Commodore Callback 8020 flip phone blocks social media and browsers
Commodore announced the Callback 8020 flip phone, a Sailfish OS Linux-based device that blocks web browsers and social media at the system level and starts at $499. The Callback runs 99% of Android apps through a compatibility layer and supports WhatsApp, Maps, Spotify and Uber, while offering T9 texting, an optional disabled touchscreen, audiophile-grade HD audio and FM radio. Commodore positions the phone as a privacy-minded, enforced digital detox and nostalgia product suited for parents or users who want to quit endless scrolling, though the premium price and deliberately limited feature set make it a niche offering.
Activists say this is what is needed. But will people buy it? #digitaldetox "With a retro look and T9 texting, the Commodore Callback 8020 smart flip phone taps into the nostalgic yearning for simpler days. It can run Spotify and Uber, but Instagram is blocked." www.wired.com/story/commod...
Here's how you can get your hands on the dumb-but-still-smart-enough phone here. Let us know if you are thinking of getting one. commodore.net/callback/
It's a cute idea. A flip phone that runs Android apps, plays SIDs, and comes with a transparent case option probably won't take off. I think it's going to be yet another obscure Commodore revival product. Maybe they could try bringing back the Commodore programmable thermostat from the 80s next.
This looks promising. T9 is not my favorite texting method, but everything else sounds good.