Commodore listened, and the Callback 8020 is now $100 cheaper

OK

https://www.ttfone.com/products/ttfone-tt970

https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android

Thanks! Interesting, I hadn't heard of that one.

I wasn't able to find if the tt970 (or the newer t990) provably can run Signal, but seems like it's an Android 14 so I guess it should.

Do you have one?

Yes - I have the rebranded Aussie version

https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/opel-mobile-touchflip-4g-flip-phone-optouchfp

It runs Android 8.1 and had no issue running Molly the last time I tried it. I really like that little nugget - let me know if you want a list of apps or launchers for it. Note: you'll have to use Fdroid, Droidify, Aurora store or direct apks, as it doesn't meet play store compliance.

If the TT990 is android 14, then it should work even better.

I can also confirm that my Duoqin F21 runs either just fine, but that's cheating

https://qinphone.com/products/qin-f21-pro-smart-keypad-phone-compact-2-8-inch-touchscreen-android-11-4g-lte-single-camera-google-play-support-ideal-backup-work-phone-porcelain-white-iron-grey

Back to the TT970; the keyboard is fantastic (download the true TT9 app) and it even runs futo voice (albeit a touch slowly). If you get one, try to get the 1750mah battery - it helps.

Standby is just bang on 2 days for me.

Oh, the TTFone OS core is a proprietary fork of AOSP, and developed in China. That is probably a nope for me.

But I appreciate for letting me know of it. Might be good for the kids in the near future.

tbf it's a linux flipphone, but yeah it seems like a kinda weird second product after their commodore remake.

Android also started out looking like the ideal "PC in your pocket" phone. It was open source, used the Linux kernel, had full slide out keyboards, etc. Both of them started out at nicer extremes and then slide into enshittification.

Commodore has been dead multiple times and been bought and "came back". Though I must say, the first death wasn't 50+ years ago, they were essentially in their peak around 40 years ago, which was around 4-5 years before they completely crashed and burned.

Huh. Thought it was stock standard AOSP - perhaps the Aussie version is different? There are a few rebranded versions of the same hardware; you might be able to find something non proprietary. I think the underlying model is UNIWA if you want to go spelunk direct listings

https://opelmobile.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/OM-TouchFlip-A4.pdf

Where did you find the info that the TTFone uses a fork - A? Possibly it can take CFW?

In any case, if it's no go, it's no go.

PS: The other target might be a the Cat 22 flip but that thing has a face only a mother could love. I have seen clean CFW of the Duoquin models too - multiple threads on A - but that's candybar not flip

PPS: let me spelunk the 8020 for a minute. I have to imagine it's an off the shelf re-badge. EDIT: Hmm...looks like it's bespoke enough to NOT be a simple Shenzhen rebadge job.

Where did you find the info that the TTFone uses a fork - A? Possibly it can take CFW?

It's a de-googled Android hence AOSP and the source code is nowhere to be found, as far as I can tell. That said, I don't really know where they wrote the device-specific changes, just guessed.

As for the 8020, it's obviously an unproven product at this stage so picking that at this stage is pretty much a gamble.

I believe they meant what's the point of yet another dumbphone model, not new vs. used. But let's say they did, it's not like dumbphones stopped being manufactured in 2007. There's plenty of newer used models (as recent as you want, including this year) that invalidate your weird statements.

Their aggressiveness in enticing for preorders is giving me the ick at this point.

I want a full-size keyboard that slides out. No more T9 bullshit.

I took their question as "new vs used", and replied based on that. There are plenty of functional phones out there that you could use if the network still (emphasis on still) supports them, so I don't think it's weird to assume that someone might think "why should I buy a new feature phone instead of using my Sony Ericsson from 2000-something?".

There’s plenty of newer used models (as recent as you want, including this year) that invalidate your weird statements.

I'll agree that you don't have to buy a brand new one to get modern network support, but I also don't think there's really much of a used market for them. In the smartphone era, they're such a niche product that I doubt that there are many people who bought them and are now trying to sell them. I know I would rather keep it in a drawer than go through the hassle of selling it for a price a buyer would consider fair.

It is weird to assume that. I can buy a dumbphone at most retailers, still. And certainly have enough options online. They specifically mentioned "buying any dumbphone out there". Your own assumption of what you would do aside, do you think that's what the market would offer, mainly 2000s Sony Ericssons?

This also ties in to your struggling second assumption/flex tape seal attempt. Ebay is not an obscure site.

Yeah keep going shitdicks. I'm not paying $400 for a deliberately featureless clam phone