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Submitted via IRC for TheMightyBuzzard
If you dream of owning a Linux phone that respects your privacy and keeps your data secure you'll want to check out Purism's new crowdfunding campaign.
The security-conscious US-based Linux laptop maker is hoping to raise $1.5 million to manufacture a 5-inch privacy-focused smartphone powered by open-source software.
Starting at $599, the Librem 5 will run the GNU/Linux PureOS distribution instead of Android, and will include a slate of features aimed at helping you protect your 'digital identity' — including end-to-end encryption of calls and texts made to other Librem 5 handsets.
While the phone will use as much free software as possible Purism do concede that the mobile baseband will likely use ROM loaded firmware (but with a FOSS kernel driver).
Wondering what kind of smartphone you get for $599? Us too. As it is, Purism say Librem 5 specs won't be finalized until after the campaign ends. This, they say, is to "ensure the best available components."
[...] If you're thinking of replacing your current smartphone with the Librem 5 you will need to look elsewhere as Purism plan to ship the phone in January 2019.
Source: Purism is Crowdfunding an Encrypted Linux Phone
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Wednesday August 30 2017, @05:35AM (10 children)
I'd like to see a phone with a bunch of tiny DIP switches or similar which physically break the circuit to various components - camera, wife, bluetooth, cell, microphone, speakers, gps, ... anything else?
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Wednesday August 30 2017, @05:35AM (5 children)
Well, a little bit freudian there -- wife is obviously wifi.
(Score: 4, Funny) by c0lo on Wednesday August 30 2017, @06:14AM (4 children)
Well, to be honest, I wouldn't mind a switch to turn the wife on. Or off.
Needs to be sturdier than a tiny DIP switch, tho; I suspect there will be quite a number of switches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 2) by Rivenaleem on Wednesday August 30 2017, @09:33AM
Probably looks a bit like this:
https://workingmomadventures.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/phone-brain1.jpg [wordpress.com]
(Score: 4, Funny) by Unixnut on Wednesday August 30 2017, @11:24AM
> Needs to be sturdier than a tiny DIP switch, tho; I suspect there will be quite a number of switches.
http://www.toocooldude.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/men-women-on-off-switch.jpg [toocooldude.com]
At least makes women fun for me, I enjoy complicated machines xD
(Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Wednesday August 30 2017, @07:40PM (1 child)
I'd start with (as with any device you want to turn on) talking sexy to the wife [uwm.edu].
Should this API call return an error, there are troubleshooting steps [wikihow.com] to address the message returned.
No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday August 30 2017, @11:22PM
This doesn't work for turning off.
Especially in the case of perceived competition being present, or that time of the month, or ... zillions of other cases.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 3, Funny) by MostCynical on Wednesday August 30 2017, @05:49AM
Turning your wife on that easily could be dangerous!
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Wednesday August 30 2017, @05:53AM
Be nice if the switches were accessible without dis-assembling the phone. A simple cover, maybe.
The microphone and speaker switches should be like the on/off switches on old calculators. "Slide to enable phone"
(They could also be the "answer" and "hang up" buttons)
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 5, Informative) by MadTinfoilHatter on Wednesday August 30 2017, @08:40AM (1 child)
It appears that this phone will have that. From their FAQ:
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Wednesday August 30 2017, @02:37PM
I'm sold!