Does it allow to call phones and send SMS? This seems like a silly question, but I know that some version of Librem didn't and nobody mentioned it in their reviews.
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PinePhone – Beta Edition Linux SmartPhone Preorder
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Re: PinePhone – Beta Edition Linux SmartPhone Preorder
#22Does it allow to call phones and send SMS? This seems like a silly question, but I know that some version of Librem didn't and nobody mentioned it in their reviews.
Yes, it does. Although, caveat: Not every one of the distributions listed under [0]
does. MMS is difficult though, it still has to be properly implemented in the GNOME-ish software stack that bases on ModemManager instead of Ofono.
Regarding the Librem 5: The final hardware (Evergreen) supports calls and SMS reliably. Unfortunately its battery life is still a bit lackluster.
[0] https://wiki.pine64.org/index.php?title=PinePhone_Software_R...
Re: PinePhone – Beta Edition Linux SmartPhone Preorder
#23> Device Warranty: 30 Days EU Law states two years regardless of manufacturer wishes. https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/shopping/gua... => The two-year period starts from the day you received the product: And given it is shipped from Poland, it falls under it.
I see this comment every time something about the PinePhone is announced, but considering that this is more of a tinkering project and not so much an actual product I just don't see how relevant this is. You are not buying a Pixel 4, you are buying something that still needs a lot of work.
Does the EU law make exemptions for unfinished products? They're still providing you a product.
Re: PinePhone – Beta Edition Linux SmartPhone Preorder
#24I looks forward to seeing reviews. Offhand, does anyone have a list of closed source drivers this device? It’s not a dealbreaker to me (I use many raspberry pis in my home), but it’s nice to have an inventory.
IIRC, it essentially boils down to:
- closed source software running on the LTE modem,
- proprietary firmware for the Realtek bluetooth/WiFi chip
- optional firmware for camera autofocus.
Re: PinePhone – Beta Edition Linux SmartPhone Preorder
#25I looks forward to seeing reviews. Offhand, does anyone have a list of closed source drivers this device? It’s not a dealbreaker to me (I use many raspberry pis in my home), but it’s nice to have an inventory.
There is something from LTT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCKMxzz9cjs
Re: PinePhone – Beta Edition Linux SmartPhone Preorder
#26I wonder if/when they will release more powerfull version
Re: PinePhone – Beta Edition Linux SmartPhone Preorder
#27I personally think that the effort to create open source phones is the single most important technology project going on out there. We have open source browsers, we have open source social apps, but we definitely do not have open source phones. Phones that can be truly owned and controlled by users will reshape the privacy discourse, from one of complaining and legal coercion, to one of choices and markets.
Except that it won't break the app-store duopoly. At what point will WhatsApp or even Signal consider providing a web-app, or even an open API for others to built clients against? Not doing this is a policy choice, not a technical one.
Will banks offer something that doesn't require authentication via an app? Governments? App here meaning: Android or IOS.
One solution might be to provide a sandbox for Android apps, but you would still be locked into Google's app-store and require accepting their terms of use. And while your OS might be open and not user-hostile, all the apps everyone uses will still be the same.
I want a phone like this, but I don't see it changing the duopoly.
Re: PinePhone – Beta Edition Linux SmartPhone Preorder
#28Anyone have any insight into what the app development experience is like on this?
Depends on the stack you are using. I maintain an App List [0] that lists existing apps, which might help with getting an idea of the dominant frameworks. That said, popular technologies like Flutter are also coming to Linux Phones.
Re: PinePhone – Beta Edition Linux SmartPhone Preorder
#29Earlier quoted context omitted.
I see this comment every time something about the PinePhone is announced, but considering that this is more of a tinkering project and not so much an actual product I just don't see how relevant this is. You are not buying a Pixel 4, you are buying something that still needs a lot of work.
Does the EU law make exemptions for unfinished products? They're still providing you a product.
These laws were made to protect regular consumers when they buy a washing machine to ensure that the manufacturer could not screw them over.
This is Pine64, which is about as close to community driven hardware development as you can get. They give you the open-source design and source code. If you think you might need a two year guarantee just don't buy their product, it's probably not a good fit for you anyway.
Re: PinePhone – Beta Edition Linux SmartPhone Preorder
#30I wonder if/when they will release more powerfull version
Here you go: https://puri.sm/products/librem-5.