With age verification and non-FOSS elements sneaking into mainstream Linux distros, I think it would make a lot of sense to turn BraxOS into its own Linux distro with integrated AOSP emulator. Base it on Devuan or a similar systemd free distro and run a de-googled Android subsystem. I think this would make BraxOS truly unique and a very attractive option for privacy minded people. Imagine needing only a single OS and being able to switch between Linux and Android mode without needing to reboot.
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Guys, could you please stop the politics discussion here? This is just annoying and not even closely relevant to anyone outside the US.
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There isnât much of a reason to really come here to discuss anything until some actual progress is made, so off topic or semi relevant topics will inevitably continue. You are basically just waiting for certifications, tests, and validations which is going to take a while and not really bring any new news aside from potential delays. It will probably get renamed and a new thread put in for the actual shipping period if nothing else than to keep momentum. 470 replies before shipping is already an essay and almost breaching BraX3âs longest thread.
Besides, like it or not, privacy phones and other devices are made almost solely due to politics and its effects on devices, software, etc⌠The people buying them are also going to be heavily in that side of things as well, otherwise they would just buy a normal device. You are never really going to be able to separate the two. Especially for the consumer base. You are just going to scream at the clouds if you try. Just ignoring will do you better than groundhog daying the same response over and over.
Nothing really is going to happen anytime soon, so I am likely just going to leave the forum side be for a few months unless I get a response from the team about the other thread I made. Usually there is automated emails informing you of that anyways. Not really sure what you think there is left to discuss, but have fun for now.
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I have a question, I understand (and am over the moon about) the switches that physically turn off those features, but the tablet is said to support cellular modems in the nvme slot, will there be a way to physically turn that off? If not now then what about in future models. What about adding a switch that turns off data transfer through the USB c, display port, HDMI, and USB A ports, so that you could plug it into for example a airport charging port, without worries of getting a virus (power would be able to transfer through tho, just no data) yet again for the future, although I deff wouldnât complain if that was added to this model, and also what about more high end (as in processing power) models for the future (as in could compete with like Iphone pro models or s26 ultra or google pixel pro xl, ext)
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Itâs really up to Ubuntu to be honest. Mainline linux kernel will be supported, so any Linux distro will be a possibility on open_slate. Basically giving more options if Ubuntu doesnât live up to the promise of privacy.
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Regardless of whether we add an integrated 5G modem or not, The 5G modem supported on the M.2 slot is a modular upgrade. If you slot one in, it will work. If not, it wonât. The slot will be easily accessible via a screwdriver, so that will be the physical control over it sorted out.
The restriction on USB ports is done on a software level. By default, file transfer is not enabled on Android distros. It needs to be enabled manually by the user.
Hi community, weâve created a new destination where you can find more granular updates for the open_slate project: Brax Roadmap
FWIW, the destination will be used to track progress of other projects as well. Cheers
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I am quite curious given how difficult hardware companiesâ success has been, how exactly is brax able to bring the open slate to market.
Given the BraX3âs similarity to your typical budget Chinese phones, the over $2 million fundraising seems feasible. Get a decent existing hardware set that you can design good software around that should not have sketchy firmware and drivers and you are good to go.
But this seems to be a design more or less from the ground up that may borrow designs from other products. I guess given only $1 million, how exactly does that break down from a business point of view? Especially with different screens etcâŚ
Maybe it is a bit sensitive to pry too much, and it is not like I am rich enough to try something like this myself, but it just seems like you need a lot more money to launch something like this, but you guys seem to manage fine from the looks of the BraX3. Especially with all the chip shortages. Maybe some money got left over from there, and I understand, especially now, the Chinese are quite desperate for business, so that will naturally decrease prices on the labor side, though tariffs might cancel or raise that side of things. But just the components alone seem like they would cost a bit. Especially for custom stuff like hardware switches. And it is not like you would do the specific number for backers. It would probably be 1,300 ordered minimum.
So how exactly does one go about accomplishing this? Especially with a limited budget. Like wages, software, hardware, profits, and the like. Sort of like a step by step explanation of how you guys can even accomplish this. I know a lot of stuff has not gone to the physical side, maybe that can wait until later, but I guess the feasibility is something I am quite curious about.
I can share more on that.
Tablets are generally much easier to develop from scratch than phones. The main reason is that the form factor is more forgiving - you have way more space to pack components in, than you have with a phone. That drops costs significantly.
Having said that, you canât launch a project like open_slate with just 1M$. You need more.
Our indiegogo campaigns are now exactly crowdfunding, from the point of view of raising the needed funds to pay off the batch fully. We use IndieGoGo to validate demand for a product. At this stage, weâre looking for product feedback, conversion rate (% wise) rather than trying to fully fund the production batch.
Weâre taking risks based on our estimate of future sales with open_slate. There were much more safer alternatives in terms of MOQs, R&D costs, price per unit available but weâre happy to take the risk for a project that is receiving this much appreciation and demand (before we start promoting it outside our community).
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Which I suppose circles us back around to why the majority of Linux devices like phones and tablets have been rooted Pixels or something similar. And the few out there that are original designs are/were quite pricey.
If there were an option for IPS + 16GB or 32GB RAM, I would buy that.
I would never buy OLED due to the eye strain caused by PWM. My current Android has OLED and I feel like Iâm going blind looking at it, whereas my ancient IPS iPhone gives no problem at all.
I think there is a misconception that manufacturers have that, from a health perspective, âone screen is like any otherâ but this isnât true. Itâs analogous to the false belief that one keyboard is like any other.
I am curious what the long-term plan is with the tablet and phone. Are these just one-off projects or will there be new versions coming down the line? @plamen
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We have quite a few new projects in the pipeline (project meaning a new kind of device, with different use cases). Whether there are iterations of a project (e.g. open_slate 2, 3, 4, etc.) really depends on adoption and demand.
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Adoption will pretty much be attached to the âexecutionâ to deliver the capabilities that the slate will provide with choice on how to do it. What I mean by that is, making it certified to run multiple Linux OSes, and Android variations (BraxOS is there), and also providing the option for dual boot or multiboot to load any OS you like, and a Linux distro that supports android emulation so some users can have the best of both worlds in a single place. My point is CHOICES, if you deliver all these choices on top of this slate the adoption rate will be much higher. You have a good price point, now focus on what will run on this device and all the flexibility it can provide.
Example, from factory you can have the choice of having BraxOS or Ubuntu (where you can enable android emulation), then create a series of manuals, documentation that explains how to easily create all other scenarios with other Linux OSes and Android variations.
Does this sounds fair?
Regarding the âpenâ stylest pencil thing.
do I need to buy the pen now to get one that works?
Will it work with others on the market?
What about a âmouseâ if I have it connected to a secondary screen and want to use it like a laptop for work?
yes, it will.
Yes, you can.
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this just keeps getting better. The fall can come soon enough. God bless you guys
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Any update on the wattage for the slate? I want to buy a 3rd party charger for it but need to know the wattage needed. if not now, when will you know and how will you advise us backers on this?
Thatâs listed in the specs at the top:
Charging speed 33 W fast charging (15 V / 2.2 A)
i donât understand Wattage is not about speed. but basically you are saying i need a charger that is at least 33W, is that right?
Yes, the charger should support at least 33W and 15V. You might still want to wait a little, as they might do some changes to the battery and the charging protocol is still unknown.