Librem 5 phone by Purism

[everfresh]

Damn it I just want a modern take on the n900. A little bigger, with the pop out stand, slider keyboard and the best touchscreen I've ever used.

Is the neo900 project still active? Last I heard it had gone dead but I think I would be even more interested in that than I would be any other device.

I do agree with Thinkpad on a few points, the Librem 5 happens to be the most fleshed out as a smartphone as any of these devices, but I think that misses the point of the Pyra. It's really a gaming device/mini laptop that happens to also have WWAN capability and therefore can be used as a phone. With regards to the pyraphone, I also agree that a smartphone with a resistive touchscreen in 2019 may not be ideal, but since it is simply a repackaging of the Pyra hardware into a phone form factor this is one of the things we would have to deal with. With that said I think that using an on-screen keyboard on a resistive touchscreen would be less than useful and in order to be usable we would have to make the jump to a capacitive screen or devise a keyboard mechanism. There is al lot that would need to be done in order to make it work, and for the time being I plan to use my Pyra as my phone, or at least attempt to

Even with all of this said, I just made the same points but in a civil, informed, and non-antagonistic manner. Take that how you will.

 

[hns]

I also agree that a smartphone with a resistive touchscreen in 2019 may not be ideal, but since it is simply a repackaging of the Pyra hardware into a phone form factor this is one of the things we would have to deal with. With that said I think that using an on-screen keyboard on a resistive touchscreen would be less than useful

Well, the only drawback of a resistive screen like the one used in the Pandora or Pyra is that it is difficult to detect touch of multiple fingers or fast gestures. It can quite well be operated by single finger mode (sometimes better than a capacitive touch)if the buttons are big enough. And they are. Therefore a GUI should simply not rely on complex gestures. But it is no problem to operate Replicant (Android) on a GTA04 touch.

 

[everfresh]

But it is no problem to operate Replicant (Android) on a GTA04 touch.

I definitely agree that it would be no problem on the Pyra because of the form factor, but I will have to take you on your word with using Android and a virtual keyboard on a resistive display since I have not tried it myself. The last really good resistive display that I used was probably the last time I used a palm device, which was, shall we say, a long time ago.

Therefore a GUI should simply not rely on complex gestures

Very much agree on this. My vision for how I plan to use the Pyra is a nearly GUI-less environment where I use i3 for all the window management and work gesture-free. If I can control the whole thing from the keyboard then I think I am doing it right

I think i3 is actually a good choice for touch devices as well since it prioritizes full screen applications and has a mouse-interactive launcher (dmenu) that can be accessed at any time. Plus you can switch workspaces with a click or keystroke, which could also be good for touch users. Just my two off-topic cents.

 

[Xcl4m4t10n]

I came here to mention the pinephone but seems that somebody already did .

 

[everfresh]

I came here to mention the pinephone but seems that somebody already did .

The pinephone is pretty cool since it's so cheap, but it looks like the software is pretty lacking at this point. Granted it is early in the development process to be bashing the software, but it doesn't seem great. I do like that it runs postmarketOS though, that is pretty cool.

 

[kuru]

Yes... slider keyboard would be nice. But you may remember how much pain it was for ED to develop a good non-slider keyboard for the Pyra. That is the reason why I do not even dream of designing and building a slider keyboard.

I totally get that. Something so haptically/mechanically pleasing surely is no mean feat.

I assume you've used the n900 touchscreen. Have you ever tried it in e.g. MyPaint? I am still blown away by how it reacts to the material and shape of the stylus. What is this magic? How come I've never experienced this on any other resistive screen? They all just seem to show a single pixel pointer, not this brush-like behaviour. Or am I fooled by the software?

 

[levi]

I think that's mostly down to clever software, but I could be wrong. I'd certainly be interested if someone can come up something so apparently usable on the Pyra.

 

[ible]

Is the neo900 project still active?

the website looks stale, these comments make it look dead:
https://freenode.irclog.whitequark.org/neo900/2019-06-16

 

[hns]

the website looks stale, these comments make it look dead:
https://freenode.irclog.whitequark.org/neo900/2019-06-16

Yes, as far as I know there wasn't much activity recently. For me it is a little sad to see that it came to an end since I was sort of midwife in this project but had to let it run on its own at some point.

 

[everfresh]

Yes, as far as I know there wasn't much activity recently. For me it is a little sad to see that it came to an end since I was sort of midwife in this project but had to let it run on its own at some point.

I was definitely sad to read that the project had come to an end. I think this would have been a nearly ideal mobile device for a lot of us, maybe even better than a Pyra in a slab smartphone form factor.

 

[ThinkPad]

1. It will be overpriced as hell.

2. it will be delayed as hell.

3. it will sucks in general because:

"...basing efforts on an already existing, mature and stable free platform - the OpenPhoenux GTA04..."

This was posted by me on Oct 23, 2013

on this thread:

they just cant let it go, 1GHz n900

http://liliputing.com/2013/10/neo900-keeps-nokia-n900-dream-alive-promise-open-hardware.html too little, too late.

pyra-handheld.com

6 YEARS AGO,

GG Neo900 and GTA04.


.

 

[Swordfish II]

Is the neo900 project still active? Last I heard it had gone dead

It is bankrupt. I had money into it as well.

 

[levi]

Wow, you really are the proverbial sucker for punishment, ain't ya?

 

[hns]

ThinkPad said:
1. It will be overpriced as hell.
2. it will be delayed as hell.
3. it will sucks in general because:
"...basing efforts on an already existing, mature and stable free platform - the OpenPhoenux GTA04..."

This was posted by me on Oct 23, 2013

on this thread:

they just cant let it go, 1GHz n900

http://liliputing.com/2013/10/neo900-keeps-nokia-n900-dream-alive-promise-open-hardware.html too little, too late.

pyra-handheld.com

6 YEARS AGO,
GG Neo900 and GTA04.

Yes, you were right with your prediction for the Neo900. Reasons why it happened as prognosed are multiple. But basing it on GTA04, i.e. choice of a specific hardware to start with, wasn't.

 

[ThinkPad]

Whatever floats your boat.


meanwhile at purism:


The first batches are already shipping, also they updated the statuses of the other batches pointing out the issues they managed to find so far.

https://puri.sm/posts/supplying-the-demand/

 

[cerno]

How is it possible to express interest in the PyraPhone?

I'm hereby expressing interest as well, count me in with 3 (or so) devices.

Pyra phone with keyboard would be handy, though. Currently, the BB Classic is used here (very nicely built with remarkably comfortable keyboard, the rest being less optimistic). Although I like the layout of (square or close to square) display and a physical QWERTY keyboard below (same as the wonderfulous Palm Treo had), I understand that it would probably be difficult to fit it onto the existing PCB form factor.

 

[Swordfish II]

I just purchased a Cosmo Communicator.

I had originally planned to buy two Pyras, one preorder and one after receipt. I will no longer do that.

I am maintaining my preorder for now but may cancel after receiving and using the Cosmo.

 

[hns]

I'm hereby expressing interest as well, count me in with 3 (or so) devices.

Pyra phone with keyboard would be handy, though. Currently, the BB Classic is used here (very nicely built with remarkably comfortable keyboard, the rest being less optimistic). Although I like the layout of (square or close to square) display and a physical QWERTY keyboard below (same as the wonderfulous Palm Treo had), I understand that it would probably be difficult to fit it onto the existing PCB form factor.

Maybe someone can start a thread with a poll?
E.g. for "I would be really interested in buying a"

• "pyra-phone without keybord"
• "pyra-phone with keyboard"
• "Librem 5"
• "PinePhone"
• "none of all"

Although it looks simple, the problem of this type of question is that it raises false expectations. That we are able to build a pyra-phone with keyboard with a reasonable price tag.
The mechanics is so difficile in design and production that it gives a so high price tag that user ThinkPad is right with his skepticism.
And, it will certainly become another keyboard thread
So I am unsure whether it should be asked for at all.

 

[Swordfish II]

Maybe someone can start a thread with a poll?
E.g. for "I would be really interested in buying a"

• "pyra-phone without keybord"
• "pyra-phone with keyboard"
• "Librem 5"
• "PinePhone"
• "none of all"

Although it looks simple, the problem of this type of question is that it raises false expectations. That we are able to build a pyra-phone with keyboard with a reasonable price tag.
The mechanics is so difficile in design and production that it gives a so high price tag that user ThinkPad is right with his skepticism.
And, it will certainly become another keyboard thread
So I am unsure whether it should be asked for at all.

Wouldn't a Pyraphone with keyboard just be a pyra? Or are you talking slider keyboard?

 

[ThinkPad]

@hns Better focus on some Pyra accessories like docking station/port replicator or usb removable camera with xenon flash.