Blackphone 2 by Silent Circle Announced
Over one year after the first Blackphone devices were shipped to consumers in 2014, the company behind the smartphone Silent Circle, announced that they are developing the phone's next-generation called the Blackphone 2.
According to a report in Tech Times, the next-generation device will still continue being a smartphone that puts security and privacy first above everything else. When the first Blackphone came out in 2014, the phone was said to provide encryption and security privacy features for any phone call, email, SMS and Internet browsing that was being done on the phone.
While the first Blackphone ran on a modified Android OS which they dubbed PrivatOS, which is based on the Android Kitkat, the upcoming device will be running on what is called Silent OS.
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The Silent OS will work together with applications that are built to provide high security, essentially by providing phone users with encryption support for all communication activities such as phone calls, voice calls, SMS, file transfers and Internet browsing. Much like its predecessor, the new phone may also allow "insecure communications" by changing the phone's security settings if and when needed.
Under the hood, the new phone will be powered by an octa-core 1.7 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor coupled with 3 GB of RAM. Internal storage will only be at 32 GB, but is expandable via microSD. Its display will be a 5.5-inch screen with 1080p resolution, while its main rear-facing camera will be a 13-megapixel one. Its selfie camera is placed at 5-megapixel.
While the new device is definitely better than its predecessor, the report noted that it does not fare well when compared to the specs of other high-end smartphones such as those of Samsung and LG. This may be a factor when the phone is pitted against these other smartphones.
Silent Circle also revealed that Blackphone 2 will be its "inaugural product" under the Android for Work program of Google, which aims to offer secure technology solutions to businesses and enterprises.
