Thank you for reserving Clicks Communicator. We owe you an update, and we're happy to give you one.

In January, we committed to showing working prototypes in Q2 and shipping later this year. Both remain on schedule.

Building a new smartphone platform involves a lot of work that happens out of view. Over the last several months, the team across 3 timezones has been heads-down on the kind of foundational engineering that has to happen before the more visible (and exciting) milestones that follow. With that work largely behind us, we’re excited to share and show more in the months ahead.

Here's what's coming next:

• May: We'll begin sharing glimpses into the Communicator experience: the software, the interface, and the decisions that went into making it feel distinctly like a Communicator.
• June: Seeing is believing. We’ll have working units to show, as committed for Q2.
• Q3: Certifications and testing. You'll also be invited to configure your order including your Communicator color and keyboard layout. This is also when you’ll be invited to choose your bonus Covers, including limited edition colors.
• Q4: Production and shipping to reservation holders.

Along the way, we'll share behind-the-scenes content, like the industrial design decisions and details that make Communicator feel intentional, including some of the accessories we’re working on to complement Communicator itself.

I haven't seen any spec updates that mention it, but best I can tell, it is supported on the MT8883 the Communicator will be using.

Anyone read anything or asked support about USB-C video?

Reddit post by Jeff Gadway: https://www.reddit.com/r/ClicksPhone/comments/1rg082s/clicks_communicator_coming_in_azerty_qwertz/

https://www.poweredbymediatek.com/device?search=Clicks

If true this is great. It will have more than enough power for 99% of tasks and will be able to do it all smoothly.

I know us de-googled people are in the minority but if enough of us ask for it maybe they will work with the AOSP projects and get them drivers and all that other stuff I don't understand.

Have been thinking it over for a few weeks and finally decided I wanted to go ahead and get in on the first batch.

Not sure if the receipt number is PII, but better safe than sorry.

It's not nostalgia - I've never had a keyboard phone.

I asked Niagara about that and they replied:

Regarding your question about the Clicks Communicator: it's planned that all devices will come with the Niagara Pro version.

I have the non-pro version installed on my key2 and it is awesome with a keyboard.

You unlock with the spacebar, type the first few letters of the app you wanna start, and press enter

Post about my thoughts on it: https://thelemmy.club/post/43031823

Are we taking bets on if it'll ship by EOY?

cross-posted from: https://thelemmy.club/post/42901975

(if you've read this before, it's because I've started a community for this device and cross-posted it here)

All the other discussions I found on Lemmy dismiss it because they find the idea of a second phone ridiculous. Or because they don't buy into the "dumb phone" concept. But I think it makes a compelling phone on it's own, and you wouldn't need a second.

But really look into it. By every indication it appears designed to be a fully featured main phone. It has some compromises made to fit the keyboard first philosophy, but it has everything you'd need and more. Dual SIM (eSIM+physical), a headphone jack, micro SD Card support, a 50mp camera with OIS (I know megapixels don't mean much but I think it shows it's not gonna be the cheapest crap camera), NFC/Google Pay support, Android Auto, Qi2... That doesn't read "second phone" to me. It's just.... phone.

They have now said that it will have an unlockable bootloader too. I'm not finding much to dislike here. 8GB of RAM is somewhat low but should be fine. The processor is still a question mark but honesty as long as it's not bottom of the barrel it should be perfectly fine. I have always gone for flagship phones but honestly I've started analyzing what I actually do on my phone and I pretty much never push the hardware. I like knowing I have the top of the line but I basically just web browse, message, read email, scroll Lemmy, and listen to music/podcasts. Very occasionally watch some YouTube but that's usually on my TV or PC. No gaming or anything. I should be able to do all of that on this device, some of it won't be as good on that screen obviously but it should still be doable. I need the camera to at least be decent. Not great just not garbage. Like it's fine if the low light performance is meh and the video isn't the best. But I don't want to look at my photos and regret taking it with that device, so we'll see.

I don't want a dumb phone, and I don't think this is one. You should be able to do everything any other phone can. I don't think it's a second phone either. I think they're just leaning into that for marketing reasons, so that when anyone points out the tradeoffs of this form factor they can just wave it away as a secondary device.

It appeals to me because it's a small phone. Seriously nobody makes one worth using. Unihertz sure, if you want a bad software experience with no updates ever. But otherwise you just have the non-plus sized iPhone/Galaxy S. Those are considered small. Or maybe the flip-foldables. It also appeals to me because it has major character and (imo) style. I'm bored of glass and metal sandwiches. Give me this! A plastic device with a swappable back that has a (vegan?) leather option? Hell yeah.