I'd been looking for something like this for a while now... but just like other e-ink phones the privacy policy is a bit chilling : they explicitly say they collect "everything" including precise location, messages, etc. I get that from a run-of-the-mill Android device, but it's very disappointing from a device supposedly focused on digital health...
2. Information We Collect When You Use Our Services
Location Information: We may infer your general location information, such as your IP address. When using Minimal Phone, we collect and use precise geolocation data (e.g., GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth signals) to support the Services provided.
Device Information: We receive information about the device and software you use to access our Services, including IP address, web browser type, operating system version, phone carrier and manufacturer, device identifiers, and similar information.
Usage Information: To understand how you use our Services and to help us improve them, we automatically receive information about your interactions with our Services, such as pages or content viewed, searches conducted, activities performed, and dates and times of activities.
Photo, Video, Audio, and Communications Information: When you use Minimal Phone to create photos, videos, audio recordings, or communications, our Services collect this content, including associated metadata.
You also opt-in to binding arbitration by default:
THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS A MANDATORY ARBITRATION PROVISION THAT REQUIRES THAT YOU AGREE THAT ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN YOU AND MINIMAL REGARDING YOUR ACCESS TO AND USE OF THE WEBSITE, PRODUCT, AND SERVICE WILL BE RESOLVED BY BINDING, INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATION. YOU WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A LAWSUIT, CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, OR CLASS-WIDE ARBITRATION.
You may opt out of arbitration by sending a letter to The Minimal Company Inc. within 30 days of agreeing to these Terms.
Yes I don't understand why so few manufacturers wdo partnerships with projects such as lineageos or /e/os from the very start. It seems to me there is a large intersection of people who want an alternative device format AND degoogled phone.
I am very interested with this device but only if I can have a firmware without the usual google + manufacturer's crap.
This thing can run all the necessary app. You gotta hand it to Android: without it, we'd have a lot less innovative products (or they'd be dead in the water)
There were alternatives to Android. Without Android, we'd be running Windows CE, Windows 11, or WebOS. I suspect many of us here will have been running smartphones before they were called smartphones. When I was in high-school, my phones ran Windows. HTC Typhoon, HTC Magician (with UK operator "Orange" SPV branding). Then when I left for a job, I was on the HTC TyTN 2. They were Windows CE based "Windows Mobile".
Any details on how this screen and android even works? It takes a second and a bunch of flashing per screen change? so are they arbitrarily choosing when to update the screen? are their settings for this? Can any apps customize this in a better way somehow?
Super painful to come out with something like this just after we got news of the new faster eink screen, that this wont be using of course
Is there any projects yet that can somehow optimize and minimize down to a single android app? Like i want maximial battery life and minimal screen use for AntennaPod, but without any of the location tracking bullshit
Its like we need microkernels for phone hardware. Funny enough i was just reading VanillaOS documentation and they are working on support for waydroid. I wonder if this will ever work
I bought the Light Phone 2 back in 2019, and it was far from what they promised. Besides being visually disappointing compared to the renders, it lacked most of the software that was announced.
Eventually (2 or 3 years later) they added music, basic directions and notes. Yet it’s painful to use, doesn’t show images, has no support for messaging besides SMS, not even email. The cloud-only setup sucks. You can’t even copy music to it over USB. And battery life was pretty underwhelming for an e-ink device.
Maybe a ReMarkable phone would finally bring this concept to life.
Seeing the previous posts featuring this new company [1] there is a real market demand for phones and or tablets with color or BW E-ink displays.
I guess the combination of a more quiet or relaxing screen that you can view outside and a longer lasting battery is a real banger.
I didn’t order their tablet because I’m addicted to Apple’s ecosystem, but an iPad with an E—ink display would be an instant buy for me.
1. https://news.ycombinator.com/from?site=minimalcompany.com
I'd been looking for something like this for a while now... but just like other e-ink phones the privacy policy is a bit chilling : they explicitly say they collect "everything" including precise location, messages, etc. I get that from a run-of-the-mill Android device, but it's very disappointing from a device supposedly focused on digital health...
Yeah, it's pretty bad:
You also opt-in to binding arbitration by default:
(emphasis theirs)
https://www.minimalcompany.com/legal
https://www.minimalcompany.com/terms-of-use
The first half wasn't terribly egregious, all things considered, but it really ramped up with the Photo/Video bit, huh?
Yes I don't understand why so few manufacturers wdo partnerships with projects such as lineageos or /e/os from the very start. It seems to me there is a large intersection of people who want an alternative device format AND degoogled phone.
I am very interested with this device but only if I can have a firmware without the usual google + manufacturer's crap.
Right there with you. I sent them feedback to that effect and hope everyone else does, too. Manufacturers need to hear this from us routinely.
This thing can run all the necessary app. You gotta hand it to Android: without it, we'd have a lot less innovative products (or they'd be dead in the water)
There were alternatives to Android. Without Android, we'd be running Windows CE, Windows 11, or WebOS. I suspect many of us here will have been running smartphones before they were called smartphones. When I was in high-school, my phones ran Windows. HTC Typhoon, HTC Magician (with UK operator "Orange" SPV branding). Then when I left for a job, I was on the HTC TyTN 2. They were Windows CE based "Windows Mobile".
Lol 0.015mm key travel is something to brag about now? Is it secretly made by apple?
Turning your current smartphone’s display greyscale is a good interim solution you can do today.
This product will likely never exist.
https://www.reddit.com/r/dumbphones/comments/198y1xi/comment...
Any details on how this screen and android even works? It takes a second and a bunch of flashing per screen change? so are they arbitrarily choosing when to update the screen? are their settings for this? Can any apps customize this in a better way somehow?
Super painful to come out with something like this just after we got news of the new faster eink screen, that this wont be using of course
Is there any projects yet that can somehow optimize and minimize down to a single android app? Like i want maximial battery life and minimal screen use for AntennaPod, but without any of the location tracking bullshit
Its like we need microkernels for phone hardware. Funny enough i was just reading VanillaOS documentation and they are working on support for waydroid. I wonder if this will ever work
Used to be on tryminimal.com
Some discussion earlier this year:
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39574397
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39127563
Related:
Is the Minimal Phone a Scam?
https://goodereader.com/blog/smartphones/is-the-minimal-phon...
Will this one actually work?
I bought the Light Phone 2 back in 2019, and it was far from what they promised. Besides being visually disappointing compared to the renders, it lacked most of the software that was announced.
Eventually (2 or 3 years later) they added music, basic directions and notes. Yet it’s painful to use, doesn’t show images, has no support for messaging besides SMS, not even email. The cloud-only setup sucks. You can’t even copy music to it over USB. And battery life was pretty underwhelming for an e-ink device.
Maybe a ReMarkable phone would finally bring this concept to life.