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Supreme’s burner phone is a hypebeast’s dream
Here's a few things to know about trying to score Supreme products during its weekly drop: I had to wait in line for about two hours, on a cold and windy day in NYC, just to get inside the brand's Brooklyn store. But to even make it that far, you have to first try and register online to get an invite to the shop in the first place. Typically, Supreme releases happen on Thursdays and store registration on Tuesdays, though they close out in minutes. I've gone through all of this many times before, but today I was there to pick up the "Supreme Blu Burner Phone," a low-end device that's made for hypebeasts.
Supreme's 'burner' phone is built for hypebeasts
How important is it that your phone have a Supreme label on it? Important enough that you'd be willing to take big step back in technology? If so, you're in luck. Supreme has unveiled its catalog for fall and winter 2019, and in amidst the usual eccentricities (including champagne flutes and gold-plated dumbbells) is a branded BLU "Burner Phone." It appears to be a gussied-up Zoey 2.4, making it a pretty basic candybar device with a 2.4-inch screen, 3G data, a VGA camera and 128MB of (thankfully expandable) storage -- its biggest feature is the inclusion of a web browser. You really are paying primarily for that "Supreme" badge, although the company is thoughtful enough to include a 16GB microSD card in the box.
E-cig makers have 60 days to show they aren’t targeting minors
The Food And Drug Administration may force several e-cigarette brands to stop selling flavored products if they can't prove they can keep their products out of minors' hands. The brands -- Juul, Vuse, MarkTen, blu and Logic -- have 60 days to convince the agency they have adequate plans to stop kids from vaping with their products. Those five collectively account for more than 97 percent of the e-cigarette market.
Phones sold by the four major US carriers could have a major security flaw
Customers using devices from four major cell phone carriers could unknowingly be exposing sensitive data to hackers, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Fifth Domain reports that DHS-funded researchers from mobile security firm Kryptowire have found vulnerabilities in phones used by Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. The flaws are built into phones by manufacturers, and include a loophole that could exploit data, emails and text messages.
Blu settles with FTC over allegations of lax user data security
Unlocked mobile phone retailer Blu has settled with the FTC over allegations that it didn't protect consumers from a Chinese company that farmed their data and misled users about the extent of it. The device maker won't get slapped with a fine, but as part of the agreement, it can't misrepresent how it protecting customer privacy and security. It will also need to adopt a program that addresses risks for protecting user information and be audited every two years for the next two decades to ensure compliance.
Amazon relists Blu smartphones after 'false alarm'
Blu's unlocked Android phones are back on Amazon after a "false alarm," the company told Engadget. The online retail titan pulled down all Blu models from its website a couple of days ago. It cited "security concerns" after security firm Kryptowire reported that the manufacturer is still collecting user data and sending it to a server in China. Blu admitted last year that the third-party software it used to push software updates collected unauthorized messages, call logs and contacts. However, it refuted the new report that its phones still collect sensitive information.
Amazon removes Blu smartphones over 'security concerns'
Budget Android phone manufacturer Blu Products has been suspended from selling its handsets on Amazon. Citing "security concerns," the online retail giant is removing Blu models from Amazon.com until the company "resolves the issue," reports CNET. The move comes less than a week after security firm Kryptowire revealed Blu's devices were still covertly sending user data to China.
Blu's Vivo 6 comes to the UK for £185 on Black Friday
US phone maker Blu (Bold Like Us) has produced a number of feature-rich yet affordable Android handsets over the years, but the company hasn't really made a name for itself in Europe. Now it's looking to do something about it. With Motorola and Wileyfox currently winning hearts and minds with their budget offerings, Blu has today launched the Vivo 6, a stylish 4G mid-range smartphone with an aluminium unibody design and fingerprint sensor. If you act quick, you can grab one at a significant discount.
Blu smartphones secretly harvested texts and contacts
Blu Products, the leading seller of unlocked smartphones in the US, has revealed a serious security problem with a bunch of its products. It says a third-party app called "Wireless Update" has been "collecting unauthorized personal data in the form of text messages, call logs and contacts from customers" on some devices. While the app has been "self-updated" and is no longer siphoning data, Blu advises users to check their phones and call customer service if an older version of the app is still installed.
Blu's Pure XR brings 3D Touch to Android for $299
Right on schedule, Blu has followed up last year's Pure XL with its latest affordable, feature-heavy (and unlocked) Android phone: the $299 4G LTE Pure XR. On its face, the XR version sports a curved, 5.5-inch 1080p SuperAMOLED screen with a (possibly trademark infringing) "3D Touch" feature similar to the iPhone 6s, but at about half the unlocked price. Under the hood, the XR runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow driven by a 2GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio P10 processor, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of memory (plus microSD expansion).
Blu's Pure XL packs in a huge quad-HD screen, 24MP camera for $349
Blu's still trucking along with its feature-rich unlocked Android phones. The latest entry is the $349 Pure XL, a 6-inch behemoth sporting a quad-HD resolution on its Super AMOLED display and a beefy 24-megapixel camera. It also marks the debut of Mediatek's X10 octa-core chipset to the U.S. — the Pure XL's processor clocks in at 2GHz and it's buoyed by 3 gigabytes of RAM. Altogether, it's the most powerful device we've seen yet from Blu. And unlike past Blu phones, it's actually running the latest version of Android (5.1 Lollipop). While its design is fairly plain, its aluminum case should differentiate it from other cheap Android phones out there. With 64GB of storage and a fingerprint sensor on its rear, it also keeps up with some of the specs we're seeing in much more expensive phones these days. The Pure XL will support T-Mobile and AT&T's LTE networks, and it's also dual-SIM, which should make it great for traveling. You can nab one exclusively on Amazon starting on September 29.
Blu's latest smartphones include one with a giant four-day battery
You might not need to swap batteries (or lean on an external battery pack) again. Blu Products has unveiled a deluge of Android smartphones at CES that includes the Studio Energy, a 5-inch device with a whopping 5,000mAh battery pack -- even the Droid Turbo's 3,900mAh looks modest by comparison. You can reportedly expect four days of "standard" use at a time, or enough to get through a long weekend without plugging in. The Energy will even charge up other devices, much like Huawei's Ascend Mate 7. Don't expect much more than longevity, however. That epic battery life is partly owed to the low-end 1.3GHz MediaTek processor and 720p screen -- and the HSPA+ data, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, 8-megapixel rear camera and 2-megapixel front shooter won't impress others. Mind you, the Studio Energy will cost just $179 unlocked when it ships in late January. It might be a good backup phone to take with you on camping trips and other excursions where wall outlets are few and far between.
Two more companies sign up to build Windows Phone handsets
Microsoft may have its own phone business now, but that doesn't mean that other companies can't still produce Windows Phone handsets under their own flags. Redmond's China VP Zhang Yongli has announced that both China's K-Touch and Florida's Blu Products have signed up to produce mobile devices using Microsoft's operating system. Given that both companies skew towards the cheaper end of the market, we can expect a slew of low end devices hitting the market later in the year. Hopefully, the move will help to bolster the platform in both the US and China, two places where Microsoft's market share remains well behind closest rival Android. [Image credit: Livesino]
BLU's latest smartphone is big, cheap and contract-free
When it comes to offering a vast selection of Android smartphones on the cheap, BLU Products is a company that quickly comes to mind. And now we can add another one to its budget-friendly lineup: the Blu Studio 6.0 HD. As its moniker would imply, this is a 6-inch handset, with a 1,280, x 720 display, a quad-core, 1.3GHz chip (Mediatek MT6582, if you're so inclined) and a decent 3,000mAh battery inside. Perhaps what's most interesting here, however, is that the 6.0 HD will be available unlocked for a mere $250, which is a great price if you're looking for a phone this size and not interested in any carrier contracts.
BLU's new midrange VIVO phone is thin, gaudy and costs $250
Nokia and Apple aren't the only ones making brightly colored phones, you know. Upstart Android manufacturer BLU has just released a new midrange handset, called the Vivo 4.8 HD, that's sure to appeal to those with a taste for neon and Android 4.2. It comes in neon pink or greenish yellow, along with matte black or white variants, and has a 4.8-inch, 720 x 1280 Super AMOLED display. On the inside, the Vivo 4.8 HD packs far from cutting edge tech: a 1.5Ghz quad-core chip from Mediatek, 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. Yet, it crams that gear -- along with an 8 megapixel rear shooter and a 5-megapixel front-facing unit -- into a svelte, pocketable 6.9mm thick chassis. Unfortunately there's no LTE inside, but you can pull HSPA+ 42 speeds from AT&T or T-Mobile. The best part, as is the case with other BLU phones, is the price: just $249 unlocked.
BLU's Life Pure smartphone delivers 1080p, a 13-megapixel camera and 32GB of space for $349
BLU Products can offer a lot of smartphone for the money, but its devices seldom come with the sharp screens and ample memory that you'd expect from rivals. The company is closing that gap with its new Life Pure, however. The $349 unlocked handset carries the same 5-inch, 1080p screen that you've seen on flagships from the past year, including the HTC Droid DNA; it even stuffs in a 13-megapixel rear camera, a 5-megapixel front camera and 32GB of storage, giving it more overall media prowess than a similarly-priced Nexus 5. With that said, you won't want to chuck your reference Google phone out the window just yet. The Life Pure is running on a slower 1.5GHz quad-core MediaTek chip (albeit with 2GB of RAM), doesn't include LTE and uses Android 4.2. This isn't an early adopter's phone, then. Still, we can see some buyers trading performance for features when the Life Pure goes on sale in the near future.
BLU unveils two budget Android phones with 3G on more North American carriers
BLU Products' unlocked smartphones have only been truly useful in North America when using bigger carriers like AT&T and Rogers, but the company is giving us a few more choices today. Its new Advance 4.0 and Studio 5.0 II both support HSPA+ data on smaller networks like T-Mobile, Solavei and Wind Mobile; if you want to jump to a cheaper provider, you won't have to give up 3G in the process. The handsets are otherwise modest. Both Android 4.2 devices come with a dual-core 1.3GHz MediaTek processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of expandable storage, a 5-megapixel rear camera and a front VGA camera. You're mostly left deciding between the Advance 4.0's 4-inch TFT display and the Studio 5.0 II's 5-inch IPS panel. Whichever phone you choose, it won't cost much. BLU is offering the Advance 4.0 today for $89 outright, while its Studio 5.0 II cousin sells for $139.
The $299 Blu Life Pro is aimed at the selfie set with a 5-megapixel front cam
When we first spotted the decently spec'd Blu Life series, it seemed like a nice Android handset option for folks on a budget. However, the times they have a-changed, and the former KIRF company's latest device, the Blu Life Pro, is now looking decidedly less cheap. Spec-wise, it's packing a 720p screen, quad-core 1.5GHz MediaTek CPU, Android 4.2, HSPA+ 3G, 1GB RAM, 16GB of memory, 12-megapixel BSI camera with 1080p video and a standout 6.9 mm profile. At $299, it'll have to go up against plenty of similarly-priced and technologically superior rivals, but the key feature that distinguishes the Blu from the rest is its 5-megapixel, 1080p front-facing camera with a BSI sensor. Nevertheless, given the option between this and a much cheaper 720p phone like the spiffy Moto G, our vanity probably does know some bounds.
BLU Products launches trio of Dash smartphones starting at $49
Too thrifty to buy a $199 Nexus 4, or even a $99 Lumia 520? BLU Products has you covered with three new smartphones in its Dash range. The line starts with the Dash Jr., a 3.5-inch dual-SIM phone that costs just $49 unlocked -- cheap enough that we (almost) don't mind its single-core Spreadtrum processor, 2G-only data, 2-megapixel camera and Android 2.3. If you can afford to splurge, the Dash Music 4.0 ($99) and Dash 5.0 ($129) jump to their namesake larger screens, 3G data, dual-core MediaTek chips, higher-resolution cameras and Android 4.2. BLU expects all three Dash handsets to ship before the end of September, so penny pinchers won't have long to wait. Check out press shots of the Dash Music 4.0 and Dash 5.0 after the break.
BLU Life View hands-on
Looking for a smartphone with a large display, decent specs and a price tag just shy of $300 unlocked and contract-free? It's not an easy thing to find here in the US of A, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. In fact, a little-known manufacturer out of Miami known as BLU is doing its darndest to get on the map and show off its brute handset-making skills at a reasonable cost. It's been a big player in the KIRF arena for quite some time, but its latest lineup of phones -- Life -- appears to have a bit of personality of its own. Of the devices in the Life series, we've received an early unit of the Life View, a 5.7-inch Android model, from our friends at Negri Electronics, an online retailer that recently began selling the device for $299. Take a closer look at our gallery of images below and then follow us after the break for a few impressions.
