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Fairphone 6 is switching to a new design that's even more sustainable

androidcentral.com

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Re: Fairphone 6 is switching to a new design that's even more sustainable

#211

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My hotter take is that this is the same problem as IR blasters, and relative to the old normal -- when device makers like LG were specifically advertising how awesome their built-in DAC was -- this whole thing could be solved in a much more elegant, flexible way if anyone at all would just give us a second fucking USB port.

Sony tried to compete with the best camera, best DAC and I don't think those phones sold. Manufacturers build products the market wants. Wired headphones are not what the market wants. If you are a true purist you buy stuff from fiio and carry more then one device. This is the same thing as with small phones. A vocal minority cried far and wide that they wanted them. Apple made them.. and they did, not, sell.

> Manufacturers build products the market wants.

Every single person wants smaller phones. What do we get? No small phones.

Apple doesn't count… they are priced at 3x 4x what an android would cost.

People want small phones but don't want to spend their whole salary on a phone.

Re: Fairphone 6 is switching to a new design that's even more sustainable

#212
post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

GrapheneOS support for Fairphone is unlikely to ever happen. Their hardware is too insecure to satisfy GOS's reasonable requirements [1] and have stated that they aren't interested in improving it [2]. Software is also lacking and they've partnered with Murena [3], who has been slinging shit at GOS [4]. On a more positive note, due to the AOSP/Pixel drama there now is a real possibility a different major OEM will be…

That's excellent news that they're partnering with an OEM to make something. Here's hoping it's someone like Framework that has sustainability in mind as well.

Why not Framework themselves? By now, they have brand recognition to certain extent and a ready customer base - I think a Framework phone with choices of GrapheneOS or LineageOS or standard Googleized option could be a very compelling product.

That is if they can sort out their availability gaps.

Re: Fairphone 6 is switching to a new design that's even more sustainable

#213
post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use my index finger on the rear scanner on the...S9+, I think? Works fine.

Are you guys pulling my leg? The original post said "I wish they still made phones with scanners at the back, I hate FaceID", and my reply was "if you don't mind side scanners, which allow you to do the thing you miss (unlocking the phone while taking it out of your pocket), they still make those".

Are you saying that they’re holding it wrong™?

Re: Fairphone 6 is switching to a new design that's even more sustainable

#214
post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What else are you plugging your headphones into? Again, the pitch here is leaving the dongle basically permanently attached to the headphones, effectively turning them into a set of usb-c wired headphones. I was hesitant about abandoning the headphone jack, too, until I realized that the higher-end phones I'd effectively locked myself out of charge in 10% of the time.

> What else are you plugging your headphones into? My Macbook, my work laptop, my e-piano, my Note9, my BTR7, ... Don't get me wrong, I understand far too well why no new flagship offers the jack anymore and wireless/USB-C is truly amazingly convenient for the vast majority of users, even audio quality wise, but sadly we are still very far from either being universal, either because the standard is still 1/8 or 1/4 i…

Seems like there is a market for wired headphones that have built-in split 3.5 and usb-c ends.

Re: Fairphone 6 is switching to a new design that's even more sustainable

#215
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

CalyxOS support Fairphones. It is a better option anyway, also supports bootloader relocking etc.

In which ways is CalyxOS "better"? This comparison is pretty damning: https://eylenburg.github.io/android_comparison.htm Calyx is _not_ a hardened OS, and runs on devices with insecure hardware and firmware (like a Fairphone). Additionally, app compatibility suffers because they use microG instead of proper sandboxed Gapps, and also lacks many QoL features that guard against hostile apps (storage scopes, contact scop…

Why would you call the Fairphone an insecure device? It has long update support and can re-lock the bootloader, which is like the one criteria ROMs like that pick as the security feature. What is your attack scenario, what your security criteria here?

microG is not a drawback, it's a proper FOSS implementation, which I vastly prefer to running Gapps in a sandbox. App compatibility has been perfect for me.

The main criteria for it to be strictly better is that you do not give root to a dev that hallucinates enemies and then send their goons to attack them. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4To-F6W1NT0. It's nice that Graphene has a hardened kernel, that helps nothing if you can't trust the developer - different attack scenarios.

Re: Fairphone 6 is switching to a new design that's even more sustainable

#216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nothing stops you from using wired headphones with USB-C.

I had to settle for a phone with no headphone jack. I thought it can't be that bad, I got a usbc adapter. It's a strictly worse experience: - It disconnects easily - It's much more uncomfortable to keep in the pocket with it plugged on, since it's longer - I feel like I'm stressing the usbc port much more - I can't charge and use headphones at the same time (unless I buy a different, bulkier, adapter) - If I don't ha…

> I can't charge and use headphones at the same time (unless I buy a different, bulkier, adapter)

Well, that's better than things used to be...

I had a Zen Stone that I used to play music in the car by plugging a cassette tape adapter into the audio jack.

For convenience, I bought a cigarette lighter adapter to power it, so that I wouldn't have to take it out of my car when it needed charging.

Except it turned out not to be able to play audio while charging. Not because it charged through the audio jack. It charged through a USB port. You just weren't allowed to do both at once.

Re: Fairphone 6 is switching to a new design that's even more sustainable

#217
post #10

Was lucky enough to get my Fairphone 4 on sale, but I'd happily pay full price now - even though the Fairphones are pricey for the specs, unless you absolutely need 24 cores etc. I'd say they are worth it, knowing the company is at least trying to improve the parts supply chain, and knowing you stand a chance of fixing the devices yourself (luckily I've only had to replace the USB-C port, which was trivial) About the…

I've been very happy with my Fairphone 4 that I've had for 4 years now running CalyxOS. I could probably use it for a few more years but I may upgrade to the 6 if the speakers/microphone are better (and to support the company).

> I could probably use it for a few more years but I may upgrade to the 6 if the speakers/microphone are better

I don't get this. Isn't the whole concept of the company modular parts? Shouldn't you be able to put the better speakers in your existing phone?

Re: Fairphone 6 is switching to a new design that's even more sustainable

#218
post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The article is misleading here in that the earlier Fairphones had removable batteries without glue.

The Fairphone 4 at least you could replace the battery without any screws at all. It took seconds and it's been extremely useful for me.

On the flip side, the battery of my Fairphone 3 had a tendency to disconnect when it was shaken too strongly for its taste, rebooting the phone…

So I'd consider screws to be an improvement actually.

Re: Fairphone 6 is switching to a new design that's even more sustainable

#219
post #7

They mention the Pixel and I just got to say, I wish someone would bring back the fingerprint reader on the back of the phone. That was seriously the best solution. Fastest way to unlock your phone, because no matter how slow the fingerprint reader is you activate it while pulling it out of your pocket. I honestly don't get why people like Face ID more (what I currently use). Someone, please bring this back

The best it's on the power button tbh

Re: Fairphone 6 is switching to a new design that's even more sustainable

#220
post #208

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But what about usb-c wired headphones, as I suggested?

Personally, I have several decent headphones with 3.5mm connectors. Having to buy a separate pair of headphones for phone use is dumb.

USB-C to jack adapters exists. Even USB-C to jack cables exists if you own headphones with removable cable.

Not saying it’s a good situation, I also miss the jack connector. But you’ve got the option to keep your headphones :)

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