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Librem 5 Smartphone Final Specs

puri.sm

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Re: Librem 5 Smartphone Final Specs

#101

Post by floatboth »

novaRom wrote: post #92

I like they use main processing unit from a Dutch company; is its ROM open source or/and can be accessed? All ARM-based Sytem-on-Chips do have a proprietary ROM, which is used mainly for boot-up and multicore management. But there's no access to check if it may do something else. >> The mobile baseband will most likely use ROM loaded firmware this is another vulnerability

The immutable ROM that finds firmware and jumps to it is indeed usually proprietary, but since it's tiny and immutable, it's considered "part of hardware" and is okay even for the FSF "Respects your Freedom" certification.

The one mutable/loadable blob the i.MX8 requires is firmware for the DDR4 PHY (not training code you run on the CPU, but something that runs on the PHY apparently??) and they're using an embedded tiny cortex-M4 core to just load it: https://puri.sm/posts/librem5-solving-the-first-fsf-ryf-hurd...

(IMO, that's a silly requirement from the FSF, I think keeping the main CPU free of blobs that it doesn't run i.e. blobs for other things does not have any meaningful benefits)

Re: Librem 5 Smartphone Final Specs

#104

Post by jdofaz »

I wouldn't pre-order something like this because I don't yet know if it will be reliable. I see the value in what they are offering but it isn't battle tested yet.

I don't want to relive the early smartphone days where the phone crashes when I'm trying to answer a phone call.

Re: Librem 5 Smartphone Final Specs

#105

Post by RandomBacon »

andrewflnr wrote: post #65

The only real obstacle for me is that a large fraction of what I do with my phone is listen to Spotify. It's not clear to me whether or how well it will be supported. (More research: looks like I would have to install Ubuntu Touch and a third party app?) That said, I'm tempted to go for it anyway.

I don't use that service, but it looks like they have a player for the web browser, so I don't see why it wouldn't work.

Re: Librem 5 Smartphone Final Specs

#106

Post by berbec »

stinos wrote: post #93
canadaduane wrote: post #8

I love that there are 3 hardware kill switches, and that turning all 3 off "additionally disable[s] IMU+compass & GNSS, ambient light and proximity sensors." There are so many ways in which clever hackers have teased out information from thin streams of always-on sensor data. It would also be kind of cool if they added physical LED lights reflecting hardware activity, normally covered by some physical blinder that yo…

I wonder if these are pure hardware switches, like in distinct on/off positions where the off position is wired directly to the sensor's power or similar, or more like buttons with software behind them which then does whatever action (and hence can be changed)?

They say hardware kill switches.

0: https://puri.sm/products/librem-5/

Re: Librem 5 Smartphone Final Specs

#108

Post by RandomBacon »

AgloeDreams wrote: post #78
redwards510 wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You aren't buying a phone, you are buying an Experience.

Otherwise known as 'we found a way to charge ~$350 for an Open Source OS.'

If it was that easy, then they would have released it months ago. No, it takes work and work costs money.

Re: Librem 5 Smartphone Final Specs

#109

Post by checktheorder »

moftz wrote: post #45
Endy wrote: post #36

I'm sorry, this device profile doesn't really sell me on why I need to upgrade from my Android TracFone; it doesn't even give me confidence that it will work with the networks I need it to. This is part of the problem I've found over the years with consumer Unix-derivatives - too many "figure it out yourself" answers, not enough "just works, or we'll show you how to figure out whether it works or not first". That's t…

https://puri.sm/faq/supported-networks/ They already have a list of LTE bands that will work depending on if you buy the Europe or US variant. That list is only for the Gemalto PLS8-US and PLS8-E. There is another Broadmobi BM818 module as well. For the US, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile support the 2, 4, 5, and 17 LTE bands that work with the PLS8-US. All of Europe should be supported on the PLS8-E. The BM818 mention d…

Thanks, that link was helpful. The US version will work on two LTE bands on my carrier in Canada. I was waiting to order until the radio bands were finalized.

Re: Librem 5 Smartphone Final Specs

#110

Post by jimhefferon »

jraph wrote: post #27
mpnordland wrote: post #25

So for me, this is roughly what I want in a phone. But the thing is, I bought a phone over two years ago, with better specs for $100 less. That same phone today is priced at $200-$300. The way I see it the real value add for this phone is the software, and this whole mainline Linux, FOSS, run whatever you want approach is very attractive to me. But is it worth $700? Is it worth $700 when my current phone is in great…

From an environmental perspective, it makes sense to keep your current phone as long as possible. I'd love to get rid of this thing full of proprietary stuff though.

> From an environmental perspective

You don't have to toss it, you could sell it.

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