5 ms·

Elon Says He’ll Make His Own Phone If Apple and Google Deplatform Twitter

14 points by perihelions 4y ago

cable2600 4y ago
Musk should use this OS on his phones: https://puri.sm/products/librem-5/pureos-mobile/ https://puri.sm/products/librem-5/pureos-mobile/
- BulgarianIdiot 4y ago
  The time for making a new mobile OS was 10-15 years ago. With established ecosystems, his only option is Android. If you think "but that will fail"... yes it will. He can't successfully launch his own phone. He's just running his mouth.
  - timonoko 4y ago
    You dont actually need Android for anything. We could return to 2005, when everybody had "phone-friendly" versions of their web page, instead of bloody apps.
    - jleyank 4y ago
      Yup. EM could just make newTwitter work via a mobile web page rather than an app. No need to muck about with an App Store. Every phone has a browser. Or is an app needed to monetize users??
      - Zigurd 4y ago
        Let's take this idea seriously for a moment. First, it's been done: WebOS. Didn't work. And even WebOS needed a native-API userland for on-device functions like being a phone. Secondly, web apps are very useful. Google was right to make their productivity software and other apps web-based. But even when you run these apps in Google's own browser, you get UX travesties, like two menu bars. Subjectively, user interaction is never as good as in native apps. This is just the web app version of the "native vs cross-platform" app implementation decision. Being cross platform is useful but never quite as slick.
        timonoko 4y ago
        The reason Finnish government was supporting Jolla OS development was that several prominent anti-communist politicians got Jordan Peterson treatment. Android, gmail and other Google services did not work for days. This was not published, so that purple-haired Google employees did not get the satisfaction. Jolla OS and VIRVE (government phone system) were seen as secure alternative. But Google somehow managed to ensure that this does not happen again and issue was forgotten. But Russians just officially adopted Jolla OS as the only one in government phones. There will more adopters in rebellious countries of eastern Europe, I am sure. Elon Musk could easily join this train. Jolla is open and there are no creepy creeps of Amerikan Westcoast Creepytown telling how to use it.
        Zigurd 4y ago
        This tracks Elon's apparent Putinist tendencies, as well as the general affinity of the American right toward authoritarian figures like Orban. Re "Elon Musk could easily join this train." Sure. Do it. As if this trainwreck could get more spectacular. This "This was not published, so that purple-haired Google employees did not get the satisfaction. Jolla OS and VIRVE (government phone system) were seen as secure alternative. But Google somehow managed to ensure that this does not happen again and issue was forgotten." ...has got to be the most obscure yet entertaining conspiracy theory I have heard. I know all the failed mobile platforms pretty well. The CIA did not kill any of them.
    - BulgarianIdiot 4y ago
      No, no one wants to return 20 years just like that. You may as well say let's return to stationary rotary phones. Apps exist so you can have a dedicated, integrated experience. A web page is inherently sandboxes, and the platform itself, as powerful as it has become lately, is still quite limited compared to native. Oh, also your battery life will be s**t.
      - eurasiantiger 4y ago
        Most of those apps are just WebViews displaying HTML and running JavaScript.
grappler 4y ago
Musk used to be one of the Good Ones. Reusable rockets. Electric cars. Now he's lowered himself to be one of Those People. People who help Trump, and pander to Trump supporters. Well, the old days were nice but they are gone.
awb 4y ago
It’s a bit sad to see Musk pulled in so many different directions. He probably could make a really interesting, innovative smartphone, but probably not with everything else currently on his plate. And in an alternate universe, I would love to see him follow through on his quip that he was serious about starting his own candy company. I bet it would be successful too if he could concentrate on it.
eurasiantiger 4y ago
Let’s hope it happens. The world could use an Elon Musk with significantly less cash and no phone.
timonoko 4y ago
Musk already has his own internet and phone network. He could use it as a backbone for ground relays at Tesla charging stations. Worldwide. I would subscribe Musk phone in about 0.1 seconds. So much shit is happening, mostly because of Google.
ddmma 4y ago
Windows Phone was the best
LinuxBender 4y ago
Elon - Please make a US equivalent to the FairPhone. They will not sell it in the US [1]. It is a highly hackable, modular phone that by default runs a de-googled OS. There are endless opportunities to make custom modules people can swap out. Don't want bluetooth? Rip it out. Replace the 32MP camera with a 127MP FLIR camera? Swap it out. FM radio? Add one... and so on. I am not saying Fairphone does all this but rather Elon could. My personal request would be a transceiver module that can operate from 50khz to 50ghz, all modes and unlocking transmit requires cutting a diode like most HAM gear. Include an app that acts as a SDR scanner. The baseband modem should also be replaceable so when new {n}G specs become reality the phone can be upgraded to support new modes, frequencies, etc... One phone, any carrier. Get all of the modules approve-listed with all the carriers. Verizon are picky about approving some models of unlocked phones. Or acquire a few cellular providers. [1] - https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/202005103 https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/202005103
jqpabc123 4y ago
Musk and Trump share a lot of personality traits --- not to be confused with intelligencs traits. They both revolve around a continuous stream of BS that is narcisstic in nature.
- SideQuark 4y ago
  >They both revolve around a continuous stream of BS that is narcisstic in nature. This is amusing to read
Zigurd 4y ago
This feels a little creepy, like a crowd chanting "Jump!" to someone on a ledge. But then you realize the person on the ledge is a monumental dick.
brisky 4y ago
Triumphant pride precipitates a dizzying fall

14 points by perihelions 4y ago

Musk should use this OS on his phones: https://puri.sm/products/librem-5/pureos-mobile/ https://puri.sm/products/librem-5/pureos-mobile/

BulgarianIdiot 4y ago
The time for making a new mobile OS was 10-15 years ago. With established ecosystems, his only option is Android. If you think "but that will fail"... yes it will. He can't successfully launch his own phone. He's just running his mouth.
- timonoko 4y ago
  You dont actually need Android for anything. We could return to 2005, when everybody had "phone-friendly" versions of their web page, instead of bloody apps.
  - jleyank 4y ago
    Yup. EM could just make newTwitter work via a mobile web page rather than an app. No need to muck about with an App Store. Every phone has a browser. Or is an app needed to monetize users??
    - Zigurd 4y ago
      Let's take this idea seriously for a moment. First, it's been done: WebOS. Didn't work. And even WebOS needed a native-API userland for on-device functions like being a phone. Secondly, web apps are very useful. Google was right to make their productivity software and other apps web-based. But even when you run these apps in Google's own browser, you get UX travesties, like two menu bars. Subjectively, user interaction is never as good as in native apps. This is just the web app version of the "native vs cross-platform" app implementation decision. Being cross platform is useful but never quite as slick.
      - timonoko 4y ago
        The reason Finnish government was supporting Jolla OS development was that several prominent anti-communist politicians got Jordan Peterson treatment. Android, gmail and other Google services did not work for days. This was not published, so that purple-haired Google employees did not get the satisfaction. Jolla OS and VIRVE (government phone system) were seen as secure alternative. But Google somehow managed to ensure that this does not happen again and issue was forgotten. But Russians just officially adopted Jolla OS as the only one in government phones. There will more adopters in rebellious countries of eastern Europe, I am sure. Elon Musk could easily join this train. Jolla is open and there are no creepy creeps of Amerikan Westcoast Creepytown telling how to use it.
        Zigurd 4y ago
        This tracks Elon's apparent Putinist tendencies, as well as the general affinity of the American right toward authoritarian figures like Orban. Re "Elon Musk could easily join this train." Sure. Do it. As if this trainwreck could get more spectacular. This "This was not published, so that purple-haired Google employees did not get the satisfaction. Jolla OS and VIRVE (government phone system) were seen as secure alternative. But Google somehow managed to ensure that this does not happen again and issue was forgotten." ...has got to be the most obscure yet entertaining conspiracy theory I have heard. I know all the failed mobile platforms pretty well. The CIA did not kill any of them.
  - BulgarianIdiot 4y ago
    No, no one wants to return 20 years just like that. You may as well say let's return to stationary rotary phones. Apps exist so you can have a dedicated, integrated experience. A web page is inherently sandboxes, and the platform itself, as powerful as it has become lately, is still quite limited compared to native. Oh, also your battery life will be s**t.
    - eurasiantiger 4y ago
      Most of those apps are just WebViews displaying HTML and running JavaScript.

grappler 4y ago

Musk used to be one of the Good Ones. Reusable rockets. Electric cars. Now he's lowered himself to be one of Those People. People who help Trump, and pander to Trump supporters. Well, the old days were nice but they are gone.

awb 4y ago

It’s a bit sad to see Musk pulled in so many different directions. He probably could make a really interesting, innovative smartphone, but probably not with everything else currently on his plate. And in an alternate universe, I would love to see him follow through on his quip that he was serious about starting his own candy company. I bet it would be successful too if he could concentrate on it.

eurasiantiger 4y ago

Let’s hope it happens. The world could use an Elon Musk with significantly less cash and no phone.

timonoko 4y ago

Musk already has his own internet and phone network. He could use it as a backbone for ground relays at Tesla charging stations. Worldwide. I would subscribe Musk phone in about 0.1 seconds. So much shit is happening, mostly because of Google.

ddmma 4y ago

Windows Phone was the best

LinuxBender 4y ago

Elon - Please make a US equivalent to the FairPhone. They will not sell it in the US [1]. It is a highly hackable, modular phone that by default runs a de-googled OS. There are endless opportunities to make custom modules people can swap out. Don't want bluetooth? Rip it out. Replace the 32MP camera with a 127MP FLIR camera? Swap it out. FM radio? Add one... and so on. I am not saying Fairphone does all this but rather Elon could. My personal request would be a transceiver module that can operate from 50khz to 50ghz, all modes and unlocking transmit requires cutting a diode like most HAM gear. Include an app that acts as a SDR scanner. The baseband modem should also be replaceable so when new {n}G specs become reality the phone can be upgraded to support new modes, frequencies, etc... One phone, any carrier. Get all of the modules approve-listed with all the carriers. Verizon are picky about approving some models of unlocked phones. Or acquire a few cellular providers. [1] - https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/202005103 https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/202005103

jqpabc123 4y ago

Musk and Trump share a lot of personality traits --- not to be confused with intelligencs traits. They both revolve around a continuous stream of BS that is narcisstic in nature.

SideQuark 4y ago
>They both revolve around a continuous stream of BS that is narcisstic in nature. This is amusing to read

Zigurd 4y ago

This feels a little creepy, like a crowd chanting "Jump!" to someone on a ledge. But then you realize the person on the ledge is a monumental dick.

brisky 4y ago

Triumphant pride precipitates a dizzying fall