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Now this, this is a project we can all get behind. Adding radio with kill-switch and getting PostmarketOS working on this will essentially make this a smartphon

Now this, this is a project we can all get behind. Adding radio with kill-switch and getting PostmarketOS working on this will essentially make this a smartphone replacement to reclaim mobile computing from the duopoly. Also, N-O-D-E publishes all the requisite files; Essentially making this a 'Build your own smartphone' project and those who don't want to get their hands dirty could order one from the website when available.

saagarjha 6y ago
> will essentially make this a smartphone replacement to reclaim mobile computing from the duopoly I think it’s a bit too thick to reclaim anything, to be honest, but its nerd cred is off the charts.
- Abishek_Muthian 6y ago
  > I think it’s a bit too thick to reclaim anything, Current chase for thinness by manufacturers, even if it means sacrificing structural integrity[1] is laughably absurd. May be I'm bit biased since I was frankensteining a similar concept with my limited capacity, but if the thickness of the device in this prototype is ~2.5" to 3" then the size of the final production device wouldn't be a deal breaker for many. [1]https://youtu.be/eweyhaE6mpI?t=518 https://youtu.be/eweyhaE6mpI?t=518
  - Wandfarbe 6y ago
    I assume so; I would not replace my proper well working phone with a makeshift device like this at all. And there are plenty of options out there already; No need to wait for this setup.
    - Abishek_Muthian 6y ago
      >And there are plenty of options out there already; No need to wait for this setup. Like? The only current mainstream Linux capable smartphone with physical keyboard I know of is Planet Computer devices[1]; even there, the first party support is for android and so the hardware is closed like any other android device out there. [1]https://www.www3.planetcom.co.uk/ https://www.www3.planetcom.co.uk/
      - Wandfarbe 6y ago
        I'm not sure if i missed it but you did mention physical keyboard; Without this physical keyboard, you have phones like https://puri.sm/products/librem-5/#overview https://puri.sm/products/librem-5/#overview Also there are plenty of non google service based android phones and alternatives. You can also use Linux on most Android Phones as well. A Pi Zero or a Pi in general is very very far away from what a Android based Phone does and can do. Alone for Security. What is your thought why you would assume a lot of people could get beind this setup? I do like the project, its nice though but for me probably for different reasons then for you.
        Abishek_Muthian 6y ago
        'Without physical keyboard' there are about half-dozen alternative mainstream options now[1] for Google/Apple ecosystem, Thankfully. [1]https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24072868 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24072868
      - inawarminister 6y ago
        PinePhone has a keyboard attachment based on N900 keyboard (landscape slider) on the way supposedly. It also runs PostmarketOS, Mobian, and other mobile Linux distros natively so we'll see...
- tomcooks 6y ago
  I'd rather have a thick phone than a slim chance of not being tracked. I'll build mine with a metal casing and a GPS for outdoor shenanigans, as sturdy as an AK-47 and as thick as the SCIP
  - Abishek_Muthian 6y ago
    I agree. If isn't an operational security risk, can you share pictures of your setup?
    - silly-silly 6y ago
      I too wish to subscribe to this newsletter.
  - rimliu 6y ago
    Are you going to build your own cell towers too?
    - RandomBacon 6y ago
      The top-level comment that was being replied to already specified "radio with kill-switch"
  - grugagag 6y ago
    Not only that but im thinking that this could be upgraded, modded, fixed, full control, privacy and last but not least: no planned obsolesce
  - Erlich_Bachman 6y ago
    That deserves an applaud, but what about Librem? Aren't they way ahead on that path? Why are you not just using that? Drivers too fresh and battery-hungry for you? But it is going to be 10 times worse with any DIY project...
- progval 6y ago
  I find my phone way too thin, I can barely use it as-is. Thankfully I have a thick case which quadruples its depth (to about 1cm), which is very usable and still fits in any reasonable pocket. From the video, it looks like the Zero Terminal V3 is about the same size as my phone, so it would be great, at least for myself.
  - Abishek_Muthian 6y ago
    >I find my phone way too thin, I can barely use it as-is. I have heard the same reason from many of my contacts, they even use a finger grip on the back of their cases. Phones have crossed reasonable thinness few years back, thanks to a certain manufacturer who started marketing 'Thinness' but have since stopped once their phone started bending in the pants.
asutekku 6y ago
This will be a niche product and for that I’m sceptical it’s sustainable on the long run. There’s no way this would even make a dent to Apple’s or Google’s marketshare. Sure, it’s a nice device for tech-people, but general consumers will most likely not use this.
- Abishek_Muthian 6y ago
  >There’s no way this would even make a dent to Apple’s or Google’s marketshare. That's the bane of monopolies or duopolies; no good for anyone except for the 'Investors'.
  - aspenmayer 6y ago
    What kind of brave new world are we living in, where a one-person noncommercial project need be competitive with gigacorp industrial output to be considered valid, let alone judged on its own merits?
- emptyparadise 6y ago
  Not everything needs to be a product.
limomium 6y ago
Absolutely nothing will make it a smartphone replacement unless it has good battery life. Smartphones are batteries with computers attached.

saagarjha 6y ago

> will essentially make this a smartphone replacement to reclaim mobile computing from the duopoly I think it’s a bit too thick to reclaim anything, to be honest, but its nerd cred is off the charts.

Abishek_Muthian 6y ago
> I think it’s a bit too thick to reclaim anything, Current chase for thinness by manufacturers, even if it means sacrificing structural integrity[1] is laughably absurd. May be I'm bit biased since I was frankensteining a similar concept with my limited capacity, but if the thickness of the device in this prototype is ~2.5" to 3" then the size of the final production device wouldn't be a deal breaker for many. [1]https://youtu.be/eweyhaE6mpI?t=518 https://youtu.be/eweyhaE6mpI?t=518
- Wandfarbe 6y ago
  I assume so; I would not replace my proper well working phone with a makeshift device like this at all. And there are plenty of options out there already; No need to wait for this setup.
  - Abishek_Muthian 6y ago
    >And there are plenty of options out there already; No need to wait for this setup. Like? The only current mainstream Linux capable smartphone with physical keyboard I know of is Planet Computer devices[1]; even there, the first party support is for android and so the hardware is closed like any other android device out there. [1]https://www.www3.planetcom.co.uk/ https://www.www3.planetcom.co.uk/
    - Wandfarbe 6y ago
      I'm not sure if i missed it but you did mention physical keyboard; Without this physical keyboard, you have phones like https://puri.sm/products/librem-5/#overview https://puri.sm/products/librem-5/#overview Also there are plenty of non google service based android phones and alternatives. You can also use Linux on most Android Phones as well. A Pi Zero or a Pi in general is very very far away from what a Android based Phone does and can do. Alone for Security. What is your thought why you would assume a lot of people could get beind this setup? I do like the project, its nice though but for me probably for different reasons then for you.
      - Abishek_Muthian 6y ago
        'Without physical keyboard' there are about half-dozen alternative mainstream options now[1] for Google/Apple ecosystem, Thankfully. [1]https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24072868 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24072868
    - inawarminister 6y ago
      PinePhone has a keyboard attachment based on N900 keyboard (landscape slider) on the way supposedly. It also runs PostmarketOS, Mobian, and other mobile Linux distros natively so we'll see...
tomcooks 6y ago
I'd rather have a thick phone than a slim chance of not being tracked. I'll build mine with a metal casing and a GPS for outdoor shenanigans, as sturdy as an AK-47 and as thick as the SCIP
- Abishek_Muthian 6y ago
  I agree. If isn't an operational security risk, can you share pictures of your setup?
  - silly-silly 6y ago
    I too wish to subscribe to this newsletter.
- rimliu 6y ago
  Are you going to build your own cell towers too?
  - RandomBacon 6y ago
    The top-level comment that was being replied to already specified "radio with kill-switch"
- grugagag 6y ago
  Not only that but im thinking that this could be upgraded, modded, fixed, full control, privacy and last but not least: no planned obsolesce
- Erlich_Bachman 6y ago
  That deserves an applaud, but what about Librem? Aren't they way ahead on that path? Why are you not just using that? Drivers too fresh and battery-hungry for you? But it is going to be 10 times worse with any DIY project...
progval 6y ago
I find my phone way too thin, I can barely use it as-is. Thankfully I have a thick case which quadruples its depth (to about 1cm), which is very usable and still fits in any reasonable pocket. From the video, it looks like the Zero Terminal V3 is about the same size as my phone, so it would be great, at least for myself.
- Abishek_Muthian 6y ago
  >I find my phone way too thin, I can barely use it as-is. I have heard the same reason from many of my contacts, they even use a finger grip on the back of their cases. Phones have crossed reasonable thinness few years back, thanks to a certain manufacturer who started marketing 'Thinness' but have since stopped once their phone started bending in the pants.

asutekku 6y ago

This will be a niche product and for that I’m sceptical it’s sustainable on the long run. There’s no way this would even make a dent to Apple’s or Google’s marketshare. Sure, it’s a nice device for tech-people, but general consumers will most likely not use this.

Abishek_Muthian 6y ago
>There’s no way this would even make a dent to Apple’s or Google’s marketshare. That's the bane of monopolies or duopolies; no good for anyone except for the 'Investors'.
- aspenmayer 6y ago
  What kind of brave new world are we living in, where a one-person noncommercial project need be competitive with gigacorp industrial output to be considered valid, let alone judged on its own merits?
emptyparadise 6y ago
Not everything needs to be a product.

limomium 6y ago

Absolutely nothing will make it a smartphone replacement unless it has good battery life. Smartphones are batteries with computers attached.