Ubuntu Launches New, Invite-Only Smartphone

So far one big thing we know about Ubuntu phones is that when they launch, it is in a very odd way. For the newest edition to their family, things haven't changed.

Canonical is launching an invite-only handset manufactured by Meizu. The company had hoped to launch an Ubuntu phone back in 2014, and now it seems they have finally done it in a really weird way. The new MX4 Ubuntu Edition has been available for a few months only to developers in China, but now you are able to order one in Europe too if you are one of the few people who are able to get an invite. They aren't announcing how many are available, but every day you can visit their teaser site and complete a few puzzles and other nonsense to compete for your chance at an invite. They also haven't said if they will release the phone outside of this odd invite system, or if it will be sold in other markets besides Europe. The whole thing is pretty much just extremely unusual.

The company has launched a few other phones, like the Aquaris E4.5 and E5, which are basically modified versions of Android phones that are already out, and the MX4 is basically the same idea. Its main features include a 5.36-inch display, an octa-core MediaTek 6595 processor, 2GB of RAM and a 3,100mAh battery. It also has a really nice 20.7-megapixel rear facing camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera for all of your selfie needs. It looks like a pretty good, solid smartphone, though there aren't really any features that make it stand out from the crowd and be the next "must have" phone.

Maybe it is coming out at a bad time. Compared to the Ubuntu Edge, it doesn't really seem very cool at all. Canonical has been really slow at developing the software for the device, and now it is almost outdated when put up against iOS 8 and Android Lollipop. There are also other operating systems about to drop soon, so it seems like the launch wasn't even thought out very well. Some people think that this phone's release is a strategic way of keeping expectations for the company low so that they can come from left field with something awesome and unexpected in the future. Whether this is true or not, who knows. But the phone isn't super awesome, that's the main point here.

The coolest thing about the phone is really the mystery behind its release, which is riding a fine line between being super cool and interesting, and really stupid and frustrating. Either way, the website is worth checking out, even if you don't end up getting an invite. At least check it out to see how weird it is.

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Android 5.1 Update from Google Looks to Decrease Phone Theft

Google is giving Android its first full blown update since the new version of the operating system came out back in November of last year. The main improvement that has everyone excited is the new feature that is supposed to cut down on phone theft tremendously. When you turn on Device Protection, your phone will stay locked until you sign in with your Google account. It will stay locked even if your phone is reset to factory settings. Because of this, there is pretty much nothing a thief can do with it. They won't be able to get ANYTHING off of it. A stolen Android phone is basically just a paperweight.

Apple did something similar a while back. Their feature is called Activation Lock, which comes with iOS 7. In San Francisco is cut down on phone theft by 40%, and in New York City is got cut down by 25%. The new Android update will surely have the same outcome for anyone who uses Android Lollipop. And even if you don't, a thief is going to be less excited about stealing your phone just because they will probably assume there is no point. It makes stealing smartphones not worth the risk.

Other features included in the new update include support for multiple SIM cards, the ability to join Wi-Fi networks and control Bluetooth devices from the Quick Settings menu, and high-definition voice calling.The support for multiple SIM cards will be awesome for people who want to share their smartphone with family members.

The 5.1 update is also supposed to improve Lollipop's overall stability. It is the biggest operating system Google has ever launched for a smartphone, so it was bound to have some kinks that needed to be worked out. It appears they are doing a good job at it!

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