"Librem 5, the phone that focuses on security by design and privacy protection by default. Running Free/Libre and Open Source software and a GNU+Linux Operating System designed to create an open development utopia, rather than the walled gardens from all other phone providers."

That's the phone I was waiting for ... https://puri.sm/shop/librem-5/

I hope it takes off! We need a good open mobile alternative!!!

Absolutely, especially an open one, running a real linux OS. Fingers crossed they reach the founding target.

Too bad too many open mobile OS failed.

i'll be happy to keep this thread floating on top for a while.

but meh, chances are slim no?

also with this project i'm missing some hard info.

all i've seen so far is a useless video, and some project goals...

also, i'm no expert in crowd funding, but a goal of $ 1.5 million, isn't that a bit rich?

I’m not an expert either, but considering the price established for the device $ 1.5 millions means they will start the development after receiving 2500 preorders. It's not that much, after all.

^ i see, i didn't consider that the money goes fully (or almost) into the ordered device; so in a way the crowdfunding goal defines the size of the first batch, i guess.

still missing the hard info.

not wanting to diss the project, but the video is really just hot air (and somewhat laughable to any hacker).

edit:
just had another look at their pages.
i really miss any sort of hardware info.
they talk a lot about free software, but not about the hardware.
otoh, https://puri.sm/about/ mentions that they already did laptops (succesfully i suppose) - i guess that adds some sort of credibility.

I'd be more interested in adding phone functionality to existing devices that run Debian (which PureOS is based on). This might include rooted Android phones which have had Debian installed on them. But more generally, giving phone functionality to existing netbooks and laptops would result in something that a lot of people could really just start using right away.

It's another slab of grubby glass without a keyboard, A choice of distro is good.
I hope they succeed but I'll not bother, especially for the amount of money they're expecting people to bet on it.

this one has got the hardware built in (but weird, they're still on preorder - i was interested in it before christmas).

I've been following those folks ever since the Pandora handheld (which they had to rename OpenPandora during development because of the emergence of that Pandora thing). They're not a big outfit, so don't be surprised that everything takes a long time. Think in terms of years, not months.

Note the twin thumbsticks, D-pad, and controller buttons. Like its predecessor, Pyra is focused on retro gaming. This is awesome as far as I'm concerned.

But the physical keyboard is honestly too small to be useful for coding or general computing. Think of it more as being useful for controlling emulated computer games. In particular, compare its keyboard layout with the classic ZX Spectrum.

They say: “The specifications are continuing to get pinned down, and will not be finalized until after the campaign ends, so please share what you’d like to see, and we will evaluate all design feedback that aligns with our beliefs.”.

So people must trust them to bet on it. Personally I don’t care much about hardware, my priority is to get back in control of my device and to be reasonably confident that there isn’t something like NSA code embedded into my mobile. In my understanding those guys aim also to use / develop open source drivers for the most part of hardware chips. I suppose they cannot replace all drivers at the beginning, but I admire the effort.

ah, thanks.
actually that isn't such a bad thing seeing as these crowdfunding things can take a long time and surely it's better to be able to make quick changes based on recent market development.

On the site it said they are 51% to their goal.

i watched a lunduke show with puri.sm's ceo interviewed.
the guy (lunduke?) almost wet his pants because of how cool the whole project is; anyhow, he was also asking good questions & the ceo gave good answers.
let's see if i can find it... yep, here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SwE9W8JasA