cross-posted from: https://thelemmy.club/post/51862907

Clicks Communicator: FIRST LOOK!

Original post (reddit): https://www.reddit.com/r/ClicksPhone/comments/1ujehuz/clicks_communicator_first_look/

Before you press play, I want to share a bit more about what you’re about to see.

These first demos feature pre-production hardware, and internal software. It’s real, working hardware being used by our team for testing and validation, but definitely not finished product.

That means you’ll likely spot a few rough edges. In fact, since we started filming this video there have already been several new internal SW and firmware deployments that add features and polish to the experience (like the hole punch camera cut out you may see obscuring text in the status bar at a few points in the video…that’s already been fixed 😉).

Over the next couple months we’ll continue sharing more details and new demos of features like Message Hub, Signal Light, Prompt Key, touch sensitive keyboard, camera, etc.

Speaking personally, it’s been so rewarding to start carrying Communicator every day and to be using it out in the real world. Seeing it evolve from an idea, sketches and prototypes into something I grab as I head out the door is pretty special (and kind of surreal!).

The entire team is heads down building, and we’re still on track to begin shipping in Q4.

Thanks for being on this journey with us.

  • Ilandar@lemmy.todayEnglish
    242·
    3 days ago

    I still find it quite bizarre that they’re focusing so much on the built-in Niagara Launcher, when changing your launcher has been a core part of Android’s identity for basically its entire existence. Nothing about what they’re offering here is unique or special and you can do it on any other phone. The hardware is what they should be pushing, since they are a company that makes phone keyboards. That’s their big narrative advantage over competitors, not a launcher which tons of people already know about and use on their existing phones.

    • keyez@lemmy.worldEnglish
      11·
      2 days ago

      They’ve said they’re partnering with Niagara devs to make sure it works seamlessly with the hardware for this phone so you get a full tailored experience with this device.

      You can also just pick whatever launcher you want if you’re so inclined.

    • bdonvr@thelemmy.clubOPEnglish
      6·
      2 days ago

      The Niagara team is actually doing a custom build with extra messaging features for Clicks.

    • everett@lemmy.mlEnglish
      5·
      2 days ago

      I think you and I have similar tastes, but you have to understand that they’re trying to sell this to normal people too. People who have never encountered the idea that a launcher is a distinct piece of software that you can change.

      The fact that they’re going to sell this and, based on early indications not completely lock down the software, is a win and I’ll take it.

  • corsicanguppy@lemmy.caEnglish
    3·
    2 days ago

    3.5mm head phone jack

    WOOOOOOOO !

    This looks like a new crackberry. Show us some ridiculously secure messaging and it’ll clean up.

    • show me qi charging.
    • show me REVERSE qi.
  • ozoned@piefed.socialEnglish
    11·
    3 days ago

    What’s the final price going to be? Reservation is $200. That’s what I pay for refurb Pixels and I slap GrapheneOS on those. This is stock Android sadly.

    • bdonvr@thelemmy.clubOPEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      It’s $500 preorder price. You can lock that in with a $200 deposit now

      I’m betting it goes up at release though for non-preorder customers. They haven’t said.

    • rainwall@piefed.socialEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      I recall $500-600 from a previous video, but I may be wrong there. With ram/storage what it is, likely higher either way.

  • Mora@pawb.socialEnglish
    111·
    3 days ago

    Definitely a cool idea I’d like to see succeed. That being said the first half of the video is showing off the launcher which essentially seems to be Niagara (which is cool, but no need to act as if that is an exclusive).

    • bdonvr@thelemmy.clubOPEnglish
      2·
      2 days ago

      Niagara is actually doing a custom build for them with some different messaging features.

  • joelectron@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    2 days ago

    I still have my hesitation about both this company and this phone, and they clearly have a lot of UX improvements to make, but I don’t hate what I see, and I’m keeping my reservation for a Communicator.

    I’m so tired of big glass slabs, and I’m hopeful that the smaller screen will help encourage me to have better habits with respect to doom scrolling and video watching.

  • garbage_world@lemmy.worldEnglish
    45·
    3 days ago

    Looks good, but Android is not suited for that type of device and there’s no guarantee of support

    • Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafeEnglish
      6·
      2 days ago

      Android’s not suited?

      So the Blackberry or the original Droid didn’t work with a keyboard?

      I’d beg to differ - I’d LOVE to have the OG Droid slider back.

      Support - that’s a genuine, and much bigger concern.

      • everett@lemmy.mlEnglish
        11·
        2 days ago

        They might have meant something other than the keyboard. Maybe the square-ish aspect ratio?

        • jsnfwlr@lemmy.mlEnglish
          2·
          2 days ago

          Given that android runs on dual screen/flip/folding phones, that makes even less sense