This site may earn chapter commissions from the links on this page. Terms of utilize.

Robin1

A new squad of ex-Android developers and HTC's former head of design have congenital a new smartphone that could eliminate smartphone storage woes — once the company can iron out some kinks. The company, Nextbit, has launched a Kickstarter to fund its new "Robin" smartphone, with a campaign target of $500,000. Robin, pictured above, is a rectangular 5.2-inch device with a Snapdragon 808 SoC, 32GB of storage, 3GB of RAM, and a 1080p screen. The specs are solid, if not overwhelming, and the device should compete well against the other Snapdragon 808 devices, like the LG G4, already in-market.

What sets Robin autonomously, even so, isn't its hardware, merely its software stack. Instead of pouring energy into edifice a custom UI skin or not-deletable applications of dubious value, Nextbit has created what information technology refers to equally an integrated cloud Os.

The thought backside Robin is this: Instead of constantly shuffling data on and off the phone, why non allow the phone track what data y'all demand and when yous demand it? Co-ordinate to its Kickstarter page, Robin monitors how you apply applications and so backs upwardly your apps and photos to its own cloud service. When your phone runs short on space, the device volition intelligently transfer the to the lowest degree-used apps to the cloud, then delete them from your phone to salvage infinite. If you need to run an application again, Robin downloads it and shifts something else to the deject to make room for the new software. Apps that take been transferred to the cloud remain on your dwelling house screen, and applications tin be pinned to the home screen to prevent them from ever being deleted.

It sounds equally if the end-user in charge of which applications do or don't get transferred to the cloud. Backed-upwards applications preserve progress or personal preferences.

RobinPhone1

Users who don't want to utilise the cloud often, or adopt to keep a specific set of applications backed up in that fashion, yet get 32GB of storage with the base device, along with the 100GB of deject storage that Nextbit is promising all users. The company has stated that information technology will not charge users additional fees to buy more than storage capacity — if enough people are closing in on 100GB, Robin will merely enhance the limit for everyone.

The pros and cons

There are some definite advantages to a arrangement like this. Robin'southward reliance on cloud-based storage could provide an answer to consumers who are frustrated by the lack of microSD slots on modern devices, or those who constantly run out of space. The company is promising to cover the modding customs and claims users will be allowed to unlock the bootloader without voiding the warranty. Nextbit wants to brand the cloud a seamless component of your smartphone, rather than something you grudgingly use when you have no other choice. There are besides some neat features on the handset, with USB Blazon-C support (at USB 3.0 data levels rather than USB2). Dual front speakers, NFC, and a 13MP camera are also included.

There are besides going to be some downsides to this approach. Offloading data to the cloud sounds great in theory, but downloading and uploading significant amounts of information could rapidly chew through wireless data plans if you have to apply a cellular network. There's always going to be a time delay associated with downloading all simply the smallest applications, and the algorithm that determines which applications get shunted to the sky will need to understand which apps are often used in concert with each other.

Integrating deject storage capability is common these days, only few companies have approached the problem the way Nextbit has, or built an unabridged device effectually the concept of a deject-connected smartphone. The hardware is supposed to ship subsequently this yr, provided the Kickstarter hits its funding targets, with an off-contract price of $399.