus (OIS+), LG G Pro 2 also comes with a 2.1 MP front camera for video calls and selfies. The primary camera can also shoot HD video at 120 fps besides 4K. On top of that, it has been enhanced with such features as “Natural Flash”, “Magic Focus” and “Burst Shot”.

In terms of security, LG implemented Knock Code, which allows people to tap the screen in previously defined places to unlock the screen. Another revolutionary feature is Mini View, which shrinks the screen to a smaller size for one-handed use.

The price of the G Pro 2 is yet to be announced, even in South Korea, while the rest of the world will have to wait till the end of the month, when LG will launch its new flagship phablet globally, at MWC 2014, in Barcelona.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the LG G Flex, which comes with a curved display, and the LG Lifeband Touch and webOS TV that the company launched at CES 2014.

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