SciPhone Dream G2+ adds WiFi to the Android KIRF madness

Months later we're still thrilled at the discovery that the original Dream G2 doesn't run the free and open Android OS, but instead a carefully built, stylus-driven clone. Well, SciPhone's Dream G2+ followup continues in that noble tradition, running with some tweaked looks and the addition of WiFi on top of what looks to be that same Android-cloning interface. It's pretty thrilling stuff, and not at all bad for the $185 asking price.

[Via PMP Today]

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2009 9:07AM]

Why clone a free operating system?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2009 9:10AM]

Because its not free to companies.

[Alexw Posted Apr 16th 2009 10:11AM]

Yes, it is.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2009 10:22AM]

What does KIRF stand for or derive from?

[superhobo Posted Apr 16th 2009 10:37AM]

So they don't have to make all the drivers.

[ZSX Posted Apr 16th 2009 12:28PM]

The specs sheet actually says that it runs Google Android. I'm not sure where the "it's a skin" allegations are coming from.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2009 3:21PM]

@fanman

"Keeping It Real Fake"

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2009 9:10AM]

Considering HTC Diamond 2 is around $700, while Nvidia Tegra device could be as cheap as $99, neither HTC nor this KIRF device has an attractive price.

Where's my WinMo device for $99 that plays and records 720p, has 800x480 screen, can play 3D games, can play back music for 100 hours and HD video for 10 hours?!

[Alexw Posted Apr 16th 2009 10:12AM]

Who told you Tegra units were going to be $99, and why did you believe them?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2009 9:15AM]

WTF is a KIRF?
Can somebody please de-acronise this acronym for me?

[vman81 Posted Apr 16th 2009 9:19AM]

Keepin' it real fake?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2009 9:20AM]

let me google that for you: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=kirf

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2009 9:21AM]

I don't think they even hired a designer.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2009 9:35AM]

I think it looks pretty good. Definitely better than some phones on the market.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2009 9:54AM]

Yea was thinking this doesnt look bad. I'm no apple hipster so I wouldnt mind having a phone that looks like this.

[Alexw Posted Apr 16th 2009 10:17AM]

Looks better than the TyTN's, but that ain't hard.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2009 9:44AM]

My cellphone-using clone will be very pleased by this.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2009 9:48AM]

how is it not free. it a open os. how can u nock that off? its almost like these guys are so used to faking oses that this was just business as usual for them. They cant let there not off reputation get damaged.

[Alexw Posted Apr 16th 2009 10:19AM]

I'm betting it's harder to make decent hardware to run Android adequately and write the low level drivers than it is to skin you're KIRF OS and cramming your already standardized KIRF hardware into a new case.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2009 10:40AM]

"Not only does the G2+ boasts an exceptional list of features and specs to illustrate the power of Android, Google’s new open source mobile operating system, fast 2.75G EDGE wireless technologies, support for Google features like Google Mobile, and the new Android applications, the Dream G2+ puts even more features at your fingertips!"

I don't get it? it says its android?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2009 11:51AM]

Can someone explain what "fast 2.75G Edge" means, also? OK, I guess I know what they mean, but how does it work? Why doesn't everyone have this?

[MarcusMaximus Posted Apr 16th 2009 12:42PM]

Engadget, LRN 2 REED!
"OS Google Android operation system"

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2009 2:04PM]

Why is it that I'm completely bored by anything Android related?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2009 6:23PM]

if you look at the other phone they made using "android" you'll see its just an android skin on another os.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 5:07AM]

it's not a skin, it's a real android system, otherwise it won't support wifi. Here's selling $169
http://www.milkhoneyland.com/triband-40mp-camera-google-android-os-sciphone-dream-g2-smart-phone-p-2838.html

[(Unverified) Posted May 14th 2009 3:55AM]

man this sciphone company has got balls of steel: first the iphone, then the samsung s18 now the g1, i see they even have a iphone 3G rip off check them out here http://www.twift.com/Cell%20Phones/Chinese%20Cell%20Phones/

[(Unverified) Posted May 18th 2009 5:46PM]

This is taken from a website selling the sciphone. Funny they are worried about being cloned.

http://www.twift.com/Cell%20Phones/Sciphone%20i68+%20Dual%20Sim%20Quad%20Band%20Cell%20Phone.html

WARNING Beware of Fake Sciphone Cell Phones

With the popularity of the Sciphone, or Sci Phone on the rise, there are large numbers of fake Sciphone cell phones being reported. The Sciphone i68+ is a phone that is packed with great features at a very good price. The fake Sciphones are not upgradable, they have no warranty, and the hardware and software used for the fake Sciphones is usually substandard or with different features or quality than expected.

[(Unverified) Posted May 18th 2009 5:50PM]

The problem with this phone is they I bought one thinking it was the HTC Dream. I never heard of sciphone before. Saw dream and the android operating system, the word dream on the phone and didn't think that there would be another phone with the Android OS also called the dream.

Then I find out that the sciphone doesn't have 3g. (UMTS 2100). So I feel kind of ripped off by their marketing.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 5th 2009 2:08PM]

check out www.youtube.com/user/luxorphones/ to see videos of this phone.