Mastodawn

David Llewellyn-Jones Feb 1

Here's my first impression of the Jolla Phone appearance models: https://forum.sailfishos.org/t/my-first-impression-of-the-jolla-phone-appearance-models/27272

#nextgenJollaphone #Jolla #SailfishOS #JollaC2

My first impression of the Jolla Phone appearance models

Warning: this is a lengthy post. I can be quiet and reserved until you ask me to talk about something that I’m passionate about, then I can talk (write) for days. This is one of those wordy occasions. TL;DR - overall 8.5/10 for the size, weight, materials, feel in hand, ergonomics, looks, etc. (May bump it up to a 9 when weight is finalized with a functioning proto, more details below.) Just the external stuff. It’s not perfect, but I like it very much! Preface: a few of you may know me, but m...

Sailfish OS Forum

Carol Chen Jan 20

@laubblaeser FYI ^

@cybette as a fellow small handed person I thank you. 🙇

Carol Chen Jan 20

@mariusor you're welcome, glad to be of service!

@cybette You're almost tempting me!

Carol Chen Jan 20

@occirol I fell into the temptation myself! I tried to stay away but kept being drawn into the forum discussions etc. 😆

@cybette 🤭 It's too bad I'm too dependant on all kind of apps that would only work on SFOS with the Android Layer (and requiring Google Play Services).

@occirol @cybette maybe you can use MiceoG then ? "It allows applications calling proprietary Google APIs to run on AOSP-based ROM"
https://github.com/microg/GmsCore/wiki

Home

Free implementation of Play Services. Contribute to microg/GmsCore development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHub

Carol Chen Jan 20

@jmoupah @occirol

yeah I was also going to mention MicroG, but since I've not used it myself I can't recommend it. I've heard good things about it however.

Kristoffer Lawson Jan 21

@cybette @jmoupah @occirol microG for me has allowed a number of things to work. Though it can be a bit finicky sometimes to set up, for whatever reason.

Having said that, my Jeep app has never managed to log in. No idea why (and if it is even related to Sailfish, but I am logged in on an iPhone).

@Setok @cybette @jmoupah Yes, my main issue is that I’ve probably a few (pro) apps that will behave like this and I can’t not use them or use an alternative…

@cybette #SailfishOS #linuxphones #phone #jolla #degoogle

Thank you for taking the time to make this post. Give a lot of more clarity to it's appearance than their short video.

Carol Chen Jan 20

@Muppensish you're welcome! I considered what I would like to know about the appearance as a potential user myself, maybe it won't cover everyone's questions, but at least provide another point of view. I'm glad that it gave you some clarity!

@cybette
Thanks a lot for this post! I still think it's a little bit big xD i still love the size of a N9 a lot... But you are right, all is now sized up and the web wouldn't be nice on such a small screen 😢

Carol Chen Jan 20

@scops I agree, I think it's still big, and I wish it was just a tad smaller (not 5" but 6" would be very nice). In addition to apps and web content demanding larger screens now, sourcing for parts like screen protector can also be a problem. Like I said, I was apprehensive, especially after C2, but this honestly feels good in the hand, and I was pretend-swiping left & right and it didn't threaten to fall out of my hand (caveat about the weight issue, but the matte plastic back plays a part too)

Carol Chen Jan 20

@scops oh and I miss the N9 size as well! It was perfect, for its time. I still power it up and play with it ever so often. <3

@cybette
Me too

@cybette
I have a ayaneo pocket ace with a 3:2 4.5" screen. This (or something like this) on a phone would be great imho. And with a screen used in for example a gaming handheld there would be also a source for example screen protectors, hehe...
As for SFOS, QuasarMX feels really nice to use on this screen size/ratio.

In terms of screen (and keyboard) the Clicks Communicator looks much nicer to me then the new jolla phone... but yeah, such a concept (or for example something like the pro1) is just too niche :/

Carol Chen Jan 20

@scops yeah you're right, there can be other sources for parts, and I really like the clicks communicator form factor / size as well! But I think Jolla needs a device right now that can make the majority of the community "happy enough", and at the same time attract new users coming from the "regular" Android devices to try a different OS. It's challenging enough promoting a niche OS, and to do it with niche HW that'll be daunting. Hopefully as the user base grow they can provide more options!

Kristoffer Lawson Jan 21

@cybette @scops I agree that 6” would probably be the sweet spot. I carry an iPhone 13 Mini, which is great, but wouldn’t mind slightly bigger as well.

Carol Chen Jan 21

yeah even apple discontinued the iPhone mini line.

I really liked the Asus Zenfone 8-10 "compact flagships" at 5.9". Too bad they gave that up and went super big 6.78" for Zenfone 11.

Is it really a lack of demand? So many people I've talked to (both online and in person) seem to prefer smaller phones 🤷

Kristoffer Lawson Jan 22

@cybette @scops just for the record, I’m fine with the iPhone 13 mini size. But I’d also be OK with something slightly bigger. But Apple’s latest phones tend to all be too big for my tastes. When I got the Mini I tried a 13 Pro and it didn’t neatly fit my pocket and use was awkward. Current batch are even bigger.

Kristoffer Lawson Jan 22

@cybette @scops I think part of the reason is that the smaller phones are always presented as ‘crappier’ versions of another phone. Rather than a neat, cool device of its own. Which could even have a slightly different UI made possible by one hand use and more compact size.

Carol Chen Jan 22

yeah possibly. also bigger devices are called "Max", "Pro", or "Plus" implying they are better, so even the base models can seem inferior, which makes the "mini" and "compact" versions even more unattractive (perception).

Naming is hard, but this kind of bias can probably be avoided. Then again most companies probably want to be able to command a higher price with monikers like "Pro", instead of a boring iPhone 13 155mm vs iPhone 13 137mm 😆

Kristoffer Lawson Jan 22

@cybette @scops yeah, consider if the names were:

iPhone 13 Sleek or iPhone 13 Fit
and
iPhone 13 Fat

Carol Chen Jan 22

@Setok @scops hahha good one! I'll be going for the Sleek for sure!

Kristoffer Lawson Jan 22

@cybette @scops honestly, if Apple came out with iPhone 17 Sleek right now, I might even be tempted to pay a bit more than for the iPhone 17 Regular. Just sounds cooler :) Could do all kinds of nice branding around. And special Sleek versions of apps.

Of course there is the Air, but that is a lot more expensive and also kind of optimises the wrong thing (I don't personally need more thinness! It's actually bigger than the regular).

@Setok @cybette @scops
Smaller phones means less space to fit components. Smaller battery means either shorter usage time or lower-power components. Both result in a more "crappier" phone. Then there's the thermal dissipation issue. Smaller volumetric space heats faster and smaller surface area, which gets covered relatively more by user's hands, dissipates it slower. This means the phone needs to run slower, hence "crappier".

@Setok @cybette @scops
I used to own the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact - absolutely lovely 4.6" screen. It had the same specifications as the non-compact model: same CPU, same clock frequency, same RAM, just smaller.
Unfortunately it frequently suffered from overheating. So much so that if you put it screen-downs on a table, it couldn't cool itself enough, causing the screen to crack. This happened to my Z5 Compact and it wasn't even charging at the time.

Kristoffer Lawson Jan 22

@karttu @cybette @scops I realise those matters, but we are talking more about how the device is positioned and marketed, rather than specific technical specs.

Though in terms of those specs, the 13 Mini had all the specs I needed at that time. It's still mostly up to the job, actually, though battery is showing its age.

Tero Ykspetäjä Jan 22

@Setok @cybette @scops Air is taller and wider, but IMO is an exceptional piece of design and engineering, in how it actually feels smaller in your hand and, deceptively, much lighter than it actually is.

Weirdly, Apple seems to do almost no marketing for it, so I guess we’ll never know if that type of a phone actually had an audience.

Riku Voipio Jan 22

@cybette @Setok @scops The problem is all the Mobile makers do market research, figure out the most popular mobile phones size, and then proceed to target just the biggest market.

@suihkulokki @cybette @Setok the question is, why people want such big slaps... b/c for example even men have problems with their pockets and such sizes above 6". And women pockets are smaller.
My theory is, that many people only have one device and a small display ist nice if you make for example your whole shopping, paper work,... on it.

Carol Chen Jan 23

@scops @suihkulokki @Setok

there was a period of time in the early 2000s when phone sizes were trending small, as compact and lightweight as possible. that was when the original Razrs were popular. There was also the Nokia lipstick phone, but it didn't look very usable (I didn't own one). Still, they were cool! 😎 And marketed as such.

Since 2010 it has only gotten bigger, and everything is a slab. It's true that nowadays we do way more stuff on the phone than before, so the bigger size helps.

Carol Chen Jan 23

@scops @suihkulokki @Setok

i'd like to see manufacturers experiment with form factors more. Flip phones have great potential to be compact & still offer functional screen space when you flip it open. The new Clicks Communicator looks amazing with 4" display + physical keyboard (usually the virtual kb takes up half the screen anyway)

the market also needs to respond, otherwise those will go away like the mini. I aim to get a non-slab phone, maybe one of the above, when I refresh my work phone.

Mauricio Teixeira🐧

@mmeier FYI ^^

@cybette Ah, now I read your article in the Sailfish forum. So, thank you for this insight! 😀

Carol Chen Jan 21

@mojojo you're welcome! now I'm really excited about the J2, but I also wonder what this means for the support of 10 IV/V devices since I know many in the Community are waiting on that.

@cybette Yes, me too. I have an 10V in my drawer...

Carmen Fdez. B.Jan 21

It's nice to see you again with a Jolla phone ;)
Thank you for sharing your impression of the new Jolla 2, @cybette

Carol Chen Jan 21

@cfb014 you're welcome! it's nice to reconnect :)

@cybette Thanks for your article! I read it fondling my J1 😂

10III is my current device. It's a nice phone, but the aspect ratio took a looong time to get used to. I'm a big boy with big hands, but I still think Xperia X was the sweet spot in terms of size; you can pocket it easily.

I can't wait to get my J2

(...but I will miss the headphone jack 😶 )

Carol Chen Jan 24

@ekari you're welcome! I definitely had a great time fondling the new J2 along with J1, JC, and JC2 😂 😳

yeah one of the reasons I didn't get into the xperia 10 series was the aspect ratio, but hopefully you won't take as long to get used to the J2 ratio, I think it's a pretty nice one!

I used to swear by the 3.5mm jack, but nowadays I have my multipoint BT ANC cans on for hours a day. when I had wired ones I'd constantly forget they're connected and yank my laptop when getting up etc.

@cybette Yes, the eternal battle between yank and dead battery, where's the other one, and where did I drop it 😂

Carol Chen Jan 25

@ekari that sounds like my typical day 😆 😳

@cybette ...sorry for the noise, but I just ran into this relevant image 🤡

Carol Chen Feb 8

@ekari hahah yeah the love messages from our gadgets