Could Mecha Comet's Linux PC-Phone Hybrid Be the Future of Linux Smartphones? (howtogeek.com) 33
3,346 backers pledged $1,198,844 on Kickstarter to build the (modular) handheld Linux computer, the Mecha Comet. It's slightly bigger and heavier than your smartphone, with a 4-inch AMOLED display and loaded up with things like microphones, speakers, a SIM tray, two USB ports and a mini HDMI port. There's three separate kill switches for wifi, microphone and camera — plus a "boot mode" switch for the SD card, and even three pins for instant access to its debug console.
It's now expected to ship in October or November (and is still available for preorder).
Snap-in extensions include a keyboard (with programmable colors for its backlit keys), a gamepad, and a special IO Breakout that exposes the 40 pogo pins for modules, sensors, and MCUs. They're all open hardware, and founder Shoaib Merchant says "I'm looking forward to more community designs over the upcoming months." He shows the screen in action in a video on Kickstarter, demonstrating native apps like Music, Notes, Settings, and Files — as well as a Terminal app running on its color screen.
A Linux correspondent at How-To Geek notes its ships "with a custom, hardware-optimized Linux distro out of the box," so "it's like having a dedicated Linux terminal in your pocket." And they argue the new device "could be the future of Linux smartphones." I should also mention that you don't necessarily have to use the battery; it can power on over USB PD without one. Overall, you're getting the same I/O you'd expect from a computer in a smartphone-like form factor, complete with modular input devices — and it's running Linux under the hood. For me, that's the most innovative gadget I've seen in the Linux hardware space in a long time...
It's powerful enough to run most Linux terminal apps, which opens up a lot of possibilities. You're also getting an NPU built right into the SoC, which opens up the possibility for on-device AI workflows — something not possible in budget smartphones. Now, I personally plan to use it for SSHing into my main computer and home lab and operating them remotely. That's also why I'll be putting the LTE modem in the M.2 slot rather than an SSD — mobile data means I can reach my machines even when there's no Wi-Fi around.
I also showed it to my partner, and she sees this as the ideal minimalist phone for digital detoxing. There's a built-in media player, a basic notes app, and you can even run Spotify from the terminal if you want.
It's now expected to ship in October or November (and is still available for preorder).
Snap-in extensions include a keyboard (with programmable colors for its backlit keys), a gamepad, and a special IO Breakout that exposes the 40 pogo pins for modules, sensors, and MCUs. They're all open hardware, and founder Shoaib Merchant says "I'm looking forward to more community designs over the upcoming months." He shows the screen in action in a video on Kickstarter, demonstrating native apps like Music, Notes, Settings, and Files — as well as a Terminal app running on its color screen.
A Linux correspondent at How-To Geek notes its ships "with a custom, hardware-optimized Linux distro out of the box," so "it's like having a dedicated Linux terminal in your pocket." And they argue the new device "could be the future of Linux smartphones." I should also mention that you don't necessarily have to use the battery; it can power on over USB PD without one. Overall, you're getting the same I/O you'd expect from a computer in a smartphone-like form factor, complete with modular input devices — and it's running Linux under the hood. For me, that's the most innovative gadget I've seen in the Linux hardware space in a long time...
It's powerful enough to run most Linux terminal apps, which opens up a lot of possibilities. You're also getting an NPU built right into the SoC, which opens up the possibility for on-device AI workflows — something not possible in budget smartphones. Now, I personally plan to use it for SSHing into my main computer and home lab and operating them remotely. That's also why I'll be putting the LTE modem in the M.2 slot rather than an SSD — mobile data means I can reach my machines even when there's no Wi-Fi around.
I also showed it to my partner, and she sees this as the ideal minimalist phone for digital detoxing. There's a built-in media player, a basic notes app, and you can even run Spotify from the terminal if you want.
4G? (Score:2)
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Re: 4G? (Score:2)
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Super neat, alas not a solution to the issue (Score:5, Interesting)
I really fuckin' wanna ditch my spying, anticonsumerist, battery chugging and generally only increasingly infuriating android phone for a device actually at least vaguely under my control but few of the things that I have to use a phone for are doable on the Linux thing!
I need the stupid banking app, the stupid work auth app, the stupid state legal filing app, and the stupid carsharing app. They all suck shit, but provide access to services that are either unavailable or considerably less accessible without a "phone" (actually, a comprehensive advertising and surveillance platform under direct control of either Google or Apple).
For this linux thingus to actually replace the function of a modern phone, all those services would have to be accessible through it, but the current "industrial" zeitgeist makes them all only less and less accessible unless you essentially strip down and stick their favored personal privacy probe right up your ass.
Right now it feels way more plausible to get the cheapest Android phone "certified" to interface with the services, keep it off and wrapped in tinfoil unless needed, and when you have that, the device you actually want to use for your actual computer/communicator purposes might as well be of dimensions of a small laptop too, because you've already been forced to own a "telephone" anyway. Now, if we backed out of this monopoly-of-trust nightmare that is the backend google/apple services create, I'd get something like the thing in the OP in a heartbeat.
Re: Super neat, alas not a solution to the issue (Score:2)
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Fuck apps and any fuckwit that thinks the bank, the grocery store, some shithole gas station, or whatever the fuck needs an OS specific application to present that same information...
I agree 100%. Unfortunately, some of those same fuckwits are in charge of deciding banking policy. The stupid mandatory banking app is literally the only reason I keep my simless old Android phone around.
Re: Super neat, alas not a solution to the issue (Score:3)
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You NEED a bank app? Bullshit
I can't log in to online banking without one. I think it's stupid, I told my bank it's stupid, but they did not make an exception just for me.
Re: Super neat, alas not a solution to the issue (Score:2)
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Change your bank then. Go to the ombudsman
I wouldn't whinge about it on Slashdot unless I had already taken official action. It's pending. Unfortunately all the banks seem to have some kind of shitty condition that rules them out. If it's not a mandatory app, it's an oppressive monthly fee or some wild surcharge for international purchases, or some terrible interest rate.
Given that there's no way to avoid having a bank account (in order to receive a wage, pay taxes or receive a tax refund) I think there should be some kind of bare-minimum account t
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What bank (or credit union) doesn't have web-based online baking?
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I don't own a smartphone. I do what I need in firerox on Linux on my actual computer, with a 24" monitor, not a tiny screen with microscopic fonts.
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There is a company in China making a "modern" Blackberry replacements. They have a new motherboard combined with a real Blackberry keyboard, better screen and better camera. They run Android or Ubuntu Touch. So you could conceivably run proper Linux and then the Android stuff in a Linux container.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
https://zinwa.cn/ [zinwa.cn]
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Sorry, my bad. The display is the original Blackberry 720x720 unit. It's the next version that will have the improved screen. Of course I won't believe it until I see it.
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I agree on the apps thing.... if I can do it from my desktop and a browser, I should be able to do the same from my phone and a browser. Apps should do things that the browser can't/shouldn't be allowed to do (interacting with other hardware, local storage, etc)
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Well, I'm pretty sure your bank has a web interface, so you don't have to use the banking app to do your banking.
Your work auth app may be more complex - if it's TOTP, you might be able to export the seed and key and there are plenty TOTP generators. (It's also one of the easiest programming assignments to do so any competent programmer should be able to come up with something in under an hour without vibe coding). Unfortunately there are a few TOTP systems that make it extremely difficult to get the seed a
So close and yet so far (Score:2)
This could be my next phone but has two big problems I see immediately. No earpiece so you can't, you know, hold it up to your ear and make calls like on a normal phone, you either need to have a bluetooth earpiece at all times or use speakerphone. The other thing I don't like is the Blackberry-like form factor. Nothing beats or comes close to the landscape slider layout. That said if it's open-source hardware I could at least potentially mod up a landscape slider version with an earpiece.
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This could be my next phone but has two big problems I see immediately. No earpiece so you can't, you know, hold it up to your ear and make calls like on a normal phone, you either need to have a bluetooth earpiece at all times or use speakerphone. The other thing I don't like is the Blackberry-like form factor. Nothing beats or comes close to the landscape slider layout. That said if it's open-source hardware I could at least potentially mod up a landscape slider version with an earpiece.
..plus a "boot mode" switch for the SD card, and even three pins for instant access to its debug console.
Your next phone? That sounds like a device that could be hacked with a 14-year old AI script kiddie who hung around the DEFCON badge booth for an hour.
Kewl Shit features, tend to work both ways. Shocked you only saw a couple things preventing you.
Mini HDMI? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: Mini HDMI? (Score:3)
"your partner" (Score:2)
Re: "your partner" (Score:2)
Termux (Score:1)
If you install Termux on your Android phone or tablet you get a pretty functional terminal/command line.
I use it for for vim and ssh and mutt (email client) and rsync and so on. Even sc-im, which is a very nice spreadsheet.
There's also a way to use Termux to run X11 programs but I've never tried that myself since the phone screen is too damn small.
Sure... (Score:2)
This one has a proper QWERTY keyboard (Score:2)
Proper keyboard and runs Ubuntu Touch. Removable memory! 3.5mm audio jack!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
https://zinwa.cn/ [zinwa.cn]
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Ubuntu TOUCH is disqualifying. You want to install packages?! Why, you perv, this is a PHONE! This is how things go.
I hope so, really I do (Score:2)
We need more phones that aren't built by megacorps to satisfy sheep-like customers who have somehow been convinced that massive, thin, fragile phablets are what they want and need.
I have seen Youtube videos where the tech guy reviewing a phone that is not a phablet is surprised that it feels good and handles well !
Think outside the manufacturers' boxes people !
And good luck, Mecha.
Sounds attractive but how is it as a phone? (Score:2)