Kyocera Event Prepaid Android Phone (Virgin Mobile)

I bought this phone to replace a Kyocera Rise. I had that phone rooted, so I could tweak that one to reduce some of the rebooting and memory issues that I experienced about month into owning that phone. It was running fine, then one day in late Sep. 2013, I decided to try an app (AKA Pimp My ROM, LOL!) that would make some extensive tweaks possible. I went crazy... initially I meant to tweak the wifi part only. Then, I began to check a few more options... then some more... more... until I practically went through every damned option available. I saw a reset button somewhere, but didn't think of pressing it, though I should have.(Though now in hindsight, perhaps I'm glad I didn't. ;))Rebooted the phone, then... boot loop... boot loop... BOOT LOOP...After a few minutes of this, I tried to factory reset the poor thing. Didn't work. (That killed the option for me to debug the phone with a tool that works on PC's as I learned later.) At that moment, I 'bricked' it. Useless! GRRR!!!Enter the Event! Ha!After some research in several forums, including Android Forums (AKA Phandroid), I chose this one. I noticed the similarities with the Rise (same CPU and graphics processor). I don't mind the lack of a physical keyboard. Before the moment I bricked the Rise, I noticed myself using the keyboard less, and doing more typing on screen.The extra internal memory for app storage helps a little, and the OS on this phone lets users move some apps to the SD card. Interestingly, the available system RAM on this phone isn't much more than on the Rise (360 MB vs 357 MB!).Even with that issue, I've noticed that the Event is a snappier phone. I installed 30 apps on it. Among those apps, I installed two that kills unwanted apps in the background after a set period (every two hours), and another that controls wifi and 3g when the phone is idle.I noticed that the phone seems to warm a bit, mostly when watching long videos or playing 3d accelerated games for an extended period. Most smartphones exhibit this side effect anyway, so this is nothing new. Some users have complained of the phones being nearly too hot to handle. I'd say those phones are either defective, has a stubborn app that refuses to get out of memory (they're bad, delete 'em if you can), or lack an app killer. Even if an app killer is used (or not), swiping apps from the multitasker list can help reduce memory issues.As far as the appearance, it's nothing special. The phone is a featherweight device. All black, all the time, unless you buy one from Radio Shack that has the red parts, or buy a colorful protective case for it. There are even some Otterbox-like cases for this phone, including some that are sold here. I'm going for a metallic red rubberized case + screen protector that should be in my paws in a few days. Because this phone is so light, it can be quite easy to drop if you aren't careful.Out of the box, the phone should serve you well, if your needs are modest.If you want a little extra performance, you're going to have to root the phone. And yes, I've had it done to my Event.This page has a guide that will work as directed for the Event. It is aimed at Rise owners: [...]UPDATED November 10, 2013: I have had the phone for a month. So far, I have about 45 apps loaded onto it, and it's working smoothly.A few apps have failed to work for me, most notably the facebook app. I realize that the number of apps I have is affecting the performance of that app. facebook is a MEMORY AND CPU HOG, and is probably best left off lower end phones like this one, unless you only have a few apps installed (maybe 15 or less, rooted or not...). Not even a few of the largest games and apps I have installed have created serious memory issues as facebook has (even the free ones with banner ads)! To get around this problem, I have email updates activated for the social media sites I use, and then view them from the Gmail app. Uses less memory, and I get the updates I want frequently enough while I'm awake. I then created links to the sites as bookmarks on my home screen, so I view them from a browser. facebook has most of its functions on the mobile site anyway, so I don't miss the app much. Still not suffering from FOMO, haha!At least tc electronic's TonePrint app actually works with this phone. I use that with my BG250 bass amp to change effects between songs. :)update Nov. 18 (typed from Event): The phone is as solid as ever. In love with the spell check! I'm thinking of putting a full featured program that will let me hack code on it. Ah, the advantages of rooting + Link2SD! =) All on a phone that cost me $55 (including accessories).Update Dec. 3: I've had the phone for a full 2 months. Since I rooted it after 2 weeks of purchase, the phone has performed well and very rarely rebooted itself. I have applied one tweak, and that is to improve WiFi response. I use an app called Andromizer, and increased the WiFi Interval scan to 300 milliseconds (0.3 seconds). It's long enough to improve reception, but short enough to help keep battery use down when idle. The WiFi automatically cuts off and switches to 3g (or phone service only if you don't use 3g) after about 5-6 minutes if nothing is being downloaded in the background.There isn't much that can be done with this phone if you want to tweak it further without bricking it. It may be possible to get a faster launcher if you want, but that's about the only other thing I can recommend if you want to tweak.To sum it up, IMHO if you root you need:1. superuser app2. Link2SD app3. /system/lib/egl/egl.cfg tweak (leave adreno200 line uncommented, add # to other lines)4. increase wifi signal to 300 milliseconds (you can use longer values, Andromizer limits this to 300ms, which seems to work fine for me)5. change launcher to something more lightweight or one you likeOtherwise if you don't root, freeze the bloatware that can be frozen (or don't want to use), and limit the number of apps to around 20. If you choose to use twitter, facebook and other apps that need to run in the background, get a cache clearing app that can clear cache automatically at least twice a day to reduce the chance of random reboots.UPDATE DEC. 10, 2013:I am still using Andromizer for implementing some phone tweaks. In addition to the 300ms tweak for WiFi, I've also enabled the 3G/4G tweak at the highest setting to speed up 3G internet. As long as there's enough signal, it really works! Great for when you can't get a decent WiFi signal. Keep an eye on that 2.5 GB throttling limit with Minutes Checker. Also, I used the One Click optimization setting. I unchecked the remove debug logger, and kernel tweak settings. IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT KERNEL TWEAK (OR ANY OTHER KERNEL TWEAKS) STAYS UNCHECKED FOR THIS PHONE, if you use One Click optimization! If you leave that checked and then reboot, your phone is as good as dead. It will boot loop until the insects take over the Earth... ;)I have also added an app called Greenify. This activates the hibernate function of the Android OS that is only available to rooted phones. I wish I didn't have to root the phone for that, but worth it if you can. Greenify can be used to select apps that should hibernate when the phone is idle. The benefits come in handy when the phone is unplugged, and not charging. This will help save some battery, and reduce unwanted activity in the background. All of that helps reduce unexpected overheating, which seems to be a problem with many low end Android devices.With the tweaks I put on this phone, I've been able to reinstall a few social media apps I stayed away from, due to memory issues. I put back the official apps of facebook, twitter, Google+, and ELJay, an app for LiveJournal and other sites that use LJ's software.UPDATE 2/26/2014I've since dropped Greenify. I found that it bogs down the phone when used with some streaming music apps (Pandora, TuneIn, etc). I have also "debloated" my phone. about this here: [...] BACKUP EVERYTHING FIRST before debloating. You may want to reuse some of the apps at a later date, or reinstall them before unrooting and reselling the phone.UPDATE 4/28/2014I've now relegated this phone to backup status, as I use a rooted LG Optimus F3 as my daily driver. Still, I've managed a few tweaks to this phone that still make it useful. If you're still in the market for a cheap phone for primary or backup use, this can still fit the bill if your expectations are modest. The updated version of Link2SD now allows data to be moved to the /data/sdext partition. Initially, I did try to move my data to the sdext partition, but it seemed to slow down some programs for me, so after two days, I moved data back to internal. If you don't mind it, moving data out of internal can further increase space for new programs. Just remember to back up your SD card, repartition it from a PC, then enlarge sdext (I recommend 2 GB, but you can go bigger than that).I also installed an app called GL2SD. It moves obb (opaque binary blobs) files to your SD card's main FAT32 partition. This is great for installing some large games that would otherwise be out of reach for a phone like this. As with all object linking apps for Android, the device must be rooted. I tried one game (so far) with this linker installed. It's a first person shooter game called Dead Trigger. Unrooted, one would have a hard time even putting a large game on a phone like this. But with Link2SD and GL2SD working together, it runs... and quite well for a 1 GHz single core CPU phone! The game does slow down a bit in high intensity scenes, but it's otherwise playable. :) So there ya go... if you're on a budget and willing to root, you can run some hefty programs on this phone! And be a member of androidforums.com. I'm listed there as daffyducknj. If you're lucky I might be able to help you out, or some other person will. Read more

I've had this phone for several weeks now and NO problems! LOVE it. Web is great - haven't touched my laptop since I got the phone! Battery life is pretty good for a Droid, though I do intend to buy a second usb cord so I can charge at work and listen to music all day. :) The touch screen was difficult at first... but either I got used to it, or it got used to me. It learns new words fast, which is nice. LOVE swype!!! Was fully intending to buy the Optimus Elite, but opted for this after comparing reviews. This is touch screen only, no slideout keypad... but the swype feature works VERY well. I left the original screen protector on so far... but definitely need to buy some as it's starting to peel. It's a bit scratched up... so I image the screen wouldn't last long without it. Anyway... for a $60 phone... I have absolutely no regrets!UPDATE 7/18/13: Overall, I'm still happy with the value of this phone. HOWEVER... I've found that I do need to remove the battery quite frequently. Seems that nearly every time I turn my wifi on, the phone locks up. And I mean LOCKS UP. Cant turn it off, cant move the screen. Pop the battery out and back in (no need to wait), turn it on and it is ready to go with wifi already on. Weird, and a hassle... but not a huge deal. I DO NOT have this problem when turning on my data connection, just wifi. I have NOT put a memory card in the phone... so that COULD have something to do with it (though I dont know why that would matter). If you're big on apps, you're definitely going to need that. I thought I wasn't big on apps... but I'm finding out there are really a lot of useful apps out there! So... probably time to get a memory card. :)

CALL QUALITY: Before I get into all the details: I just want to say that one drawback I have noticed on this otherwise impressively loaded economy phone: the call quality is not that great. People say I sound fine but the voices I'm hearing on my end sound digitized - like those pop singers that put effects on their voices. I don't know if this is something that Virgin Mobile can adjust or if this aspect of this phone is defective. The rest of it works great- I only needed this phone for about a week while my regular VM phone was being replaced via warranty. If you're a heavy talker - I don't recommend this phone. If you need something really inexpensive to keep in your pocket to check emails, the web, manage a calendar, send texts and only make a few short calls a day - this will work.original review:********************Stock Android is getting SO comprehensive: what this phone does for the teeny tiny price is amazing. Its nice (okay amazing) to see Android 4.04 on a phone with a $19 (or $29 or $39 depending on when you buy this) price tag. This phone is nice and light -fits well in the hand with a non-slip rubberized texture on the back - one nice feature: it allows you to move certain apps to sd card (ie I moved Netflix, Pandora, Hulu Plus, N7player, live wallpapers and some others to SD). Also it charges to full capacity pretty quickly compared to some other Androids I've used.btw I bought one of these for a friend months ago when they were $40 - his iphone broke and he was tired of the monthly bills anyway- he says its great - had NO complaints for an entry level Android. I don't mean to compare this to an iphone by any means-but the basic smartphone functions work well. I picked one up for 19.99 here at amazon over black Friday this year for when my kids want to play with my phone (and I don't want to give it up). I'm using this one to hold me over until Virgin Mobile sends me a new Galaxy s2 phone--just barely still under 1 year warranty). Folks - remember - Virgin Mobile stands by their products - even if 6 months from now this phone starts giving you grief- they WILL send you another one and the warranty starts all over again.so..this phone does 90% of what I need my Galaxy to do -no slick and glossy giant amoled display like the Galaxy does- it has a plainer-grainier look -but its plenty fast nonetheless and has a decent size screen. Another reviewer made a good point - don't expect great pics! I mean if you need to send "info" via cell or email -like examples of this and that for practical reasons or for fun - it will work and it has a flash. But don't expect quality photos. And it has no front facing camera so you cannot Skype but come on its 30 bucks!Okay so here is an example of what I set it up to do right away and how much you can fit on the phone +WHAT IT CAN DO EASILY WITHOUT annoying GLITCHING:The calling, texting, emailing, google voice search, voice to text etc. all worked as expected - no real difference between this $30 phone and the Galaxy I paid $300 for last year. The call quality might be marginally better on a more expensive VM phone and btw all cell phones seem to glitch here and there in my honest opinion.Nice live wallpaper installed and running- it runs live wallpaper on the lock screen! Nice!Easily installed and used: Netflix (works great) I've only tried wifiHulu Plus (works great) only tried wifi(note: even though it doesn't generate great pics and the screen is no "HD" screen - Netflix etc videos look pretty darn good -VERY watchable)Pandora works great (again wifi)Obviously Youtube (preinstalled)Swiftkey trial ap installedI have two separate Gmail accounts updating every 5 minutes on wifiI have another private email account updating every 5 minutes-this is a VERY busy accountI have soduko and three other basic aps installed that I use regularly and the phone is not complaining that the memory is low.N7player ap is installed and works greatinstalled Minecraft pocket edition free and I was able to walk around but my son says you can't actually play- the phone can't handle it.I switched off the wifi and hopped online via 3g and zipped around the net doing searches etc. NO PROBLEM.Even with the slightly grainy screen -I easily went Amazon.com and reviewed my christmas orders - no problem reading text or signing in with "desktop site" using pinch-zoom. Some entry level Androids are really hard to "shop" from but I have already used this phone via 3g to order a gift via Amazon while waiting -indoors-at the bank.I was VERY impressed with the battery life so far. I cannot remember my Galaxy ever lasting all day without needing recharging even with wifi and mobile data OFF. I don't know what the battery will be like in 6 months but my friend never had a battery issues with his Kyocera.I also installed an HD wallpaper picker and downloaded a few non-live wallpapers. The images loaded REALLY fast - I was impressed.What I CANNOT do with this entry level Android:Well obviously I there is no front facing camera. So no video chat. Also I can't take HD pictures or video like I could with my Galaxy. I cannot run certain 'creme de la creme' gaming aps - but I can run PLENTY to keep a kid happy.IE: it cannot run the newest "Angry Birds Go" fast moving kart game - It appears to play all the other Angry Birds Games though. I cannot fit tons of apps on this phone like I could on the Galaxy- but I can manage all the basics and move a large amount of them to the sd card. The screen isn't large - 3.5" is about as small as I would be willing to go to be able to comfortablywatch a video, e-mail and use apps like n7player or games etc. but I have average sized fingers. I don't think I would want to read Kindle on a screen this small and basic either. But there are tablets and laptops for that.This is just A LOT of phone that processes data pretty fast for a measly $20 to $40. It seems like many budget prepaid Androids out there run on Gingerbread-really outdated versions of Android. But this is ice cream sandwich so its going to be able to do a lot more than those other phones and run a lot of different, really convenient apps. I know there has to be some lemons out there though - since this is not a high end phone. But I think its a fantastic choice for someone who wants an Android on a budget - if you get a lemon just ask Virgin to send you a new one. Keep the info backed up. etc.