-> $500
-> Corny nostalgia-bait
-> No web browser
-> No social media
-> System-level DNS blocking
Lmfao. What even is the point of this ? I could see an argument for not allowing to install social media apps, but blocking me arbitrarily from even accessing them through a browser is crazy. The OS is Linux-based too, so there’s no technical constraint, they just went out of their way to add always-on parental control.
For $500 (FIVE HUNDRED) you get a $30 dumb phone with Whatsapp. Wow.
This is really confusing brand/product combination. Who is it trying to appeal to?
I'm pretty sure the people who have fond memories of growing up with a C64 or watching ToS are of an entirely different generation than those with fond memories of flip phones and cyber/color-puke ads for transparent plastic gadgets.
> BASIC Beige Edition
There's a missed opportunity for a better ToS joke here: "Beige... the final frontier"
Retrocomputing Roundtable has talked about the new Commodore company over the course of a couple episodes, and I thought they brought up a good point about “what is it that people actually want from Commodore,” and the best answer they came up with is “to be 12 again.”
A new C64 with modern video output, a disk emulator, a SID chip replacement so you don’t need an original… that’s all good, but beyond that, it’s hard to say. This phone, though? I don’t think anyone saw that coming, and I don’t see how this could possibly be the right move.
Some scepticism here I see, but personally I think this is spot-on. I've been keen on a dumber phone for a while, but losing whatsapp & maps makes it a non-starter for any real use. This is an excellent middle ground. The aesthetic is cool, and building this on Sailfish but with Android compatibility is awesome. Big fan of the concept.
I'm perhaps misinterpreting your comment, but from the FAQ:
> Callback includes SMS, WhatsApp, [..]
> Callback includes Pure Maps, a popular Sailfish navigation app, and is compatible with several Android map, navigation, and transport apps, including Uber and Lyft.
It specifically mention both Whatsapp and maps as being available, but to me the dealbreaker is blocking browsers.
When I am out, I use the browser a lot, need to find if this is a good restaurant, or a good product to buy, what was actor form the 80's tv show?...
Like I understand why the would not have one preinstalled, but preventing me from installing it??
No way, and then add the pricetag... I do hope it fails just because I don't want people to think that the solution to today's walled gardens is "differently walled gardens".
If that's what you need, you can simply buy a conventional smartphone. Conventional smartphones are available in flip-phone form factors, although I personally consider trying to browse the web from one to be a gigantic pain.
Nice, but a little bit too thin on details to read this as more than "we ordered a Commodore-branded Sailfish-OS phone from an ODM".
If it would be more "considerate" from hardware (or even software) perspective it could be compelling, but from the infos on that page it sounds more like a "memberberry" product
(like e.g. a phone from Kodak, Sega, Atari,... built on the business decision of [product-cost] + [branding] = [potential price-premium of xxx USD])
Meh, I find perryfractic's stuff to be more style over substance. It's interesting that he's releasing products, but not interesting enough for me to buy
Two things need to change and this would be a hit:
1/ Find My support or similar (for parents who would give this to kids)
2/ WhatsApp?????? That is the ultimate social network so it should definitely not be there by default.
This looks really awesome! It's pretty hard to wrap my head around the price though. $500 USD (so $700(!!!) Canadian) is pretty bizarre for what it is.
I'm torn on the blocking of web browsers. Yeah, they can be used for getting to Facebook or whatever. But they are also used to access 99% of the world's info now. Seems like if you just wanted to block social media, a DNS block or even firewall would be a better option.
I can imagine most people who would use this would also own a regular phone. Personally I have a couple apps like this that I would be fine on a phone I leave at home while on the go I only need messaging, maps, and uber.
Hmm I imagine using a server to connect to signal/whatsapp or even email, then using a local model to classify and filter and trim messages and forwarding to SMS, and viceversa. I guess the trouble is I’d need many source numbers :thinking:.
This is interesting to me for a few different reasons, but one of the bigger ones is that it appears to be a Sailfish device that’s readily available in the US, which to date has been oddly rare. As a dev, Sailfish has caught my eye a few times over the years but no US availability has meant I’ve never had the chance to play with it.
52 comments
[ 2.5 ms ] story [ 69.2 ms ] threadI don't think the renewed Commodore will last too long.
If you want a brand new C64 get em before they become .... collectors items.
For $500 (FIVE HUNDRED) you get a $30 dumb phone with Whatsapp. Wow.
And the design…it looks like a Motorola.
I'm pretty sure the people who have fond memories of growing up with a C64 or watching ToS are of an entirely different generation than those with fond memories of flip phones and cyber/color-puke ads for transparent plastic gadgets.
> BASIC Beige Edition
There's a missed opportunity for a better ToS joke here: "Beige... the final frontier"
A new C64 with modern video output, a disk emulator, a SID chip replacement so you don’t need an original… that’s all good, but beyond that, it’s hard to say. This phone, though? I don’t think anyone saw that coming, and I don’t see how this could possibly be the right move.
> Callback includes SMS, WhatsApp, [..]
> Callback includes Pure Maps, a popular Sailfish navigation app, and is compatible with several Android map, navigation, and transport apps, including Uber and Lyft.
No way, and then add the pricetag... I do hope it fails just because I don't want people to think that the solution to today's walled gardens is "differently walled gardens".
If it would be more "considerate" from hardware (or even software) perspective it could be compelling, but from the infos on that page it sounds more like a "memberberry" product
(like e.g. a phone from Kodak, Sega, Atari,... built on the business decision of [product-cost] + [branding] = [potential price-premium of xxx USD])
1/ Find My support or similar (for parents who would give this to kids) 2/ WhatsApp?????? That is the ultimate social network so it should definitely not be there by default.
Can't really escape it
The retro vibes I'm getting from this one though involve "the Fonz" getting up on waterskis…
The whole "people want their data and privacy and all" is becoming the next premium service and/or product and I don’t like that at all.