Robin Smartphone

[Jorge-Vieira]

Google And HTC Alums Reveal $399 ‘Cloud First’ Nextbit Robin Smartphone With 100GB Of Online Storage

If Android (http://hothardware.com/tags/android) is the Batman of mobile operating systems, then where's Robin? The answer is Kickstarter. Robin is the name of a new crowdfunding project by Nextbit, a company consisting of experienced mobile and technology specialists with resumes spanning HTC, Google, Amazon, and Apple.

What exactly is Robin? It's another Android smartphone, but not just another Android smartphone. Part of what separates Robin from the OnePlus (http://hothardware.com/news/oneplus-one-now-available-for-everyone-one-plus-two-flagship-coming-in-q3-2015) and every other Android handset that dares to be different is its emphasis on the cloud. With Robin, the cloud (http://hothardware.com/tags/cloud) is integrated into Android so that you never run out of space.


http://hothardware.com/ContentImages/NewsItem/34908/content/Robin.jpg


The pitch is that Robin's storage grows with you. There are cloud services that already do that with any Android device of your choosing, but not in the same way. Robin adapts to your storage needs by automatically optimizing the space on your phone and learning the apps you use. The stuff you don't use gets uploaded to the cloud so that your local storage holds only what you need.

By default, Robin backs up your apps and photos to the cloud whenever you're connected to power and Wi-Fi (you can change these settings). When you run low on space, the phone will remove apps and photos you haven't used or viewed in long time. Should you want one (or more) of them back, they're just a tap away.



https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nextbit/robin-the-smarter-smartphone?ref=video


The other selling point is that Robin takes a Nexus-like approach to Android updates. It will ship with Android 6.0 Marshmallow (http://hothardware.com/news/light-the-campfire-android-ms-name-is-marshmallow) (assuming it's available before Robin), and when a new Android version comes out, the developers will push out an update straight away. The developers also promise zero bloatware and an unlocked bootloader.

Right now you're thinking, "Yeah, yeah, just give us the specs already!" You got it -- 5.2-inch Full HD 1080p IPS display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of built-in storage + 100GB online, 5MP front camera, 13MP rear camera with phase detection autofocus and dual tone flash, dual front-facing speakers, finger print sensor, NFC, quick charging support, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, and 4G LTE connectivity.

Robin will retail for $399 and is expected to ship in January of next year. If you're willing to back the project on Kickstarter (go here (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nextbit/robin-the-smarter-smartphone)), you can get one for as cheap as $299.






Noticia:
http://hothardware.com/news/google-and-htc-alums-reveal-399-cloud-first-nextbit-robin-smartphone-with-100gb-of-online-storage#ixzz3kViPyBAN

[Jorge-Vieira]

NextBit Addresses Privacy Questions, Provides Additional 'Robin' Smartphone Specifications

http://media.bestofmicro.com/E/P/524113/gallery/Mint-and-Midnight-Robin_600px_w_600.png (http://www.tomshardware.com/gallery/Mint-and-Midnight-Robin_600px,0101-524113-0-2-3-1-png-.html)
San Francisco-based startup NextBit recently launched a Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nextbit/robin-the-smarter-smartphone) for its cloud-focused mid-range Android "Robin" smartphone. We were impressed with what we saw initially (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/nextbit-robin-smartphone-launched-kickstarter,29987.html), as were the backers who quickly helped the Kickstarter hit its initial target in less than a day. That it looks to be a great device, though, isn't surprising, considering the background of some of the company's founders – made up of ex-Google Android and HTC employees.
Even so, there were a couple of spec details we wanted more information on. We (and it seems many of our commenters) also wanted to learn more about how the privacy of its users is protected when utilizing the phone's cloud features.
The first question we asked was why the name "Robin." Nextbit's response is that they wanted to name the phone something different from the "sci-fi names - Siri, Cortana, Xperia, Galaxy, Lumia" of other devices. It felt that a nice-sounding, gender neutral name was "more approachable, human and alive" than other tech names. This does tie in nicely with the design aesthetic of the phone, which is certainly warmer and more friendly-looking than many other current phones.
On the privacy front, NextBit does address this issue on the Kickstarter site by saying that "securing your data is important" and that "your actual credentials and app data will stay directly on the phone." It also said that data is sent encrypted, and stored on the servers encrypted. We asked for more specifics and were told that NextBit uses HTTPS to transmit your data, and Google authentication for your NextBit account management. You sign in with your Google credentials, and if you have a strong password and take extra security measures like enabling 2-factor authentication, your data will be safe.
We also asked for some more details about the camera specifications, weight, and USB connectivity, and have updated our spec sheet, which you can see below. Because the Robin uses USB Type-C, trying to figure out what standard it supports is important, since there is so much confusion about USB 3.1 (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/usb-31-usb-type-c-refresher,29933.html) at the moment. The updated specs are in bold in the table below.
Specifications
<tbody>
Product
NextBit Robin


Display
5.2-inch IPS LCD @ 1920 x 1080 (423 PPI), Gorilla Glass 4


SoC
Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 (MSM8992)


CPU Core
ARM Cortex-A57 (2x @ 1.82 GHz) + ARM Cortex-A53 (4x @ 1.44 GHz)


GPU Core
Qualcomm Adreno 418 @ 600 MHz


Memory
3 GB LPDDR3


Storage
32 GB onboard / 100 Gb online


Battery
2,680 mAh, non-removable


Front Camera
5 MP, [B]Samsung 5E2 sensor


Rear Camera
13 MP Samsung 3M2XXM5 ISOCELL sensor, f/2.2 25.3mm (35mm equivalent) lens, PDAF, dual tone LED flash. 4K video support


Connectivity
Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz dual-band), Bluetooth 4.0 LE, NFC, 4G LTE Cat 4, USB 3.1 Gen1 SuperSpeed (5 Gbps) with Type-C connector


Special Features
Dual front-facing stereo speakers, fingerprint scanner, Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0


OS
Android M with NextBit Smart Storage Solution


Materials
Aluminum, Plastic


Size & Weight
149 mm x 72 mm x 7 mm, approx. 150g

</tbody>
As you can see, the Robin uses a Samsung ISOCELL sensor for the rear camera, and this is the same sensor found in a number of Chinese phones such as the Doogee F3, Oppo R7 and Vivo X5 Pro. Along with the PDAF and f/2.2 lens, the Robin should be capable of taking some decent pictures. However, don't expect it to be able to compete with the imaging systems of high-end phones like the LG G4 and Galaxy S6. NextBit also corrected a statement made on the Kickstarter page -- the Robin does record 4K video.
We also asked about manual camera control and were told that although NextBit doesn't have the resources to support Google's Camera2 API right now, the Robin's camera software will still have some manual controls. You can adjust exposure, white balance and ISO. NextBit also mentioned adjustable shutter speed, but support for that, along with manual focus, does, we think, need the Camera2 API, so it's doubtful the Robin will have these features, at least initially. RAW support is also mentioned on the Kickstarter page.
NextBit also updated us as to what version of Android the Robin will ship with, and we were told it is doing its best to ensure that all units ship with M -- but that is dependent on when Google releases the final RTM build of Android 6.0. This means that if the phone ships with Lollipop, NextBit will include its own fingerprint unlocking support in the OS. Once the Robin is on M, it will use Google's native support and work with Android Pay.
http://media.bestofmicro.com/V/Q/524726/gallery/Nextbit-Robin-in-hand_w_600.png (http://www.tomshardware.com/gallery/Nextbit-Robin-in-hand,0101-524726-0-2-3-1-png-.html)
The last question we asked was about the fast charger stretch goal. Apparently, it is correct that the retail release of the Robin will not include a charger (we guess to keep costs as low as possible), with it being a separate purchase. Because the Kickstarter is well on track to hit the $1 million stretch goal, at least backers won't have to worry about procuring a charger, though.
The Robin is certainly an intriguing device, and the cloud functionality -- if it works as well as advertised -- is a unique and powerful feature.



Noticia:
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/nextbit-robin-smartphone-kickstarter-updates,30023.html

[Jorge-Vieira]

Nextbit's Eric Lin Details 'Robin' Smartphone Hardware, Software (Video)

http://media.bestofmicro.com/R/8/549188/gallery/NextBit-001_w_600.jpg (http://media.bestofmicro.com/R/8/549188/original/NextBit-001.jpg)
Kickstarter fatigue is a real thing, for both consumers and the media. While there have been some stunning crowdfunded successes (for example, the Oculus Rift (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1523379957/oculus-rift-step-into-the-game/description)), there have been just as many, if not more, failed projects and too many broken promises. In fact, Nextbit told us that when it launched its campaign for its Robin smartphone (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nextbit/robin-the-smarter-smartphone/description), there were media outlets who refused to cover it simply because it was on Kickstarter – they’d been burned too many times before.
It would appear that we can notch Nextbit one of the crowdfunding success stories, because the company began shipping its Robin smartphone to all 3,611 of its backers, right when it said it would. If you weren't one of the early believers, you can order you own starting February 18 at 7am PT.
Smartphone Industry VeteransAlthough we’ve already met with Nextbit and looked at the Robin (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/nextbit-robin-cloud-based-smartphone,30848.html), we recently got a chance to chat with one its industry veteran employees, Eric Lin, HTC's former Product Strategy Manager. In our video interview, Lin was able to give us some unique insight as to why the Robin is such an interesting device in the great ocean of "me too" smartphones and goes over both its hardware and software in great detail.


<script height="310px" width="550px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#ec=MwY2p4MDE6x-S0IQcWCyqjA9aYnVuU5c&pbid=bcfcb94540ae4a96b6c763863d5321f0"></script>


Nextbit Robin Smartphone, Part 1: The Hardware

Lin also explained to us that because Nextbit didn’t specifically need the funds from the campaign to build the Robin, it used the campaign more to build awareness of the phone and the company. Nextbit used it to gather feedback from its backers, that, for example, motivated it to add a CDMA model of the Robin, and later in the campaign there was a poll for a "Kickstarter only" Electric color, chosen from submissions made by backers. You can see that color in our video above.
http://media.bestofmicro.com/R/9/549189/gallery/NextBit-013_w_600.jpg (http://media.bestofmicro.com/R/9/549189/original/NextBit-013.jpg)
The San Francisco Aesthetic Another topic covered by Lin in Part 1 of our video is the Robin's design, and it's certainly one of the most unique smartphones we've ever seen, both in its shape and color choices. He explained to us that the look of the Robin’s design is heavily influenced by Nextbit's geographic location, San Francisco, interpreted by its design chief Scott Croyle.
http://media.bestofmicro.com/R/I/549198/gallery/NextBit-097_w_600.jpg (http://media.bestofmicro.com/R/I/549198/original/NextBit-097.jpg)
Lin also goes over the Robin's specs (see below) and the rationale to go with the Snapdragon 808, a chip many might consider "old" for a phone shipping in 2016. His take, simply, is that if Nextbit wanted to ship Robins to customers when it planned to, at the price that it promised, the 808 was the right choice.
Specifications
<tbody>
Display
5.2-inch IPS LCD @ 1920 x 1080 (423 PPI), Gorilla Glass 4


SoC
Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 (MSM8992)


CPU Core
ARM Cortex-A57 (2x @ 1.82 GHz) + ARM Cortex-A53 (4x @ 1.44 GHz) [big.LITTLE]


GPU Core
Qualcomm Adreno 418 @ 600 MHz


Memory
3 GB LPDDR3


Storage
32 GB onboard / 100 GB online


Battery
2,680 mAh, non-removable


Front Camera
5 MP, Samsung 5E2 sensor


Rear Camera
13 MP Samsung 3M2XXM5 ISOCELL sensor, f/2.2 25.3mm (35mm equivalent) lens, PDAF, dual tone LED flash. 4K video support


Connectivity
Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz dual-band), Bluetooth 4.0 LE, NFC, 4G LTE Cat 4, USB 3.0 Gen1 SuperSpeed (5 Gbps) with Type-C connector


Special Features
Dual front-facing stereo speakers, fingerprint scanner, Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0


OS
Android Marshmallow with NextBit Smart Storage Solution


Materials
Aluminum, Plastic (glass-filled polycarbonate)


Size & Weight
149 mm x 72 mm x 7 mm, approx. 150g

</tbody>
http://media.bestofmicro.com/R/J/549199/gallery/NextBit-106_w_600.jpg (http://media.bestofmicro.com/R/J/549199/original/NextBit-106.jpg) The Magic Cloud Along with its unique design aesthetic, the other important aspect of the Robin, and probably the most controversial, is its Smart Storage Solution. Along with the 32 GB of onboard storage, every Robin comes with 100 GB if online storage. What’s unique about Nextbit’s implementation of this cloud storage is that the Robin intelligently backs up applications and data to the cloud and even removes apps you use infrequently to free up more storage on the phone. Many people seem to be concerned about mobile data usage and how data is secured in the cloud. Lin addressed these concerns head-on and in detail in the second part of our interview below.

<script height="310px" width="550px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#ec=UyMXJ3MDE6Po5SRslXeZ1bFdvjnEUxO3&pbid=bcfcb94540ae4a96b6c763863d5321f0"></script>


Nextbit Robin Smartphone, Part 2: The Software

What’s important to remember, Lin said, is that the majority of the time all communication with the cloud is done when the Robin is on Wi-Fi, so it won’t eat up your data. The only time it may download something significant over cellular data is if you need to restore an application that has been “grayed” out. Considering that most Android apps aren't too large, that shouldn’t eat up too much data, and Lin also showed us how you can “pin” an app so it is never removed no matter how little you use it.
We Hope You Don’t Like App Drawers The Robin will be running Android Marshmallow, and although it is closer to stock Android than many other OEM’s implementations of Google’s OS, there is one controversial decision: The launcher does not have an app drawer, using an iOS-style “apps first, widgets second” model. While we’re sure there are some who will be fine with this decision, because it’s Android this can be “fixed” by a quick trip to the Play Store to download an alternate launcher.
http://media.bestofmicro.com/V/3/559695/gallery/Nextbit-Robin-Screenshots_w_600.jpg (http://media.bestofmicro.com/V/3/559695/original/Nextbit-Robin-Screenshots.JPG)
Other than the launcher issue, Nextbit’s version of Marshmallow looks just as aesthetically pleasing as the phone’s hardware, and Lin told us that most of its components are separate applications that are updated through the Play Store. This means that there have been very little changes made to the core Android OS, so when Google releases updates, they should find their way to the Robin fairly quickly.
Get Your Robin Shortly Although there is now quite a variety of respectable midrange smartphones to choose from (such as the just-reviewed OnePlus 2 (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/oneplus-2-oxygen,4463.html)), keep in mind that not many of them come from companies with as much pedigree as Nextbit. The Robin is certainly one of the most unique and attractive phones in recent memory, and despite the fact that we are about to be flooded with 2016’s devices next week at MWC, we’re confident that the Robin’s specs will still be great for a phone at its price point for the foreseeable future.
http://media.bestofmicro.com/R/L/549201/gallery/NextBit-028_w_600.jpg (http://media.bestofmicro.com/R/L/549201/original/NextBit-028.jpg)
Its Smart Storage Solution is, well, smart, and even though many users won’t likely fill the 32 GB of onboard storage, having the extra capacity there is peace of mind, especially when it doesn’t add anything to the cost of the phone. Also, although many will not like the app drawer-less launcher, it’s easy to fix, and from what Nextbit has told us, one can expect Android OS updates to appear on the Robin faster than many other OEM’s devices (though not as fast as on Nexus phones, of course).
The Robin will go on sale at Nextbit.com (https://nextbit.com/) on February 18, 7am PST in Mint and Midnight for $399.



Noticia:
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/nextbit-robin-smartphone-hardware-software,31187.html

[Jorge-Vieira]

No Sprint Or Verizon; Nextbit Fills All GSM Robin Orders But Cancels All CDMA

http://media.bestofmicro.com/R/D/549193/gallery/NextBit-071_w_600.jpg (http://www.tomshardware.com/gallery/NextBit-071,0101-549193-0-2-12-1-jpg-.html)
The trend of unlocked, higher-end but affordable smartphones has been great for the mobile market, and Nexbit’s Robin (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/nextbit-robin-cloud-based-smartphone,30848.html) is one that we’ve been tracking (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/nextbit-robin-smartphone-hardware-software,31187.html) for some time (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/nextbit-robin-smartphone-kickstarter-updates,30023.html). After the project caught fire on Kickstarter, the company received feedback from users that wanted a CDMA version of the phone so they could take it to Sprint and Verizon.
Nextbit has now canceled those plans. In a sorrowful blog post, CEO Tom Moss described at length (but not in great detail) why the team made the decision. In a nutshell, they thought they could pull off a CDMA version, but after working with the carriers, they realized that it was going to cost too much money and take too long.

"What people at the carriers, in good faith given our need for quick answers, thought would take 'weeks' has turned into 'months.' What they thought would cost 'hundreds of thousands of dollars' has turned into 'millions,'" said Moss in the post (http://community.nextbit.com/t5/Announcements/Bad-News-regarding-U-S-CDMA-Version/m-p/9653#U9653).
He also noted that there was no clear end in sight, and rather than delay, delay, delay, Nextbit opted to stop pursuing the CDMA option altogether.
Nextbit is refunding CDMA backers in full, within the next 48 hours. As an olive branch, the company is offering a 25% discount code for each CDMA backer. Obviously, for backers locked into CDMA networks, that’s not especially useful, but you can gift your discount to a friend or family member that can use it on a GSM unit.
It’s good that Nextbit is being candid (and remorseful) rather than stringing backers along or making excuses or throwing the carriers under the bus, but it highlights some of the struggles inherent in startup land and the Kickstarter culture. Nextbit is staffed with mobile industry veterans and was well-funded, but it still couldn’t get over that particular hump.
However, the good news is that after a few delays, all GSM Robin orders have now shipped, according to Moss.



Noticia:
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/nextbit-robin-verizon-sprint-cdma,31449.html