North Korea 'makes home-grown' Arirang smartphone

[cronus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23681261

North Korea 'makes home-grown' Arirang smartphone

North Korea says it has produced its first home-grown smartphone, but experts have disputed its origins.

The Arirang handset, described as a "hand phone" in state media, was shown to leader Kim Jong-un during a factory tour.

The country has had a mobile network since 2008, but activity is heavily monitored and restricted.

Last year the country launched a tablet, but it later emerged it was likely to have been made in China.

Clues to the tablet's origin were uncovered by Martyn Williams, an expert on North Korean technology, who noted that parts of the tablet's software code suggested links to a manufacturer in Hong Kong.

The Arirang smartphone, named after a popular folk song, was unlikely to have been made in the country, Mr Williams added.

He noted that no actual manufacturing was shown, and that the device was "probably made to order by a Chinese manufacturer and shipped to the May 11 Factory where they are inspected before going on sale".

The leader was accompanied by the Korean Workers' Party propaganda chief and the head of the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a hint that the devices could be used for widespread dissemination of government information.

(continued)

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

How many N Koreans can afford a smartphone? I can't afford a bloody smartphone (not that I want one).
Also, these things are bound to be monitored very closely in such a country, are they not?

[Jason]

The Kim-Sung S4.

Direct feeds from the glorious god/leader of the people's republic of North Korea.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

How many N Koreans can afford a smartphone? I can't afford a bloody smartphone (not that I want one).
Also, these things are bound to be monitored very closely in such a country, are they not?

I read this as "How many North Koreans does it take to make a smartphone?" but then the rest of the post made no sense so I read it again and fuck me, this beer is working well!

So, how many North Koreans does it take to make a smartphone? 2. The second to finish it when the first rings in Kim-Jong-Il.


Ok. It's a shit joke. You do better!

[klr]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23681261

North Korea 'makes home-grown' Arirang smartphone

North Korea says it has produced its first home-grown smartphone, but experts have disputed its origins.

The Arirang handset, described as a "hand phone" in state media, was shown to leader Kim Jong-un during a factory tour.

The country has had a mobile network since 2008, but activity is heavily monitored and restricted.

Last year the country launched a tablet, but it later emerged it was likely to have been made in China.

Clues to the tablet's origin were uncovered by Martyn Williams, an expert on North Korean technology, who noted that parts of the tablet's software code suggested links to a manufacturer in Hong Kong.

The Arirang smartphone, named after a popular folk song, was unlikely to have been made in the country, Mr Williams added.

He noted that no actual manufacturing was shown, and that the device was "probably made to order by a Chinese manufacturer and shipped to the May 11 Factory where they are inspected before going on sale".

The leader was accompanied by the Korean Workers' Party propaganda chief and the head of the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a hint that the devices could be used for widespread dissemination of government information.

(continued)

Wait ... May 11th is obviously a date of some significance in North Korea.

My Scottish workmate and I hold a small ceremony of remembrance* every May 11, but it's to with Aberdeen winning the European Cup Winners Cup in 1983.

*Well, we don't do that, but ... y'know.

[Mysturji]

Harro?
Arirang because you don't answer first time.
I'm ronery.