You know what would be good for security:

Having physical disconnect switches (Bluetooth/Wifi, Modem, Power, Microphone/Speaker), and integrated lens cover like Lenovo laptops (at least for the front camera whereas a case can cover the rear cameras).

On a side-note:

Triple active SIM would be amazing, but one can dream. I would love to have a phone that has an active AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon SIM at the same time.

▲ dotancohen 12 hours ago | parent | next [-]

  > You know what would be good for security: Having physical disconnect switches

Wouldn't those become failure points? Anything mechanical will not only wear, but will be affected by dust, dirt, sand, dead skin cells, body oils, etc.

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mmooss 11 hours ago | parent [-]

It depends on how durable they make the switches. Lightswitches, for example, tend to be durable.

	▲	dotancohen 10 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Light switches do not go with hundreds of thousands of people to the beach, the desert, left in hot cars, rained on, sat on, dropped, pressed against sweaty facts, etc.
	▲	yehoshuapw 10 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		the smaller something of that type is, the harder to make it durable (I think)

▲ adrianwaj 14 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Also a disconnect switch for the telco signal. Yet in my experience, even when turned off, a phone may send out a signal periodically anyway for tracking / triangulation purposes.

However to avoid that, removal of the battery is required. A disconnect switch for power would do the same?

I think moving to micro-PCs is the answer, and then having an add-on to get a telco-signal. Why trust Motorola? Start at grass roots where possible. Everything needs to be open-source and based on open standards. No trojans, telemetry or remote overrides.

Maybe the product is an adapter case for a Pi that adds a screen, battery, antenna and whatever else is required to make it a smartphone alternative?

Also, looking forward to Mecha Comet.

▲ rationalist 13 hours ago | parent | next [-]

> switch for the telco signal

Sorry, that's what I meant when I said Modem.

> A disconnect switch for power would do the same?

I would think so. I don't necessarily care about removable batteries because I use a portable power bank. Why carry an extra battery that only works for one device, when I can carry a "battery" that works for many devices?

▲ lejalv 10 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I wholeheartedly concur (see also: Linux phones), but what about device attestation requiring iOS or Google Play Integrity? That's my main worry, as age verification seems poised to making us dependent on those.

Example: the EU Digital Identity (EUDI) wallet, discussed in multiple GH issues e.g. https://github.com/eu-digital-identity-wallet/av-doc-technic...

▲ staplers 13 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

  I think moving to micro-PCs is the answer

Would be shocked if hardware is affordable enough for such a thing in a decade

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adrianwaj 13 hours ago | parent [-]

This is the most cost-effective mini PC right now, that I've found. Also, one of the smallest.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005575993915.html

I'm not so fond of it because it has a fan. But if you could use it at home, and then had a "phone conversion housing" you could attach it to a belt and have a smartphone. Run wired earbuds out it. Have a trackpoint nub.

Here is a $15 screen. https://medium.com/@lee.harding/building-a-real-time-hn-disp...

There's something elegant about only requiring 1 computing device for everything. Even put it in the car!

It's what Steve Jobs would want.

	▲	scheme271 10 hours ago \| parent [-]
		The power draw looks like it's at least 4W with a max of maybe 45W. That's maybe 7 hr with a 10000 mAh battery assuming it's sleeping the entire time and not really doing anything. Not very practical for people used to a small phone lasting all day without a charge.

▲ Aachen 6 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Just get a SIM from another country and use roam like at home. I can use any network here as though it's my home network.

The provider isn't required to support this (they can give me 2 weeks' notice any time) but I use very little of my subscription (the smallest one they have) so I assume they're happy with the deal and don't have to pay the roaming carriers much

▲ zikduruqe 6 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> I would love to have a phone that has an active AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon SIM at the same time.

If you are not aware, US Mobile offers a Super Carrier package that one account can use all three. https://www.usmobile.com/networks

I don't use them, only read about it on r/nocontract.

▲ NewJazz 12 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Triple active SIM would be amazing, but one can dream. I would love to have a phone that has an active AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon SIM at the same time.

You can fit several esims on one of these adapters AIUI.

https://jmp.chat/esim-adapter

	▲	tensegrist 10 hours ago \| parent [-]
		i'm surprised this works, in the sense that there aren't tons of technical safeguards and/or lawsuits getting in the way of someone doing this

▲ Scrounger 14 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Google Fi will auto-switch between AT&T and T-Mobile but not Verizon, AFAIK.

	▲	mjg59 14 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Fi launched with Sprint and T-Mobile roaming and added US Cellular, but is presently T-Mobile only. I don't think AT&T has ever been a supporter carrier.

▲ gf000 12 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

That's just security theater. If you can't trust the very CPU/OS that it only uses the camera/microphone when the notification is on, then what are you even doing with that device?

▲ duskdozer 11 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Removable battery

▲ ForHackernews 8 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

They are not a major OEM, but the Hiroh phone is going to offer hardware cutoff switches and and a de-googled OS: https://www.notebookcheck.net/Murena-taking-pre-orders-for-t...