The manufacturer explicitly positions the device as a response to constant availability and what it considers problematic mechanisms of modern smartphone platforms. In conversation with heise, Commodore CEO Peri Fractic describes the Callback 8020 as a “not stupid dumbphone” for people who want to spend less time scrolling and more time in the real world. It is envisioned as a secondary device for staying reachable without being constantly exposed to the temptations of a smartphone with its notifications, apps, and games. The decision was influenced by his young daughter and his own behavior: “I was addicted to my smartphone,” says Prei Fractic.
Fantastic. We need more people like that.
I feel like this is the first time I’ve seen a product being blatantly advertised on Lemmy.
All I want is a small, cheap phone with a good camera, ability to listen to audiobooks and podcasts and be able to check things from the web. Things like Wikipedia, bus schedules and other text heavy things.
This is not cheap and can’t browse the web so it’s just not worth it.
Great idea, but the price tag ($500) isn’t so great.
You still can get cheap dump phones.
Regarding do this device:
- Manufacturing a phone in small numbers is not cheap
- If there were a way that you could have 50% more attention for your kids, yourself, and the people around you, how much would that be worth for you? How much is your attention worth?
If there were a way that you could have 50% more attention for your kids, yourself, and the people around you, how much would that be worth for you? How much is your attention worth?
Following this logic they could just as well stick a $50 000 price tag in it. It still wouldn’t be defensible.
Manufacturing a phone in small numbers is not cheap
Sure, but is it so much more expensive than manufacturing a HMD 2660, which does more or less the same things and retails for approx. $100?
Let’s be for real, the whole Commodore thing nowadays is milking gen X nostalgia for all it’s worth. And I don’t think it’s worth that much.
is it so much more expensive than manufacturing a HMD 2660, which does more or less the same things and retails for approx. $100?
Yes, extremely so.
HMD will manufacture millions of them with partners they have been using for a decade, they will each skim a few dollars to cover costs and profit and still do fine.
Commodore will manufacture a fraction of that volume using parts way more expensive as they buy less of them, and they still have to cover r&d and tooling costs from that lower volume.That is why kickstarters (and pre-orders) are so damn useful, as that allows you to get a start at covering those costs before you even manufacture anything.
If they were introducing some groundbreaking tech I could agree, but they’re using premade components to make their own version of an existing product. And sure, it’s cheaper to manufacture at scale but 5x the going price is way too much. For comparison, Nothing Phone launched 4 years ago at $400. By that logic it should’ve cost ~$1500.
- I’m simply pointing out the price tag on the phone in question.
- I don’t need technology to save me from myself.
Are you disputing that much of tech is addictive by design?
I wasn’t aware I was disputing anything. All I did was answer your ridiculous questions.
no need to troll here.
And fascinating how predictibly this happens each time the interests of big tech companies are touched…
This is nothing to do with the interests of Big Tech, this guy has used old Big Tech design to sell a nice looking product, for a premium price. People in general don’t like to part with that much money for something that is described as a “secondary device” that limits their capabilities in a way that they should be able to do themselves. Most smartphones already have digital wellbeing and parental controls on them. There are also tons of guides and apps on how to limit or restrict things on your smartphone that you can buy for a fraction of the price.
His pricing is all wrong, no doubt he will sell a few at that price to collectors, enthusiasts and some people that think it’s worth it. But at the end of the day, at this pricepoint, the phone will surely fall by the wayside.
There are plenty of other phones trying with the same idea, but similarly, the high prices put people off, and many of those have premium features (ghost phone, light phone) The ghost phone also offers cheaper alternatives. For a retro look you have the Punkt phone or many others.
It’s not that deep mate, it’s an expensive phone. Lot of buck for not much bang.
Tritt mal einen Schritt zurück und hol tief Luft mein Freund. Dann lies nochmal alles durch. Jemand bemängelt dass das gerät teuer ist und vage technische Spezifikationen hat, du nimmst das extrem persönlich nachdem deine deflektion dass man sich ja andere billigere Geräte holen kann, nicht wirklich landet. Das ist keine big tech propaganda, nur ein etwas dubioses Produkt.
Did you bring enough of whatever you’re smoking to share with everyone else? I’m almost out.
Are you suggesting that every person with a smart phone is a dead brat parent or spouse? You do know that some people actually do have self control.
$50 for a Nokia
A “dumb Phone” more expensive than a “entry smartphone” which I can cut doen to minimal needs is not a good idea.
A dump phone with WhatsApp preinstalled.
i read “the touch screen turns on in approved apps” and noped the hell out. this is a sailfish phone with proprietary tracking code and arbitrary undisclosed limitations. get an old xperia and install sailfish on that if you want the experience.
Oh, you’ll love this. Peri Fractic isn’t even his name. Its like some gamer handle that he’s permanently adopted cos it sounds international or something.
Was pretty excited about this phone but realised they haven’t actually said what specifically is and isn’t blocked, and if thats configurable. I’m not shelling out that coin for very little details. That, weird-name CEO and the AI-generaged promo mateterial doesnt really inspire confidence.
From HERE
What does Fractic mean?
Back in school, a gifted kid told me to memorise “Chrisostomatico-perifractic-habitanamala-culacatescia-bobblers” as my new name, meaning “a man who is coated in gold”. This nickname stuck and led to others being named similarly, like Ladyfractic and Puppyfractic.
Oh god. Sounds like Elon.
I want a hybrid between what this is reported to be, and a smart phone. Give me my browser and apps, in a basic flip phone that don’t capture and sell my personal info. I’m an adult, I can make my own choices in my device, I don’t need someone else to police me.
I can make my own choices in my device, I don’t need someone else to police me.
Exact same. Perhaps its not for us - maybe they’re targeting parents who want a safe(er) phone for their kids.
We all know that Peri Fractic isn’t his name. We also know that an online article from whatever website isn’t selling the phone, but Commodore is.
but Commodore is.
Commodore isn’t. They don’t exist. Commodore is nothing further than a name out of history.
Somebody is trying right now at the moment to revive it. Then maybe something will exist again.
Somebody has bought all Commodore’s intellectual property and the company’s name is “Commodore International Corporation.” So I’d say it’s pretty much safe to say that Commodore is selling it. 🤷
That’s like me murdering you and wearing your skin, and when people say “that’s not Mihies” someone replies “of course it is, it’s got his face and everything!”
Awesome, I’m alive while dead then :) But seriously, how do you call the company that is named Commodore then? Is it exact same company? No. Is it a successor? Um, yes. Is it named Commodore? Yes.
Nu Commodore? Commodore 2.0? The Commodore meat-puppet?
You are right from a certain point of view. But a different point of view is more helpful to understand the issue here.
I like the idea on paper but why do they have to go make it look like an expensive child’s toy?
Why wouldn’t you just get an old Nokia for like £10? We see loads of these, they get released a you never hear from them again. You may like the idea but for most people you need stuff like a browser sometimes because it’s pretty much necessary in modern society.
The Callback 8020 is set to be released in five variants. The BASIC Beige, ProtoPET White, and SX Silver models will each cost €499.99. Commodore is charging €549.99 for the transparent Starlight Edition. The Founders Edition, with a gold-plated “C=" key and gold-colored casing, will be offered for €640.
They are a lovely looking phone, but I’m sure that they must be targeting a niche section of the market.
There are definitely people that are pretentious enough to spend an extra €140 on an already expensive phone, so that they can have the gold plated “C=” on the front of the phone. I guess I know who they are targeting with these, and I’m glad I’m not one of them.
