I'll try to keep this part short, but I don't think kickstarter is the right platform for most products, especially those with large backers behind them already (which applies to this one too)....
I'll try to keep this part short, but I don't think kickstarter is the right platform for most products, especially those with large backers behind them already (which applies to this one too).
For the actual product, I've seen a lot of "minimal" phone proposals, but I question who the audience truly is. If I had a phone with only a few apps on it and not even a color screen, I'd be longing for more. If I wanted a truly minimal experience, I could pick up a cheap old-style (not smart) phone.
To add, there are already minimalist, e-ink phones made and out there. This is amazingly, already a bloated market. This seems like a way to subsidize their costs. I would agree with you....
To add, there are already minimalist, e-ink phones made and out there. This is amazingly, already a bloated market.
This seems like a way to subsidize their costs. I would agree with you. Kickstarter had its time and I think can still be valuable for true, small and independent creators.
In this case, the funding goal seems intentionally small to ensure it is met and they can just milk the money they need.
What I’d find interesting are e-ink screens powered by normal smartphones. Many years ago there was an iPhone case that featured an e-ink screen on its back, so you just flipped your phone to have...
What I’d find interesting are e-ink screens powered by normal smartphones.
Many years ago there was an iPhone case that featured an e-ink screen on its back, so you just flipped your phone to have an ereader. Neat idea, but execution wasn’t great.
A format that might work better is a flip cover that covers your main screen with an e-ink screen. This could work particularly well on MagSafe and Qi2 enabled phones since the back of the case could magnetically snap onto the phone and maybe even draw power through it.
The problem with cheap dumb phones (for me) is that they're typically trying to reach in the opposite direction--like they're adding crappy features and horrible UI/UX in service of trying to be a...
The problem with cheap dumb phones (for me) is that they're typically trying to reach in the opposite direction--like they're adding crappy features and horrible UI/UX in service of trying to be a dumbphone with smartphone-like features. So they'll have a useless e-mail app that only supports some ancient non-encrypted version of POP3, a WAP-optimized web browser that doesn't support newer TLS standards used by every website in existence, and often a "store" app that connects to an only-god-knows-where service (assuming it's still running) to download the worst mobile games ever made. They'll also skimp on some QoL features like the ability to act as a wifi hotspot, or to connect to anything better than 3g or edge in the first place.
I picked up a LightPhone 2 back when they first released and have been happily using it as a daily driver since then--way longer and happier than I ever lasted with any of the half-dozen or so dumb phones I went through prior to that, trying to find one that wasn't a complete dumpster fire to use. The recently announced LP3 was kind of a disappointment to me since it drops the e-ink screen, so I'm still on the look-out for something that addresses the few annoyances I have with the LP2--mainly that it uses micro-usb instead of usb-c, and the single app that I would use if it was better (podcasts) isn't very good. I don't think this Mudita is the one for me, but to answer the question of audience I can say pretty firmly that it's me at least. I want a minimal phone whose actual purpose is to be a minimal phone.
For what it's worth I agree with your first point about Kickstarter though. I've never backed any project on there--I'll only buy something that launched on KS after it goes to market, has some reputable reviews, and is available to purchase via other means.
Call me a doomer, but I don't understand why I should trust a non-known company for developing a custom-built operating system, even if it's "based on AOSP (Android Open Source Project)".
Call me a doomer, but I don't understand why I should trust a non-known company for developing a custom-built operating system, even if it's "based on AOSP (Android Open Source Project)".
Okay, this seems like a bad fit to put an e-ink screen on? I mean, it seems mostly like it is a dumb phone, those already are not that much of a distraction and have a pretty long-lasting battery...
Okay, this seems like a bad fit to put an e-ink screen on? I mean, it seems mostly like it is a dumb phone, those already are not that much of a distraction and have a pretty long-lasting battery life anyway.
I sort of get the appeal of having some "smart" functionality like having maps and weather data. But here I highly doubt how functional these will be for actual use. Not to mention that longer term support might be an issue for these "apps".
The e-reader functionality sort of makes it a little bit interesting. But at that point I'd say you are better off just getting an actual e-reader with even less distractions, which is nicer to use as a book anyway.
Although it seems to be "just" android without Google services, so maybe you can actually sideload APKs. Given the price I don't think it will have really capable hardware though, so even if it ends up being possible the experience will be terrible.
In short, I don't know who this phone is actually for? Except maybe for people who want to make hollow statements through accessories...
Fuck I hope this isn't vapourware. I love how eink looks, and the possible battery life. I don't actually need much out of a phone, but I can't go full dumb phone because there are a whooooole...
Fuck I hope this isn't vapourware. I love how eink looks, and the possible battery life. I don't actually need much out of a phone, but I can't go full dumb phone because there are a whooooole lotta essential (e.g., id, banking) apps where i live (which also need a camera, for qr codes). So an android-based eink phone like this is very appealing.
If this is anything like the LightPhone (which based on the linked product page, I think it is), then you won't actually be able to install Android apps or access the Android layer at all. Their...
If this is anything like the LightPhone (which based on the linked product page, I think it is), then you won't actually be able to install Android apps or access the Android layer at all. Their custom "OS" is likely itself a privileged Android app that runs in kiosk mode and limits you entirely to functionality that they build themselves.
With the LightPhone it's possible to "jailbreak" it and gain access to the underlying Android layer, but it's running something ancient like Android 8 and lacks Google services, so even if you're willing to jump through the hoops required to drop into Android every time you want to run another app, you can't install paid apps from the Play Store, and even when sideloading most apps that rely on Google APIs won't work anyway.
The earliest backers can pre-order one for around $325 with shipping expected as early as April 2025. Full retail pricing is expected to be closer to $476.
I'll try to keep this part short, but I don't think kickstarter is the right platform for most products, especially those with large backers behind them already (which applies to this one too).
For the actual product, I've seen a lot of "minimal" phone proposals, but I question who the audience truly is. If I had a phone with only a few apps on it and not even a color screen, I'd be longing for more. If I wanted a truly minimal experience, I could pick up a cheap old-style (not smart) phone.
To add, there are already minimalist, e-ink phones made and out there. This is amazingly, already a bloated market.
This seems like a way to subsidize their costs. I would agree with you. Kickstarter had its time and I think can still be valuable for true, small and independent creators.
In this case, the funding goal seems intentionally small to ensure it is met and they can just milk the money they need.
What I’d find interesting are e-ink screens powered by normal smartphones.
Many years ago there was an iPhone case that featured an e-ink screen on its back, so you just flipped your phone to have an ereader. Neat idea, but execution wasn’t great.
A format that might work better is a flip cover that covers your main screen with an e-ink screen. This could work particularly well on MagSafe and Qi2 enabled phones since the back of the case could magnetically snap onto the phone and maybe even draw power through it.
The problem with cheap dumb phones (for me) is that they're typically trying to reach in the opposite direction--like they're adding crappy features and horrible UI/UX in service of trying to be a dumbphone with smartphone-like features. So they'll have a useless e-mail app that only supports some ancient non-encrypted version of POP3, a WAP-optimized web browser that doesn't support newer TLS standards used by every website in existence, and often a "store" app that connects to an only-god-knows-where service (assuming it's still running) to download the worst mobile games ever made. They'll also skimp on some QoL features like the ability to act as a wifi hotspot, or to connect to anything better than 3g or edge in the first place.
I picked up a LightPhone 2 back when they first released and have been happily using it as a daily driver since then--way longer and happier than I ever lasted with any of the half-dozen or so dumb phones I went through prior to that, trying to find one that wasn't a complete dumpster fire to use. The recently announced LP3 was kind of a disappointment to me since it drops the e-ink screen, so I'm still on the look-out for something that addresses the few annoyances I have with the LP2--mainly that it uses micro-usb instead of usb-c, and the single app that I would use if it was better (podcasts) isn't very good. I don't think this Mudita is the one for me, but to answer the question of audience I can say pretty firmly that it's me at least. I want a minimal phone whose actual purpose is to be a minimal phone.
For what it's worth I agree with your first point about Kickstarter though. I've never backed any project on there--I'll only buy something that launched on KS after it goes to market, has some reputable reviews, and is available to purchase via other means.
Or even just practice self-control.
Call me a doomer, but I don't understand why I should trust a non-known company for developing a custom-built operating system, even if it's "based on AOSP (Android Open Source Project)".
Okay, this seems like a bad fit to put an e-ink screen on? I mean, it seems mostly like it is a dumb phone, those already are not that much of a distraction and have a pretty long-lasting battery life anyway.
I sort of get the appeal of having some "smart" functionality like having maps and weather data. But here I highly doubt how functional these will be for actual use. Not to mention that longer term support might be an issue for these "apps".
The e-reader functionality sort of makes it a little bit interesting. But at that point I'd say you are better off just getting an actual e-reader with even less distractions, which is nicer to use as a book anyway.
Although it seems to be "just" android without Google services, so maybe you can actually sideload APKs. Given the price I don't think it will have really capable hardware though, so even if it ends up being possible the experience will be terrible.
In short, I don't know who this phone is actually for? Except maybe for people who want to make hollow statements through accessories...
Fuck I hope this isn't vapourware. I love how eink looks, and the possible battery life. I don't actually need much out of a phone, but I can't go full dumb phone because there are a whooooole lotta essential (e.g., id, banking) apps where i live (which also need a camera, for qr codes). So an android-based eink phone like this is very appealing.
If this is anything like the LightPhone (which based on the linked product page, I think it is), then you won't actually be able to install Android apps or access the Android layer at all. Their custom "OS" is likely itself a privileged Android app that runs in kiosk mode and limits you entirely to functionality that they build themselves.
With the LightPhone it's possible to "jailbreak" it and gain access to the underlying Android layer, but it's running something ancient like Android 8 and lacks Google services, so even if you're willing to jump through the hoops required to drop into Android every time you want to run another app, you can't install paid apps from the Play Store, and even when sideloading most apps that rely on Google APIs won't work anyway.
https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/31/24284604/mudita-kompakt-e-ink-smartphone-e-reader-android