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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 linkdude64 on Wednesday August 30 2017, @04:40PM
I love it...BUTT, there is absolutely no way (that I can figure) that $599 is going to pay for the years of needed R&D on hardware, software, and THEN all of the manufacturing costs (which always have complications) and THEN still have enough left over to actually pay for the finished product and get it to my door.
Unless somebody can convince me that all of the components this phone will have (not even finalized yet) as well as its casing/screen will add up to no more than maybe $150 in a couple years when it comes time to churn them out by the thousands (not hundreds of thousands or millions), there is simply no way that ticket price is going to get a phone in your hand. Crowdfunding is great in concept, but this particular one raises way too many red flags for me.