The phone goes beyond being just a BlackBerry dupe, however, by innovating in other areas. For instance, its clever “Signal Light” feature offers a light-up button on the side of the phone that can be customized with different colors and light patterns to indicate when you’ve received messages from certain people, groups, or apps.
This was default android functionality a few years ago wasn't it? I remember having the "notification dot" or whatever it was called that would light in a different colour depending on the notification.
I miss the RGB notification light. I use AOD now, but I'd much rather have the little light back.I haven't seen a phone with one of those in a very, very long time.
That's a nice combo. I do wish they had some more vibrant main colors. Green stood out the most to me but I would have bought a bright blue or something if they had it.
Not without taking the phone apart, which is probably beyond the capabilities and/or motivation possessed by most people.
This was possible with my old Galaxy S Relay, for instance, because all the keycaps were the same size and shape except for the space bar and a couple of the modifiers. Once you got the keyboard separated from the bezel you could fiddle around with it as you saw fit. But not, just to name one example, with my Blackberry Priv because the keyboard had that godawful capacitive touch capability and the keycaps were bonded to the switchboard somehow.
Might not work for some people, but I've never once changed my keyboard layout after customizing it the first time like a decade ago. I only speak one language though.
Yeah, but I bought the phone knowing the layout. I wouldn't have bought it if it wasn't right for me, so not being able to customize it later isn't a problem.
Matching would definitely be preferred, but given the fact that it's a first attempt at a product with a small form factor making swapping difficult, I see the mismatched symbols as a small concession to the overall experience.
I'm not sure what you mean by layers. Like symbols? And I have, and it's okay, but I never got good enough at it for it to feel natural. I mostly tap type with 2 thumbs, or 1 if it's quick and I'm lazy.
Id say these two products are competing on a level playing field here.
Edit: Did someone downvote me for saying that two nearly identical phone specs from two different manufacturers which have near identical release dates for their flagship specs are on a level playing field? Whoever downvoted me, please, walk me through your rationale here.
Why do phone screens/UI never incorporate or compensate for the front camera? On almost any phone made in the last few years, each one has an ugly black dot/circle on the front corner, and it's especially noticeable anytime the screen is on.
Someone on the other thread speculated that Clicks isn't big enough to get custom screens made, and might just have to go with an off-the-shelf design that already has the hole.
Super happy to see live use of the device! I pre-ordered day 1 as this is something I've wanted to have as a dedicated work phone and it fits every need for it. Definitely can't wait to get my hands on it and retire my current work throwaway.
I wrote a hell of a lot of TI-83 BASIC programs in my day. Along with learning basic HTML, it was my intro to programming. The good games were the assembly language games though and you had to trade with your friends to find and get the good ones. There was a Gallaga type space shooter that was top notch.
I was working on a side-scrolling skateboarding game. Can't remember if I every finished it.
I'd love to save and preorder, but wiþout knowing if it'll be unlocked sufficiently to deGoogle, or how long before support from one of þe forks comes, or wheþer Google's going to follow þrough on locking out deGogglers, it's just a risk.
63 Comments
JohnnyCanuck@lemmy.ca · 65 pts · 33d
Oh sweet summer child.
ExcessShiv@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 46 pts · 33d
This was default android functionality a few years ago wasn't it? I remember having the "notification dot" or whatever it was called that would light in a different colour depending on the notification.
PabloSexcrowbar@piefed.social · 7 pts · 33d
I think the ability to have an always-on display somewhat negated the need for a notification LED. It did for me, at least.
dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 33d
Yes, but then manufacturers switched back to LCD screens for cost purposes but the notification LED remained conspicuously absent.
Textra can still flash your LED (if you have one) in custom colors depending on which contact just texted you.
AbsolutelyClawless@piefed.social · 7 pts · 33d
I miss the RGB notification light. I use AOD now, but I'd much rather have the little light back.I haven't seen a phone with one of those in a very, very long time.
echodot@feddit.uk · 1 pts · 32d
I have an app that emulates LEDs with the always on display.
AbsolutelyClawless@piefed.social · 2 pts · 32d
That sounds cool, could you share the link?
Hund@feddit.nu · 5 pts · 33d
A few years ago? I had this on my Android phone almost two decades ago. :D
ExcessShiv@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 6 pts · 33d
What I mean is, it got removed a few years ago
Hund@feddit.nu · 3 pts · 33d
Well. Why didn't you say so then. :D
czardestructo@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 33d
It was on the very first android phone, HTC dream. I still have mine. Bought it on launch day.
rem26_art@fedia.io · 15 pts · 33d
That... was originally a Blackberry feature, right?
guy_threepwood@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 33d
Pretty sure the Palm Treo had it back in 2003 as well.
atomicbocks@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 33d
I remember the trackball on mine would light up different colors. I had a Pearl.
rem26_art@fedia.io · 2 pts · 33d
yeah i remember that on my Pearl too lol
harrys_balzac@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 7 pts · 33d
I had an HTC that did that a very long time ago. Since the phone spent most of its time in my pocket, it was kind of useless as a feature.
It's too bad there's no way for
journalistsstaff writers to check on things before they publish them.ExcessShiv@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 16 pts · 33d
Soo...for how long do we think they'll supply security updates for this android phone?
deepfriedchril@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 33d
They say 5 years of security updates on their website.
ExcessShiv@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 13 pts · 33d
Assuming they exist for that long of course
deepfriedchril@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 33d
Crossing my fingers!
PabloSexcrowbar@piefed.social · 1 pts · 33d
They do have other products to prop them up, so I'm hopeful
neukenindekeuken@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 33d
I've had their keyboard for pixel for 2+ years without issues. They make good stuff at least
aproposnix@piefed.social · 14 pts · 33d
I miss my Palm Treo :(
ScriptSage@lemmy.zip · 9 pts · 33d
Really looking forward to mine. Seems like it hits most of what I've been looking for in a phone.
Alk@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 33d
Me too. Which colors are you getting? I was torn between the default white/maroon and green/brown. I settled on green/brown eventually.
ScriptSage@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 33d
I'm going with white with an orange back. I would have gone with yellow but wasn't a fan of the shade of it lol
The leather back was definitely tempting
Alk@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 33d
That's a nice combo. I do wish they had some more vibrant main colors. Green stood out the most to me but I would have bought a bright blue or something if they had it.
xistera@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 33d
xistera@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 33d
I really want it to work out. I was leaning towards the Titan 2 Elite, but that doesn’t have the qi2 with magsafe or headphone jack.
Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 33d
I can't wait to finally get a sort of replacement for my old BB 8830 once there is a no google ROM
suff@piefed.social · 3 pts · 33d
Not so sure about the fixed keyboard layout you'll have to live with.
deepfriedchril@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 33d
You can remap the keys however you like.
suff@piefed.social · 2 pts · 33d
That you can do. But you can't add/remove or replace the caps, can you?
dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 33d
Not without taking the phone apart, which is probably beyond the capabilities and/or motivation possessed by most people.
This was possible with my old Galaxy S Relay, for instance, because all the keycaps were the same size and shape except for the space bar and a couple of the modifiers. Once you got the keyboard separated from the bezel you could fiddle around with it as you saw fit. But not, just to name one example, with my Blackberry Priv because the keyboard had that godawful capacitive touch capability and the keycaps were bonded to the switchboard somehow.
deepfriedchril@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 33d
No, that would be awesome if you could though.
I had the idea of using some stickers for mine if I really want the hardware to match the software.
Alk@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 33d
Might not work for some people, but I've never once changed my keyboard layout after customizing it the first time like a decade ago. I only speak one language though.
ExcessShiv@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 33d
You can't customize this layout
Alk@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 33d
Yeah, but I bought the phone knowing the layout. I wouldn't have bought it if it wasn't right for me, so not being able to customize it later isn't a problem.
deepfriedchril@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 33d
Physically no, but you could use something like Pastiera to remap them in software.
ExcessShiv@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 0 pts · 33d
Sounds like a shitty workaround TBH having the symbols on the KB completely mismatched with their functionality or letter.
deepfriedchril@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 33d
Matching would definitely be preferred, but given the fact that it's a first attempt at a product with a small form factor making swapping difficult, I see the mismatched symbols as a small concession to the overall experience.
suff@piefed.social · 0 pts · 33d
You don't use the second / third keyboard layer? Have you ever tried swipe typing?
Alk@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 33d
I'm not sure what you mean by layers. Like symbols? And I have, and it's okay, but I never got good enough at it for it to feel natural. I mostly tap type with 2 thumbs, or 1 if it's quick and I'm lazy.
FireWire400@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 33d
That thing is still not out? I'm pretty sure Unihertz revealed their Titan 2 Elite a few months after and that one is already out.
deepfriedchril@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 33d
T2e got delayed until the end of July.
FireWire400@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 33d
Oh ok, didn't know that
neukenindekeuken@sh.itjust.works · 0 pts · 33d
Pro version of elite 2 delayed to december.
Id say these two products are competing on a level playing field here.
Edit: Did someone downvote me for saying that two nearly identical phone specs from two different manufacturers which have near identical release dates for their flagship specs are on a level playing field? Whoever downvoted me, please, walk me through your rationale here.
Zahille7@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 33d
Why do phone screens/UI never incorporate or compensate for the front camera? On almost any phone made in the last few years, each one has an ugly black dot/circle on the front corner, and it's especially noticeable anytime the screen is on.
everett@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 33d
Someone on the other thread speculated that Clicks isn't big enough to get custom screens made, and might just have to go with an off-the-shelf design that already has the hole.
Or it could just be m i n i m a l i s m.
Zahille7@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 33d
My OnePlus has this, iPhones have it as far as I'm aware, most other android phones do too.
frongt@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 33d
They should. Android has native support for a number of in-screen camera locations. https://developer.android.com/develop/ui/views/layout/display-cutout
echodot@feddit.uk · 2 pts · 32d
Yeah well even the YouTube app doesn't support it.
dreamingawake09@piefed.social · 1 pts · 32d
Super happy to see live use of the device! I pre-ordered day 1 as this is something I've wanted to have as a dedicated work phone and it fits every need for it. Definitely can't wait to get my hands on it and retire my current work throwaway.
cheers_queers@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 33d
it looks like a calculator lol
Alk@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 33d
Exactly what I want haha. Completely utilitarian communication device that can do media in a pinch.
(On a side note my calculator in high school spent more time playing homebrew games than it spent doing math)
51dusty@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 33d
DrugWars for life.
njordomir@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 33d
I wrote a hell of a lot of TI-83 BASIC programs in my day. Along with learning basic HTML, it was my intro to programming. The good games were the assembly language games though and you had to trade with your friends to find and get the good ones. There was a Gallaga type space shooter that was top notch.
I was working on a side-scrolling skateboarding game. Can't remember if I every finished it.
Sxan@piefed.zip · -2 pts · 32d
I'd love to save and preorder, but wiþout knowing if it'll be unlocked sufficiently to deGoogle, or how long before support from one of þe forks comes, or wheþer Google's going to follow þrough on locking out deGogglers, it's just a risk.
Nima@leminal.space · -2 pts · 33d
200 dollars for essentially a chatter device seems a bit steep to me.
edit: I was incorrect. its a full android phone at 400$. its only 200 if you pre-order
everett@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 33d
It's an Android phone.
Nima@leminal.space · 0 pts · 33d
oh really? the website advertises it as something different.
everett@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 33d
Clicks also makes an add-on keyboard for standard phones, but this is a full phone. And it's well over $200.
chronicledmonocle@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 33d
It's just Android, but it has a custom launcher for focus on it.
njordomir@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 33d
Heck yeah! If it supported Graphene I'd buy 3.