Kendrick Lamar enters the tech space with a collaboration on the Light Phone 2. Light phones offer minimalistic experiences without apps or color.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    It’s $299, which isn’t ridiculous for a phone, but this is kind of gimmicky with its Magic 8-Ball thing and, of course, its celebrity backing. I don’t know, I guess it’s not the worst price point, but considering you can get low-end Android phones for that with more functionality, I’m also guessing the people buying it are not really worried about the price.

    • designatedhacker@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Why not get a phone that can take, send, and receive pictures and video. It would also have maps, GPS, encrypted messaging, streaming music, audiobooks, e-books, home automation apps, ride hailing, food ordering, decent browser, etc.

      Then, stay with me here, don’t install social media apps. The lengths people go to so they can avoid social media when it is extremely avoidable is crazy to me.

      • helenslunch@feddit.nl
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        1 year ago

        The point is that it cannot do those things.

        It’s smaller, it’s lighter, the battery will last way longer, and it doesn’t run spyware.

        • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          That’s flat out false. Other than using messenger to chat with family, I haven’t had to use Facebook for anything for the 5 or so years since I stopped actively using it.

          As for “everything passes through Google”, that’s just an optional login protocol and a shitload of blockable ads.

          Also, Google isn’t social media. You could argue that YouTube has social media aspects, but those aren’t mandatory for internet participation either.

          • onion@feddit.de
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            1 year ago

            Well you do have to go a bit further with a degoogled rom to get rid of google

      • agent_flounder@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Make 100,000 of that phone and it will cost a lot closer to £15.

        The bulk discounts on components and the PCB itself are pretty huge once you get up into the 10,000 qty. I’ve never had that pleasure. Only thing I’ve been involved with was a few hundred units.

        Do a run in the 100k range and I imagine you’re calling chip makers directly and making some insane deals.

        But at only 250 units your PCB and expensive components like display and shell will still be quite expensive.

        • AbidanYre@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          This is a Litephone 2 with a logo etched on the back. I don’t know their overall numbers, but it’s not just the 250 for this marketing gimmick.

    • sab@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      I mean, you’re quite clearly paying for the lack of features here.
      Which makes the 8 ball even dumber.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Yeah, the 8 ball bothers me, as does the ‘it’s a dumb phone, but you can add a bunch of apps,’ which is… a regular smartphone with no apps installed for the most part. The e-ink screen is unusual and interesting for a phone and I can see the appeal there, but the rest is kind of odd.

        I’m guessing the majority of the phones were bought by people who are big fans of Kendrick Lamar. I sort of understand. An (impossible) equivalent to me would be if Stanley Kubrick came out with some piece of tech. I’d be sorely tempted to buy it just because I love Stanley Kubrick.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            The minimalistic phone has no web browser and its screen is paper-like similar to that of some e-readers. In its simplest form, you can call, text, set an alarm, and use it as a hotspot, but there are add-on tools that include a music player, notes, a calculator, directions, and more.

            Sure sounds like you can to me.

            • applejacks@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              many dumphones have these functions.

              calculator and GPS is not what most people think of from the phrase “a bunch of apps”