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I can confirm what you and _wldu are saying and yes, the latest project is https://solokeys.com/v2 https://solokeys.com/v2 and is launching end of this month.
by ecesena 6y ago
I can confirm what you and _wldu are saying and yes, the latest project is https://solokeys.com/v2 https://solokeys.com/v2 and is launching end of this month.
From an economic perspective, unfortunately, it's really hard to focus on reducing the cost, there's simply no incentive.
First, consider that the biggest cost in the customer getting a security key is basically shipping + packaging. Imagine a key that costs <$3... even packaging with a polybag + printed label + padded envelop gets to a cost that has a significant % of the production cost.
Next, it's features. To stay on par with competition, people expect the same features (see, e.g., openpgp mentioned above - the code currently doesn't fit in the stm32l4 flash), both firmware and hardware. As a result we have to look at the latest & greatest micro, but of course that alone has a significant cost.
And finally, there's the overall viability. We all know that open source projects die without a business model. The numbers in the U2FZero review simply don't add up, that was clearly unsustainable and that's why we made SoloKeys. A business has expenses other than manufacturing and if you don't account for that, the business dies together with your dream project.
Anyway, thank you both (and all others) for the great support. One step at a time, we'll get to a stronger and eventually also cheaper product!
- gnufx 6y agoAh, I didn't know about the PGP code size. Point taken about the cost, and I hope you can sell to organizations. I'm surprised I can buy a competitor for £8, but then I can't run the proprietary programming software or, I assume, re-flash it. I'm happy to support a free software project anyhow. I wish I could register my Somu with the work Duo system rather than the display-a-number-you-type HOTP keys they reluctantly issue as the expensive alternative to expecting us to use personal phones for such purposes. Phishing, we've heard of it.
- smartbit 6y agoNice try, but I will never attach an usb device for frequent usage that sticks out like the Solokeys v2. The size of the Somu * is fine, as it doesn't need to removed when transporting a laptop. Integrated in to the laptop it would be great, like an Apple Watch allows https://support.apple.com/guide/imac/unlock-and-approve-with-apple-watch-apda4d638ecf/mac https://support.apple.com/guide/imac/unlock-and-approve-with... * https://solokeys.com/collections/all/products/somu-tiny-security-key-two-factor-authentication-u2f-and-fido2-usb-a https://solokeys.com/collections/all/products/somu-tiny-secu...
- ecesena 6y agoI hear you. The stm32 used in v1 was 3x3mm, while the new nxp lpc55s6x used in v2 is 5x5mm. Plus we added 2mb of flash, though it's optional. If anyone wants to try to packing the components into a somu v2, that'd be a nice addition to the *omu family [1] and we'd be more than happy to help with manufacturing. Same for a somu for usb-c. [1] https://tomu.im https://tomu.im