Tag Archives: Boot2Gecko

Geeksphone Revolution Gets Software Update and Price Cut

Posted on by
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.

Geeksphone Unveils Dual-Boot Android and Boot2Gecko Smartphone

Posted on by
Geeksphone Revolution - Android and Firefox OS Dual-Boot

Revolution, the dual-boot smartphone made by Spanish manufacturer Geeksphone, will enable people to use either Boot2Gecko or Android, depending on their mood and preferences.

There’s no doubt that Geeksphone are doing their best to catch the eye of the entire world. Last year, they launched two smartphones running Firefox OS. While those didn’t particularly excel in technical specs, they were very affordable and they carried a novelty factor. More recently, Geeksphone partnered with Silent Circle to create Blackphone, a PrivatOS-running smartphone that keeps NSA at bay. Their Revolution project isn’t exactly new, but aside from the fact that it would run Android and Firefox OS, not much was known last year. On top of that, Geeksphone also revealed some of the features of this device.

Boot2Gecko by Mozilla is practically the same thing as Firefox OS. However, Geeksphone is not allowed to use the OS under that name, since it is reserved for OEMs that have contracts with carriers. In case people don’t like Boot2Gecko, they can replace it with any other community developed mobile OS. As for the Android side of this smartphone, there is no word on whether Revolution will run KitKat or an older version.

Some of the specs worth mentioning include a 4.7-inch qHD (540×960) IPS display, a 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Atom Z2560 CPU, 1GB of RAM, an 8 MP LED flash rear camera and a 2 MP front camera, 4GB of built-in storage (expandable by up to 32GB via a microSD card), and a 2,000 mAh battery. While none of these specs is mind-blowing, it’s great to see that Intel makes its way to more and more Android devices. In terms of connectivity, Geeksphone Revolution comes with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, A-GPS, Micro-USB and 3G.

Much like Nexus devices, Revolution will get regular updates via a 1-click OTA system. That’s a great relief, since many manufacturers forget about their consumers once their product hits the market. Geeksphone dual-boot smartphone is expected to be launched soon, but the company has yet to disclose its price. Still, anyone interested in this smartphone should subscribe to the company’s newsletter, on the official website. Hopefully, the company will get positive feedback for this device and will thus be encouraged to make better, more powerful dual-boot smartphones. A dual OS phone capable of competing against Samsung or HTC’s flagships would really be something!

If you liked this post, please check the Bluebird BM-180 that runs Android and Windows Phone 8, and Google’s plans to run Chrome OS alongside Windows 8.