@Techaltar Probably too late but a question I really want to know the answer to: do you think it's a good idea to privately import a Fairphone in a country where it's not officially sold?

@Techaltar any plans of coming to Brazil?

@Techaltar If they are considering implementing the hardware security features required for GrapheneOS and shipping it or at least supporting it.

(GrapheneOS offers so good user experience - it does not push any services you did not ask for on to you, unlike mainstream OS vendors AND is easy to use)

@Techaltar Do they plan a collaboration with Jolly (develops SailfishOS)?

@Techaltar Will they expand the product lineup with a laptop like the Framework, or a Light phone? Or accessories like stands, covers, wallets, etc? Are they considering merging with other entities on the field like Murena or Framework?

@Techaltar I want to know if they see a path towards shipping globally. Asia is of course a major market, and I'm personally interested if I could get it at a reasonable price in South East Asia.

@Techaltar

Will they sell spare parts for the Fairbuds, Fairbuds XL, or Fairphone (gen. 6) in the USA? This is make or break for me, so please ask this one.

Thank you.

@Techaltar another question. Much of their userbase overlaps with highly technical and highly concerned about privacy people, why did they advertise Gemini in an almost tonedeaf way, especially considering the recent heavy handed way that alphabet has been forcing it on people and how much of your data is scraped?

@Techaltar given that the idea is that I keep my Fairphone as long as possible and don't just buy the next model when it comes out, what's their long term plan for business sustainability?

@Techaltar The one thing that keeps me away from Android is the the UI/UX. Configuration is splattered all over the place (for the most part, iOS stuff has everything in settings).

Are they considering fixing any of the Android UX issues?

@Techaltar I got my FP6 today, and it's mostly all what I expected, but the recording of audio using the built in microphone is horribly fuzzy. I've heard of quality control issues with microphones and speakers before, why is it so hard for them to get right?

@Techaltar linux mobile when? (i know @z3ntu works there but man would it be nice if the company supported his efforts in making a mainline linux phone day 1)

@Techaltar if they've considered collabbing with framework

@Techaltar Will they consider shipping with GrapheneOS (or some other de-Googled Android) for people who want neither AI nor ad snooping?

@Techaltar When will the FP6 finger loop back cover come available?
Does /e/OS Open Camera support 50 MPix camera mode (actual only 12 MPix)? Is WiFi MAC randomisation mode available? (not in /e/OS 3.0.2)
Thanks in advance.
#fairphone6#TheFairphone #eos #efoundation #Murena

@Techaltar
Why dose it take so long for the #fairphone6 cases to be available?

The white one never was and the green and black ones have been sold out every time I looked. The cases are quite important for the longevity of the device I would say

@Techaltar
Why does no #smartphone manufacturer think a sub 5.2" form-factor won't sell?

#FairPhone

@Techaltar Do they have any plans to open sales in Canada?

@silmathoron

@Techaltar

They have already released a bunch of open source information. But what do they think of running the business in a transparent, "open-source" way:

- public, officially organized issue trackers for software and hardware (save time, cost, and would be customer-friendlier especially on new releases)

- put open-source resources (with docs) in a proper public github(-like) repo and open for contribution and particpation

@Techaltar When are they going to release the schematics like they did with the fairphone 4 and 5? Last time they released at fosdem.

@Techaltar are there any upsides and downsides of being based out of Europe, in terms of costs, talent, and laws?

@Techaltar a lot of Fairphone selling points are in the process of being enforced in the EU market : replaceable batteries, 5 years software support, repair instructions...

How good are these rules according to them, what needs to be pushed next and do they see a future where Fairphone is no longer relevant?

@Techaltar I know from previous correspondence with Fairphone that they have had/have no plans to sell the FP5 in the US, but plan to sell the FP(Gen.)6 in the US via Murena, with /e/OS on it, starting in August. It will be that or the FP4, available through Murena, to the US.
That covered, please excuse the asides & organization of my questions below; hopefully they can be boiled down into content-useful things for you to ask:
1) Will there be any possibility/good reason to install the stock Fairphone OS on a Murena-sold FP4/(Gen.)6 that comes with /e/OS on it?
I know that the (forgive my terminology; if I look up the right term, I’ll get distracted! 🤣) “simplicity switch” functionality WILL be on the /e/OS-running phones, so that’s NOT a reason to put stock Fairphone OS on it.
2) How’s that partnership with Murena/The /e/ Foundation going for Fairphone? Solid, or at all concerning? I ask partially because…
3) While I’m impressed (on old hardware) with what I see of /e/OS 3.0.1 and 3.0.4 and its privacy management, I’m a bit concerned by Murena wording/link maintenance on their own website. It sounds awfully marketing boilerplate/meaningless & EVERY LINK seems to go to a page to set up a murena.io account. Also, the same page seems to be an open call to set up “partnerships” (apparently for sales) in the US. Seems a bit “build it and they will come,” in the US’s uncertain economy; is their US business model sustainable?
4) Among the links mentioned above is one claiming that Murena will offer mobile services in the US only as a T-Mobile MVNO, but again, the link only goes to setting up a murena.io account. Luckily, separate research reveals that Murena Mobile is and will be a thing (though maybe not cost-competitive with some other MVNOs in the US).
5) I’m assuming that similar to murena.io not being a requirement for using /e/OS, using a Fairphone 4 or Gen. 6 in the US will not REQUIRE using Murena Mobile? There will be no carrier lock (to either an MVNO or to T-Mobile networks more broadly), right?
6) Coming to the US, will there be any ability for the phone to use Verizon’s CDMA network? To use AT&T’s proprietary GSM bands that the rest of the world doesn’t use (and that non-AT&T-locked phones on their network don’t necessarily have to; they are just marketed as useful to AT&T customers “during periods of high congestion.”)?
A “no” answer about bowing to the technical foibles of US mobile networks is not a deal-breaker for me personally, but does tie in to others’ interests in what there was space/good reason to support on the FP(Gen.)6 PCB.

@Techaltar How difficult/expensive is it to get people/maintainers for software side of the phones? The hardware is good, but their Android is buggy and it takes ages for them to fix it (even if on the forum there are people troubleshooting with lots of info given).

@Techaltar How much does Fairphone design and specify themselves, and how much is off-the-shelf, but audited to ensure components match their (ethical) values?

@Techaltar Please ask them to coat their PCBs in the future so the devices doesn't die immediately after a dip in water.

see: https://actnano.com/pcba/
https://youtube.com/watch?v=nO8mAjW4Xxg

With them now using screws they could also try using o-rings on the front and back to better seal their devices.

@Techaltar where's the source code for the Fairbuds / Fairbuds XL so that the community can make them into a product that will last?

The hardware is nice, but the firmware makes them... suck as a product.

@Techaltar they chose an industry SoC/IOT chip for Fairphone 5. What changed so they could use a "regular" smartphone chip for v6? Did Qualcomm commit to 7 Android version upgrades?

@Techaltar do they consider launching mid or low range phones?
I guess a whole lot of people do want to spend 500€+ on a phone, but still value sustainability and repairability.

@Techaltar firstly, thank you! Awesome products, company and concept. Secondly, what options have you considered to accelerate ethical electronics adoption? Partnerships with the likes of Framework? Different form factor phones? Other devices? Raspberry Pi equivalent?

@Techaltar
I second the question about details on the tradeoffs that lead to them removing USB 3 and DP this time around and would maybe also include the considerations around continuing to not have a headphone jack in that.

Another question: as far as im aware neither the FP5 nor FP6 have any dedicated seals. How do they archive the IP55 rating? Just really tight tolerances and surface tension?

Relatedly: now that the back is screwed on, do they aim to move towards better ingress protection, perhaps adding compression gaskets?

Lastly: Up until the FP6 every Fairphone since the FP2 has had a transparent back, either exclusively or as an option. Why end that tradition?

@Techaltar did they consider to release as open source their custom software components, like camera app and launcher?

@Techaltar Why aren't they including an headphone jack 😭

@Techaltar if you have space for simpler/sillier questions, id be curious to hear them talk about strange or far-out-there phone form factors that theyve seen from other manufacturers they think are cool or interesting

@Techaltar
Have they considered making small screen size phones? I would buy

@Techaltar How do they measure battery life?

https://social.linux.pizza/@Jonas/114858509248825836

@Techaltar

They make great hardware. From software side, many do not see Android as sustainable platform with openness and trust for the future, as it's closing down more and more
Do they have more support for the mainline Linux on the radar? Smartphones lack PC-like operating system compatibility across models and system modularity.

Cool sustainability-first projects benefitting from better mainline Linux support:
https://citronics.eu/
https://postmartketos.org
https://plasma-mobile.org/

@Techaltar Would they consider trying to achieve the requirements of GrapheneOS phones: https://grapheneos.org/faq#future-devices

I understand that the requirements are (in part) tough; on the other hand, as I understand, they are well-reasoned.

@Techaltar what can they share about the digital privacy considerations taken with their Android implementation?

@Techaltar Good afternoon, a question that liked to answer was because they do not use more powerful processors to increase the fluidity of their devices in the long term, I know it is by final cost, but they are already expensive, a little more would not be a problem in my point of view.

@Techaltar I'd love to know if they have any plans of shipping a version of their phone that runs mainline Linux (like postmarketOS), kind of like how Framework ships Windows & Linux versions!

@Techaltar do they consider achieving sizable market share a goal, within the interest in sustainability and consumer protection, or do they want just enough to push the industry?
How do they compare themselves to Framework?
Will we ever have a repaired flagship-level phone? Why or why not?

@Techaltar
Exactly how much would wiring up all the usb 3, DisplayPort, etc usb c traces on the pcb from the chip to the port have cost?