Samsung has announced its first-ever Tizen-based smartphone, the Z1, which is an entry-level smartphone running the company's homegrown Tizen operating system. The Z1 is available in White, Black, and Wine Red and carries an affordable price tag of $92. Since the Z1 is targeted toward emerging smartphone markets, the device possesses entry-level specifications.
The South Korean phone giant's attempts to quit being dependent on Google's Android platform has resulted in the company's Tizen operating system. Due to several external factors, the phone maker could not project its undivided focus on refining its operating system. While the Z1 is packed with unimpressive hardware, it officially supports the running of Android applications, thanks to OpenMobile's Application Compatibility Layer. This program allows non-Android operating systems to provide compatibility for running Android apps.
As for the hardware specifications, the Z1's form factor will be more suited to be used with a single hand since it possesses a 4-inch screen size with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. The Z1 is also able to support two SIMs simultaneously. Additionally, its performance is dependent on a Spreadtrum SC7727S chipset that contains a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and Mali 400 GPU. While the device runs Samsung's Tizen OS 2.3, it has yet to be seen if the platform will provide smooth functionality with such low-end hardware.
The Z1 is also equipped with 768 MB of RAM, 4 GB of internal storage (which can be expanded using a microSD card with a capacity limit of 64 GB), and a 1500 mAh battery. The remainder of the specifications include Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS, and 3G connectivity.
If the Tizen OS ends up being more optimized than Google's Android platform, then Samsung will start gaining traction with its own operating system.
