alt Hacker NewsClicks Communicator
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I had the Unihertz Titan for a while . It was a fun experiment, but I ultimately found it too annoying for continued daily use
First, typing was actually slower and more error prone. Even nearly a year into owning it, I was constantly misclicking and spending loads of time correcting myself.
Second, you loose a ton of navigate functionality with the hardware keyboards. Holding space to navigate between characters is gone. Emojis are gone. GIF keyboards are gone.
Third, none of the apps are built for this aspect ratio or screen size. Often this is just an annoyance - but there are times this became an actual, legitimate blocker. Items would be laid out off screen in a way that you couldn’t access them. The solution: a scaled view where everything was ridiculously tiny.
Three B: too many situations where the virtual keyboard would come up and you’d literally have the entire screen covered.
I didn’t realize how much value I lose with these issues until I experienced them. Every thing you’ve relied on essentially become unreliable because you might not be able to use certain functionality.
Seems like they have a good idea for a phone and want to fund the development using "pre-orders" (aka a Kickstarter). I went through the website and all the marketing and watched the launch video to find out how this thing works, but all I see is the same rendered home screen and lots of promises. Even in the video they show plenty of models of the phone lying around but not a single shot of one turned on and working.
I really do hope they succeed, and will definitely buy one if it turns out to be a viable product, but not before that.
My recommendation for someone considering a minimalist / dumbphone / detox / whatever is to avoid expensive products that over-promise their utility. There's no middle ground, it's either usable or it is not, so any in between will just become e-waste eventually.
The alternative I went with, and which I recommend, is getting both a smartphone and a nokia shitphone (no internet). Then ask the carrier for a sim duplicate. These exist, and are in fact a new number that redirects to your number. Use and carry whichever you want, knowing that calls will all go to both phones.
This is very exciting to me, I have been reluctant to upgrade from my Pixel 4a because I've been looking for a small form factor phone, and those seem to have gone extinct. Now here comes a product that both provides a small form factor, and even better, is aimed at reducing distractions and provides features to that effect.
It's running regular Android with a custom version of Niagara launcher (which it seems I need to try), and seems like it's a product built by people who want to use it. Which makes me hopeful that a lot of care was put into designing it. It seems like they're aiming it towards people that want a second device for work, which -in my mind- means there might be some compromises, so I'll be waiting for reviews to decide if it can hold up as a daily driver or not.
It should be noted, they claim that the keyboard is touch sensitive and can be used for scrolling, so it might actually solve some of the usability issues that immediately come to mind.
TBH, I'm a little surprised by all the hate. This might not be a product for you, or it might not speak to you for other reasons. The fact is that this company has seen success with their phone cases (I don't get it either), and has now announced two new products that should reach more of the market (the other is a magsafe slide out keyboard, it's very cool). If you don't like it, fair enough, but that doesn't mean it's a bad product.
Beautiful hardware. If they'd commit to GrapheneOS's hardware requirements https://grapheneos.org/faq#future-devices, I'd preorder... I'm stuck on Pixels because Graphene is so nice.
This is looking great, hope the camera can at least produce decent photos. So many other phones with a QEWRTY keyboard just have awful cameras.
The Razr 2024/25 + the clicks keyboard is probably the "best" so far. Although I just got a Zinwa Q25. Amazing how good that formfactor feels after having candy bars this long.
The Communicator is interesting but why are they marketing this as a "second" phone? I can see buying this as a primary but who is really looking for a phone they carry specifically as a backup for when they want a keyboard?
If they really wanted this to be about "doing", they'd give the USB-C port display out capability and let it be used with an external display, like Samsung does with DeX. Android phones with a lapdock and desktop UI are almost indistinguishable from a laptop.
I'm more interested in the Comet - https://mecha.so/comet - as a thing to support in pre-order. They will be launching their Kickstarter soon, and the founder is very active and transparent on their Discord.
This might actually get me to switch away from apple. Although I've gotten to the point where I realize that phones are mostly gimmicky sales portals, and it's just easier to do stuff on a real computer.
I second/third/forth all the other comments on this already, it would be better if I didn't have to buy into the google android system; seems like google has lost most of the trust with most people.
That looks like it's trying to do too much and too little. Too smart for a dumb phone, too limited for a smart phone. The hard keyboard feels antediluvian now that we have swipe or voice recognition typing with relatively acceptable accuracy, or for typing in multiple languages.
This actually looks nice! I'd prefer a slide out horizontal keyboard like the X10 Mini Pro[1], but beggars can't be choosers.
I've never gotten used to the touch keyboard, since writing anything while code-switching multiple languages doesn't really work well with the predictive input. Especially if the other language has to be transliterated from a non Latin script.
Though the update policy doesn't sound too promising, 2 years of OS updates + 5 years of security updates is too short :/
[1] https://www.gsmarena.com/sony_ericsson_xperia_x10_mini_pro-3...
Wow I wish they had announced this sooner. I just ordered a keyphone but this looks way more suited to my use case. I just want a basic feature phone + qwerty keyboard + signal + whats app.
I've been using a lightphone for 3 years but i can't stand the touch screen and only having SMS is annoying.
Actually, this was initially a phone accessory (1) with a keyboard.
App reviews (2) saying that there was lot of glitches with keyboard app.
I assume same approach will be for the this phone: accessory keyboard over android phone.
2. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.clicks.com...
I don't see how a smaller screen is "designed for doing". I already find regular phone screens to small to do any meaningful work on. For me it's basically impossible to do actual work on anything smaller than a laptop (and even a small laptop makes it stressful).
I recently charged and old Blackberry to see if it is still alive. They got everything so right I really miss those devices I will buy BB in a heartbeat. The OS is sublime I was surprised how after 10+ years not using a device like this I could go around everything without any friction. So easy to use intuitive the little trackpad is on par with macbooks, BB had stacking messages 10 years ago, the size of the device is just perfect. Everything about it is just a joy to use. I can't understand to this day how this company went downhill.
Looks great and the price is a pleasant surprise. Can we flash a custom OS to it?
I'm missing having LED colours for notifications on my current phone.
Ah man this hardware looks amazing — I just don’t know if I could give up living on iOS…
This looks really interesting. Sidephone also falls into this camp since I haven't seen it mentioned so far: https://www.sidephone.com/
While the communicator is nice, I just pre-ordered the power keyboard: https://www.clicks.tech/powerkeyboard
I feel where they messed up is including modem hardware especially as they tout this as a secondary device.
I could definitely use a second device that is specific for work. I don't want MDM on my phone mostly because they can erase my phone at any time. I also would check work email and Teams constantly. My work is more than happy to get me connected to work services if I will accept the MDM terms yet they won't help pay for my phone bill nor pay for a phone.
All I need is a device that can easily connect to my smartphone hotspot or wifi when I choose to that will meet my company's MDM requirements, has email, and can use Teams. If Im making a phone call at work I 100% use Teams. All I need is data which I can get from my smartphone. The included modem is extra costs. If this was $200-$300 I would consider it which they could do if they didn't include a modem.
> What languages will be supported?
> As a real keyboard with the QWERTY layout, Communicator supports languages that use the Latin alphabet: [...] Russian
Weird
I'm hesitantly excited about this. On one hand, I've been wanting something like this for years and it's literally everything I want in a cell phone. On the other hand, this isn't the first time I've been hyped for a product like this and been burned. I'll be pessimistically optimistic
The only thing shown of the UI is a screenshot of the launcher, I still don't understand how the system looks or feels to use. Besides, the entire launch video is too tedious and flashy. It's quite sarcastic of them to claim they hate long presentations full of nonsense at the very beginning.
The first rendering made me think it was as thick as a brick, and that got me kind of excited for a moment…
Any device that isn’t as thick and heavy as the original Game Boy feels uncomfortably cramped in my hands.
Being unable to fit in a pocket would be a plus. I want a device I have to consciously choose to carry with me to a new room, like a tablet or a pound of butter.
>Designed for doing, not doomscrolling.
It still has a touchscreen, right? And it even has a blinky light up button on the side, something iPhone doesn't. I read the homepage, but I couldn't figure out how this phone was "anti-doomscrolling" - what am I missing?
I wouldn’t buy this with Android - especially not out their software expiration policies. It’s designed to be obsolete. Put another OS on it and it would be great.
Presentation: The web site shows the same screen - show some variety of what the OS looks like in that format.
I had my fair share of exposure to the super-hyper start-up scene. Did these every-smiling people just re-invent the blackberry, and practiced the pitch for a month? Does anyone ever tell them "no, don't do this"?
The website shows no additional screens. hard to make up my mind about it.
Reminds me of the old Peek: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peek_(mobile_Internet_device)
I submitted this as well and I think it capture something much deeper than the product itself. I think there is a market for Blackberry type of devices again. Not for messaging but for business.
Apple could have made an iPhone Mini with customised OS that does not cater for massive screen and social media entertainment.
But Apple is too focused on making money from services sector which is the App Store.
I really wish someone would make a keyboard or smartphone with the same keyboard as the HTC Touch Dual, it was so good!
It looks more like hype than a real product.
What makes me suspicious is the Gmail icon instead of a generic email app.
So if I have my own email server, does that mean no mail? Or would there be one Gmail app and another separate email client? Unclear.
Can wait to get my Clicks jeans with 18 pockets for all my devices. Or my Clicks sport coat which includes a hood.
Also find it ironic how all these things are starting to look more and more like my old Palm Pilot.
I'm interested in getting that standalone magsafe Clicks keyboard they also announced. I have the original Clicks keyboard case for my iPhone 15 and almost never use it because of how goofy the size is + I dislike hate that soft touch plastic that gets stuck in my pocket. The slide out keyboard looks way more appealing in comparison. Not sure how people lived using the keyboard case with any plus sized iPhone-- It's basically a weapon!
I feel like I see an independent low-noise phone project like, every 3 months. Clearly there is some latent demand here. I wonder why the big players (Google, Apple, Samsung, HTC) haven't made a big-corp product for this market.
I am always reluctant to jump on with these independent ambitious projects. The first version is understandably rough, and the company seems to fold before they get to a second or third version.
But maybe advances in manufacturing in China are making high-quality, small-batch products like this more tractable?
The back panel design, shape, and customizability reminds me a bit of the old Moto X that Motorola built while being owned by Google. Brings back some nostalgia.
I've been very impressed by the attention to detail Clicks puts into their products. It might be a niche but it seems like one that deserves to exist.
Sounds like a competitor to the Minimal Phone?
I'm surprised this is a thing. with the advances in STT I want the other extreme - a smaller and smaller device that leverages better voice control - super efficient inferencing chip on board and low power mic that's worn on your person to make said STT very very accurate (>95% word accuracy).
Why is there no market for cases with keyboards inside, that baffles me.
I’m hopeful for this product both becoming real and being good. No word on what Mediatek SOC they’re using on the spec sheet, plus what memory capacity we’ll be working with.
The people in my life I’ve shown this to so far have all shared my hopefulness. It seems to me that everyone who had a keyboarded Blackberry misses it for the utility of the device. I think Apple and the rest of the smartphone industry were correct on the direction mobile phones were heading. A big screen is great for viewing content but is not so great at doing things besides social media. This has become increasingly obvious as the iOS keyboard keeps on getting worse while more people use their iPhone as their only, or at least primary, computing device. I can’t speak to the Android space so I’m not sure if Samsung, Huawei, or Google devices are having similar on-screen keyboard issues.
One thing that is immediately disappointing about the product specs at this moment is the timeframe for updates. Two years of Android system updates plus 5 years of security updates is paltry compared to Samsung & Google’s recent change of tune on that front. It is pretty pathetic compared to Apple’s long-standing precedent of providing full OS updates for several years, even for phones that probably shouldn’t be on the latest version of iOS.
Cool, I have a friend who always mourned the loss of his physical keyboard, I will tell him. I wish it could run standard Linux though (perhaps it can) - would make it a sweet little cyberdeck…
I might buy/support this, because it seems like they’re actually listening to what [some] people want. But I don’t know that it’ll get me off iMessage.
The hero image makes it look like the phone is an inch thick. I didn’t realize it was actually showing two phones (front and back) until I saw the rest of the gallery.
I would recommend not touching pre-orders with a 10-foot pole.
The leadership behind this project is f(x)tec. While they're not outright scammers they have a TERRIBLE track record in delivering products like this. Just look up the old fxtec community forums or the indiegogo pages for the pro1 / pro1x.
It's just data points but so far the modus operandi was to take pre-order money and then take years to deliver a bad product with no aftermarket support. There were always new excuses about what happened (shipping company stole our stuff! chip reseller scammed us! etc) but no transparency. The reality seems to be they ran out of money and instead of being upfront about it kept making up new stories why nothing was happening. The few devices they have shipped are basically unusable unless you're going to mod the hard- and software yourself (no security updates, issues in antenna design, outdated hardware by the time it ships, keyboard quality issues, you name it).
If you're interested in the device I implore you to wait until you can buy it upfront (ideally in a physical store) and return it at your convenience.
I thought I needed a keyboard too, but when everything is designed for a slab screen and your "productivity" phone randomly shuts down or has no reception in a major area, you gotta think about what productivity really means.