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Razer's job cuts signal a shift away from mobile
Razer's decision to close its game store wasn't its only cost-cutting measure. The game hardware maker has cut 30 jobs (about 2 percent of its workforce), and its mobile team appears to have been affected more than most. In a statement to Droid Life, it confirmed that it laid off "some" workers and moved others to "new projects." It still saw "great opportunities" in mobile hardware and software, and had "new exciting mobile projects" in the pipeline, but it wasn't clear whether there was a future for the company's handsets beyond the Razer Phone 2.
Razer's mobile chief is leaving to join drone company Skydio
Razer's senior vice president and general manager Tom Moss is leaving the company for the role of COO at Skydio, a company that focuses on autonomous drones. The announcement, which Moss made via a Medium post, comes right after the mobile company launched the Razer Phone 2, the successor to its first large, gaming-optimized device which launched last year.
Watch Razer debut its gaming phone right here at 4 PM ET
We've been following the potential Razer gaming phone for a while now, with a recent leak potentially confirming some higher-end specifications (more RAM, better battery and display) sure to please mobile gamers. The company is setting up for a livestream today at 4 PM ET that could finally confirm the rumors.
Former HTC designer Scott Croyle has left Razer's Nextbit
We haven't yet seen Razer's debut smartphone, but the team behind it is bidding farewell to an exec that played a crucial role back in its early days. Scott Croyle, who quit HTC as the Senior Vice President of Design, has left Nextbit as of September after a three-year run. His new gig? Going back to his design consultancy roots with the formation of Attic, a San Francisco-based studio covering hard goods (which obviously include consumer electronics), soft goods and furniture. Croyle is joined by former One & Co colleague Jony Ive Daniel Hundt, who was the lead designer of the Incredible, Incredible 2, Desire 816, Desire 820 and more. Prior to HTC's acquisition, One & Co was also known for designing Microsoft's Arc Keyboard plus Arc Mouse, as well as the original Amazon Kindle.
Razer will debut its first smartphone on November 1st
Those rumors of a Razer smartphone for gamers just got much, much more tangible. Razer is teasing an event on November 1st with a preview image that shows a man holding a conspicuously phone-sized device. The company isn't wasting much time taking advantage of its Nextbit acquisition, then. While Razer is unsurprisingly shy on details, it describes the event as its "biggest unveiling" -- whatever it shows in November is important enough that the company wants to build as much hype as possible.
Nextbit ends customer support for its Robin 'cloud phone'
When gaming peripheral maker Razer acquired Nextbit this past January, the phone maker promised to support the Robin, its beautiful yet flawed "cloud phone," providing updates and security patches through February 2018, along with warranty and customer support for another six months. Now that it's been that long, Nextbit tweeted that it has "shut down support for Robin" as of August 1st. A further clarification on Twitter notes that the company has "only ended customer support at this time, not software support." We've reached out to Nextbit and Razer for comment and will update when we hear back.
Razer is reportedly working on a phone just for gamers
Razer is known for its high-end gaming devices. The company has desktops and laptops, keyboards and mice, power banks and even projection systems aimed at core gamers. This past January, however, Razer acquired Nextbit and its "cloud phone" called the Robin. According to Bloomberg, that acquisition may pay off soon, as sources close to Razer say that the company plans to make a mobile phone targeted at gamers.
The success of Andy Rubin's Essential Phone may depend on carriers
When Android co-founder Andy Rubin left Google in November of 2014, shortly after a major executive shake-up, his next move wasn't particularly clear. All we knew back then was that he reportedly wanted to strike out on his own, which ultimately meant building a high-end phone with a company called Essential Products Inc. And after much speculation and multiple teases by Rubin himself, we now know that device is the Essential Phone, an Android handset with a gorgeous design and top-of-the-line specs.
Razer acquires Nextbit and its 'cloud phone'
In the last couple of years Razer has acquired companies including Ouya and THX, and now it's making a splash in mobile with the purchase of Nextbit. Its latest target introduced the Robin "cloud phone" last year, which we found "beautiful, but flawed." Its last major announcement was a disappointing one when we learned its plans for a CDMA version were canceled.
Engadget giveaway: Win a Robin 'cloud phone' courtesy of Nextbit!
In case you weren't paying attention, the unique Nextbit Robin phone launched earlier in the year and this week, two lucky readers will get one of their own. The company's founders and staff have a storied work history spanning Android, Cyanogen, Motorola and more, leading to the development of the Robin. It runs Nextbit OS, which is a subtly skinned version of Android 6.0, but its key strength is the cloud (OK, and the design). You get 32GB of onboard storage paired with 100GB in the cloud and the system tracks habits and offloads photos and unused apps according to your usage. There's a fingerprint sensor conveniently located on the power button to save a step and it sports a 5.2-inch 1080p display with Gorilla Glass 4. This particular giveaway is a limited edition "mintnight" combo color, so as unique as the Robin is, two winners will get one that's even more so. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning this eye-pleasing device! Winners: Congratulations to Peter K. of Sugar Grove, IL and Anvesh V. of Alpharetta, GA!
Software update fixes the Nextbit Robin's sluggish camera
When the Nextbit Robin launched earlier this year, its auto-backup worked well but for a few other things that... well, they needed work. That's where the company's April update comes in. The new build packs Android 6.0.1, and with it comes a handful of security patches, plus 184 new emoji (including a middle finger) to gussy up your messages. More importantly, though, we're also getting some much-needed improvements to the Robin's audio setup and camera.
The next big thing in smartphones is uncertainty
You've probably noticed something about smartphones. They haven't been exciting lately. Chances are, your current smartphone looks and works a lot like your last one. Your next will probably seem pretty familiar, too. But there are signs that smartphones, and the ways we use them, could be about to significantly change -- even if no one can quite agree on exactly how.
Nextbit isn't bringing the Robin to Verizon and Sprint after all
If you backed Nextbit's Robin and have pledged allegiance to Sprint or Verizon in the US, well, you're out of luck. Nextbit CEO Tom Moss admitted in a message to the project's backers that development of the CDMA Robin was based on misguided information from potential carrier partners, and noted that there "doesn't appear to be a workable solution." In other words, that CDMA Robin isn't happening and Moss's remarks don't leave much hope for future developments. Here are the important bits: anyone who ordered that variant will get a full refund within 48 hours, and a 25 percent discount to Nextbit's online store.
Nextbit Robin review: This ambitious 'cloud phone' is beautiful but flawed
The crew at Nextbit is something of an Android phone dream team: Tom Moss used to run Google's Android business, Mike Chan was a longtime Android engineer and Scott Croyle designed phones that made people fall in love with HTC. Is it any wonder, then, that people are curious about the phone they've been working on together? Robin, as the device is called, is more tightly integrated with the cloud than just about any other smartphone, and the creators promise it will change the way we think about managing files on our tiny pocket computers. That's a big plan for a small company, but luckily for them, they mostly pulled it off.
Nextbit's cloud-savvy smartphone ships on February 16th
Good news if you've been sitting on pins and needles waiting for Nextbit's Robin smartphone to ship: it's nearly ready for action. The company has revealed that the early adopter wave of GSM-based Robins will ship starting on February 16th, with other GSM models heading out before the month is over. That's a few weeks later than the first customers were promised, but it still gives you an idea of when you can try the Robin's cloud-focused take on Android.
Nextbit's 'cloud first' smartphone is up for pre-order
Want your next smartphone to stand out from the crowd? Nextbit's Robin will do just that. The boxy, mint-colored handset (it also comes in a blackish "midnight") was originally funded on Kickstarter, and now it's available for regular pre-orders via BackerKit. The device certainly looks different, but what makes it truly special is its approach to software. Nextbit is doubling down on the cloud -- the Robin has 32GB of internal storage, but that's coupled with an extra 100GB online. If you're starting to near capacity, the phone will automatically shift little-used apps and data into the cloud, ensuring you're never left furiously deleting old photos. That's the theory, anyway -- we're curious to see how it holds up in practice. Kickstarter backers were able to get the phone for as little as $299, but now you're looking at $399 for a regular pre-order. That's not extortionate for an Android flagship, but this is a new startup launching their first phone -- you've got to be brave to buy one, especially when there are similarly priced alternatives like the Nexus 5X.
Nextbit's cloud-friendly phone is heading to Sprint, too
After adding Verizon to its list of carriers last week, Nextbit announced today that its Robin phone would be available on Sprint as well. When it was first announced, the cloud-focused handset was only available for AT&T and T-Mobile customers, but the company tacked on two more networks since. This means customers on all four of the big-name carriers in the US will be able to pick up a Robin. With a week to go, Nextbit has raised over $1.2 million (and counting) via Kickstarter for the project. When the campaign ends, backers will be able to choose between the GSM or CDMA version of the device via a survey. Nextbit also revealed what would be included in the box with an image of the matching quick charger, charging cable and SIM pin. If you're still considering one, you'll have to commit $349 to secure it in the next seven days.
Nextbit adds a Verizon version of its cloud-focused smartphone
Nextbit is adding a Verizon option to its wildly successful Kickstarter campaign for the Robin smartphone today. The "cloud-first" Android device, which comes with 100GB of cloud storage for free, already raised over a million on the crowdfunding website despite only being compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile. However, the company apparently received "tons of fan mail" asking about a Verizon version, so the team went back to work to put one together for its potential buyers. Since there are only 13 days to go in the campaign, Nextbit is holding a flash sale on September 18th, starting at 10AM Pacific/1PM Eastern.
Recommended Reading: The story behind Google's new logo
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. Evolving the Google Identity by Alex Cook, Jonathan Jarvis and Jonathan Lee Google Design Google grabbed the internet's attention earlier this week with a brand-new logo. With a design that's quite a departure from the previous mark, the company has its eye on the future in more ways than one. Here's a look behind the scenes at the finer details of the new logotype.
An early look at Nextbit's 'cloud first' Robin smartphone
Nextbit wanted to celebrate the launch of its debut smartphone today at a party in San Francisco, but it turned out to be a celebration of success as well. In just under 12 hours, the startup reached its $500,000 Kickstarter goal to fund the Robin, an Android phone that isn't only "cloud first," but also surprisingly design forward as well. We had a chance to get an early look at what the final product might actually look like (though bear in mind these are all still prototypes) and asked Scott Croyle, Nextbit's Chief Product and Design Officer -- who's also a former design lead for HTC -- a few questions about the phone too.
