PinePhone
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The Allwinner A64 supports up to a 5Mpx camera. You can't do any more without changing the SOC. Let's get through one generation of hardware at $149 before we think of more opportunities.
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@domubpkm There will be world-wide shipping. As for RAM - the SOC supports up-to 3GB of LPDDR3 memory. So yes, in theory there could be more, but lets see if the devs are content with the current specs. If we buy more RAM then we will have to spend less on other components, so if the experience is solid with 2GB of RAM then its better to spend the money on better plastic, LCD panels, battery, etc., I hope this makes sense.
@Josele13 as @UniSuperBox said, lets take one step at a time. We think that the best chance to have a significant adoption of the PinePhone (and exposure to Linux on a phone in general) is by making a solid device, that performs well, and is inexpensive. As it currently stands, even the majority of Linux enthusiasts do not consider Linux on a Phone as a replacement for their iOS or Android daily driver - this is the reality of things. There is, however, a good chance that the same people will be willing to pick up the PinePhone... even if its just out of curiosity. This in turn will lead to exposure to the Linux phone OS platform such as Ubuntu Touch and help it grow.
The more people interested, the bigger the market, the more reasonable it is to create a higher-end device One thing at a time. -
@PINE64 OK. I wish you the best success for the pinephone in all aspects !
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Really looking forward to this and seeing UT running on it!
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Is there a way to confirm that the Pinephone will work as well "out of the box" as my Nexus 5 running Ubuntu Touch? In other words, would I be losing any functionality by switching to it when it comes out?
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Updated the first post twice today:
- First to remove the imaginary LTE Band 6 I had somehow inserted into the network band list. (Oops.
) - Second to add the note that the modem will be soldered in place to keep the phone thin.
The EC-25G Pine64 have chosen has good worldwide band support. From what I can tell, the variations of the Gemalto PLS8 modem Purism have announced for the Librem 5 have far less band coverage, so it is good for travelers that Purism have also announced the modem to be user replaceable.
- First to remove the imaginary LTE Band 6 I had somehow inserted into the network band list. (Oops.
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One thing is missing from your feature-set @trainailleur (and its my fault, as I originally failed to include it in my announcement post), namely GPS and GLONASS (as well as BT/WiFi ... but thats a given).
[edit] also due to thefts of data via OTG in public charging areas, we will likely include a hardware switch for OTG
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One thing is missing from your feature-set @trainailleur (and its my fault, as I originally failed to include it in my announcement post), namely GPS and GLONASS (as well as BT/WiFi ... but thats a given).
[edit] also due to thefts of data via OTG in public charging areas, we will likely include a hardware switch for OTG
Updated the OP with GPS/GLONOSS/BT/Wifi. Thanks!
Also added the bit from Pine64 forum about the SD being bootable (a very nice feature).
Q: What kill switches are already confirmed? I know there are several, but I don't recall having seen exactly what hardware they're killing, e.g., modem, cameras, microphones, GPS, etc.
(I didn't want to add anything that's not mostly confirmed, so that if the spec has to be dialed down a bit from the wishlist, nobody here will have gotten their hopes up by my posting recklessly.
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@trainailleur re the switches on the actual phone, lets wait a few weeks to be completely certain. Its my understanding that the dev kit has: 1) mic; 2) cameras; 3) LTE; 4) Wifi/BT.
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@trainailleur re the switches on the actual phone, lets wait a few weeks to be completely certain. Its my understanding that the dev kit has: 1) mic; 2) cameras; 3) LTE; 4) Wifi/BT.
Thanks. Sounds good, especially the mic kill switch, which is a timely feature given recent headlines.
I concur about waiting for Phase 3 switches to be finalized before detailing them in the OP though. I had linked the dev kit wiki pages already, so I think that's good for now.
If you think of anything else you'd like me to add to the original post, or anything you'd like me to update, just let me know.
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Hello @PINE64 ,
What about GPS?
I personally would put it on top of the list actually but this may be only me
Thanks for all the promising work coming
Peace,
Tera -
@tera GPS is present.
Here are some pictures of a PinePhone mockup https://twitter.com/thepine64/status/1100879291364065280
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@PINE64 Sorry, i meant a GPS kill switch?
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@tera ah I see. Perhaps - we'll see whats possible.
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Numpty question: Doesn't the flight mode button act as a kill all switch?
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@tera ah I see. Perhaps - we'll see whats possible.
Will you be using a discrete GPS instead of one built onboard the cell modem?
@3arn0wl said in PinePhone:
Numpty question: Doesn't the flight mode button act as a kill all switch?
The degree to which a software switch can be trusted depends on one's trust in the software, drivers, and firmware of the device being killed. A hardware switch that cuts power to a device is in theory more trustworthy, assuming function of the switch has been properly verified.
Whether or not one thinks that's necessary for any given device is a separate issue and a matter of personal taste and philosophy, but for any given piece of hardware, there's probably both a use case for killing it at the hardware level and a group of potential customers enthusiastic about that case yet unserved or underserved by existing phones.
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@trainailleur we'll be using the one built in with the modem, not a discrete one.
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@trainailleur we'll be using the one built in with the modem, not a discrete one.
I thought that was probably the case. This being so, I'd guess a modem kill switch will also kill GPS but GPS can't likely be killed via a hardware switch w/o also killing the modem. But I admit I'm not familiar with this card or how power into it is handled, so I could be wrong, and if I'm wrong, I'll learn something interesting.
BTW, I know it's not promised at all, much less at launch, but I very much approve of the proposed keyboard case. That would be a brilliant accessory.
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Per tilim on #Pinephone, the choice of modem is not yet set in stone, so I've updated the note above (though I'm crossing my fingers that the original plan holds so that a world traveler won't need multiple devices). Also added a bit regarding the ease of disassembly.
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For those interested, Lukasz sat down with Linux Lads to talk about the PinePhone.
