The Commodore Callback 8020 flip phone looks like it’s from decades ago but its price was definitely a sign of today’s times. That’s changed, with Commodore’s announcement today that it will drop the price $100 for most models before pre-orders start next week.
The phone caused a stir when it was announced a week ago. First, there was the thrill of 80s computing legend Commodore making a phone. Then the phone being retro in both look and function caught attention, with a flip-phone form factor combined with a focus on privacy. But one of the most unique features of the Callback 8020 is that it runs Android apps on Linux-based Sailfish OS instead of Android. Among all of the praise though, was criticism that a $500 starting price for the basic models was too high.
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I don’t get it. You literally have the choice of any dumb-phone out there, why buy a new one?
Point me towards a dumb phone that can run Signal properly and I’ll cancel my 8020 order right now.
(yes, it’s still a bit of a guess whether the 8020 can actually run it properly, but that’s what they’re promising right now anyway)
OK
https://www.ttfone.com/products/ttfone-tt970
https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android
Thanks! Interesting, I hadn’t heard of that one.
I wasn’t able to find if the tt970 (or the newer t990) provably can run Signal, but seems like it’s an Android 14 so I guess it should.
Do you have one?
Yes - I have the rebranded Aussie version
https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/opel-mobile-touchflip-4g-flip-phone-optouchfp
It runs Android 8.1 and had no issue running Molly the last time I tried it. I really like that little nugget - let me know if you want a list of apps or launchers for it. Note: you’ll have to use Fdroid, Droidify, Aurora store or direct apks, as it doesn’t meet play store compliance.
If the TT990 is android 14, then it should work even better.
I can also confirm that my Duoqin F21 runs either just fine, but that’s cheating
https://qinphone.com/products/qin-f21-pro-smart-keypad-phone-compact-2-8-inch-touchscreen-android-11-4g-lte-single-camera-google-play-support-ideal-backup-work-phone-porcelain-white-iron-grey
Back to the TT970; the keyboard is fantastic (download the true TT9 app) and it even runs futo voice (albeit a touch slowly). If you get one, try to get the 1750mah battery - it helps.
Standby is just bang on 2 days for me.
Oh, the TTFone OS core is a proprietary fork of AOSP, and developed in China. That is probably a nope for me.
But I appreciate for letting me know of it. Might be good for the kids in the near future.
Huh. Thought it was stock standard AOSP - perhaps the Aussie version is different? There are a few rebranded versions of the same hardware; you might be able to find something non proprietary. I think the underlying model is UNIWA if you want to go spelunk direct listings
https://opelmobile.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/OM-TouchFlip-A4.pdf
Where did you find the info that the TTFone uses a fork - XDA? Possibly it can take CFW?
In any case, if it’s no go, it’s no go.
PS: The other target might be a the Cat 22 flip but that thing has a face only a mother could love. I have seen clean CFW of the Duoquin models too - multiple threads on XDA - but that’s candybar not flip
PPS: let me spelunk the 8020 for a minute. I have to imagine it’s an off the shelf re-badge. EDIT: Hmm…looks like it’s bespoke enough to NOT be a simple Shenzhen rebadge job.
It’s a de-googled Android hence AOSP and the source code is nowhere to be found, as far as I can tell. That said, I don’t really know where they wrote the device-specific changes, just guessed.
As for the 8020, it’s obviously an unproven product at this stage so picking that at this stage is pretty much a gamble.
Many places are phasing out 3G and even 2G networks which would make the vast majority of pre-smartphone phones unusable. Also, proprietary (but technically replaceable) batteries which don’t hold quite the charge they did 15+ years ago.
There exist new dumbphones, poor reply.
The person I replied to specifically asked “why buy a new one?”.
I believe they meant what’s the point of yet another dumbphone model, not new vs. used. But let’s say they did, it’s not like dumbphones stopped being manufactured in 2007. There’s plenty of newer used models (as recent as you want, including this year) that invalidate your weird statements.
I took their question as “new vs used”, and replied based on that. There are plenty of functional phones out there that you could use if the network still (emphasis on still) supports them, so I don’t think it’s weird to assume that someone might think “why should I buy a new feature phone instead of using my Sony Ericsson from 2000-something?”.
I’ll agree that you don’t have to buy a brand new one to get modern network support, but I also don’t think there’s really much of a used market for them. In the smartphone era, they’re such a niche product that I doubt that there are many people who bought them and are now trying to sell them. I know I would rather keep it in a drawer than go through the hassle of selling it for a price a buyer would consider fair.
It is weird to assume that. I can buy a dumbphone at most retailers, still. And certainly have enough options online. They specifically mentioned “buying any dumbphone out there”. Your own assumption of what you would do aside, do you think that’s what the market would offer, mainly 2000s Sony Ericssons?
This also ties in to your struggling second assumption/flex tape seal attempt. Ebay is not an obscure site.
Alright, I’m not gonna get dragged into a game of “win the argument”, have a good one.
You already played it. Cheers.