While I admit that I don't know tons about this particular phone, I don't think this seems like a particularly wise way to ship hardware? In my background, their Aspen/Birch devices would be...
While I admit that I don't know tons about this particular phone, I don't think this seems like a particularly wise way to ship hardware?
In my background, their Aspen/Birch devices would be barely considered to be EVT-class devices (maybe DVT, if you're generous, but I don't think individually milled cases with handcrafted and unfinished switch caps would qualify.) It seems like Evergreen would be their first true "PVT" style release, as it would be the first to use molded cases/etc—but it also seems like their "final" release of this phone, because—based on their schedule—Fir is v2 hardware.
It kinda seems like they're relying on the goodwill you can earn from the seemingly bootstrapped nature of this project, a hope that backers haven't been involved with traditional hardware production, and a healthy dose of some nice PR-spin, to build hype for this release.
I wouldn't necessarily have high hopes based on this. I've lived on EVT phone hardware, and it does not make for a good quality of life at all.
The length of time for this project to roll out has been the most concerning part of this project in my oppinion. Though a close runner-up is how they are designing their own operating system...
The length of time for this project to roll out has been the most concerning part of this project in my oppinion. Though a close runner-up is how they are designing their own operating system instead of starting with any number of existing options. By the time they have a "final" version of the hardware, it's going to be 2020 - will it still be running 2018 hardware?
They aren't doing it from scratch or anything though, it's essentially Debian tweaked for mobile use. As far as I'm aware, there aren't any ready-to-go mobile Linux distros since Ubuntu Touch...
Though a close runner-up is how they are designing their own operating system instead of starting with any number of existing options.
They aren't doing it from scratch or anything though, it's essentially Debian tweaked for mobile use. As far as I'm aware, there aren't any ready-to-go mobile Linux distros since Ubuntu Touch died, so I'm not sure what else they could've done on that front. I guess technically Android's an option, but using it practically defeats the point of the phone, and would put a lot more burden on Librem in the long run, since they'd basically be in an ideological war against their upstream developer.
As for the hardware, I don't think having the latest and greatest has ever been a priority of the project. The CPU they picked uses Cortex A53 cores, which have been shipping in phones since 2014. And that's an upgrade over their original choice, the i.MX6, with Cortex A9 cores that are just ancient. I don't think an extra year or two is gonna make a difference, especially since they're developing their distro and associated software with that chip in mind.
There are many options for them. Ubuntu touch is still being maintained. Tizen is a viable option that is being shipped on real hardware today. They would have been a huge help if they decided to...
There are many options for them. Ubuntu touch is still being maintained. Tizen is a viable option that is being shipped on real hardware today. They would have been a huge help if they decided to build on Plasma Mobile.
While I can see why they didn't choose to do it, I'm personally a little upset they didn't make Sailfish the main OS, since it would have basically been the only US-compatible phone. I've been waiting for Sailfish to cross the Atlantic for so long now....
Tizen's not completely free software though, it's got proprietary bits in the SDK and there's some restrictions on patent licensing, and Purism are very much of the GNU/FSF mindset when it comes...
Tizen's not completely free software though, it's got proprietary bits in the SDK and there's some restrictions on patent licensing, and Purism are very much of the GNU/FSF mindset when it comes to that sort of thing, so that'd never fly. And they are building on Plasma Mobile, in addition to their GNOME based UI. As for Ubuntu Touch, I wasn't aware it was still around after Canonical pulled the plug; that one is a bit more confusing. I also now totally want to get my hands on one of their supported phones and give it a go. Wonder if there are any Nexus 4s or 5s left without shot batteries...
In the new world of bootstrap/crowdfunded hardware development, It’s a pretty innovative release cycle. As someone in the industry I am interested in seeing how it works out.
In the new world of bootstrap/crowdfunded hardware development, It’s a pretty innovative release cycle.
As someone in the industry I am interested in seeing how it works out.
Why would anyone pay that much, wait for years and then opt to get the first batch of unfinished devices when they could wait a few more months and get a finished product?
Why would anyone pay that much, wait for years and then opt to get the first batch of unfinished devices when they could wait a few more months and get a finished product?
While I admit that I don't know tons about this particular phone, I don't think this seems like a particularly wise way to ship hardware?
In my background, their Aspen/Birch devices would be barely considered to be EVT-class devices (maybe DVT, if you're generous, but I don't think individually milled cases with handcrafted and unfinished switch caps would qualify.) It seems like Evergreen would be their first true "PVT" style release, as it would be the first to use molded cases/etc—but it also seems like their "final" release of this phone, because—based on their schedule—Fir is v2 hardware.
It kinda seems like they're relying on the goodwill you can earn from the seemingly bootstrapped nature of this project, a hope that backers haven't been involved with traditional hardware production, and a healthy dose of some nice PR-spin, to build hype for this release.
I wouldn't necessarily have high hopes based on this. I've lived on EVT phone hardware, and it does not make for a good quality of life at all.
What's EVT, DVT, & PVT, you say?
The length of time for this project to roll out has been the most concerning part of this project in my oppinion. Though a close runner-up is how they are designing their own operating system instead of starting with any number of existing options. By the time they have a "final" version of the hardware, it's going to be 2020 - will it still be running 2018 hardware?
They aren't doing it from scratch or anything though, it's essentially Debian tweaked for mobile use. As far as I'm aware, there aren't any ready-to-go mobile Linux distros since Ubuntu Touch died, so I'm not sure what else they could've done on that front. I guess technically Android's an option, but using it practically defeats the point of the phone, and would put a lot more burden on Librem in the long run, since they'd basically be in an ideological war against their upstream developer.
As for the hardware, I don't think having the latest and greatest has ever been a priority of the project. The CPU they picked uses Cortex A53 cores, which have been shipping in phones since 2014. And that's an upgrade over their original choice, the i.MX6, with Cortex A9 cores that are just ancient. I don't think an extra year or two is gonna make a difference, especially since they're developing their distro and associated software with that chip in mind.
There are many options for them. Ubuntu touch is still being maintained. Tizen is a viable option that is being shipped on real hardware today. They would have been a huge help if they decided to build on Plasma Mobile.
While I can see why they didn't choose to do it, I'm personally a little upset they didn't make Sailfish the main OS, since it would have basically been the only US-compatible phone. I've been waiting for Sailfish to cross the Atlantic for so long now....
Tizen's not completely free software though, it's got proprietary bits in the SDK and there's some restrictions on patent licensing, and Purism are very much of the GNU/FSF mindset when it comes to that sort of thing, so that'd never fly. And they are building on Plasma Mobile, in addition to their GNOME based UI. As for Ubuntu Touch, I wasn't aware it was still around after Canonical pulled the plug; that one is a bit more confusing. I also now totally want to get my hands on one of their supported phones and give it a go. Wonder if there are any Nexus 4s or 5s left without shot batteries...
In the new world of bootstrap/crowdfunded hardware development, It’s a pretty innovative release cycle.
As someone in the industry I am interested in seeing how it works out.
Why would anyone pay that much, wait for years and then opt to get the first batch of unfinished devices when they could wait a few more months and get a finished product?