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

androidcentral.com

431–440 of 531 posts

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

#431
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

> That was seriously the best solution. I much prefer having it on a physical home button. You can still feel a dent, but it takes even less effort to reach for it with your thumb. (Well, I think the Pixel never had a home button, and by now it's unfortunately disappeared from other phones too...)

You can bring back the software buttons for back/home/app switcher on Android in one of the display menus. First thing I turn on.

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

#432

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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".

There must be something to tighten the contact between the phone and the battery, every other manufacturer uses glue, Fairphone tried to solve this problem with plastic clips before and it wasn't reliable enough, so I'm certainly not gonna blame them for doing it with the most effective method that doesn't compromise repairability.

[deleted]

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

#433

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…

This does not scale at all. For hobbyist with no kids, sure, spend your time turning old phone for some fancy doorbell, etc. But for normals? Who would maintain such equipment, who would be in charge of testing if the battery will not get overheated once the new device stays for longer time in place X? Who would maintain and support such devices. I don't want to service myself my media player.

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

#434
post #389
post #345

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If they can be used like that, why couldn't they be used... as phones? To facilitate planned obsolescence, manufacturers stop providing OS updates after a relatively short time. And then they cease providing security patches after a... still relatively short time. If you unlock the device and install a custom ROM, which may or may not function adequately for you to begin with, then you're probably also compromising…

> To facilitate planned obsolescence, manufacturers stop providing OS updates I don't think it works like that. Manufacturers stop providing OS updates as soon as they can because providing any kind of support has a cost. Planned obsolescence means "they care about making it obsolete" (active). But the reality is that they just "don't care about keeping the product alive" (passive). And the only way to make them prov…

Manufactures care about support for as long as they think consumers will care. If phones stop working one month after you buy them consumers would revolt. They have decided that 2 years is an acceptable number for customers - long enough that most will be willing to pay to upgrade after that long. If you are one of the "cheap" customers who want to keep your phone longer they want to force you to spend money and most customers seem to be willing to pay then so they are happy.

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

#435
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The removal of the phone jack is so obviously planned obsolescence, it is ironic that this project for sustainability follows the trend. Wired headphones still have better sound quality. Don't need charging. Don't break with software update. But because of that it means less consumption. Think about how insane it is that companies can remove the phone jack and glue in the battery with the very obvious goal of planned…

I would pay $2000 without a second of hesitation, if that's what it took, for an Android phone with * headphone jack * usbc port * removable, large battery * under 5 inch screen (with phone body size to match) * dual sim * sd card slot * cameras just good enough to take pictures of license plates on illegally parked cars * 5g antenna I don't care if it needs to be hella thick to accomplish this, I don't care if the s…

Samsung Galaxy Xcover 4s

Olympia Neo Mini

Slightly larger:

Samsung Galaxy Xcover 5

Cyrus CM17 XA

None with 5G though.

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

#436

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 will not buy another phone without a headphone jack.

Either I will have to buy Xperias or stock up on old Pixel 4 phones.

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

#437
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.

> People are not buying small phones

How can one buy what is not being manufactured?

The few small-ish phones that have existed have mostly been cheap and underpowered.

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

#438

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The backside fingerprint reader could even be used as an input device on some models for scrolling, or pulling down/up the notification bar. Great for scrolling through content or swiping through screens without having to cover your display for gesture input: https://www.androidauthority.com/miss-rear-fingerprint-scann...

Ironically, some devices (Pixel 9 at least) have now added a tiny little touch sensor exactly where the fingerprint reader used to be - it doesn't read the fingerprint, but you can regain this functionality by mapping taps to actions. I can't even imagine why they decided to keep the fingerprint sensor on the front but add a whole separate sensor on the back.

Are you talking about the feature "Quick Tap" in the settings where you can double tap the back? There's no sensor for that, they just use the accelerometer to detect that input. It's been incredibly unreliable for me.

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

#439
post #428

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My sister in law's mom and her daughter have the same thing too where the daughter can unlock her mom's phone with faceID. I researched this and apparently, if you have an unsuccessful unlock first and then you enter the code to unlock, then the phone may train the faceID with the new face too.

> if you have an unsuccessful unlock first and then you enter the code to unlock, then the phone may train the faceID with the new face too Ay wat? That sounds completely backwards, like if an incorrect password for account login would automatically reset the account password to the incorrect one, how would that make sense?!

Worked that way from FaceID introduction. Apple never cared enough. If you share your phone it is on you that the phone accepts the face who you share it with after you enter a pin. It really should have a new face button under the pin.

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

#440

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Removing a body part is also an effective way to get a pass code or pattern. If someone is willing to do you great harm to unlock your phone, I don't think it matters much what locking method you use.

The jurisdictions where a cop will with force put your finger to the fingerprint reader, but won't beat the keys out of you cover most of the first and parts of the second world. And if you are not in one of those countries just politely ask for a blank white sheet of paper to sign and let them fill the rest. You will save everyone some time.

I would not necessarily trust that. Had an army coworker who regularly beat information out with rubber hoses where he was stationed. Sort of the evil version of don’t ask don’t tell.
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