Highly hackable BYOD toy ahoy, fanboi.
Oppo-subsidiary OnePlus is readying the first batch of its One smartphone. In an "exclusive" deal with the CyanogenMod project, it'll come with 11S built in (so no need to unlock, flash recovery, and all the other crazy-tweakery normally required).
Oh, and did I mention it's cheap as chips, despite being full of high-end hardware?
In IT Blogwatch, bloggers reserve their place in the queue, ahead of an imminent release date.
Your humble blogwatcher curated these bloggy bits for your entertainment.
Brad Molen is glad he caught you at home -- could he use your phone?
[The] OnePlus motto, "Never Settle," represents the fledgling Chinese company's mission to build and sell the perfect smartphone. ... The One [is] a premium-looking device that has customizable firmware and top-shelf specs. Oh, and it'll sell for $299 unlocked and free of contract [despite] its arched back, polycarbonate build, elegant chassis and top-of-the-line spec sheet.…
It doesn't plan to make any money for a while. OnePlus has no track record to rely on aside from the fact that its founder and much of its workforce came over from Oppo. ... OnePlus is an exclusive partner with CyanogenMod, so naturally [the One] comes with the firmware (build 11S, based on Android 4.4.2) directly baked in. [It's] based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and gives the user more freedom to fiddle around with...nearly every aspect of the Android experience. MORE
Look-you, Owen Hughes, isn't it?
Top-end specs combined with an ultra-low price tag – surely [there's] a trade-off somewhere? ... We've yet to find it. With a...2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 CPU [and] 3GB of RAM [it] appears to be the dream handset for anyone wanting high-end power at a low-end price.…
The OnePlus One comes running the community-driven CyanogenMod. ... Although the software will be familiar to anyone acquainted with Google's homegrown OS, it offers a greater depth of customisation. MORE
But Pranav Dixit disses the target auds:
[It's] clearly trying to appeal to Android nerds who will, presumably, hit the Buy button simply because it comes preloaded with Cyanogen. But beyond this group of buyers, it’s less clear who The One will appeal to.…
Regular phone buyers will still find the One daunting. Most people just want something that works...and don’t really care about CyanogenMod. On the flipside, you can now buy a...high-end smartphone without breaking the bank. MORE
OK, but when is the release date? It's changed, notes Gareth Halfacree:
The 64GB version...will be available by the end of the month, with the cheaper 16GB handset being delayed. [An] initial batch will be followed by..."increased general availability" in late June, although all sales will take place on an invitation-only basis with interested customers being asked to register for a place in the queue. The 16GB Silk White model has...no release date set.…
With no micro-SD card slot for storage expansion the company has found that the 64GB version is proving more popular - so much so that it has been forced to change its production schedule. MORE
What's it like to use? Marques Brownlee cuts to the chase:
Meanwhile, JR Raphael speeds up the news day:
Reviewing smartphones sure can be interesting. ... I thought I'd take a moment to reflect on some of the more enlightening lessons I learn every time.…
If you have an opinion that differs from a reader's perspective, you are clearly "bias" and/or a shill. ... Such conclusions can be reached without actually reading what you wrote. ... Having an opinion is the same thing as having a bias. ... The only reason you write critical things about a mobile device is because you're "jealous" and/or a "hater." ... When all other attempts to dismiss your opinion fail, it's clearly just a "slow news day." MORE
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