Here is your daily dose of not-linux-gaming news but still awesome. F(x)tec are currently crowdfunding (and very successfully so) for a new high spec Linux phone with a physical keyboard.
The thing is, it's not just another Android phone. Well, it could be, if you wanted that. The Pro1 X will be available with either Android, Lineage OS or Ubuntu Touch OS out of the box which is why we're so interested in it. Not only that, if you do get the Ubuntu version it will offer full convergence by turning into a proper computer if you hook it up to a monitor.
With a sleek 64-key physical keyboard which slides out from behind, you get full access to do whatever you need. It's a proper little mini-computer.
F(x)tec teamed up with the well-known and loved XDA community to create the phone:
"After the fantastic feedback we received from users of the Pro1, we’re excited to partner with XDA to offer our customers choice of an alternative OS out of the box; a pure smartphone experience with Lineage or a truly open linux OS with Ubuntu Touch. Both of our communities share the importance of greater control and more functionality in our smartphones." Said Adrian from F(x)tec, "We’re really proud of what the Pro1-X represents in terms of freedom to choose something different combined with the practicality of a keyboard experience."
Technical specifications:
DESIGN |
Dimensions: 154 x 73.6 x 13.98 mm |
DISPLAY |
5.99-inch 2160 x 1080 (FHD+) AMOLED flex screen with curved edges Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 |
KEYBOARD |
Physical Keyboard layout: 5-row, 66-key, staggered, backlit, landscape QWERTY keyboard. Also available in QWERTZ layout On-screen keyboard when the slider is closed. |
MEMORY |
RAM: 8GB LPDDR4X Storage: 256GB UFS2.1, expandable via microSD card up to 2TB |
CAMERA |
Front Camera: 8MP, Rear Cameras: 12MP |
PROCESSOR |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 MSM8998 |
NETWORK |
Global LTE (FDD+TDD), WCDMA / UMTS, CDMA / EVDO, GSM / EDGE CellularBands; |
CONNECTIVITY |
WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0 + LE, NFC, USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack. |
BATTERY |
3200 maH, Qualcomm® Quick Charge™ 3.0 |
SIM |
Dual Nano SIM with microSD support hybrid SIM #2), |
My first proper smartphone was the HTC Dream, otherwise known as the G1 and the first commercial Android phone. I have such fond memories of it with the physical keyboard, so the F(x)tec Pro1 X having that and Ubuntu? I might be a little sold on this. I do have to wonder what kind of gaming would be possible on such a device, would certainly be fun to have a go with it.
You can find it on IndieGoGo.
If you missed it, do check out our article on the upcoming PinePhone - KDE Community edition.
QuoteHere is your daily dose of not-linux-gaming news
I'd still try to game on it.
I've been experimenting with running Linux on my android phones for a couple of years now. It's not exactly straightforward or easy stuff but a great learning experience. I managed to run normal desktop software such as firefox and such, maybe one day will get 3D acceleration working.
Quoting: fnordianslipLooks nice, but since I got well and truly burnt by the Jolla Tablet scam, I won't be crowdfunding this.You never got your refund?
Quoting: kaiman[...] there are a few essential apps forced on me by the likes of my Bank (for 2FA) or the local public transport (for buying tickets when there is no ticket machine, or it isn't working) or all those "smart" things that want to pair with my mobile device (because why provide a web-interface for configuration when it can have an app instead!?)[...]
This is indeed an highly annoying problem. I do have ubports on my only phone, only because so far I was able to dodge mentioned apps.
But really, this "iOS/Android only" crap has to stop.
I am currently looking for options to switch my bank because of that... too many times that sh*t just didn't work and I was left in trouble :(
Quoting: tuubiYou never got your refund?No. However, to be fair to Jolla (which they don't deserve, in my opinion) I do recall ticking the box that effectively meant that they should keep the money. I still had hopes that they could do good things with Linux. It wasn't so much the loss of the money, but the scandalous nature of their behaviour that annoyed me the most. Never again.
I also bought PinePhone and Librem 5 to help the jump start a foundation.
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