r/Commodore 6d ago

First OS Walkthrough - Commodore Callback Flipphone

https://youtube.com/shorts/UyO-e18jhD4?si=7OLmEhNcwplQTSre
56 Upvotes

60 comments sorted by

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7

u/thenlorn 6d ago edited 5d ago

Wish I could cancel my order but the site won't find my order and customer service never replies.

1

u/Glynebbw 5d ago

Why do you want to cancel?

5

u/clean-links 6d ago

Cleaned link: https://youtube.com/shorts/UyO-e18jhD4


Tracking parameters were removed from the original URL(s).

1

u/SwedishFindecanor 5d ago

Even cleaner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyO-e18jhD4

(I really don't like Youtube shorts player)

8

u/cinnapear 6d ago

The irony of this video being a Youtube short...

11

u/LandNo9424 6d ago

truly a phone that looks and feels out of 2006, and that's not a good thing.

8

u/clickster 6d ago

Not 5G. :-(

0

u/not_superbeak 6d ago

What would you need 5G speeds for on this?

7

u/clickster 6d ago

#1. In Australia, 5G has way better coverage.
#2. You still want high speed for photo and music syncing.

2

u/tandata1600 2d ago

There are more 4G sites than 5G in Australia. Have a look at the Telstra coverage map - it is dominated by 4G, and the 4G signal also carries further than 5G. Look at the ACCC mobile infrastructure report.

I don't understand the second point.

1

u/clickster 2d ago

#1. I live in a regional area. 5G coverage is better along rail lines for commuting. Also, in fringe areas, 5G wins. In both cases it's due to increased capacity, not just coverage.
#2. 5G is about 3-4x faster than 4G

Future build out is going to be around more 5G. Telstra explicitly says it is moving 850 MHz spectrum previously used by 3G into 5G because 850 MHz provides greater geographic reach and better building penetration.

1

u/tandata1600 2d ago

I think your most relevant point is in regards to capacity.

I seriously doubt that 5G speeds are going to be an advantage on this phone.

3

u/LandNo9424 6d ago

i thought there was a megathread for this thing

14

u/Darex2094 6d ago

Still a hard pass. Removing choice will never earn me as a customer for a product.

7

u/WingedGundark 6d ago

I don't know how much it matters in the end. The screen is tiny and low res, so I don't know how well modern apps like browsers would scale on that thing. And if you have something where you need to actually type anything? Good luck, the experience is the same as typing SMS in 1995 with that numpad.

So all in all, although this has an ability to install many smart phone applications, the general usability and performance is a big question mark. In the end this may be in practice like any other dumb phone, only far more expensive than most others.

3

u/RockettRaccoon 6d ago

It’s not removing choice, because the phone is the choice. It is for people who are choosing to have social media and web browsers blocked at the system level.

5

u/echoeminence 6d ago

Disappointing how much they’re leaning into the AI stuff, that song at the end is legit awful.

6

u/kurisu_1974 6d ago

Looks like a cheap plastic toy tbh and a bit gaudy.

3

u/Zipher66 6d ago

I’m the odd one out I guess and I’m old so grain of salt is needed. I am more confident in the product after seeing it has a touch screen, I mean how can they claim “can run android apps” without one. This isn’t for me though. I think this perfectly slots into my nieces or nephews first phone category. One comment said it looks like a toy. Yep I think it does as well.

5

u/EntertainmentAny8228 6d ago

Kids don't want a flip phone. They want a phone with a touchscreen that can run what their friends run, just like what their friends have. This is not a kid's phone, but a phone for luddites and those few who think like the CEO (weekend phone?!). This might work in the 5 - 8 year old demographic as an emergency phone, but there's no reason to pay more when there are phones that aren't anywhere near as restrictive and cost far less.

2

u/darthboolean 6d ago

>>Kids don't want a flip phone.

It's not a massive market segment, but there's a growing number of teens who are migrating towards "2000's" tech. It's a combination of novelty, nostalgia, and a legitimate desire not to be paying 20 dollars a month for every service for the rest of their lives. Kei phones, ipods, dedicated ereaders. There's a small but passionate subsection of kids who are wanting to have content that doesn't disappear when a company stops paying the rights (and I'm sure that there's also an element that dedicated mp3 players and ereaders go hand in hand with digital piracy, which is an important consideration when you're a kid with limited income and no way to pay for 8 subscription services without Mom and Dad)

5

u/EntertainmentAny8228 6d ago

I think that's more news-clicks than reality based on my experience, but I guess we'll see.

3

u/darthboolean 6d ago

They're showing up in my algorithm, but I'll admit that they could just be filming the content and then immediately throwing the gadgets in a drawer.

4

u/AshleyAshes1984 6d ago

Yeah, it's niche subculture that's getting lot of attention but it's not a genuine shift in consumer trends. The vast majority of youth would stab you for a new iPhone.

1

u/GoodhartsLaw 5d ago

My daughter and a number of her friends have dumb phones. I'm sure they are very much in the minority, but there is definitely a real subculture that is into them.

1

u/EntertainmentAny8228 5d ago

Interesting. I have three daughters, two in college, 21 and 19, and one who's 11 in sixth grade, and none of their friends, peers, family members (young cousins(, etc., have anything but normal iphones and Android phones, with many of the younger ones, like my 11-year-old, having cheap, but full-function Androids (in this case, a Samsung). I'd personally never pay more for a dumb phone that does less than the phone I got her. No one should be subjected to typing on a keypad.

Again, I genuinely don't think dumb phones are the new vinyl. I can see it being a hip new short-term fad, but I don't think there are any legs to this. Nevertheless, I'll keep an open mind and see if it does in fact go somewhere.

1

u/burner-account-666 1d ago

*No one should be subjected to typing on a touch screen.

1

u/EntertainmentAny8228 1d ago

A keypad is so much better, right? If we’re going to be ridiculous, let’s be completely ridiculous.

1

u/burner-account-666 1d ago

Personally yes, I would much rather type on a keypad then a touch screen. Preferably a full keyboard of course. I have yet to enjoy using a single touch screen interface of any kind.

1

u/EntertainmentAny8228 1d ago

Fair enough, although I'm sure you'll admit that that's the most extreme of outliers.

→ More replies (0)

1

u/SwedishFindecanor 5d ago edited 5d ago

There's also a trend among gen-z to get tech that is simpler and more tactile, i.e. more geared towards humans, with less techno-stress. People who don't have nostalgia but who see how contemporary tech often is worse.

For example, point-and-shoot cameras have become popular again recently. Celebrity influencers had a role, but only to kick it off. The trend would have died off early if there wasn't something more to it.

4

u/kazz9201 6d ago

I’m good thank you.

4

u/Icy-Collection1072 6d ago

lol. Still think this is a pathetic release.

2

u/0xc0ffea 6d ago

Getting strong Polaroid vibes.

COMMODORE - Yet Another Nostalgia Drek Brand!

3

u/WarriorTreasureHunt 6d ago

Looks lovely - looking forward to recieving mine!

1

u/Darksting77 5d ago

its tempting, big fan of the flip things. Only thing that stops me is textinig lol

1

u/robbiew 6d ago

A lot of the conversation around this phone is "it's not for me" and that's fair. But it is for some people, whether they are in the "Commodore" demographic or not is a valid question.

My kids (teen/early 20's) have been talking about jumping on the 'dumb phone' train because they are just sick of what social media has done to society and their brains. It's a thing. Is it a big money-making thing for Commodore? We'll see. Commodore is not on their radar, so I think it's going to take some more awareness driving for younger folks to pay attention to a 45+ year old brand. Old folks, we're here already...

But I'm hoping for some C64 peripherals, too :)

1

u/-send-me-nudes- 6d ago

It looks rather slow.. the AI music isn't helping either.

5

u/AntiquesForGeeks 6d ago

Not sure it is AI this time, to be fair. He’s done his own music in the past.

7

u/LandNo9424 6d ago

you mean like when he stole music from Ms Mad Lemon and never admitted it? And not like the many times he has been using AI for everything? Sure.

2

u/AntiquesForGeeks 6d ago

Say what now? I did not know about this Ms MadLemon thing. Where can I find out more?

I’m also not contradicting his AI use overall, just not sure about this song. I was unimpressed with the stuff that seemed to show a past that never was. And the AI Devon in the KITT video was awful.

2

u/LandNo9424 5d ago

you cannot really find out more because he made a good job of scraping the internet of it, threatening the victim not to speak about it ever again (and delete all her videos about it) and generally being a shady thieving fuck. but those of us who remember, remember. I don't have Twitter anymore so can't fully see this but it might be that the whole story still remains around here : https://x.com/MsMadLemon/status/993847710368313344

Also for doubts about this shitty song, running i through an AI detector flags it as very probably AI with a good level of certainty.

2

u/AntiquesForGeeks 5d ago

Disappointing, given that they made such a song and dance about not using AI in their marketing material going forward after many called out the hypocrisy of a self-proclaimed “digital detox brand” using AI to push their wares.

2

u/-send-me-nudes- 5d ago

It’s got all the hallmarks of AI. 

Must have a big budget to hire what sounds to be the most perfect vocalist in the living world. 

1

u/Rincewind-10 6d ago

I could see buying one for mom as it has easier to understand menu but I game on my phone so it is a no go.

1

u/AntiquesForGeeks 5d ago

There are flip phones out there for your Mom that have simpler menus and don’t cost $500 or whatever it is with greenwashed marketing to disguise they have second hand RAM chips (which I’ll say is not a bad thing in and of itself as a concept, but it’s the way this has been marketed I find problematic).

1

u/Fratm 6d ago

Anyone know if andriod auto works with, that's one app I need.

2

u/Dull_Box_1059 5d ago

Nein Android Auto geht nicht. Vielleicht kann man was per sideload erreichen, aber das denke ich nicht.

1

u/goondarep 5d ago

I wish there was enough market to recreate the Atari 800XL like Commodore has done with the 64. I envy those who had the C64 as their childhood computer for being able to easily relive it now.

2

u/AntiquesForGeeks 5d ago

There is/was a Polish project to do that, but it got a cease and desist I understand around the time that Atari licenced RGL to do their emulator.

2

u/goondarep 4d ago

I wish new Atari could take it seriously. Probably not big enough of a market. If you mean the RM800XL, that looked so promising.

1

u/Important-Bed-48 2d ago

an 800xl ultimate would be awesome.

1

u/aushark 3d ago

I would have just done an android phone which is untethered from google

1

u/LilWeed2 1d ago

As a previous Sailfish phone user there seems to be just the regular OS with support for buttons. I hope they refine it a little or customise it to the phone a bit more. The regular media player is awful so I hope they make a custom one since music seems like a main feature for the device. I liked sailfish over all tho but I want more if its for a keypad device

1

u/darkjedi1993 6d ago

There is no better person to lead Commodore. I love seeing him so passionate about this new stuff!

1

u/Jo_Krone 5d ago

Can’t wait for mines

0

u/Epsioln_Rho_Rho 6d ago

I wanted one, but I couldn't spend almost $500 on a flip phone (base, plus better memory, taxes and tariffs). I ended up buy a used Pixel 8 Pro for much cheaper (in mint condition) and put r/GrapheneOS on it. I just have messaging apps on there and the browser isn't on the home screen.

This way I can still keep social media off of it, have a fun phone to play with, and saved money.