[Tinkerphones] [Gta04-owner] Problems seem to repeat...

[Andreas Kemnade]

Hi,

On Sat, 7 Dec 2019 12:47:23 +0100
"H. Nikolaus Schaller" <hns at goldelico.com> wrote:

> > Am 07.12.2019 um 12:12 schrieb Andreas Kemnade <andreas at kemnade.info>:
> > 
> > Hi,
> > 
> > On Sat, 7 Dec 2019 08:37:23 +0100
> > "H. Nikolaus Schaller" <hns at goldelico.com> wrote:
> >   
> >> I just came across:
> >> 
> >> https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68/micro-desktop/updates/measurements-and-a-hypothesis
> >> 
> >> So they also ran into unexpected solder bridges which must be X-Rayed. This
> >> sounds very very familiar to me...
> >> 
> >> With our experiences collected in the GTA04 project many years ago, I think it
> >> is easy to fix - if you have enough money or can borrow money to make some
> >> costly experiments with the production line setup.
> >> 
> >> But borrowing money requires a business model which promises future revenues.
> >> 
> >> Without money it needs a lot of creativity and time to replace the missing money.
> >>   
> > or buy the technically demanding parts ready made and use things like som boards. Today
> > the LogicPD torpedo stuff would be interesting to build something like the gta04.
> > DM3730 + PMIC.
> > But if you have size restrictions things are getting difficult. And probably 
> > the product will be more expensive.  
> 
> Right. The LogicPD is 15 x 27 x 3.8 mm
> 
> There was also a DM3730 + PMIC + RAM module from a company called JorJin. I think I still
> have some samples collecting dust. But it was still too thick for the GTA04 project
> where we only have 2 mm between PCB and battery.
> 
> And of course such modules are costly.
> 
> But if I would design a new device including case, I'd try such an approach. Maybe around
> some tiny i.MX8 module or if lower performance suffices, around the OSD3358 SoM.
> 
> >   
> >> Which leads to delay and delay and finally the product is working but obsolete
> >> and only the brave initial sponsors remain. So there is nobody following up the
> >> initial funding round.
> >> 
> >> The rule of thumb in consumer electronics is that there must be a successor
> >> product (at least an upgraded version) every 1-2 years.
> >> 
> >> Let's see if Librem 5 can build up a sustainable business (unfortunately I have
> >> difficulties to believe).
> >>   
> > Yes, interesting question. Same question about PinePhone. 
> > The latter one has a lower price at the moment.  
> 
> Indeed. I didn't mention it since a lower price has a better chance of building a
> demand - but profitability and therefore being able to sustain, is a completely
> different question.
> 
I wonder whether these low prices are a seeding process and are higher later.
Then it might lead to sustainability.

What I really wonder is if the key to success would be ta have a really different
system on these devices, where the advantages of having an open system pay out.
So not just having Replicant (but as an option), but maybe implement some of the
ideas presented by Neal H. Walfield:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pPCvdnneTs
http://plato.walfield.org/walfield-ohsw-2013-a-spying-resistent-system.pdf

So it is not: Similar to android but not so mature.

Regards,
Andreas
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