4 ms·

PinePhone Linux smartphone to sell for $149, dev kits coming soon

33 points by dTal 8y ago

wolrah 8y ago
Ugh, same problem as all the other "open phone" designs, absolute garbage tier hardware. At least they're pricing it somewhat reasonably, but come on, give us some actual performance. 2.4GHz-only WiFi shouldn't even be a thing anymore. The 2.4G spectrum is a wasteland for anyone living in a densely populated area and if it weren't for a few old IoT devices I'd have it entirely turned off on my home network.
- gazarullz 8y ago
  Hi, do you mind elaborating why the 2.4ghz is crap and how the 5ghz is better ? (newbie here)
  - detaro 8y ago
    The available range of frequencies is smaller in 2.4 GHz, so fewer networks can run in parallel without interfering with each other. Even in early standards with 20 MHz channels, you can only fit 3 networks in 2.4, vs in 5 it's more than 10 (exact number depends on region and other special cases). 2.4 Ghz is also somewhat better at getting through walls, which one the hand is useful, but on the other means in a dense city networks from further away can interfere.
- squarefoot 8y ago
  You're right about 2.4GHz limitations, although the network card can be easily swapped with a cheap 802.11+BT5.0 module that cost 20 euros. On performance, I don't know about that CPU, but consider how much is gained by running binary code natively rather than Java apps in a virtual machine; even the oldest smartphones out there would fly, had their manufacturers published enough information to have a Linux distro running on them with enough hardware support.
LinuxBender 8y ago
I would be interested in this. I currently use a $12 throw away T9 style phone. I've never owned a smart phone. I would consider something like this, especially if it has physical switches for disable devices.
appleflaxen 8y ago
GPS hardware is cheap, and its absence is a drastic hit on functionality.
karmakaze 8y ago
I think what I really want is a Linux tablet. The latest MS Surface Go is just about right for hardware but we have no such thing for Linux. If I had that, then I could use any Linux phone with hotspot. I use an iPod Touch dedicated for Spotify, maps and messaging. No other social.
- detaro 8y ago
  I thought I read that the Surface Go is usable under Linux, might be worth investigating?
- dTal 8y ago
  Funny you should mention that - they also announced the "PineTab" in the same announcement, amongst a bunch of other nifty looking goodies. They say it'll cost only $79 ($99 with a clip-on keyboard). I can see these being super useful in a lot of situations. https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=7093&pid=43850 https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=7093&pid=43850
- rowanG077 8y ago
  I am running linux on the Surface Pro. Works perfectly.
everdrive 8y ago
A real alternative to smartphones and their high cost and terrible spying. And what does HN say? As always, they complain about specs. It's pathetic. This sort of response is why we have disposable phones that track you everywhere in first place. Heaven forbid a webpage might load slowly for you.

33 points by dTal 8y ago

Ugh, same problem as all the other "open phone" designs, absolute garbage tier hardware. At least they're pricing it somewhat reasonably, but come on, give us some actual performance. 2.4GHz-only WiFi shouldn't even be a thing anymore. The 2.4G spectrum is a wasteland for anyone living in a densely populated area and if it weren't for a few old IoT devices I'd have it entirely turned off on my home network.

gazarullz 8y ago
Hi, do you mind elaborating why the 2.4ghz is crap and how the 5ghz is better ? (newbie here)
- detaro 8y ago
  The available range of frequencies is smaller in 2.4 GHz, so fewer networks can run in parallel without interfering with each other. Even in early standards with 20 MHz channels, you can only fit 3 networks in 2.4, vs in 5 it's more than 10 (exact number depends on region and other special cases). 2.4 Ghz is also somewhat better at getting through walls, which one the hand is useful, but on the other means in a dense city networks from further away can interfere.
squarefoot 8y ago
You're right about 2.4GHz limitations, although the network card can be easily swapped with a cheap 802.11+BT5.0 module that cost 20 euros. On performance, I don't know about that CPU, but consider how much is gained by running binary code natively rather than Java apps in a virtual machine; even the oldest smartphones out there would fly, had their manufacturers published enough information to have a Linux distro running on them with enough hardware support.

LinuxBender 8y ago

I would be interested in this. I currently use a $12 throw away T9 style phone. I've never owned a smart phone. I would consider something like this, especially if it has physical switches for disable devices.

appleflaxen 8y ago

GPS hardware is cheap, and its absence is a drastic hit on functionality.

karmakaze 8y ago

I think what I really want is a Linux tablet. The latest MS Surface Go is just about right for hardware but we have no such thing for Linux. If I had that, then I could use any Linux phone with hotspot. I use an iPod Touch dedicated for Spotify, maps and messaging. No other social.

detaro 8y ago
I thought I read that the Surface Go is usable under Linux, might be worth investigating?
dTal 8y ago
Funny you should mention that - they also announced the "PineTab" in the same announcement, amongst a bunch of other nifty looking goodies. They say it'll cost only $79 ($99 with a clip-on keyboard). I can see these being super useful in a lot of situations. https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=7093&pid=43850 https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=7093&pid=43850
rowanG077 8y ago
I am running linux on the Surface Pro. Works perfectly.

everdrive 8y ago

A real alternative to smartphones and their high cost and terrible spying. And what does HN say? As always, they complain about specs. It's pathetic. This sort of response is why we have disposable phones that track you everywhere in first place. Heaven forbid a webpage might load slowly for you.