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recoverandroiddata · 2 years
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kichanzo · 4 years
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iPhone 11 Pro Max Review: The Perfect Phone!   
iPhone 11 Pro Max DEALS
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The perfect phone does not exist, but the iPhone 11 Pro Max comes close to being perfect. It is a great phone and the most expensive of the Apple iPhone 11 series phones that were released in September 2019.
I have reviewed all the important specs of the iPhone 11 Pro Max, from the battery life to the durability of the phone.
What You Will Read
Things to Consider Before Buying a High-End Premium Phone    
iPhone 11 Pro Max Specifications
What Is So Special About the iPhone 11 Pro Max Chipset? 
Display of iPhone 11 Pro Max
 Performance of the iPhone 11 Pro Max
Battery Life iPhone 11 Pro Max
Camera Capabilities of the iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone 11 Pro Max Extra Features     
 Social Proof     
How Much is the iPhone 11 Pro Max Price in Kenya?     
Accessories     
What is the Difference Between Apple iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max?    
Which is Better iPhone 11 or Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max? 
Is Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra a Better Alternative?   
Is the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Worth Buying? 
Things to Consider Before Buying a High-End Premium Phone    
There are very few phones that deserve the title of high-end smartphones. iPhone 11 Pro Max is one of them. Apple gave their best when building this smartphone, there are no short cuts and they have given you everything you would expect in a smartphone.
Price How much are you willing to spend to have the best phone? The price of most high-end premium phones starts from Ksh. 200,999.
The good news to those who want high-end premium devices without paying premium money is that you can get flagship smartphones such that offer the same amazing features.
Software – Make sure the smartphone you are purchasing is operating on the latest software, that way you are confident that you are getting a bug free device.
iPhone 11 Pro Max Specifications
Display:  6.5 inches 1242 x 2688 pixels | CPU: Hexa-core (2×2.65 GHz Lightning + 4×1.8 GHz Thunder) | RAM: 4 GB | Storage / Expandable: 64GB, 256GB, 512GB / Yes | Rear camera: 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS + 12 MP, f/2.0, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4″, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom + 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide) | Front camera:12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide) | Platform: iOS 13, upgradable to iOS 14.1 | Battery life: Li-Ion 3969 mAh, non-removable (15.04 Wh)
  What Is So Special About the iPhone 11 Pro Max Chipset? 
The special thing about iPhone 11 Pro Max is the fact it runs on chipset Apple A13 Bionic. This makes the phone perform 20% faster and lowers the power consumption of the phone by 40%. Extending the battery life of your phone.
Display of iPhone 11 Pro Max
The display on the iPhone 11 Pro Max is one of the nicest displays ever seen in the history of smartphones.
The screen of the Pro Max is a 6.5 inch OLED display screen. Apple calibrated the display by making it bright, vibrant, and accurate. The phone has a refresh rate of 120 Hz with a screen resolution of 1242 by 2688 pixels.
Apple guarantees that this phone will serve you for years to come because of the materials used to build this phone. The body of the iPhone 11 Pro max is in stainless steel that protects your screen against dust and scuffing.
Ace did a review of the display of the iPhone 11 Pro Max and said that it is the easiest display to be scratched in the history of smartphones. Though you will not easily notice the scratches sunless, you are in the brightness of sunlight. If you want to protect from your screen from scratches, you can buy a screen protector and get the job done.
If you don’t want your screen to get a scratch, you could always use a case and a protector. Either way, the matte finish on the back of the glass resists fingerprints beautifully and hides scarfs and scratches well.
The camera lenses are also protected nicely with sapphires, ensuring that there are no scratches on the cameras.
The iPhone 11 Pro Max has super retina color display Super Retina XDR display, this is just a fancy name for an OLED display that is color accurate and dazzling. One thing that you will enjoy about using the iPhone 11 Pro Max is the deep colors and deep blacks when the pixels are off.
As expected, with an OLED display iPhone 11 Pro Max uses PWM to manage brightness.  HDTV did a review on the phone, realized that the phone is flicking when increasing or reducing the brightness level. The flickering in the PWM rate, when increasing the brightness level of the iPhone 11 Pro Max, might disturb you, causing you to have headaches.
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If you won’t be bothered with the flickering of the eyes when adjusting the brightness, then this is by far the best iPhone ever. Apple ensured that the phone has IP68 dust and water-resistant.
The best thing about the iPhone 11 Pro Max is the fact it is a High Dynamic Range display. Allowing you to enjoy videos in HDR in Apple or YouTube in resolving up to 1080 P of deep black and vibrant colors.
The display of the iPhone 11 Pro Max is competing against the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, which makes sense because Samsung is the official manufacture of the iPhone displays.
 Performance of the iPhone 11 Pro Max
The iPhone 11 Pro Max performance gets the job done. A13 Bionic processor is an incredible chip that is nearly impossible to use at peak performance due to the apps available.
A13 Bionic chip makes it easier for you to switch between applications. You will enjoy scrolling through the phone, because of how super-fast and smooth the phone is from going into your music or opening a camera. Apple has fixed bugging issues that are used to make the previous model of the iPhone crash.
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You will have an exceptional experience with performing the iPhone 11 Pro Max. Though you might experience clutching, freezing and the phone overheating.
The beauty is that Apple is regularly updating their operating systems, meaning that with time all glitches will be fixed and you will have a phone that is operating smoothly.
Battery Life iPhone 11 Pro Max
The best thing about the iPhone 11 Pro Max is the battery life with 3,969 mAh you will get up to 12 hours extra of battery lifetime.
There are several options for juicing up your battery life. You can wirelessly charge it at 7.5Watts. If that is slow, the device comes with a fast-charging of 20.7 Watts. This option will give you 50% of the battery capacity in less than an hour.
Lastly, you can bump the battery life with the Apple battery case. Enabling you to get longer battery life and it still protects your phone.
Camera Capabilities of the iPhone 11 Pro Max
The 12MP + 12MP + 12MP camera makes the iPhone 11 Pro Max phenomenal! You can use it to take multiple videos and photos and you will love it.
As usual, they duplicated the camera design across the board with other android phones. Making the camera bump to look easier on the eyes since now you are just seeing it everywhere.
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Unless you are a pro with a camera, you can’t tell a difference between a cinema camera and an iPhone 11 Pro Max camera.
Dxomark reviewed the image quality of the iPhone 11 Pro Max Camera and loved the photos the camera was taking.
You will love the video footage taken by the iPhone 11 Pro Max camera is so good and you are going to enjoy shooting the content with the triple camera.
Why is the iPhone 11 Pro Max Camera so Bad? 
Sometimes the Apple iPhone’s 11 Pro Max takes poor photos. This is because of the additional features in the camera such as deep fusion, which comes in handy when you are in-between stuff, but produces poor photos when the lighting is not bright.
The night mode is also amazing. You can take amazing photos at night that will still appear as if it took them at night but still provide you with a great phone.
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The 12 MP front camera has a retina flash, making it easy for your eyes when taking photos. What I love is the fact that the front camera supports slow-motion video shooting. Allowing you to take the best selfie videos for social media.
Overall, the iPhone 11 Pro Max is the best smartphone for video shooting. It has great stability, reliable autofocus, excellent colors, and superb auto balance.
iPhone 11 Pro Max Extra Features     
Here are extra specs that come with the iPhone 11 Pro Max
spatial audio
3D facial recognition
IP68 water resistance
Wireless charging
Accelerometer gyro
 Social Proof     
Alexis a verified purchase on Amazon, left the 4-star review and said:
It’s a bummer how expensive it is, but I enjoy this phone and I don’t regret buying
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Realistically if you don’t care about camera quality, any other smartphone will work fine.
On V Tran left a 5 star Google review
This new iPhone didn’t seem to cost so much anymore once I’m allowed to make monthly installments on it, I’m thrilled about that promotion so I took advantage of it, very blessed!
Kamil S was delighted with the phone.
Runs great, insanely long battery life even with constant use, and it is just so smooth. The phone itself even feels high quality, it scratches relatively easily, but that is the trade-off for having a more durable screen so it does not break when you drop it.
How Much is the iPhone 11 Pro Max Price in Kenya?     
The price for iPhone 11 Pro Max ranges between 169,000 to Ksh. 200,999 depending on where you buy it.
The iPhone 11 Pro Max comes in space with space gray, silver, gold, midnight green, and gold finishes.
Accessories     
The phone comes with the following accessories:
Screen Protector
Camera Lens Protector
Wireless Charger
USB-C Charging Cable
Bluetooth Earphones
What is the Difference Between Apple iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max?    
It’s a fact that the iPhone 11 Pro Max is the most expensive phone ever. If you want a phone that can do everything that the Pro Max can do but on a smaller screen display, then consider buying the iPhone 11 Pro.
Otherwise, both phones have great battery life, superb camera specs, and they share the same processor. If you don’t mind the screen display difference, then select the iPhone 11 Pro as your daily use phone.
Have a look at the iPhone 11 Pro review, then you can decide which of the two phones gives you better value for your money
Which is Better iPhone 11 or Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max? 
If you want to save thousands of shillings, then the iPhone 11 is the best option. The phone has the same processor as the iPhone Pro and the Pro Max version.
The major tradeoff you will make is on the camera’s capabilities. iPhone 11 has a double camera while the Pro and the Pro Max have a triple camera. Also, the Pro model has double optical image stabilization while iPhone 11 has standard optical image stabilization.
You will be shocked by what our editors have to say in Apple iPhone 11 review.
Is Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra a Better Alternative?   
Life is a series of tradeoffs, and the same thing applies to phones.
If you are taking a break from Apple, consider buying the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. It has a great Dynamic AMOLED 2X capacity touchscreen, a long battery life, and it has one of the latest processors Exynos 990 (7 nm+) Snapdragon 865 Plus.
The review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra will help you make a well-informed purchase decision.
The processor makes this phone one of the fastest smartphones in the world. The price of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is Ksh. 120,000 cheaper than the iPhone 11 Pro Max.
Is the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Worth Buying? 
One certain thing is the fact that the iPhone 11 Pro Max is an impressive device. This phone is consistently reliable and exceptional in performance. We are recommending you to buy it.
I think if Apple would have improved on the battery optimization and increased the Megapixels on the camera, then this phone would be perfect.
If you want to save an extra Ksh. 80,000, you can always buy the iPhone 11 or the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. You will still have a fantastic phone, but there are tradeoffs you will make.
The Review
iPhone 11 Pro Max
4.5 Score
One certain thing is the fact that the iPhone 11 Pro Max is an impressive device. This phone is consistently reliable and exceptional in performance. We are recommending you to buy it.
PROS
Powerful A13 Bionic processor
New Excellent Retina XDR display
Triple camera setup
CONS
Expensive iPhone
Lacks reverse charging
Lacks a USB-C
Review Breakdown
Battery
Display
Camera
Performance
Value
iPhone 11 Pro Max DEALS
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droneseco · 4 years
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The Highest Resolution Action Camera Ever: Insta360 One-R With 1-Inch Mod
Insta360 One R 1-Inch Edition
9.50 / 10
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Capable of incredibly crisp 5.7K resolution video, the 1-inch sensor also dramatically improves low light video and photography. The higher resolution gives you more creative freedom to crop without losing clarity, and stabilize further using FlowState. This is the best action camera money can buy.
Specifications
Brand: Insta360
Sensor Size: 1-inch CMOS
Video Resolution: 5.3K up to 30FPS, 4K up to 60FPS, 1080p up to 120FPS
Photo Resolution: 19MP
Battery: 1190mAh Replacable Li-On, approx 65 minutes recording time
Connection: USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Size: 3.1 x 2.1 x 1.85 inches
Weight: 0.34 lbs
Water Resistance: IPX8 Waterproof up to 5m (dive case allows deeper)
Lens: Leica f3.2, 14.4mm equivalent focal length
Pros
5.3K resolution video is incredible
Best in class low-light performance
Modular approach means easy replacement or upgrade of parts
LOG color mode
Cons
No built-in mounting options; requires the case
Lens guard makes front-facing screen mode operation tricky
90cm minimum focus distance problematic for vlogging
Buy This Product
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Insta360's One-R was already the most innovative action camera on the market, with a modular design, incredible motion smoothing, and time-saving editing features. But they haven't stopped there. Working with lens masters Leica, they've released a new 1-inch Mod, capable of shooting at an incredible 5.7K resolution. That's the highest resolution in any action camera to date. The footage is simply unbelievable.
Featuring an f3.2 aperture, 14.4mm equivalent focal length, the 1-inch Mod gets its name from the new 1-inch image sensor housed within. Not only does this produce stunning 5.7K resolution video, but it also makes night footage and low-light photos a lot cleaner.
Since we already reviewed the Insta360 One R Twin Edition earlier in the year, we'll be focusing purely on the new 1-Inch Mod in this review. In the review video, you'll find plenty of sample footage (we shot the entire video on the Insta360 One R), along with comparison shots of the older 4K lens.
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Upgrade Your 4K Mod, or Get The New Package
The 1-inch Mod is available individually for existing One R owners and will set you back around $300. This will essentially replace your existing 4K Mod, which you could either sell or keep around for riskier filming.
Alternatively, if you don't already own the One R, the 1-Inch Edition costs around $550. This doesn't include the 4K or dual-lens 360 Mod.
One R 1-Inch Edition
The 1-Inch Edition includes:
1-Inch Mod
One R core camera body
Battery base
Basic mounting bracket (with no accessory rail)
USB-C cable
You'll also find a lens guard already attached, and you shouldn't use the camera without it. Its sheer bulk means you need to remove it before placing the One R 1-Inch Edition into the case, then screw it back on. "Just don't use the case then", you might be thinking. Not so fast: there are no mounting points without it, so you'd be limited to handheld shots. Most of the time you'll be using on the end of a selfie-stick, or some other action cam mounting system, so being inside this case is essential.
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Unfortunately, this design also means it can be prone to fogging in hot and humid environments. So much so that Insta360 also includes a plastic bag and silicone desiccants in the package. The instructions advise that you disassemble and dehydrate the device for 6 hours before shooting in that sort of environment. Given that it's autumn in the UK, and we're lucky to see sunlight, this hasn't been an issue for me during testing.
Why Would You Record at 5.7K?!
Given that most people still don't own a device that can display 4K content, why would you even consider shooting in 5.7K?
Assuming your computer can handle it, and storage space isn't a concern, you should always shoot in the highest possible resolution, regardless of your final project's output resolution. Doing so will offer you the most creative freedom: the ability to zoom and crop without sacrificing quality in the output. If you shoot a video at 1080p but later need to crop it or zoom on a subject, your production will suffer from noticeable pixelation.
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Resolution is also a consideration when it comes to stabilizing footage or reducing the field of view. Stabilizing any footage requires a buffer around the viewing window; essentially, you're cropping it. When the camera moves, the algorithm can pull some of the video from the buffer area to compensate. The same is true of adjusting field-of-view during your edit. The One-R with 1-inch Mod will shoot at an ultra-wide field of view, and if you want to change this during editing, you're essentially cropping the footage around the edges.
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The other point to consider is that the 5.7K resolution is partly due to the 1-inch image sensor, which is the largest you'll find on any action camera. So the question becomes, "why would I want a larger image sensor"? A larger sensor can gather more light, resulting in greater detail. While shooting in the daytime, this offers little benefit beyond a higher resolution, resulting in much less noise in low-light situations.
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Edit Anywhere
You have two options for editing your footage, both of which come with their own advantages and limitations.
For users who want professional video editing tools and to work with the highest possible 5.7K resolution, the Insta360 Studio software for desktop or PC is the best option. A recent update also enables the One R to output mp4 files by default (as opposed to the proprietary insv format), so it's now easier than ever to get the footage straight into your favorite editing package. An Adobe Premiere plugin is also available. However, the Insta360 Studio is surprisingly light on features, with only basic editing capabilities such as changing the field-of-view and time-shifting.
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The Insta360 One app is another option for those looking to edit on the go, available for iOS or Android. It offers some quick editing features like an AI-powered "FlashCut" to automatically identify the best bits of your footage, then sequence them together in a template with music. We first saw this impressive feature on the Insta360 Go (reviewed last year). However, using the app does come with one limitation: your final output file is limited to 4K resolution. This won't be a problem for most people, and the source footage is still 5.7K.
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If it's not apparent: 5.7K resolution files are big–over 1GB per minute. And they're taxing to edit. Even my year or two old MacBook Pro struggles with processing them in Final Cut. Proxy files are recorded simultaneously for smartphone editing, so although you'll still need a powerful device, it's often easier to edit on the app.
New Accessories Too!
Along with the new 1-inch Edition, Insta360 has added some handy One R accessories to their line up, which are worth mentioning as you may be able to save by purchasing in a bundle.
The new One R mounting bracket has an added accessory rail on top for attaching accessories like a light or external microphone.
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The USB-C microphone adaptor allows you to plug supported mics directly into the camera, such as the Rode Wireless Go. It's also a lot cheaper than competitor's external mic adapters at around $10–$15, compared to the $50 that GoPro demands. I should note that I still used an external recorder for most of the review video, as early firmware I was on at the time has some noise issues with this adaptor; however, this has since been fixed (in firmware 1.17).
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The One R carry case features dedicated space for all three lenses and the fast charging hub, charge cable, boosted battery base, and the case with mounting bracket. If you have the full set of accessories, this is an obvious must-buy!
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Want to head underwater? Officially, the 1-Inch Mod is IP68 waterproof for a depth of up to 5m. Any deeper and you should use the Dive Case, up to 60m.
Maybe Not For Vlogging
For vloggers, there's one aspect of this 1-inch lens that may put you off buying it: a minimum focus distance of around 90cm. While this isn't a problem for me walking around my garden with the Insta360 extendable selfie-stick or on a tripod in my studio, it might cause problems in a crowded environment. That's not to say footage of a subject situated less than 90cm from the lens is unusable, but it may have a slight blur to the edges.
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Of course, this minimum focus distance can also benefit, avoiding the stereotypical "action cam" style footage where everything is pin-sharp to infinity. Place an object in the very close foreground, and you'll achieve a depth of field that differentiates your footage from other action cams.
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The oversized lens guard also makes operating the touchscreen a little awkward when in "vlogging modes," with the touchscreen facing you rather than on the camera's rear. It also needs to be disassembled to place it into the case, which can be annoying if you frequently swap mods.
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Should You Buy The Insta360 1-Inch Mod?
If you love your Insta360 One R already and want to up the quality of shots, particularly in low-light, the $300 1-inch Mod is a cost-effective way of upgrading without having to shell out for an entirely new camera. That's the beauty of an interchangeable lens system.
If you don't already own the Insta360 One R Twin Edition, the One R 1-Inch Edition will set you back around $550.
In either case, it's not a budget option by any means. But the quality of footage speaks for itself. If you absolutely must have the highest resolution action camera available, using the largest sensor for incredible night shots, the 1-Inch Edition is for you.
  The Highest Resolution Action Camera Ever: Insta360 One-R With 1-Inch Mod published first on http://droneseco.tumblr.com/
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grassroutes · 4 years
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Risking Your Privacy Is More Fun Than the Librem 5
Our verdict of the Purism Librem 5 : With a solid operating system and privacy-focused hardware kill switches, the Librem 5 is bulkier than expected and eats through battery. While the philosophy behind the phone is sound, Librem 5 is unlikely to be picked up by anyone other than Linux users and privacy advocates.510
Smartphones deliver untold conveniences into our lives, barely thought of 20 years ago. Mobile internet, email, social networking, gaming, productivity, shopping, even media production. The list goes on—but it comes with a price.
Your phone is tracking you. GPS can detect your position; the mic and camera can eavesdrop; online services record your activity. We’ve traded privacy for convenience at a slow-burning rate that continues to smolder.
Social purpose technology company Purism believes it can change this. It’s developed Librem 5, a Linux-based smartphone with built-in kill switches for internet, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as the camera and microphone.
It sounds promising, but does the Librem 5 deliver on the promise of a “security and privacy-focused phone” that can replace your Android or iPhone?
What’s Inside the Librem 5?
Two versions of the Librem 5 have been announced: Librem 5, and Librem 5 USA. Purism kindly sent us the original Librem 5 for review.
Inside the phone is a Quad-core Cortex A53, 64bit ARM CPU running at a maximum 1.5GHz. 3GB of RAM is also squeezed in, with a Vivante GC7000Lite GPU. The Librem 5 has 32GB eMMC storage with a microSD card slot for up to 2TB more.
Also behind the 5.7-inch 720×1440 IPS TFT display is a choice of baseband radio (Gemalto PLS8 or Broadmobi BM818), nanoSIM tray, 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4. The phone features a TESEO LIV3 multi-constellation GNSS GPS receiver. Note that NFC is not included. However, there is a nine-axis accelerometer, (gyro, accel, magnetometer) and ambient light and proximity sensor.
Two ports are included: a USB-C input for power, data, and DisplayPort, and the “Courage Jack”. This is a 3.5mm headphone jack—Purism states that unlike established competitors, it has “no intention of doing vendor lock-in.”
The Librem 5 features a removable back panel. Here you can access the user replaceable 3,500mAh battery.
As you look at the phone in your hand, the right-hand side features a power button and volume buttons. The left side features the kill switches. These are for Wi-Fi, cellular, and the cameras and mic. Activating all three kill also disable GPS.
An RGB LED is provided for notifications and the phone features two cameras: a front facing 8MP camera and a 13MP main cam with LED flash.
The review device we received included the Librem 5 phone, a USB-C to USB-C cable, mains adaptor, and earbuds.
Do You Need a Secure Phone?
Your phone is leaking data about you all the time. Either that data is recorded by Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, or any number of online entities, or your mobile provider is logging activity. A VPN is a smart way to encrypt internet activity, but that doesn’t stop GPS, cellular and Wi-Fi positioning. Cameras and mics aren’t easily encrypted either.
The Librem 5 is described as “a security and privacy focused phone” and comes with software trackers disabled by default.
Throw in the kill switches, the Linux operating system, free and open source software, and drivers, and Librem 5 is secure in a way other phones cannot hope to be.
While it’s straightforward enough to disable GPS, cellular and wireless on an Android or iPhone, kill switches simplify it and give peace of mind. These physical switches can enhance security and privacy wherever you are.
Meanwhile, the Librem 5 is almost unique in not relying on any chips compromised by the Meltdown or Spectre vulnerabilities. This alone makes it more secure than many devices.
Operating System and Software
It doesn’t run Android or iOS—so what is running on the Librem 5?
PureOS is a Linux distribution maintained by Purism for its own devices. Based on Debian, this is an operating system with a focus on privacy. For example, the default web browser is Mozilla Firefox with DuckDuckGo providing search.
First impressions are odd. After logging in what you see is a blank home screen. The only indication of what comes next is a single chevron, a keyboard icon, and notification icons at the top. Quick note about the keyboard—having it accessible on every screen is an excellent idea. Sadly, implementation of text entry is terrible, from finger accuracy to access to secondary characters. A software keyboard that works shouldn’t be a big ask.
While the app drawer is easy to access via an upward swipe, the Librem 5 is short on apps. Linux apps are available for almost every purpose, but few are suitable for the phone user interface. Happily, HTML5 web apps run the browser. Meanwhile a small number of dedicated apps and games are also available.
In addition, standard Linux apps with ARM compatibility can also run. These are subject to hardware and privacy limitations, however. For example, capturing a screenshot from the Librem 5 proved impossible.
However, a word of warning. The Librem 5’s Linux phone predecessors running on Ubuntu Touch struggled with the reliance on web apps. While in theory web apps are preferable to apps that install on your device demanding resources, they’re slightly less usable. The comparative speed of Firefox limits things further—it’s unclear whether the seemingly slow browser is limited pending optimization tweaks.
Our review of the Librem 5 has taken several weeks, partly due to battery limitations. The review device seemed prone to running dry with just a few hours use. Regardless, I was able to spend more time than usual evaluating the phone and how it feels to use.
Overall, the user experience of the Librem 5 is pleasant—it’s just that using it as a phone is currently limited.
Updates Philosophy for the Librem 5
Purism has clearly spent a lot of time considering the state of the smartphone industry. From the challenge of providing an alternative mobile operating system to working to enhance security and privacy for users, there is much to reflect upon.
An issue with iOS and Android (and other platforms) that is often overlooked is that of updates. Consequently, Purism states it will provide security updates, privacy improvements, bug fixes, and new features for the device’s lifetime.
This is a welcome change from the Apple and Google approach of issuing updates that only cover recent releases.
Booting Librem 5
Switching on the phone is as simple as you would expect. Hold the power button for a second, and it boots up—remarkably fast. I timed it at five seconds, which is about as fast as you can expect for any phone.
At times, however, I found that the Librem 5 would not boot. Despite my initial concerns, this wasn’t a power issue; I tried reseating the battery, recharging again, the usual tricks. Fortunately, I was directed to a support page revealing the solution. Within seconds the phone was up and running.
While frustrating, this support issue was nevertheless effectively solved. Having support pages in place for the phone at this stage is good news for all users of the Librem 5.
But this bulky phone gets hot when charging. No doubt an issue for future correction, you basically need to power if off before plugging in to charge.
Using Librem 5 for Calls
With so few options on the software side, the Librem 5 handles calls and contacts reasonably well.
However, call volume is impossible to change while the call is taking place. Meanwhile, speaker mode is… disappointing to say the least. It appears to push the same audio through the main speaker at exactly the same volume as the call.
So while calls are easy enough to make, and the audio quality is good, basic accessibility suffers.
As a phone you can pick up and take with you, the Librem 5 is unsurprisingly chunky. It weighs 230 grams, a good 100 grams more than average, although this is due to the components and build materials. It feels comfortable in the hand, however, which is always a good thing.
A Glimpse of the Future
The Librem 5 promises much, a whole new attitude towards digital privacy. But there is a long way to go. There’s no working camera app at this stage; the browser is slow; battery life is terrible; desktop convergence mode is absent. Call volume is strangely quiet and speaker mode follows suit.
At this stage, the Librem 5 is far from a write-off, however. In terms of using it as a basic phone, the hardware is sound. The privacy aspects are sound. But it feels that PureOS offers less of a mobile experience than Ubuntu Touch did (and UBPorts continues to do).
While the Librem 5 is available to buy today, it is important to appreciate that it remains a work in progress.
An Ultra-Secure Linux Phone With Potential
Open source phones have long been touted as a secure and workable alternative to Android and iPhone. Firefox OS, Meego, and others have been and gone, while previous Linux attempts such as UBPorts have stalled.
The Librem 5 represents an opportunity to change the way we use mobiles. Having the option to physically disable key tracking and surveillance hardware on your phone is obviously a massive advantage.
For this, however, you sacrifice the convenience that comes with an Android or iOS phone.
Like many others, I really want this phone to shape the future of smartphones and mobile technology. On this showing, it’s at least five years out of step. Purism’s good intentions are clear, but the Librem 5 is a far cry from the quality of its laptops. More worryingly for Purism, there’s a strong chance its efforts could be overshadowed by the PinePhone, another Linux project that is far more affordable.
Do we want a future where we have granular control over privacy? Of course we do. And that’s why Librem 5 must be admired. As a concept, it sounds great on paper, but in practice, it leaves much to be desired.
Ultimately, Librem 5 is a privacy-focused phone that limits you to HTML5 apps and a few bundled Linux tools. There is a lot to like here, but not enough for the Librem 5 to go mainstream.
Read the full article: Risking Your Privacy Is More Fun Than the Librem 5
Risking Your Privacy Is More Fun Than the Librem 5 posted first on grassroutespage.blogspot.com
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fortuneandfame · 5 years
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I could be way off base here but I remember a day when Toyota was a brand for everyone; from exciting, practical, and  fun. They had a family car, big body sedan, sports car, mid-size, small-size and of course they were mostly affordable for everyone. Somehow the rear wheel drive powertrains were axed for boring mundane economy cars. Long gone are the days of the Celicas, AE86s, Supras, and VIP Previas. Until now, with the likes of the FR-S and coming Supra replacement it seems that Toyota is ready to get back to its roots; and they did not just stop it seems they have revamped their full line-up to great styling, great features and accoutrements. Even technology now seems presetine; Toyota truly has a car for everyone. Let’s take a look at the latest offering that Toyota was kind enough to loan us for the week. The all new 2019 Toyota Avalon – Now let’s be honest when I was told they were handing me the keys to an Avalon, I  cringed on the inside. However, I quickly ate crow. When they dropped the car off in it’s beautiful Ruby Flare Pearl exterior paint I at first had no idea what I was looking at. I pulled over and thought it was a new Lexus GS then I realized it was the car that was supposed to be mine for the next seven days. We took a walk around checked out the interior and the whole time my jaw was dragging along behind me. I could not believe my eyes. The first thing that threw me off was the large and massive grill. It seems to be very polarizing you either like it or you do not. Shout out to my purist family who the majority disliked the grill but the whole aggressive design grew on me and I love it. I feel as if Toyota is back with a vengeance. If you want to know if the car is good, read no further as the bottom line  is simple. This car is amazing, the only negative is that it does not come in rear or all wheel drive.
I have for the most of my automotive “career” almost always had European cars with the exception of two of my first cars. Which happened to be under the Toyota umbrella and I loved those cars no real reason why I left the brand; other than I was always a fan of the euro. However, the price point at a fully ticked $43k there is not much that can touch what this car offers for this price. Let me break it down this way so I can make sure we do not miss anything.
Mechanical
The heartbeat of the Avalon is a 3.5-Liter V6 that has a respectable 301 HP and 267 lb-ft of torque and while its not lightning quick off the line; in a roll on the freeway and around 3500rpm this car catches speed quick. All bolted up to an 8 Speed automatic trans. Allowing you to have some naughty fun and/or get you out of trouble when needed. While the motor and transmission work extremely well together I am curious to know how good this motor gets with a tune, exhaust, and better breathing but we will see if we can test that theory at a later time. But if you want to know how good the motor gets you can ask the few Maserati Ghiblis, Levantes, Chargers, Challengers and few BMWs that lay slain in the wake of this surprising little beast. Rolling on 19″ alloy wheels painted with black windows it ties the whole car in a very sporty, aggressive and classy way. The suspension is firm enough so you know whats going on but properly soft for a big body sedan. It soaks up LA’s horrible roads with ease. I hit a pothole by accident and in my other car alignment probably would have been left a mile behind and popped a tire. The Avalon literally took it with NO problem and we barely felt it. What I like most which reminds me of the good old days when my parents gifted me their Lexus ES300, you can go 90mph and not notice it because the car is smooth, planted, quiet and comfortable. I can give you the full specs of the independent MacPherson struts and sport tuned shocks but in my opinion who cares the suspension is great. Seeing as this is a Toyota and their claimed summer anthem of wanting my MPGs they have this car at an estimated 25 mpg Combined (22 city/31 highway). With that said I averaged 27-30 with a lead foot and 2 tanks to prove it.
Exterior
Once again I think this car is quite the looker. The enthusiast in me wants to see it lowered on 20s with blacked out windows light smoke on rear tail lights and bigger exhaust tips to really showcase the beautiful lines of this car. But if you leave it stock in the right color looks just delectable. Granted some people may not enjoy the looks of this car, but this is one of the many places this car gives it’s euro counterparts a run for the money. The car I currently have came with LED headlights which was an option. Most other manufacturers that charge close double for a similar vehicle are still using boring old Xenons – which starts easily building the case why this car is a steal for the money. LED headlights not only look great but function well and I will never purchase a car again that does not have them. The eyes of this car are aggressive, beautiful and bold. Full LED headlights with Automatic High beams and sequential running blinkers (Dynamic Auxiliary Turn signal) for both front and rear. Huge aggressive front grill with front camera to help with 360 Parking, and curb assist so you do not plow your bumper into the parking block ahead. Nice aggressive front vents that are functional which I presume for aerodynamics and brake cooling. We finish off the front half of the car with acoustic noise-reducing front windshield keeping the occupants happy inside. Bringing around back we have quad tipped exhaust a nice lip spoiler which looks like an aftermarket piece and I like it quite a bit. Also, including a nice aggressive rear diffuser to button up the whole package.
Interior
The seats are very nice. Orange stitching keeps together a semi-perforated ultra suede and leather seat that is both heated and ventilated (cooling and amazing on these hot days) giving the car that posh sporty look that you typically see in more expensive cars. Hop into the front you are greeted with a plethora of enjoyments. Starting off with an 8-way adjustable seat with 4 way lumbar for both passenger and driver. Heated tile and telescoping steering wheel all with memory function. Also included on the steering is bluetooth hands free and voice command buttons along with cruise control volume and other niceties. Behind the steering wheel you have your speedo with a nice 7″ screen with pertinent information and they one upped themselves with a 10″ color HUD right in the windshield where you can see the speed limit of the street your on, mph, radar info and a few other things that help keep your eyes on the road and not where they should not be. In the dash you have a 9″ touch screen which is very responsive and has all the fun stuff. Satellite radio, 360 rear and front cameras all come on at the right time to help you park and stay out of the insurance companies pockets. The only negative about this system is the navigation is a little annoying and not as good as the old Toyota and Lexus’ I remember. However, if it gets on your nerves there’s always Apple CarPlay. One thing I really liked about the navigation though is Dynamic Navigation. Here’s how it works, I need to get to a destination and I am driving and/or in my case too lazy to look it up or type it in. Hit the prompt for navigation assist and on the line comes an operator asking where I would like to go. I tell them to map me to said location. If they do not have an address they will look it up. Hit GO on my screen and off we are to the next adventure.
Just below that we have wireless charging which is an amazing feature. The only problem I had with wireless charging is that my phone kept sliding around and  flying off the charger which left my phone upset. However, I am sure when the car comes to production that will be fixed with some type of rubber footing or holder. Additionally, under the armrest which is insanely deep holds three pots to charge your devices. Finishing off the interior with the rear seat there is plenty of space back there for passengers big and small. The biggest problem I have as a dad with any car these days is my kid and her carseat. She says at 42 inches tall she does not have enough legroom. With the Avalon that is a problem of the past. Also, to keep your rear seat guests comfortable and happy, two large vents that offer them copious amounts of air and an additional two plugs for their phones or tablets so you are always charged and ready for life’s adventures.  Oh and the trunk is big as “F” so strollers, bass guitars, keyboards, a ton of of stuff will fit with ease and if you need more you can fold down the rear 60/40 split seats.
My only real qualm about the interior is the center stack. In my opinion the clean interior design does not match the stack and the stack lessens the slightly more premium feeling you get in the Avalon.
Safety
They have all the top safety stuff that you want, need and systems you never knew you wanted or needed. The list is pretty long I will more or less talk about my favorites here. A few of my favorite safety features that I put to use was the brake alert; coming too close to the radar system in the nose of the car will alert you that it is time to brake if it feels you are moving at a rate of speed where it will be difficult to brake safely without a collision. Which could be helpful if you get distracted or the traffic suddenly changes before you have time to react. Blind spot detection which is always an added bonus, along with pedestrian detection. One cool thing to note is when we tested the feature, the car came to a complete halt if someone walks behind your car while you are backing up. My favorite though is what I am calling semi Auto-pilot. It is a far cry from Tesla’s autopilot, which in actuality you cannot really call or compare it to Auto-pilot because it’s not. It is a very smart cruise control system having some very similar features which was quite welcomed during traffic. So the car has a radar in the nose which helps with a lot of the driving and safety features. Most noticed when cruise control is activated. You can in fact activate cruise control at pretty much any speed and it will hold at whatever speed you set unless you come up on a car. Once you come up to a certain distance about 3 car lengths the car will adjust it’s speed to keep a safe distance from the car ahead. It will slow down up unto the point where it needs to come to a complete stop if necessary. It will not go again until you tap the gas to re-activate the cruise. With lane keeping assist that will push you back into the middle of the lane. It is a good and intuitive way to keep you safe even when you’re not as alert because you have been sitting in LA traffic for 2 hours. The only drawback of this system is the brakes let you know that they work as they for the most part apply full force; they do not ease into the brake to reach programmed limits. No matter what speed whether theres traffic or not if it senses it needs to slow down to keep with the parameters set it will slam on the brakes making your stomach hit the front windshield. After playing with it every day I finally figured out a happy medium for the most part and the system worked quite well.
Farewell
In my ripe young age I have become quit the car snob. After spending time with the Avalon for a full week I shed a small tear to see it go as I have been turned into a believer that Toyota still can produce a functional, fun enjoyable daily driver that can handle a multitude of requirements and daily tasks. For the enthusiasts this is a great tuning platform for the stance and VIP crowd. A solid platform to use as a show car, cruiser, family hauler, business car, and overall huge bang for the buck. It’s actually mind blowing what Toyota has provided in their new Avalon for $40k. For all other car makers, in particular the European counterparts. You have been put on notice: Koreans and Japanese are coming and they are here to stay and they are here to wow customers with strong, solid, designs, technology, reliability and overall great cars. If you want something your age get the Camry as it’s geared toward the younger demo. If you want a nice big body cruiser that has some potential and comes with pretty much everything you need standard. The Avalon is the way to go.
Thank you to Toyota for forcing me to buy another car because I like this car that much.
Check out the IGs of the photogs that collaborated with me on this shoot.
@Russ.Photography
MY Ode to Ava[lon] I could be way off base here but I remember a day when Toyota was a brand for everyone; from exciting, practical, and  fun.
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kichanzo · 4 years
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Infinix Zero 8 Review – The Devil is in the Details
Infinix Zero 8 DEALS
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It’s obvious to those that read my reviews that I’m not a fan of either Infinix or Tecno. But with the Infinix Zero 8, it seems that they have realised that 2020 is the year of the Camera phone.
Just in case you think I hate Infinix phones, here is a sample of what people say about them.
What people say about infinix phones
https://bit.ly/336ryKJ
Of course you can’t ignore the fact that Kenyans spend their time complaining on Facebook. Neither can you ignore the fact that one should be changing their Smartphone every 3 years and not wait until it dies.
That’s one of the reasons I got interested in the new Infinix Zero 8. It’s a competitor to the new Tecno 16 Premier. Hopefully, this review shall make it easier to make an informed choice.
What You Will Read
Things to Consider Before Buying A Mid Range Phone in Kenya
Infinix Zero 8 Specifications
Chipset /iOS and Performance
Display and Design
Battery Life and Performance
Camera and Video Capabilities
Infinix Zero 8 Price in Kenya
What Comes with the Zero 8
Alternatives to the Infinix Zero 8
Samsung Galaxy M31s
Tecno Camon 16 Premier
Nokia 5.3
Our Verdict
Things to Consider Before Buying A Mid Range Phone in Kenya
For most manufacturers, mid-range phones are their bread and butter. They have better specs than than cheap smartphones but at the same time keep costs lower. Some of the things you should consider before you buy one include:
The Processor Type – A better processor means a better performing phone for you.
RAM – You are likely to stay with a mid-range phone for some time. A minimum of 4GB RAM is what I would suggest. Unless, you want to spend your weekends cleaning old files.
Battery Size – A good mid-range phone should have the battery capacity you need to do your work. In 2020, I’d suggest you take a look at phones with quick charging features.
The Price – Price matters and at between 25k to 35k you should get a durable phone that you will take pride in.
Brand – Yes, the brand matters. Android update frequency, user interface and brand value does matter in mid-range phones.
Choose wisely as one of the main reasons you buy a mid-range phone is longevity. It is not fun buying a ksh. 25k phone that breaks after a year. Trust me, I’ve been there and it’s not fun.
Which brings us to the Infinix Zero 8
It’s coming into an already crowded mid-range phone sector. We already have the Samsung M31, Huawei Y8p and my favorite Nokia 7.2. But I have to say, this a better offering than it’s predecessors.
Infinix Zero 8 Specifications
Display:  6.85 inches 1080 x 2460 pixels | CPU: Octa-core (2×2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 + 6×2.0 GHz | RAM: 8 GB | Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB / Yes | Rear camera: 64 MP (wide) + 8 MP (ultrawide) + 2 MP (macro) + 2 MP (depth | Front camera: 48 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.0″, 0.8µm | Platform: Android 10 | Battery life: Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable
infinix zero 8 in kenya
Chipset /iOS and Performance
youtube
    The Zero 8 comes with Android 10 but they have to include their custom XOS 7 skin. I don’t mind an Android 10 but the XOS 7 skin can be annoying at times. The moment you turn on the phone, you get tens of notifications from apps that you will never use.
It will take you some time to set it up the way you wish to. Every app seems to come with it���s own permissions settings. If you forget to to turn them off, you end up with more notifications. This can be great for people who want to seem busy. But it’s a put off for those who are truly busy. In my view, those extra apps and permission settings need to go. Who knows what type of data I give access to the moment I turn it on.
Having said that, I do like the parental controls features on the phone. It’s not easy controlling kids with access to phones. It allows you to setup strict gaming parameters.
It also has a clever background resource optimization scheme. This lets you select apps that you want and app that you don’t want. Very handy when you need to control access to your apps.
The Infinix Zero 8 is based on a Mediatek MT6785 Helio G90T chipset. It performs very well compared to others such as Redmi Note 8 and even the Samsung A21s. That came as a surprise.
The performance of this chipset is truly a surprise. Of course you can’t compare it to the higher end brands. However, if you need a phone with a smooth experience without the price tag, then it’s a good choice.
Display and Design
Though it’s plastic and I do hate plastic based phone, it does come with a unique design especially at the back. It’s cameras have been setup in a diamond shape that looks kinda cool. But the plastic will make you keep a wiper handy. Smudges and fingerprints are part of owning the phone.
I still can’t get my head around the plastic though. The camera bump requires proper placement on a surface or at least a larger than normal phone case.
Having said that, the phone feels study and easier to handle than previous Infinix phones which were the very definition of bulky. It is heavier on the lower side but that’s OK seeing that it comes with better features at the price range.
It comes in different colors such as Silver Diamond, Black Diamond, and Green Diamond. Someone in the company was really stuck on the diamonds this time.
Battery Life and Performance
Inside, the 4500mAh large-capacity battery matches your pace through the day, and with its 33W SuperCharge speed, Zero 8’s battery recharges rapidly even when you only have 30 minutes to top up. #InfinixZERO8KE#VisionMaster pic.twitter.com/yzSR322Sei
— InfinixKenya (@InfinixKenya) September 7, 2020
Infinix has stuck to it’s original specs. They just love huge batteries. At 4500 mAh it’s not their biggest but will do very well for those who hate charging their phones. One extra cool thing is that it also has fast charging capabilities. For those who love big batteries, this is a great choice of phone.
According to GSM Arena, they weren’t very impressed with the excessive battery size versus the phone perfromance
However, the flip side of the story is that the Zero 8 is clearly leaving unused battery life on the table and outright wasting it in its 90Hz mode. That’s not a stab at the 90Hz mode, directly, though. It does what it is supposed to do – manually fix the refresh rate at 90Hz regardless of what is currently on screen, like a video player, playing our 24ish fps sample video GSM Arena.
In other words, better battery life does not equate to better performance. My pet peeve with these huge phones with huge batteries.
The saving grace is the 33W charger that allows you to fully charge in about an hour 20 minutes. For people like me who charge phones when asleep or in the office, it isn’t that great.
However, it’s a must have for those always on the go as it allows you to get to at least 50% charge in half an hour.
Camera and Video Capabilities
All their adverts are selling the camera capabilities. And unfortunately one is judged by their own words. You can’t compare this to the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra but the Zero 8 has made a major step towards creating quality phones.
The phone design is not a mistake. They wanted to show that they can compete with the big brands known for camera quality. But having tested the Samsung M and A series, the phone still has some ways to go.
The Infinix Zero 8 can capture video at up to 4K@30fps on its main camera. The video as you can see below is not that great.
But for vloggers in Kenya, the selfie camera mode is great. They have done a great job with the front camera with a lot of color and auto focus. It’s great for a starter phone without those huge bills from the Samsung brands.
youtube
  Infinix Zero 8 Price in Kenya
Launched on August 28th 2020, the current price of the Infinix Zero 8 in Kenya is about ksh. 28500 to 29000. This is one of their most expensive phones based on it’s new features.
You can check out our other other reviews of the latest smartphones in Kenya
What Comes with the Zero 8
I personally like the quick charger at 33w. But as usual Infinix goes further than other brands when it comes to accessories
Free Wireless Ear Bud
Free Bluetooth Speaker Black Diamond
Charger
Ear Phone
Manual
Alternatives to the Infinix Zero 8
As stated earlier, the mid-range smartphones market in Kenya is very competitive. It’s harder for brands that are known for cheap phones try to compete in the sector. There are a few great alternatives to the phone not least being the Samsung Galaxy M and A series phones
Samsung Galaxy M31s
It’s hard to fault the M31s. If you really do need that extra battery power, then the 6000 mAh in the Galaxy M31s should satisfy you. They are priced in the same range but the M31s is a superior option.
The only problem is that you can only find a Dubai version in Kenya which doesn’t come with a warranty.
If warranties matter to you, then stick to the Zero 8
Tecno Camon 16 Premier
This was released just 2 days before the Zero 8. The phones are exactly the same in terms of specs. No wonder as they are both owned by the same Transission holdings company. If the brand name matters to you then you have a choice between the two phones.
Nokia 5.3
I am biased towards Nokia phones but this a review of the Zero 8 not a personal opinion. The Nokia 5.3 is just as good and in areas such as the camera build, 3x better. It’s a study phone and comes at a lower price point. The only difference is the battery size at 4000 mAh.
But I’m sure a difference of 15 minutes in battery life won’t deny you the pleasure of owning the better phone.
  Our Verdict
There is a huge improvement in the Infinix Zero 8 in Kenya over previous versions of their phones. But one can’t escape that nagging feeling that there’s always something left on the table by Infinix and Tecno phones.
Granted they serve a huge market for those who cannot afford higher priced phones. This would be a good phone for someone who doesn’t care much about brand names and would prefer to have a smooth phones without gimmicks.
The Review
Infinix Zero 8
3.7 Score
The Infinix Zero 8 is surprisingly a great phone that performs as well as other higher priced models. Infinix seems to have upped their game with this new phone.
PROS
Good enough Camera
Great Videos at a Reasonable Price
CONS
It's an Infinix
Too much bloat in the XOS 7 Skin
Plastic Body
Review Breakdown
Battery
Display
Camera
Performance
Value
Infinix Zero 8 DEALS
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Best Price
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droneseco · 4 years
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Risking Your Privacy Is More Fun Than the Librem 5
Our verdict of the Purism Librem 5 : With a solid operating system and privacy-focused hardware kill switches, the Librem 5 is bulkier than expected and eats through battery. While the philosophy behind the phone is sound, Librem 5 is unlikely to be picked up by anyone other than Linux users and privacy advocates.510
Smartphones deliver untold conveniences into our lives, barely thought of 20 years ago. Mobile internet, email, social networking, gaming, productivity, shopping, even media production. The list goes on—but it comes with a price.
Your phone is tracking you. GPS can detect your position; the mic and camera can eavesdrop; online services record your activity. We’ve traded privacy for convenience at a slow-burning rate that continues to smolder.
Social purpose technology company Purism believes it can change this. It’s developed Librem 5, a Linux-based smartphone with built-in kill switches for internet, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as the camera and microphone.
It sounds promising, but does the Librem 5 deliver on the promise of a “security and privacy-focused phone” that can replace your Android or iPhone?
What’s Inside the Librem 5?
Two versions of the Librem 5 have been announced: Librem 5, and Librem 5 USA. Purism kindly sent us the original Librem 5 for review.
Inside the phone is a Quad-core Cortex A53, 64bit ARM CPU running at a maximum 1.5GHz. 3GB of RAM is also squeezed in, with a Vivante GC7000Lite GPU. The Librem 5 has 32GB eMMC storage with a microSD card slot for up to 2TB more.
Also behind the 5.7-inch 720×1440 IPS TFT display is a choice of baseband radio (Gemalto PLS8 or Broadmobi BM818), nanoSIM tray, 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4. The phone features a TESEO LIV3 multi-constellation GNSS GPS receiver. Note that NFC is not included. However, there is a nine-axis accelerometer, (gyro, accel, magnetometer) and ambient light and proximity sensor.
Two ports are included: a USB-C input for power, data, and DisplayPort, and the “Courage Jack”. This is a 3.5mm headphone jack—Purism states that unlike established competitors, it has “no intention of doing vendor lock-in.”
The Librem 5 features a removable back panel. Here you can access the user replaceable 3,500mAh battery.
As you look at the phone in your hand, the right-hand side features a power button and volume buttons. The left side features the kill switches. These are for Wi-Fi, cellular, and the cameras and mic. Activating all three kill also disable GPS.
An RGB LED is provided for notifications and the phone features two cameras: a front facing 8MP camera and a 13MP main cam with LED flash.
The review device we received included the Librem 5 phone, a USB-C to USB-C cable, mains adaptor, and earbuds.
Do You Need a Secure Phone?
Your phone is leaking data about you all the time. Either that data is recorded by Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, or any number of online entities, or your mobile provider is logging activity. A VPN is a smart way to encrypt internet activity, but that doesn’t stop GPS, cellular and Wi-Fi positioning. Cameras and mics aren’t easily encrypted either.
The Librem 5 is described as “a security and privacy focused phone” and comes with software trackers disabled by default.
Throw in the kill switches, the Linux operating system, free and open source software, and drivers, and Librem 5 is secure in a way other phones cannot hope to be.
While it’s straightforward enough to disable GPS, cellular and wireless on an Android or iPhone, kill switches simplify it and give peace of mind. These physical switches can enhance security and privacy wherever you are.
Meanwhile, the Librem 5 is almost unique in not relying on any chips compromised by the Meltdown or Spectre vulnerabilities. This alone makes it more secure than many devices.
Operating System and Software
It doesn’t run Android or iOS—so what is running on the Librem 5?
PureOS is a Linux distribution maintained by Purism for its own devices. Based on Debian, this is an operating system with a focus on privacy. For example, the default web browser is Mozilla Firefox with DuckDuckGo providing search.
First impressions are odd. After logging in what you see is a blank home screen. The only indication of what comes next is a single chevron, a keyboard icon, and notification icons at the top. Quick note about the keyboard—having it accessible on every screen is an excellent idea. Sadly, implementation of text entry is terrible, from finger accuracy to access to secondary characters. A software keyboard that works shouldn’t be a big ask.
While the app drawer is easy to access via an upward swipe, the Librem 5 is short on apps. Linux apps are available for almost every purpose, but few are suitable for the phone user interface. Happily, HTML5 web apps run the browser. Meanwhile a small number of dedicated apps and games are also available.
In addition, standard Linux apps with ARM compatibility can also run. These are subject to hardware and privacy limitations, however. For example, capturing a screenshot from the Librem 5 proved impossible.
However, a word of warning. The Librem 5’s Linux phone predecessors running on Ubuntu Touch struggled with the reliance on web apps. While in theory web apps are preferable to apps that install on your device demanding resources, they’re slightly less usable. The comparative speed of Firefox limits things further—it’s unclear whether the seemingly slow browser is limited pending optimization tweaks.
Our review of the Librem 5 has taken several weeks, partly due to battery limitations. The review device seemed prone to running dry with just a few hours use. Regardless, I was able to spend more time than usual evaluating the phone and how it feels to use.
Overall, the user experience of the Librem 5 is pleasant—it’s just that using it as a phone is currently limited.
Updates Philosophy for the Librem 5
Purism has clearly spent a lot of time considering the state of the smartphone industry. From the challenge of providing an alternative mobile operating system to working to enhance security and privacy for users, there is much to reflect upon.
An issue with iOS and Android (and other platforms) that is often overlooked is that of updates. Consequently, Purism states it will provide security updates, privacy improvements, bug fixes, and new features for the device’s lifetime.
This is a welcome change from the Apple and Google approach of issuing updates that only cover recent releases.
Booting Librem 5
Switching on the phone is as simple as you would expect. Hold the power button for a second, and it boots up—remarkably fast. I timed it at five seconds, which is about as fast as you can expect for any phone.
At times, however, I found that the Librem 5 would not boot. Despite my initial concerns, this wasn’t a power issue; I tried reseating the battery, recharging again, the usual tricks. Fortunately, I was directed to a support page revealing the solution. Within seconds the phone was up and running.
While frustrating, this support issue was nevertheless effectively solved. Having support pages in place for the phone at this stage is good news for all users of the Librem 5.
But this bulky phone gets hot when charging. No doubt an issue for future correction, you basically need to power if off before plugging in to charge.
Using Librem 5 for Calls
With so few options on the software side, the Librem 5 handles calls and contacts reasonably well.
However, call volume is impossible to change while the call is taking place. Meanwhile, speaker mode is… disappointing to say the least. It appears to push the same audio through the main speaker at exactly the same volume as the call.
So while calls are easy enough to make, and the audio quality is good, basic accessibility suffers.
As a phone you can pick up and take with you, the Librem 5 is unsurprisingly chunky. It weighs 230 grams, a good 100 grams more than average, although this is due to the components and build materials. It feels comfortable in the hand, however, which is always a good thing.
A Glimpse of the Future
The Librem 5 promises much, a whole new attitude towards digital privacy. But there is a long way to go. There’s no working camera app at this stage; the browser is slow; battery life is terrible; desktop convergence mode is absent. Call volume is strangely quiet and speaker mode follows suit.
At this stage, the Librem 5 is far from a write-off, however. In terms of using it as a basic phone, the hardware is sound. The privacy aspects are sound. But it feels that PureOS offers less of a mobile experience than Ubuntu Touch did (and UBPorts continues to do).
While the Librem 5 is available to buy today, it is important to appreciate that it remains a work in progress.
An Ultra-Secure Linux Phone With Potential
Open source phones have long been touted as a secure and workable alternative to Android and iPhone. Firefox OS, Meego, and others have been and gone, while previous Linux attempts such as UBPorts have stalled.
The Librem 5 represents an opportunity to change the way we use mobiles. Having the option to physically disable key tracking and surveillance hardware on your phone is obviously a massive advantage.
For this, however, you sacrifice the convenience that comes with an Android or iOS phone.
Like many others, I really want this phone to shape the future of smartphones and mobile technology. On this showing, it’s at least five years out of step. Purism’s good intentions are clear, but the Librem 5 is a far cry from the quality of its laptops. More worryingly for Purism, there’s a strong chance its efforts could be overshadowed by the PinePhone, another Linux project that is far more affordable.
Do we want a future where we have granular control over privacy? Of course we do. And that’s why Librem 5 must be admired. As a concept, it sounds great on paper, but in practice, it leaves much to be desired.
Ultimately, Librem 5 is a privacy-focused phone that limits you to HTML5 apps and a few bundled Linux tools. There is a lot to like here, but not enough for the Librem 5 to go mainstream.
Read the full article: Risking Your Privacy Is More Fun Than the Librem 5
Risking Your Privacy Is More Fun Than the Librem 5 published first on http://droneseco.tumblr.com/
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