Can the cloud be cuddly?
Nextbit will sync your apps with the cloud, meaning it can free-up local storage as it’s needed. They say the 100GB cap may be raised for everyone at some point if they find enough users start to run out of space.
The creators’ pedigree has a lot to do with that.
Nextbit CEO, Tom Moss, was previously Worldwide Head of Business Development and Partnerships for Android, CTO, Mike Chan, was an engineer working on Android power management and Chief of Product, Scott Croyle, worked on hardware at HTC.
Nextbit is betting that the global market, including the US, is ready for a new Android phone.
As for the design itself, the Nextbit Robin is nothing extraordinary.
Either way, much of the approach’s effectiveness will depend on how quickly “right away” really is. So far, so good in my view. It has a Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB RAM and a 2,680mAh battery, alongside 5MP and 13MP cameras, a built-in fingerprint sensor, and a 5.2in Full HD display.
The Nextbit Robin’s connectivity capabilities include GSM 850/900/1800/1900, WCDMA 850/900/1800/1900/2100, and LTE bands 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/17/20/28.
Robin will also optimize the apps and photos that appear on your phone according to how often you use them so that you get the most out of your storage. An app thats been offloaded will show a grayed-out icon on the phone. And if you ever decide that you want an app or photo or whatever else on your device after it’s been sent to the cloud, you can tap on it and it’ll be downloaded to your device.
Nextbit says the retail price of the phone will be $399, but backers of the company’s Kickstarter campaign can request one for a pledge of $349… and the first 1,000 backers can try to snag one for $299.
Croyle said that Nextbit wants to “actually push the ecosystem in terms of what the operating system does” by having a “cloud-first” smartphone. The back of the phone is home to a 13-megapixel rear camera with phase detection autofocus and RAW support as as well as four LEDs that light up when you’re connected to the cloud. You can add your money to the pile at the link below. Still, the company will make sure not to break compatibility with the main branch of Android.
“At Android, for the longest time we were underdogs”.
The handset will be unlocked, and in the U.S.it will work with wireless carriers T-Mobile and AT&T.
“Once networks get there and you have better coverage, you can totally imagine a world where devices are nearly disposable”, Moss said.
“We do believe that the direct-to-consumer market is growing, and will actually accelerate its growth pretty dramatically over the next couple of years”, he said. Even in a preproduction state, the software worked flawlessly when tasked with clearing space on a phone by deleting apps and media, starting with the oldest and least used items.
“We’re not here to fight over a small pie”.
I spent time using an early version of the Robin and it’s safe to say I was impressed. Initial sales are exclusively through the crowdfunding site, and the price is tiered. The first 1,000 phones will sell for $249.
The Nextbit Robin is available on Kickstarter and its expected to be delivered in January 2016.
While NextBit argues you can get a lot of phone for significantly less than what Apple and Samsung charge, a similar case is being made by Motorola, as well as Chinese makers Huawei and ZTE along with startups such as OnePlus and John Sculley-backed Obi Worldphone.
The phone is on pre-sale now, for early 2016 delivery.