Newz - YOLA JOLLA SMARTPHONE !

An In-Depth Look at the Upcoming Jolla Smartphone Independent Finland-based designer, developer and seller of smartphones Jolla Mobile (pronounced “Yola”) is all the buzz in the smartphone world since unveiling its first product on Monday and rightfully so! It’s a brand new concept from a brand new company with a deep focus on innovative design and intuitive functionality. Keep in mind the device that was unveiled a week ago (May 20, 2013) is just a prototype and many of the parameters could still be changed. Different colored “other halves” for Jolla The team behind the device comes from a group of ex-Nokia employees who quit after Nokia decided to pursue the Windows Phone software over MeeGo. The phone, called the Jolla, is stacked with a 4.5″ glass Estrade display, dual-core processor, 4G compatibility, an 8MP auto-focus camera, 16GB + microSD, and it runs on a gesture-based live- panel OS called Sailfish. Right on par with perceived competitors Comparatively, most of its specs sit right in between most of the most popular cell phones of this year. The display is a great size, glass “Estrade” style, but no one is quite sure that that means yet. When asked for details, Jolla explains that more details are to come. The camera, storage space, and 4G compatibility are also right on par with the Jolla’s perceived competitors. It sports an aluminum external build, like that of iPhone and HTC One which gives it a heavier feel in the hand, but also makes it a weightier object to hit the ground should you drop it. Unlike most aluminum and glass builds, this phone will have a user-replaceable battery. The part that could be worrisome is the dual-core processor. Most smartphones in the US these days come with a quad-core processor, with many international versions now sporting octa-cores. It could be that Jolla wants to save a bit of manufacturing costs or that they don’t feel their new OS will require much processing power, similar to Windows Phone and Nokia Lumia. Customize and personalize the phone, not just in color but in functionality and style The phone does have two unique aspects that set it apart, one of which is what the team call “other halves” for the device that help customize and personalize the phone, not just in color but in functionality and style. Users can attach a new back and give the phone a new look, new profile, or even new features, each independently configured for whatever you like: personal, work, kids. The possibilities are endless. This is a big deal because it makes the phone more versatile. It’s unclear how much the halves will cost or what features, specifically, can change between them, but the idea certainly shows potential. Android users have been waiting for a way to create separate user profiles on one device for a few years now, and this seems to cater to that desire. It’s seems a bit clunky for that specifically, but it sets a precedence for the future. The other unique feature of the phone is its Mer- based operating system called Sailfish, an evolved version of MeeGo. It works similarly to Windows Phone with a beautiful interface of live panels instead of icons. Because it a comes from a mobile distribution of Linux, the company claims that most Android apps will be compatible using third party app stores. Facebook and other social networks are baked right in, as are contacts and messaging as you would expect. The device is completely gesture- driven, making the OS perhaps less approachable to casual users but more powerful overall. There also aren’t any hard or soft buttons attached to the hardware, so for navigation it’s all about pushing your thumb around on the screen. To do the UI the most justice, Jolla’s Chief Designer, Martin Schule, gives us a preview in the video below: The phone will cost about $510 (399€) retail and is targeted to ship by the end of this year. Speculation says the phone could hit Asia first, but there’s been nothing official on that front yet. In fact, Jolla has been a bit secretive as to their plans for hitting the market, but they say they have updates and news awaiting, so only time will tell at this point. Overall, I think the device has some serious potential, but will likely encounter some strife due to an already flooded market. In any case, anyone interested can nab a spot on the pre- order list for free on the official website and/or take advantage of special editions and accessories by paying a bit extra.