V-Tech Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 'Arirang' handset produced using 'indigenous technology,' says state media Funny thing about an open-source operating system -- it can show up in the most unexpected of places. North Korea has unveiled its own Android smartphone through its state-controlled KCNA TV news channel, which recently showed supreme leader Kim Jong-un visiting a "cell phone factory." Dubbed "AS1201 Arirang" after a Korean folk song, North Korea says its smartphone is manufactured using "indigenous technology." Yet on the phone's screen you can clearly see the stock Android UI, as developed by Google in Mountain View, Calif. The KCNA said of Kim's visit to the factory -- He learned in detail about the performance, quality and packing of ?Arirang? hand phone being made at this factory. He highly appreciated the creative ingenuity and patriotic enthusiasm with which the officials and employees of the factory laid a solid foundation for mass-producing hand phones by building a new modern hand phone production process. However observers have cast doubt on whether the secretive communist country is actually manufacturing the devices itself. The North Korea Tech Blog notes that it's more likely the "Arirang" is actually manufactured in neighboring China before being boxed up in the DPRK. Of course the device is unlikely to be of much use to North Korea's impoverished population, most of which is forbidden from accessing the Internet due to strict controls on their media consumption and contact with the outside world. Oddly enough, it's not the first time Android gadgets have shown up in North Korea, nor is it the country's only connection to Google. An Android-powered tablet was shown at a trade show in the capital city of Pyongyang late last year. And back in January Google chairman Eric Schmidt visited the country on a "private humanitarian mission." http://www.androidcentral.com/north-korea-unveils-android-smartphone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YouWhat Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 And I wonder what the "regime" has added to the OS to spy on it's users..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+John Teacake MVC Posted August 12, 2013 MVC Share Posted August 12, 2013 In the first line I just read "un visited" haha! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V-Tech Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share Posted August 12, 2013 And I wonder what the "regime" has added to the OS to spy on it's users..... No way, the North Korean dictator would never do such a thing :shifty: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisp Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Currently the best selling phone globally, every home in America wants one so badly but cannot afford because they all live in poverty.* *May contain North Korea propaganda Phouchg 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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