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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

#301

Post by wiether »

textm0de wrote: post #246
lnsru wrote: post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mail on iOS stopped working properly months ago, touch on this particular device sometimes does not work. Photos app is ridiculous. Software quality is declining. Even very average user like me can notice it.

The Mail thing was weird. I thought it was maybe an update or even a network issue as I had recently changed my router. I eventually gave up and replaced Mail with another email client.

was? is!

They still haven't fixed it.

I don't use emails enough on my iPhone to make the effort to try another client, but the unread bubble is still stuck at 2, no matter how much unread emails I actually have. The app randomly shows or hides some emails...

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

#302

Post by karel-3d »

butz wrote: post #254

Why phones are so huge nowadays? How are you people carrying them? Oh how I wish for a compact sized phone, something like iPhone 13 mini, but with USB-C connector. And those camera bumps, don't get me started on those. If you cannot fit camera into phone, why not make whole device a bit thicker.

People are not buying small phones.

If you want a small phone, the best thing are flip-phones, there is tons of them now.

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

#303

Post by dvdkon »

squarefoot wrote: post #245

All phones eventually become obsolete, but their guts could be used in so many ways. I'd love for example if someone made an enclosure acting also as multi port docking station so that old phones with unlocked bootloader (Fairphone being one of them) could be reflashed with a different operating system then used as mini PCs, media players, IoT wall terminals with bigger screens or other uses. Seeing all that perfectl…

It's certainly technically possible. Phone motherboards have limited wired IO, but USB host mode is enough for a lot of things.

The problem is how locked-down most phones are, and how hard it is to modify their software. Even for the Fairphone, you have to fill out a form on their site to get a bootloader unlock code, and they could close that form if they wished (see Asus). That all means starting an "ecosystem" of accessories and new non-phone software is costly and has an uncertain future.

Personally I think the biggest issue is the theft-prevention functionality that means a phone picked out of e-waste is basically bricked (without some exploit). There's companies making new motherboards out of salvaged Intel chipsets, I'm sure it would be possible to build a business around the reuse of phones, but right now there are just too many obstacles.

I think this could be solved with new legislation. At least here, doing anything with e-waste is already highly regulated. Giving registered e-waste processors the ability to unlock the bootloader of any device would reduce waste, and make unlocked phones something you could reliably buy in bulk. Then I think we could see the kind of aftermarket support for phones.

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

#305

Post by anken »

squarefoot wrote: post #245

All phones eventually become obsolete, but their guts could be used in so many ways. I'd love for example if someone made an enclosure acting also as multi port docking station so that old phones with unlocked bootloader (Fairphone being one of them) could be reflashed with a different operating system then used as mini PCs, media players, IoT wall terminals with bigger screens or other uses. Seeing all that perfectl…

Citronics from Brussels does that with Fairphone 3 hardware. https://citronics.eu/

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

#306

Post by wiether »

thallium205 wrote: post #123
al_borland wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was a FaceID skeptic and it quickly won me over, not because of the unlocking experience, but for the authentication during use. What used to be a prompt, followed by an active fingerprint scan, turned into something completely seamless and automatic.

My wife and her sister can unlock each other’s iPhones using the face unlock feature which blows my mind because they do NOT look super similar and are 4 years apart. I’ve turned off all biometrics and use only a PIN. I’m extremely skeptical of the tech.

That's weird!

I got braces recently and I had to go through the FaceID process again because it didn't recognized me anymore.

Obviously my teeth are quite different with my mouth open, but apparently, it modified my face enough when mouth closed that FaceID thaught I was not myself anymore.

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

#307

Post by pjc50 »

squarefoot wrote: post #245

All phones eventually become obsolete, but their guts could be used in so many ways. I'd love for example if someone made an enclosure acting also as multi port docking station so that old phones with unlocked bootloader (Fairphone being one of them) could be reflashed with a different operating system then used as mini PCs, media players, IoT wall terminals with bigger screens or other uses. Seeing all that perfectl…

I feel that adding new hardware to old hardware might just be compounding the waste. We can slow down the obsolescence, but flash wear is a real issue after a few years; that's caused a few phone replacements in my family.

Heck, even reusing furniture in Western economies can be difficult, because the cost of handling it can easily exceed its value. It sort of survives in charity and antique shops, but only for the nicer items.

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

#308

Post by IlikeKitties »

stiray wrote: post #297
IlikeKitties wrote: post #296

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is the whole point, they should stop nitpicking and start to do it (GrapheneOS side), even if it is not going to be THE most secure phone, there is enough of features that are far more useful then just security (like privacy). I don't mind if they make it payable. This feels super entitled to me. GrapheneOS Devs have a mission and they get to make that. You get it for free and if you like it you can give them…

Sure they have a mission. But sometimes mission can be done by taking 1 step back to later make 2 steps forward in fast pace. At the end all profit. While in current state, the culprit, Google profits. And please keep fallacies like "do it yourself" for yourself, I am talking about collaboration, feel free to open another thread on top level about forks. Same goes for /e/ ... they just dont compare. GrapheneOS has tw…

[flagged]

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

#309

Post by crossroadsguy »

littlestymaar wrote: post #218
lawn wrote: post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

If in 2025 your unscrewed battery is disconnecting evening at vigorous shakes it is not your fault at all. So that doesn't explain the "bring in the screws".

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

#310

Post by spurgu »

godelski wrote: 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

I love having the fingerprint reader behind the screen on my Pixel 8a. It has a clear benefit vs. the back; you can unlock it while it's sitting on the table, without lifting it up.
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