F(x) Technology Android phone with a slide-out keyboard


Grench said:
OK, a bit of a Gemini sidebar...
The Gemini/Cosmo are built to be able to 6-8 finger touch type on. I have a Gemini - it works pretty darn well.

The 12 key wide keyboard dictates the X dimension.
The 5 rows of keybaord dictates the Y dimension.
Giant battery, keyboard & key throw, screen and CPU board dictate the thickness - about 2 very thin phones worth dictates the Z dimension.

I consider the Gemini to only be barely as big as it needs to be to fulfill it's purpose. If your purpose is, 'just a phone', then it isn't for you. If you want to be able to touch type somewhat effectively on a physical keyboard - then it is a bit of a dream device. If you're after a thumb keyboard, then the Gemini probably isn't for you.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that makes sense. They're nice pieces of kit, but I wouldn't consider them phone replacements.

It would be nice to actually go into a store and get a feel for some of these unique devices. I guess internet buying and niche devices has scuppered the hands-on experience.....have to make do with YouTube reviews!
 
Gren said:
Yeah, that makes sense. They're nice pieces of kit, but I wouldn't consider them phone replacements.
Click to expand...
I don't understand where that sentiment comes from. I have made and received lots of phone calls on my Gemini. It quite literally replaced my phone for about 6 months - then I had to buy a new carrier-specific phone for unrelated reasons. I still have a data sim in my Gemini though - and had no complaints about it's phone call capabilities.

Gren said:
It would be nice to actually go into a store and get a feel for some of these unique devices. I guess internet buying and niche devices has scuppered the hands-on experience.....have to make do with YouTube reviews!
Click to expand...
Alternatively, if you're in or near or frequently travel to a major city, it is perfectly possible that someone would bring their device(s) to meet you for the price of a cup of coffee.
 
FWIW, or the vast majority of the time I used them while they were still state of the art, I thumb typed on my S5mxes. They were small enough that you could reach across them with your thumbs, and while typing on a desk might have been preferable if I was writing an opus, most of the time I'd reach down to grab it out of my bag, then either not be in a place with a desk, or even if I was sat at a desk, I'd generally be typing on it before I even brought my hands up and placed it on the desk. I didn't usually reserve desk space for it most of the time.
 
Grench said:
I don't understand where that sentiment comes from. I have made and received lots of phone calls on my Gemini. It quite literally replaced my phone for about 6 months - then I had to buy a new carrier-specific phone for unrelated reasons. I still have a data sim in my Gemini though - and had no complaints about it's phone call capabilities.
Click to expand...
Yeah, sorry - could have worded that better. I meant from a personal usage perspective. I've no doubt that the Gemini (and many other larger devices), are perfectly capable of performing phone call duties.

Let me explain:-
For me a phone is primarily a comms device, for voice calls, messaging (Skype, WhatsApp, Signal, SMS etc..) and emergencies; a keep-in-touch device for friends/family if you like.
I also use it for tracking my hikes/health and a few other basic apps; however, I don't really use it for social media, web surfing, media conusmption (except maybe audio/podcast playback when out walking) or gaming/work. I have other devices better suited to most of those other tasks (and hopefully a Pyra fairly soon!), but it's nice to know that a pinch I can get to the internet and do some of those tasks if required.

So, I guess what I'm saying is that I'm not looking for the perfect all-in-1, do everything device. Instead, my ideal "phone/comms" device is a very compact, always-on-me unit with great battery life and able to fit into smaller pockets about my person. And preferably IP67/68 rated! Currently, my XZ1 compact performs this role quite well.

A hardware keyboard would make the messaging/typing far more user-friendly to me (I'm not a touchscreen typing fan). Especially when a smaller device has less room for on-screen keyboards. My ideal machine would therefore be like the XZ1 compact, but with a HW keyboard like my Xperia Pro. Never gonna happen, I know.....but I can keep on dreaming!

Hope that better explains where I'm coming from, Grench
:)
 
Gren said:
Hope that better explains where I'm coming from, Grench
:)
Click to expand...

It does. I see a continuum of devices between 'mobile phone' and 'connected laptop' and several of these devices fill some niche in between the two. Note that this isn't a ranking - closer to the top or bottom does not mean better/worse device. Just trying to place things on a continuum from 'mobile phone' to 'data connected laptop' in their general use-case and applicability.

Original Motorola Flip Phone - just a phone with a 1 line orange display.
Most smart phone (iPhone, Galaxy series, etc)
Cosmo with a voice SIM
Palm OS Treo phone devices (Awesome and largely overlooked)
Slide Out thumb keyboard phones (like this f-x one)
Classic Blackberry devices with dedicated thumb keyboards
Gemini with a voice SIM
Pyra with a voice SIM
Pyra with a data SIM
Cosmo with a data SIM
Gemini with a data SIM
Laptop with a data SIM
 
comradekingu said:
Those are drawbacks you incur by default, not a hot mess you put yourself in by own admission.
Edit: You are right, but in a geek segment, having blank keys, or some leeway on what to do in certain areas means now you don't have to press one keymat for each region and keep track of stock. So there are ways to deal issues at the same time, but a lot of things are non-starters for mass market. Like, not being a good two thumb keyboard.
Click to expand...

If you can type on a bloody phone with BLANK KEYS you can remap a phone with printing on the keys and use it just as well.

And it's an achievement to end my comments on that here.
[doublepost=1551411888,1551387182][/doublepost]yy
Gren said:
So, I guess what I'm saying is that I'm not looking for the perfect all-in-1, do everything device. Instead, my ideal "phone/comms" device is a very compact, always-on-me unit with great battery life and able to fit into smaller pockets about my person. And preferably IP67/68 rated! Currently, my XZ1 compact performs this role quite well.
:)
Click to expand...

Droid 4 with TheKit's SailfishOS port is p.r.e.t.t.y awesome for that.
 
I haven't updated my phone in a long time, still using a Samsung s4 with a keyboard attachment. But that attachment broke and the screen is cracked. The Pro 1 really looks like a perfect replacement. But I really don't like Android. Wish there was a none android linux phone with a keyboard like the old N900. Will probably still get it thou, maybe someone will port UBports to it or something.
 
AnimatedFreak said:
I haven't updated my phone in a long time, still using a Samsung s4 with a keyboard attachment. But that attachment broke and the screen is cracked. The Pro 1 really looks like a perfect replacement. But I really don't like Android. Wish there was a none android linux phone with a keyboard like the old N900. Will probably still get it thou, maybe someone will port UBports to it or something.
Click to expand...

I'd not want a keyboard like the N900 again. The xt894 and xt897keyboards are miles better. And they run Linux without Android. So. You seem to have not read my post.
 
Cool Ive been using a blackberry priv with android now for 2 or 3 years (or has it been 4), but havent seen a nice replacement. Ill stick with my priv for now but it is good to know people are still making phones with keys (I cant do without them)
 
www.xda-developers.com

The Pro1-X is XDA's first phone, and it runs on LineageOS or Ubuntu

We here at XDA have collaborated with F(x)tec to bring you our first smartphone. Meet the Pro1-X, a phone that can run LineageOS or Ubuntu.
www.xda-developers.com www.xda-developers.com

Looks cool though still think I’d prefer the Librem 5, even though it doesn’t have that beautiful slide out keyboard...

Really great to see an increase in choice of Linux/security-focussed phones coming to market!
 
Well, basically F(x)tec Pro1 with increased RAM and storage ( 8GB and 256GB ), Lineage OS out of the box and improved support for Ubuntu Touch OS.

Hopefull the reputation of XDA will improve the recognition of F(x)tec - and devices with hardware keyboards in general :cool:
 
I don't need one since I already have my normal Pro1, but I do hope they succeed with this (campaign is going pretty well so far at least). They certainly had a rough time with the Pro1 production, but overall it's still a great device despite the few quirks.
Would be cool if they could stick around long enough for a true successor, though iunno, I don't plan on switching phones again for the time being anyways.
 
This thread will soon need a new title because mainline is now happening, this is no longer an Android-kernel-only phone! Not sure how much work there is left, but it sounds great already and they showed a game and Gnome so maybe hardware acceleration is already working.

 
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