Can we not require physical, electromechanical switches (like an old-fashioned light switch) for each of the following: camera, mic, cell/LTE, gps, bluetooth, wifi?

Each should have their own switch, otherwise they will group them all into one "privacy mode" switch that also includes something you basically can't live without. Like the keyboard doesn't work in privacy mode or something. Plus, I'd like to be able to leave some of these off by default, only switching them on when I want to use that feature.

I imagine a company good at design (e.g. Apple) could make these small, elegant and easy to use.

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hackernewds 8 months ago | parent [-]

That would make too much sense and cost profits, sir.

This is a capitalism.

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Nifty3929 7 months ago | parent [-]

I would pay a lot more for a phone with these switches. But you're probably right - there aren't enough of us to build a product around.

If there are any independent phone makers listening - I would switch from iPhone to Android if it had switches like these.

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fragmede 7 months ago | parent [-]

Pinephone has em.

https://pine64.org/documentation/PinePhone/Privacy_switches/

	▲	Nifty3929 7 months ago \| parent [-]
		Wow, that's really awesome! I might buy one just to fool around with it. I looked at pictures of the phone in their store, and cannot see the same switches as are shown on the page you linked to. I'll assume they're under the back cover or something. I hope at some point they'll move these to a quickly-accessible location on the outside. I'll leave them some feedback to that effect as well.