Interesting android phone for very little money

Hab looking for a new Android tends between a used device Nexus class and this currently very common to place smartphone from China. The price difference was huge, about 150 euros less than my favorite out of the Nexus-bearing. So I dared to venture I to this model.

!!! The following review is technically because I was looking specifically for a possible open model, where the savvy user can tweak the software side !!!

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There is next time this device has no alternative firmware toward Cynanogen or otherwise. Built MK6572-SoC platform is completely closed-source, even if the hard to believe at Android. So if you want to change in yourself the system in depth, must do so carefully on the firmware already installed.

This also four technical details:

* Permanter root access:
The exploit works Framaroot.apk App for the Android 4.2.2 version on this Mobile with Barahir exploit. Has three trials used with me, but now the device is definitely rooted across reboots.

* Backup of the current system:
A complete backup of system, bootloader and recovery is possible to customize it with the Windows application MktDroid tool via USB. This was supposed to support a well when rooting, but this is not working.

* Rueckspielen of backups:
The Windows spflashtool detects the device and should also allow restoring the backups. An official recovery or even update image of CTC there will probably never be and I would not wait for it.

* ClockworkMod:
The MktDroid tool offers a CWM to install than recovery. To work bill, except for the display, which remains black. Navigate CWM blind is possible but not recommended. Since it uses nothing to me (as I said there is anyway neither official nor backups alternative firmwares) I'll take the Recovery just so out as it is.

This would for me the technical modding possibilities exhausted, must take with the result that I be content with the root on the original firmware.

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So what I could now do with the device:

* Remove System Apps! I say the same, I do not trust the original firmware is not very far when it comes to the safety of my passwords. With Androids from China there was always confirmed cases of spyware and dialers who choose secretly cost numbers, which were already installed at the factory. Therefore, once all uninstalled apps - including system apps - not belonging to the Android-base system and obviously have nothing zutuen with Mediatek hardware. This includes an AppStore, the jostling in front of the play goals, some themes and tools of dubious origin. The Google Apps I have completely replaced with original versions from the Cynanogen project and the original Android Launcher installed, running significantly more fluid, than the pre-installed.

Dare I can this Android still by far not yet. Therefore, the device receives only a prepaid SIM card with 10 Euro credit and under a new Google account with no associated credit card. My original email login information I can not use in this unit with a clear conscience, but I already knew before I ordered it, so therefore can live.

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To Hardware:

* Screen and Touch: The screen is great, no question. Light enough also documents and web pages look good on it. The Touch is slightly below sensitive. You have to express something so that the contact is registered. Not as comfortable as I was used to.

* GPS: oh, GPS. There are none. In the device a GPS chip is definitely installed or it is disabled and can not be activated. Have tried several apps on the subject, can allegedly change in yourself something to the GPS system, but real GPS has never yielded. Take what is not a true replacement needs with WLAN and GSM positioning to be content.

* Bluetooth: coupling comes with the speakerphone in your car. Sound is good, stable connection. But everything that goes beyond language, does not go. This behavior occurs because the Bluetooth stack or the Bluetooth drivers from Mediatek over inferior quality. Tried a iPEGA Bluetooth Gamepad to run to get and even written ene own Testapp to see what is wrong in the system. Who wants to know: When you attempt to establish a * serial * connection (no voice but data connection, such as the hands-free) durchfueheren to a Bluetooth device has Android an SDP-scan in order to bring the current radio channel of the Bluetooth device in experience. This never works successfully and instead generates an error deep, deep in the Bluetooth stack, a steady part of the Android OS. Any updates from sites CTC / Medaiteks and no hope of Cynanogen means that this issue can never be resolved. A similar problem was already known from another Android device made by Sony to me, however, and I had almost expected it.

* Sound Quality: Calls are no speakers to something quiet, even at full Lauftstaerke, via the supplied in-ear headset, but it's ok. The speaker is angehmen noisy even for looking such as YouTube videos, but clatters strongly in talks. Had hoped to use my Apple headphones to Koenen, but these do not really fit the jack input and either I hear nothing or my opponent does not hear anything. A compatibility can not be expected as well.

* Performance: The system laueft fast and stable when enough RAM is free. However, since only 512 MB have been installed, they are quickly full and websites may take forever, if overfilling the storage and the operating system once must make room. Until this is done, everything is very sluggish up at all. The My Bluetooth Gamepad I can get over the way, is not running. Even SNES games run under Retroarch only at half speed. When it comes to really expect, the MK6572 is not worth much. But the basic system it is enough.

* Memory: 4GB are installed, which are by Android OS, recovery, etc. under 1 GB free. MicroSD card is needed.

* Other: The CTC as Internet access or access point via USB works!. HD video (MP4 and MKV) run well. Games and emulators less. Have not found a app that did not work anyway. Web browser is very pleasant time and above all in the Bildschrimgroesse and resolution. DualSim is a nice little bonus and 4.2.2 very good implemetiert in Android, so two Waehltasten in the telephony app, and contacts can be assigned a fixed SIM.

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Final point:

I have learned to hate this phone. What all does not work, what thoughts I have to make me to password security and my credit card details. The small imperfections and the big goof. The scratching at the lower midfield in some respects and otherwise consistently Unterklassenausstatung until on the screen.

And trotdem, the CTC is doing what it should. I phone, receive SMS, Surf the net. Everything easily. I find it hard to give this product a bad review just because my needs are so high, especially because I knew from the outset where the weaknesses would lie in a 60 Euro Android phone.

So for anyone who wants a simple Android to provide pretension and no head makes spyware and anyway has no passwords to which he cares, buy! An absolute bargain. Does what it should, great screen, German preset and the price. Five Stars.

Who expect something for everyone more, maybe like me from experience, or even anything like what it has to offer an Android from Samsung or Sony, stay away. I will make you hard just life. Two stars. It has, after all, a great screen and that's all.

All in all I say three stars. I had at the price actually want to give four, mainly because I actually really wanted to just make calls and surf a bit, but the wounds are still too fresh.