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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!
Nextbit Robin 'cloud phone' is going on sale at Amazon
If you want a Nextbit Robin and missed its Kickstarter fundraising campaign in 2015, you may want to check out its Amazon listing. The "cloud-first" Android phone that raised over $1.3 million on the crowdfunding platform, is going on sale starting at 3AM Eastern. It's currently listed for $399 on Amazon and on the company's own website, but from May 4th to 10th, you can get it for its early bird Kickstarter price of $299.
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.
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.
