e558— Exploding Bananas

https://gamesatwork.biz/2026/06/22/e558-exploding-bananas/

WELP; Commodore is responding to some of the hot takes to their phone announcement. https://commodore.net/a-price-too-precious

AGAIN, I really do want this phone. I do very much get it's not for everyone. I don't think I am alone. I hope, all the negativity doesn't ruin the phone's launch.

#Commodore #CommodoreCallback #Callback8020

😆

https://youtu.be/D-w_ytsCMb4

#Commodore #CommodoreCallback

If it were up to me, it would look a lot more like the Danger Hiptop with a full querty keyboard, but c'est la vie. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-Mobile_Sidekick

I have a feeling while the software is all new from jolla, custom tooling for mass producing a wholly new physical form factor is expensive as fuck. LET alone designing the electronics within it.

Commodore is likely stuck using tooling and designs they can beg, borrow, license of buy from others till they grow bigger. Their manufacturing partner obviously already has the tooling for this flip phone.

The C64 Ultimate only exists because they got ahold of the original tooling for the cases.

It's going to be a while before they can afford to go "hog wild" in the design department. #CommodoreCallback #Callback #Callback8020 #Commodore

Honestly, trying to position Commodore as a company that produces less-toxic "friendly" technology is refreshing. AND it seems like Peri Fractic is trying to fill a niche that is ACTUALLY desperately needed out in the world.

AND it's kinda sad, more folks are just not open minded about it AND I hope it doesn't ruin my chances to get the phone. #CommodoreCallback #Callback #Callback8020 #Commodore

SO, with all the things I think the phone gets right (at least for me). I've been really startled by how many people in various circles have been really raging at the thing.

LIKE, I get it. The digital minimalism thing is a niche product category. Though, so is the C64 Ultimate?

AND yeah; it's kind of pricey compared to ACTUAL dumb phones. But it's not a dumb phone, and small runs of phones don't have the same economy of scale; and licensing that Android compatibility layer in SailfishOS isn't free. Plus the extra work Jolla has done to customize things has to be paid for. Etc, etc.

BUT it's coming in under a whole lot of other phones in this category.

IVE seen accusations its a scam, that it's just a cheap way of cashing in on the Commodore brand.

Which strikes me as odd as, ive got zero nostalgia for the brand, and it appeals to me? An awful lot of work was put into the software end of this thing, for a cash grab. #CommodoreCallback #Callback #Callback8020 #Commodore

I was meditating quite a bit on the #Commodore Callback flip-phone yesterday.

As someone who has been surfing around for something that stands apart from both Google and Apple's ecosystems, the fact that it's google-less SailfishOS really appeals.

AND being someone who has been working with a therapist, who has encouraged me to unplug more. The whole digital detox thing really appeals.

Also if you look around the minimalist phone market, it's pretty obvious there is a lot of soul searching going on to find the "right middleground". Lightphone comes close, but is still missing a couple of "must haves" for me AND a lot of people, which is why their developing a formalized SDK.

It really reads to me like the Callback has the potential to be a better balance than most of the minimalist-phones; while avoiding google AND it's the first one I think I could really potentially squeeze into my life. #CommodoreCallback #Callback #Callback8020

Love the idea, #Commodore, and would be tempted - but £400? I get its "competitive" with similar ethos phones but I also think they're too expensive for reduced features. <£200? Maybe, if camera is good, I can tether data, and I can remove WhatsApp.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/06/commodores-newest-gadget-is-a-flip-phone-that-blocks-social-media-and-browsers/

#CommodoreCallback #FlipPhone