5 ms·

Also a disconnect switch for the telco signal. Yet in my experience, even when turned off, a phone may send out a signal periodically anyway for tracking / tria

Also a disconnect switch for the telco signal. Yet in my experience, even when turned off, a phone may send out a signal periodically anyway for tracking / triangulation purposes. However to avoid that, removal of the battery is required. A disconnect switch for power would do the same? I think moving to micro-PCs is the answer, and then having an add-on to get a telco-signal. Why trust Motorola? Start at grass roots where possible. Everything needs to be open-source and based on open standards. No trojans, telemetry or remote overrides. Maybe the product is an adapter case for a Pi that adds a screen, battery, antenna and whatever else is required to make it a smartphone alternative? Also, looking forward to Mecha Comet.

rationalist 8mo ago
> switch for the telco signal Sorry, that's what I meant when I said Modem. > A disconnect switch for power would do the same? I would think so. I don't necessarily care about removable batteries because I use a portable power bank. Why carry an extra battery that only works for one device, when I can carry a "battery" that works for many devices?
staplers 8mo ago
I think moving to micro-PCs is the answer Would be shocked if hardware is affordable enough for such a thing in a decade
- adrianwaj 8mo ago
  This is the most cost-effective mini PC right now, that I've found. Also, one of the smallest. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005575993915.html https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005575993915.html I'm not so fond of it because it has a fan. But if you could use it at home, and then had a "phone conversion housing" you could attach it to a belt and have a smartphone. Run wired earbuds out it. Have a trackpoint nub. Here is a $15 screen. https://medium.com/@lee.harding/building-a-real-time-hn-display-for-15-3ea1772051ff https://medium.com/@lee.harding/building-a-real-time-hn-disp... There's something elegant about only requiring 1 computing device for everything. Even put it in the car! It's what Steve Jobs would want.
  - scheme271 8mo ago
    The power draw looks like it's at least 4W with a max of maybe 45W. That's maybe 7 hr with a 10000 mAh battery assuming it's sleeping the entire time and not really doing anything. Not very practical for people used to a small phone lasting all day without a charge.
    - adrianwaj 8mo ago
      Surely there's a way to power down parts of it to reduce the draw? Is that a thing? Like having a V8 and only bringing in cylinders when they're needed. Couldn't cores be disabled or memory modules? On-demand telco and wi-fi. Even having minimal threads activated and perhaps on-demand DRAM over a typically DRAM-less SSD. These ideas would have to go into a new design. Also see: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004564646188.html https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004564646188.html "At just 155 x 80 x 19mm, this pocket-sized M6 mini PC is perfect for travel, fitting easily in handbags or pockets."
      - scheme271 8mo ago
        You could power down portions and that's what a lot of modern systems do but you need to incorporate that into the design at a fundamental level. The entire PC would have to be redesigned and you even need a whole new cpu and motherboard design in order to be able to power down enough things while still being able to do useful work. So yeah, it's possible but you'd basically be redoing the entire system from scratch.
        adrianwaj 8mo ago
        I still think it's a good idea. Apple could do it. I think you'd want a tiny switchboard where you could manually-override powering up/down parts of the system. Also, just because you're at a desk doesn't mean you want all cores going and when traveling only a couple - it could be on-demand. The other key thing is damage resistance. Just because you've got it in your pocket doesn't mean you want to risk it being damaged. Maybe a free-floating housing for traveling like with the old Sony Action cams. "The X3000’s entire lens and sensor unit moves physically inside the body to compensate for shake. It is widely considered some of the best stabilization ever put into an action camera." https://gemini.google.com/share/2839d2aa0a68 https://gemini.google.com/share/2839d2aa0a68
lejalv 8mo ago
I wholeheartedly concur (see also: Linux phones), but what about device attestation requiring iOS or Google Play Integrity? That's my main worry, as age verification seems poised to making us dependent on those. Example: the EU Digital Identity (EUDI) wallet, discussed in multiple GH issues e.g. https://github.com/eu-digital-identity-wallet/av-doc-technical-specification/issues/18 https://github.com/eu-digital-identity-wallet/av-doc-technic...
- adrianwaj 8mo ago
  I would ignore it for the time being and make the phone for Adults Only. But anyone will be able to use it and age restrictions may only apply to the "megacorp regulated tech." I don't really know.

rationalist 8mo ago

> switch for the telco signal Sorry, that's what I meant when I said Modem. > A disconnect switch for power would do the same? I would think so. I don't necessarily care about removable batteries because I use a portable power bank. Why carry an extra battery that only works for one device, when I can carry a "battery" that works for many devices?

staplers 8mo ago

I think moving to micro-PCs is the answer Would be shocked if hardware is affordable enough for such a thing in a decade

adrianwaj 8mo ago
This is the most cost-effective mini PC right now, that I've found. Also, one of the smallest. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005575993915.html https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005575993915.html I'm not so fond of it because it has a fan. But if you could use it at home, and then had a "phone conversion housing" you could attach it to a belt and have a smartphone. Run wired earbuds out it. Have a trackpoint nub. Here is a $15 screen. https://medium.com/@lee.harding/building-a-real-time-hn-display-for-15-3ea1772051ff https://medium.com/@lee.harding/building-a-real-time-hn-disp... There's something elegant about only requiring 1 computing device for everything. Even put it in the car! It's what Steve Jobs would want.
- scheme271 8mo ago
  The power draw looks like it's at least 4W with a max of maybe 45W. That's maybe 7 hr with a 10000 mAh battery assuming it's sleeping the entire time and not really doing anything. Not very practical for people used to a small phone lasting all day without a charge.
  - adrianwaj 8mo ago
    Surely there's a way to power down parts of it to reduce the draw? Is that a thing? Like having a V8 and only bringing in cylinders when they're needed. Couldn't cores be disabled or memory modules? On-demand telco and wi-fi. Even having minimal threads activated and perhaps on-demand DRAM over a typically DRAM-less SSD. These ideas would have to go into a new design. Also see: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004564646188.html https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004564646188.html "At just 155 x 80 x 19mm, this pocket-sized M6 mini PC is perfect for travel, fitting easily in handbags or pockets."
    - scheme271 8mo ago
      You could power down portions and that's what a lot of modern systems do but you need to incorporate that into the design at a fundamental level. The entire PC would have to be redesigned and you even need a whole new cpu and motherboard design in order to be able to power down enough things while still being able to do useful work. So yeah, it's possible but you'd basically be redoing the entire system from scratch.
      - adrianwaj 8mo ago
        I still think it's a good idea. Apple could do it. I think you'd want a tiny switchboard where you could manually-override powering up/down parts of the system. Also, just because you're at a desk doesn't mean you want all cores going and when traveling only a couple - it could be on-demand. The other key thing is damage resistance. Just because you've got it in your pocket doesn't mean you want to risk it being damaged. Maybe a free-floating housing for traveling like with the old Sony Action cams. "The X3000’s entire lens and sensor unit moves physically inside the body to compensate for shake. It is widely considered some of the best stabilization ever put into an action camera." https://gemini.google.com/share/2839d2aa0a68 https://gemini.google.com/share/2839d2aa0a68

lejalv 8mo ago

I wholeheartedly concur (see also: Linux phones), but what about device attestation requiring iOS or Google Play Integrity? That's my main worry, as age verification seems poised to making us dependent on those. Example: the EU Digital Identity (EUDI) wallet, discussed in multiple GH issues e.g. https://github.com/eu-digital-identity-wallet/av-doc-technical-specification/issues/18 https://github.com/eu-digital-identity-wallet/av-doc-technic...

adrianwaj 8mo ago
I would ignore it for the time being and make the phone for Adults Only. But anyone will be able to use it and age restrictions may only apply to the "megacorp regulated tech." I don't really know.