Geeksphone, the company behind the earlier Firefox OS developer’s phones, and the privacy-enhanced Blackphone, has now officially launched the Geeksphone Revolution powered by a dual core Intel Atom Z2560 processor and supporting Android, Firefox OS, or more exactly Boot2Gecko (B2G), and potentially other OS supported by the community such as Sailfish OS.
Geeksphone Revolution specifications:
- SoC – Dual core Intel Atom processor Z2560 up to 1.6GHz
- System Memory – 1GB LPDDR2
- Storage – 4GB EMMC + MicroSD support, Up to 32GB
- Display – 4.7″ IPS LCD Multi-touch, qHD resolution.
- Cellular network – HSPA/WCDMA: 2100/1900/900/850 MHz, GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, HSDPA up to 21Mbps, HSUPA up to 5.76Mbps, GPRS Class 12 / EDGE Class 12
- Connectivity – WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth Class 3.0, GPS, AGPS
- Camera – 8 MP rear camera with LED Flash, 1.3 MP front camera
- System I/O – 3.5mm audio jack, micro USB
- Sensors – GSensor + ECompass + Light/Proximity Sensor
- Battery – 2000 mAh.
I understand the phone ships with Android 4.2.2 by default, but you can go “Settings – > System updates – > Install another OS” and select B2G instead to download and install it automatically. B2G is the open source version of Firefox OS, which does not require an official certification/license from Mozilla. So it appears relatively easy to switch between operating systems, no need for a computer, USB cables, drivers to install, and scripts to run. You can watch the video below to see Android, and B2G, and the menu to switch between the two OS.
I understand the phone does not dual boot, which would be problematic anyway since it only features 4GB internal storage, so you have to choose between Android, Firefox OS, and other potential OS released for the phone. Switching from Android to Firefox OS can be done in the menu, but for switching from Firefox OS to Android, there’s currently no menu, at least with early samples sent to developers. You can get some help on Geeksphone Revolution forms, and firmware files should eventually be available for download. Previous Geeksphone deviced are supported in CyanogenMod, so you should eventually be able to build your own firmware from source both for Android and B2G, and if you please, even port an other OS to the phone.
The phone can be purchased for 222.31 Euros on the company’s website, excluding shipping, and VAT, if applicable. Based on some comments from the forums, I doubt you should be expecting fast shipping, and may have to wait a few weeks.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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Talk about overpriced hardware. Zenfone 5 has the same SOC, a 720p display and supposedly will be 149USD…
Ubuntu too? http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTYwODg
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTYwOTA