Technology@lemmy.worldbySundray@lemmus.org
3 hours

"We Listened" - Commodore Reduces The Price Of Its Forthcoming Callback 8020 'Dumbphone'

www.timeextension.com English

Announced a short time ago, the Callback 8020 is seen as a means of combating the addictive lure of the modern-day smartphone. While it supports Android apps via its SailfishOS, it disables features like web browsing and social media by default.

However, despite the noble quest for a ‘digital detox’, the phone met with a somewhat frosty reception online (no pun intended), with many comparing it to an elderly relative’s flip phone. In our poll, 70 percent of you said you wouldn’t be buying one.

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    "Many of you told us you wanted a more accessible entry point"
    • gointhefridge@lemmy.zipEnglish
      10 minutes

      I work in product management, this was not a marketing ploy.

      Supplies are expensive now. They are cutting into their margin considerably and probably did find some slightly cheaper components. Maybe they cut a better deal with the suppliers.

      Either way, they are playing smart by listening to the market on an untested product in a new product category of “semi-smart” phones. This could signal a comeback of this type of product but only if they pave the way with affordability and usability.

      I hope this does succeed for them because we need more companies taking risks in today’s market. Everything is so bland right now.

    • Dyskolos@lemmy.zipEnglish
      1 hour

      Translation: We couldn’t really sell it for that price, now we try it with this price.

      (Edit: This is no mockery, only of the marketing. The phone is nice)

    • brucethemoose@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2 hours

      That’s more like it!

      And I completely disagree with the people saying it should be much cheaper.

      It’s a LTE Linux computer. In 2026. With multiple screens, a 48MP camera, good DAC, enough power to run real Android apps and tons of bells and whistles; what do you expect?

      Electronics are expensive, unless it’s cheap garbage, heavily subsidized, or both. That has a huge externalized cost, and avoiding that is the whole point of this phone. R&D, customer service, and continued software support for the translation layer and OS, must crazy expensive too.

      I know wages haven’t gone up with inflation, which makes $400 hard to afford, but that’s not in Commodore’s control.

      If one wants a cheaper AliExpress Android fliphone, that’s reasonable.

      But it’s not the same product. And you’re going to pay for it in other ways.

          • uuj8za@piefed.socialEnglish
            1 hour

            Yeah! I have a Sony Xperia 10 III, but the SailfishOS support is kinda… not officially supported in the US?

      • blackbeans@lemmy.zipEnglish
        2 hours

        This, I think the price is decent. Most dumbphones are low cost but you notice it - terrible buttons, slow camera, lackluster audio. On top of that they have no coolness factor. This is a phone that ticks all boxes and is privacy friendly. On top of that, it is from a company I like to support.

      • Blue_Morpho@lemmy.worldEnglish
        42 minutes

        Saying “lte Linux that can run Android” means nothing. All Android phones run Linux and support LTE. It’s an Android phone with restrictions on what Android apps it will run. That’s it. The screen is tiny and two small screens are cheaper than a larger one.

        You can buy all of that for $100 on Aliexpress.

        This is trash dressed up in a fun skin to sell to Commodore fans who don’t know how to delete an app from their phone.

        • brucethemoose@lemmy.worldEnglish
          38 minutes

          It’s not Android. It’s SailfishOS. With first party support.

          And even that aside, I don’t see anything comparable on Aliexpress, hardware wise.

    • TrackinDaKraken@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2 hours

      How about a phone for people who aren’t addicted to them, but want the basics without being spied on?

      Things I want in a phone:

      • GPS with maps and directions.
      • A browser for the rare occasions I want to look something up when I’m away from home. The last time I used it was to find which aisle something was on at Lowe’s.
      • Texting.
      • Phone calls.
      • Notes.
      • A decent camera.
      • No bigger than an iPhone 12 mini, which is what I have now, and it’s plenty big enough.

      I don’t do anything else. Mostly my phone sits on my desk, ignored unless it makes a noise at me. I take it with me sometimes when I leave the house, but sometimes I don’t bother--not addicted.

      • gedaliyah@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1 hour

        This can easily be achieved with most any Android phone.

        • Switch to a degoogled OS like GrapheneOS or LineageOS
        • Install a minimalist launcher (there are dozens)
        • install CoMaps for private gps and navigation
        • use whatever chromium browser comes on the phone or install a privacy browser like Firefox (again, there are dozens)
        • add a notes app (there are dozens)
      • big_slap@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2 hours

        this may very well be the phone for you. I think it does all of this

        • zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
          1 hour

          Except for the “A browser on rare occasions”, which sadly is likely the only thing stopping me from buying this at the new far more palatable price. I don’t need to be treated like a baby, but apparently this is considered a core feature of the phone and they won’t back down from it.

          • Crozekiel@piefed.zipEnglish
            56 minutes

            I 100% agree with this. This is SO CLOSE to getting it and offering a phone I actually want. But I want to own my devices and decide what I do on them. The thing hard locking me out of a browser (and discord) is unfortunately a deal breaker. I don’t want the hardware mfr to have a say in how I use the device and treat me like a literal child in the process. It’s disappointing.

      • Hawke@lemmy.worldEnglish
        55 minutes

        Yup.

        Although I’d expand texting to “messenger apps” specifically Signal for me.

        Fuck SMS.

    • crank0271@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1 hour

      You can also sign up for the waitlist for an additional $50 off the price at preorder, which begins June 30. Not sure if they’ll be checking that your email address is on the waitlist to use the code, but it’s a generic code.

      Done! You can use the code CHICKENLIPS at checkout on June 30th for a total of $100 off!

    • XLE@piefed.socialEnglish
      2 hours

      The CAT S22 is $150. It doesn’t have the same hardware, but I don’t see $250 worth of upgrades between that one and this.

      Definitely closer than asking $350 more, though. And it’s not like Sailfish functionality is worth nothing.

      • enbee@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        2 hours

        bought and used one of these. it sucks ass. if you want something dependable dont get this. keypresses on the dialpad dont register half the time which nade t9 input impossible. also you must install a 3rd party app to use t9 as your main input. stock rom pops the qwerty touch keyboard on the yiny screen for every input

    • Light-DelaBlue@jlai.luEnglish
      1 hour

      translation: fuck no one buy it! but we cant make a discount… HEY! i got a idea! let fake we listened to them!