Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

https://twitter.com/thefxtec/status/...034162688?s=20
Looks like they're upgrading the screen to the same one found in the Huawei mate x
Very exciting news. The display has to be top notch.

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

To the same manufacturer, not the same screen.

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

Yeah of course. We know the screen isn't folding on the pro1

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

Boe-Hydis used to make the highly famed FlexView panels in IBM ThinkPads, so they know a thing or two about making high end displays.

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

I was not debating that, just wanted to make things clear (even if that was obvious) before those who enjoy jumping in the thread on a regular basis to cynically criticize the project or release date see here an opportunity to do so again.

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

Almost worth all the rubbish and doomsayers in this thread just for that pun.

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

I mean out of all the pieces of hardware that make up a phone, the display is what you spend 99% of the time looking at and interacting with. There really is no compromising display quality. I would sooner take cuts anywhere else

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

That’s why Jolla Tablet changed screen twice , they just wanted to get that bad boy perfect.......:p

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

How is it going with getting other (non-Android) operating systems to work on Fxtec Pro? I would like to use Maemo Leste on it, with all of hardware fully supported (except for maybe HDMI port - I dislike HDMI).

Thank you. Best wishes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Per aspera ad astra...

P.S. I hope that it will be possible for user to upgrade camera module in Fxtec Pro. Since CPU can theoretically use camera with resolution up to 55MPx... I hope that the CPU-to-camera connecting circuits are suitable for connecting a 55MPx camera module ;-) Yes, I know that in order for this high resolution to be of any use, it would have to be a huge bulky camera module with physically large sensor. Which means an entirely different back-cover, and everything. But that's not impossible - merely implausible.

[Edit]
I have placed a pre-order, number 13408.
[/Edit]

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

can't tell if you are trolling, but the biggest sensor for smartphones (in terms of MP count) is sony's IMX586, which is a 48MP sensor.

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

Top notch? not has-a-top-notch i hope

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

He has misread the "tweet", they've changed manufacturers to the same one Huawei uses, its not going to use the Mate X display. The display size and resolution will remain the same, as Fxtec have not said otherwise.

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

You are correct, I did misread. Regardless, the takeaway is the screen will be higher quality than what we've seen so far, which is a good thing. I want it to be as good as possible
Who knows, maybe this will change device weight, battery life and a few other things too

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

In other news, pre-orders are coming up to 9k based on what the most recent user posted.
That's mighty impressive for a brand new company with no formal marketing and a first gen device.

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

I still prefer Pyra, because... Resistive touch screen. And running Linux (not Android) pre-installed. But, Pyra has no camera (?), and is more of a laptop than a phone.

I wonder whose market share Fxtec is eating into. Blackberry's? What devices are pre-orderers using now, or were using before, that they hunger for sliding hardware keyboard? It cannot be just Nokia N900/N950 users, they would have surely heard of Neo900 - and Neo900 didn't get that many pre-orders (but then Fxtec is visually similar enough to modern phablets to be somewhat 'mainstream' - and has somewhat higher specifications).

In short, I will probably end up with a line-up of Lifebook (already here, might be able to upgrade from 3GB RAM to 8GB RAM), Pyra (coming soon, 4GB RAM and possible upgrades in distant future), Fxtec (3GB RAM, don't expect upgradeability :-/ ), Neo900/N900 (256MB/1GB RAM), Pebble Time (256kB? RAM) and whatever else.

Thank you. Best wishes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Per aspera ad astra...

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

Pyra is not a phone. A lot of people don't care about a device without SIM card. Me included and that's why I never got jola tablet.
Neo9000...... Well, when there was a chance for it to happen, it was already outdated and very expensive. Pro1 on the other hand is on the other hand real working device with all the right boxes ticked and with quite reasonable price tag.
I get that people here would like anything other than android, resistive screens and some other 19 century stuff but from all promised true linux, opened, blablabla phones this one exists. And while esssentially it is an android phone, it does have HWK, unlockable boot loader and guys beheind it that like some of the ideas as do people here.

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

Pyra does support SIM card (Mobile edition, that is). Just, not very usable as a phone (Fxtec Pro is not tiny, either).

Neo900 is about the only device that even dares to contemplate: 1) RGB backlight for keyboard; 2) stylus sensor; 3) hackerbus. So, hoping it will get released, some time this century. Preferably before 2040?

Unlockable boot loader is good, but not quite enough. I would like it if they offered option for users to have Fxtec Pro shipped with something else pre-installed, instead of Android: Sailfish, Maemo Leste, a few options that Fxtec endorses to the point of closely cooperating with developers, sending them prototypes, something. Because I am stubborn enough to reject Android, even when Fxtec Pro looks very nice.

Thank you. Best wishes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Per aspera ad astra...

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

Regarding notches... See:
https://www.hubblephone.com/hubblephone
Successor of Turing Phone, with at least two notches in sight.

No, I am not falling for it. I have another clam-shell in mind - Motorola A780. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_A780

Thank you. Best wishes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Per aspera ad astra...

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

Holy S#!T, this thing looks like some April's Fools joke.

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

Wikiwide, seriously... you can just flash any other OS on the Pro1. Sailfish already got ported to it. Just flash it when you receive it. Don't be a lazy person to spend 5min to flash it. The guys behind the Pro1 gave devices to developers to port other OS's on it, you don't see other companies doing this... Instead of bitching about it, we should support it!

Or are you just trying to avoid a device just because of this? This sounds like a bullsht idea to not get the Pro1.

Good luck on the 'coming soon' devices that you're waiting for, while we will enjoy our Pro1.

Oh by the way: The Pro1 has 6GB of ram, not 3!

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

Calm down please, HtheB. Wikiwide said she pre-ordered and even posted the order number.

To be fair, I do not get the obsession with the upgradeable camera module but I can fully understand the requirement for a sensible OS being pre-installed. My personal experience with installing Sailfish on Xperia X proves that it is very, very, very far from a "5 minutes job". It took me a good portion of a day, and it was supposed to be a fully, officially supported installation.

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

Oh, it is already ? How does it run ? Any video of it available ?

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

Here you go https://twitter.com/chenliangchen/st...s-android.html

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

It's too early to get excited, but @hns is considering to make a "Pyra phone" once the Pyra is out. [1]

I'm not really sure I get the point, because in my book the combination of a keyboard and a modem is the Pyra's biggest selling point. (If you don't need a keyboard you'll likely rather eye the Librem 5 and if you don't need a modem you probably already have some GPD device or one of its ripoffs.)
But hey, who am I to tell what makes sense and what doesn't?


[1] https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/thr...2#post-1447269

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

Hahahahahaha
I choked on my coffee from laughing...
I wasn't ready for that wiki...
Gotta warn a guy.

I agree ...too...
forget the Turing phone...
or its successor
the Hubble phone...
there is a new kid on the block ....
named after the other telescope project....
The Event Horizon phone...
and just like the phenomena it studies ...
it will eat memory,
devour your wallets contents,
and all around ...
just suck....
Like a black hole should.

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

Sorry if I sounded rude, it was not my intention at all :D
Let's see what will happen when the phone is released

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

Thanks for all the interest and thoughts.

Have been working with the factory during and before Easter and there will be more info released in coming days. We have made various improvements on every aspects including keyboard, screen, finish etc.

In the mean time there is also liability testing going on. For example slider flip up and close for more than 100,000 times with the new screen set-up and the result is promising. Will share more info / pics as it finalises.

I know the importance of running a "decent" OS and trust me I do want to make it happen out of the box. Once we get the device produced and shipped I will see what we can do. Currently the no.1 priority is to keep the timeline and deliver it first, which is still the case. One step at a time. :)

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

Please define "decent OS"!

More to the point, is there a reason to believe, it will be running a mainline kernel with working modem (GSM calls) and reasonable power management?

Afaik Snapdragon has no reputation for being particularly Linux-friendly, but that knowledge is probably outdated.
I'm willing to compromise for a proprietary firmware here and there, but I'm not going to buy a device that needs proprietary kernel modules or other proprietary software for essential tasks.

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

Huh? There are women on the internet?

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

He probably trying not to make promised he not sure he can keep. But it's been said before earlier in the thread about the OS he hopes to support. Which also include mainline.

But if you have every run a business you can understand that you should never promise anything, because you most avid supports can become your worst night mare if you fail to have every tiny thing you promised.

Thank for the update chen! Looking forward to hearing more about the product and your journey.

x

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

That's not how a business works. A business always works based on promises that need to be kept.
If you want to buy an apple from me, I'll have to promise you to give you an apple. And then I have to make good on that promise by actually giving you an apple. If I give you an orange instead you'll never do business with me again, because that's not what we agreed on.

My last post's intention was to find out if I can get apples here. If I can't, I'll happily move on with no hard feelings. If chen can't tell me yet if he can sell me apples that's fine. I may or may not drop by later, depending on whether I find apples elsewhere. But I want to know upfront what I'm buying.

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

I can think of many companies that promise an apple and then deliver you a bushel instead. Meaning many companies will under promise to over deliver.

It does make sense that if you want a particular feature that has not been specifically promised ... then yes you would be taking a risk in buying it and hoping. I hoped and spent money on Neo900, :( ... but knew the risk.

I can't speak for chen, but would image that he can only promise android. Everything else is just hope.

However here are some links with him saying what he hopes to do,

This shows possible intentions, which is it would seem possibly out of his control. But he seems to be interested in having mainline supported.

Hope this help you in your decision making. I have not bought one yet, as I'm not sure it will fit my needs yet. But I'm hopefully :D

x

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

Regardless of anyones intentions, if mainline kernel is important to you then I wouldn't buy anything until someone has demonstrated it working with such.

Certainly it won't come with such things out of the box, and is at best a gamble if you want anything other than android.

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

I remember how sceptical I was when Chen written his idea about creating qwerty-slider.

And I was pleasantly surprised.

So we might actually see those "hopes" becoming reality.

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

The difference to the Neo900 is, there it was always clear, that mainline compatibility was an essential target. And there was progress towards reaching that target. That point was crucial to me when I invested in the project. My investment was more into the spirit than into the device.
(That it didn't materialize in the end is a different story.)

Here I don't know so far, if mainline compatibility is even an actual goal someone seriously has on his radar.


True.
But it would be nice to know now, if mainline compatibility is actually something that is considered during the design process or if it would merely be an afterthought in case it happens at all.

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

I'm on Team Cautious as well...

I've asked before how long the pre-ordering would be open, so there would hopefully be something palatable by the end of said window, enticing enough to make me throw my money at the proverbial screen.

Since I've got no answer on that specific matter, I did pre-order the Pro1, if only to show my interest.
Ultimately, though, I'm very unlikely to actually buy it if there's no full-fledged proper non-android OS available at some point.

I'd rather miss the opportunity of getting the Pro1 than ending with a device I won't be able to use as it was advertised and perceived by my anti-Google self.

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

You mention timeline, any more info on dates? July could mean 1st or 30th of the month...

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

I guess I know the definitive timeline (valid not only for the Pro1 but all kind of unforeseen-things-can-happen-and-a-definite-date-is-just-speculation endeavours):
It will be ready when it is ready!

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

It's definitely an afterthought, it may not be so bad to get something running and im sure people will try.

I'm sure chen will support efforts where he can, but I dont think he will be driving those efforts personally

Re: Are you Ready? F(x)tec Pro 1 HW Keyboard Phone
 

Really...? Please share with us which phone you are using now, that doesn't have closed/proprietary drivers for (at least) the modem?