Commodore announces Linux-based flip phone with ‘no social media, no browser’ — the Callback 8020 will be available in five retro colorways starting at $499, runs 99% of Android apps
Yeah, I get wanting it to be for disconnecting from social media and doomscroll but to actually block the apps? What if someone changes their mind and legitimately needs to access if for some reason? Buy a new phone? No way. My phone is a tool and I should be able to use it how I want. This is no different than Google blocking 3rd party apps. Let me run what I want on my own phone.
They can't be installed from the app store, but you can sideload the apk to install them.
Who is this for? Me. If it didn't cost $500, I'd get it. I don't have any social apps and I have a work phone (that I leave in the office when my shift ends). I would simply install a firefox fork apk and be done with it. No socials (aside lemmy), and no need for work apps. This phone would be for me if the price were something in the 200-300 area.
Sounds like you want the sidephone then maybe. I think this is a cool idea but there's like 8 other implementations for hundreds less. Unless the main draw is Linux, but if it's pushing to run android apps then why not stick with degoogled android like all the others?
I have a pixel with grapheneOS. I'm already degoogled, but this one looks like a cool nostalgia gadget that would be cool to have for a less outrageous price. I like the design and the idea (and the linux part), but I don't think $500 is the price they should be asking.
I believe that the Linux phone part comes from Android being a fork of Linux. That means that you can’t take advantage of the modern Linux kernel and thus have to maintain a parallel kernel, which is probably absurdly inefficient.
“Because the browser is the back door. Most social media, feeds, video sites, news spirals, and endless searches are still available through the web. Blocking only the apps would leave the main temptation intact.”
Imagine using social media apps on 3,25” 640x480 screen. Now imagine using simple text heavy web pages, like Wikipedia on that screen. One is possible, even useful the other pure bullshit.
That's also the main selling point of the phone. In many European and South American countries, Whatsapp is basically a necessity (I'm not exaggerating). Anywhere else you can just get a real dumbphone for a tenth of the price
Well, if Meta gets to read my messages, the least they can do is comp me the phone. I'm not paying twice (with my money and with my privacy). I'm realistically never using a phone with Meta spyware in the first place, though.
Because people who buy a dumbphone don't want the play store. They want a phone that does only the basics— texting and calling (plus some minor utility like alarms). And Whatsapp replaces texting and calling in many countries
I like that they opted for Sailfish instead of Android (despite having my own qualms about Sailfish), but $500 for what is likely just a customized OEM phone is excessive. This really needs to be $200 at most, IMO.
One problem: Jolla still relies on a proprietary frontend, unfortunately. Another problem: the Callback can't possibly be worth $500 in materials (unless the RAM crisis hit them extra-hard)
33 Comments
laranis@lemmy.zip · 58 pts · 70d
Who is this for?
Alk@sh.itjust.works · 28 pts · 70d
Yeah, I get wanting it to be for disconnecting from social media and doomscroll but to actually block the apps? What if someone changes their mind and legitimately needs to access if for some reason? Buy a new phone? No way. My phone is a tool and I should be able to use it how I want. This is no different than Google blocking 3rd party apps. Let me run what I want on my own phone.
Aeri@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 69d
Shouldn't it be possible to override this? Can we not root it?
Alk@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 69d
It should, but at that point why block them in the first place? Just don't install them by default or create any integrations for them.
AbsolutelyNotAVelociraptor@piefed.social · 12 pts · 70d
They can't be installed from the app store, but you can sideload the apk to install them.
Who is this for? Me. If it didn't cost $500, I'd get it. I don't have any social apps and I have a work phone (that I leave in the office when my shift ends). I would simply install a firefox fork apk and be done with it. No socials (aside lemmy), and no need for work apps. This phone would be for me if the price were something in the 200-300 area.
noodles@slrpnk.net · 5 pts · 70d
Sounds like you want the sidephone then maybe. I think this is a cool idea but there's like 8 other implementations for hundreds less. Unless the main draw is Linux, but if it's pushing to run android apps then why not stick with degoogled android like all the others?
AbsolutelyNotAVelociraptor@piefed.social · 7 pts · 70d
I have a pixel with grapheneOS. I'm already degoogled, but this one looks like a cool nostalgia gadget that would be cool to have for a less outrageous price. I like the design and the idea (and the linux part), but I don't think $500 is the price they should be asking.
newton@feddit.online · 3 pts · 70d
Same here
bambancico@piefed.social · 1 pts · 69d
I believe that the Linux phone part comes from Android being a fork of Linux. That means that you can’t take advantage of the modern Linux kernel and thus have to maintain a parallel kernel, which is probably absurdly inefficient.
RamenJunkie@midwest.social · 10 pts · 70d
The $500 price tag is the hardest part of this to swallow.
Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 70d
Not me. I really want a Linux phone but one that is artificially hobbled? No thanks.
one_old_coder@piefed.social · 2 pts · 70d
It's for nostalgic idiots I guess.
SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 69d
Parents for kids.
MolochHorridus@piefed.social · 53 pts · 70d
Shipping with WhatsApp but blocking browser installs even by APK, what the hell?
From the FAQ:
“Callback allows any Android APK to be sideloaded, except for social media and browsers which are proven to have negative mental health effects.”
“WhatsApp comes preinstalled.”
MolochHorridus@piefed.social · 20 pts · 70d
Their reasoning for this is even flimsier:
“Because the browser is the back door. Most social media, feeds, video sites, news spirals, and endless searches are still available through the web. Blocking only the apps would leave the main temptation intact.”
Imagine using social media apps on 3,25” 640x480 screen. Now imagine using simple text heavy web pages, like Wikipedia on that screen. One is possible, even useful the other pure bullshit.
Rooster326@programming.dev · 1 pts · 69d
TheDarkQuark@lemmy.world · 31 pts · 70d
To anyone wondering, it runs SailfishOS.
https://commodore.net/callback/
kibblebits@quokk.au · 26 pts · 70d
$500?!?!
cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 20 pts · 69d
Includes spyware from Meta. That's a deal breaker.
AndyMFK@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 69d
What are you referring to? I read the article and saw no mention of meta
cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 69d
WhatsApp is owned by Meta and it ships with the phone. WhatsApp is basically Signal or Telegram, but monitored by Meta.
onlinepersona@programming.dev · 3 pts · 69d
WhatsApp
plutopos@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 69d
That's also the main selling point of the phone. In many European and South American countries, Whatsapp is basically a necessity (I'm not exaggerating). Anywhere else you can just get a real dumbphone for a tenth of the price
cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 69d
Well, if Meta gets to read my messages, the least they can do is comp me the phone. I'm not paying twice (with my money and with my privacy). I'm realistically never using a phone with Meta spyware in the first place, though.
Sidyctism2@discuss.tchncs.de · 2 pts · 68d
How is pre-installing an app thats free and available on play store a selling point?
plutopos@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 67d
Because people who buy a dumbphone don't want the play store. They want a phone that does only the basics— texting and calling (plus some minor utility like alarms). And Whatsapp replaces texting and calling in many countries
just_another_person@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 70d
Fine idea. Stupid price.
qwestjest78@lemmy.ca · 16 pts · 69d
$500! My god! You had me until there.
Madison420@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 69d
Yeah that's wild, I imagine most of the cost is in the arbitrarily high chip manufacturing.
ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net · 9 pts · 70d
I like that they opted for Sailfish instead of Android (despite having my own qualms about Sailfish), but $500 for what is likely just a customized OEM phone is excessive. This really needs to be $200 at most, IMO.
UFODivebomb@programming.dev · 8 pts · 69d
I gotta hand it to new commodore: they are at least trying some fun stuff. I wish them well!
SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 69d
But 99% of android apps are social media or browsers.
Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 70d
Blocks 99% from running but allows 99% of the remaining 1%.
csolisr@hub.azkware.net · 2 pts · 70d
One problem: Jolla still relies on a proprietary frontend, unfortunately. Another problem: the Callback can't possibly be worth $500 in materials (unless the RAM crisis hit them extra-hard)