The Commodore Callback 8020 flip phone looks like it’s from decades ago but its price was definitely a sign of today’s times. That’s changed, with Commodore’s announcement today that it will drop the price $100 for most models before pre-orders start next week.
The phone caused a stir when it was announced a week ago. First, there was the thrill of 80s computing legend Commodore making a phone. Then the phone being retro in both look and function caught attention, with a flip-phone form factor combined with a focus on privacy. But one of the most unique features of the Callback 8020 is that it runs Android apps on Linux-based Sailfish OS instead of Android. Among all of the praise though, was criticism that a $500 starting price for the basic models was too high.
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Point me towards a dumb phone that can run Signal properly and I’ll cancel my 8020 order right now.
(yes, it’s still a bit of a guess whether the 8020 can actually run it properly, but that’s what they’re promising right now anyway)
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.
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 - XDA? 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 XDA - 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.
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.