this post was submitted on 18 Jun 2026
106 points (91.4% liked)

Technology

85539 readers
3651 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.


Our Rules


  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related news or articles.
  3. Be excellent to each other!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
  10. Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.

Approved Bots


founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
 

The manufacturer explicitly positions the device as a response to constant availability and what it considers problematic mechanisms of modern smartphone platforms. In conversation with heise, Commodore CEO Peri Fractic describes the Callback 8020 as a “not stupid dumbphone” for people who want to spend less time scrolling and more time in the real world. It is envisioned as a secondary device for staying reachable without being constantly exposed to the temptations of a smartphone with its notifications, apps, and games. The decision was influenced by his young daughter and his own behavior: “I was addicted to my smartphone,” says Prei Fractic.

Fantastic. We need more people like that.

all 40 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] appauled@sh.itjust.works 7 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Let's not forget that it's $500 because they can't continually profit off your personal information being harvested from the software.

Is it expensive for the hardware? Yeah Is it expensive for an android compatible device with zero telemetry? Not entirely

[–] P1nkman@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago

Stop trying to make a reasonable justification. I can only get so hard.

[–] chris@l.roofo.cc 3 points 7 hours ago

Not even 5G? I don't want it for the higher speed but for the network coverage. This phone is truly pay more for less.

[–] Summzashi@lemmy.world 3 points 8 hours ago

I feel like this is the first time I've seen a product being blatantly advertised on Lemmy.

[–] WhatsHerBucket@lemmy.world 42 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Great idea, but the price tag ($500) isn’t so great.

[–] MolochHorridus@piefed.social 23 points 17 hours ago

All I want is a small, cheap phone with a good camera, ability to listen to audiobooks and podcasts and be able to check things from the web. Things like Wikipedia, bus schedules and other text heavy things.

This is not cheap and can’t browse the web so it’s just not worth it.

[–] FuyuhikoDate@feddit.org 18 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

A "dumb Phone" more expensive than a "entry smartphone" which I can cut doen to minimal needs is not a good idea.

[–] coolmojo@lemmy.world 5 points 13 hours ago

A dump phone with WhatsApp preinstalled.

[–] lime@feddit.nu 18 points 18 hours ago

i read "the touch screen turns on in approved apps" and noped the hell out. this is a sailfish phone with proprietary tracking code and arbitrary undisclosed limitations. get an old xperia and install sailfish on that if you want the experience.

[–] jobbies@lemmy.zip 15 points 18 hours ago (3 children)

Oh, you'll love this. Peri Fractic isn't even his name. Its like some gamer handle that he's permanently adopted cos it sounds international or something.

Was pretty excited about this phone but realised they haven't actually said what specifically is and isn't blocked, and if thats configurable. I'm not shelling out that coin for very little details. That, weird-name CEO and the AI-generaged promo mateterial doesnt really inspire confidence.

[–] Babalugats@feddit.uk 9 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

From HERE

What does Fractic mean?

Back in school, a gifted kid told me to memorise "Chrisostomatico-perifractic-habitanamala-culacatescia-bobblers" as my new name, meaning "a man who is coated in gold". This nickname stuck and led to others being named similarly, like Ladyfractic and Puppyfractic.

[–] jobbies@lemmy.zip 11 points 15 hours ago

Oh god. Sounds like Elon.

[–] BassTurd@lemmy.world 6 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

I want a hybrid between what this is reported to be, and a smart phone. Give me my browser and apps, in a basic flip phone that don't capture and sell my personal info. I'm an adult, I can make my own choices in my device, I don't need someone else to police me.

[–] jobbies@lemmy.zip 3 points 15 hours ago

I can make my own choices in my device, I don't need someone else to police me.

Exact same. Perhaps its not for us - maybe they're targeting parents who want a safe(er) phone for their kids.

[–] Mihies@programming.dev -1 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

We all know that Peri Fractic isn't his name. We also know that an online article from whatever website isn't selling the phone, but Commodore is.

[–] Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org 6 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (1 children)

but Commodore is.

Commodore isn't. They don't exist. Commodore is nothing further than a name out of history.

Somebody is trying right now at the moment to revive it. Then maybe something will exist again.

[–] Mihies@programming.dev 1 points 17 hours ago (2 children)

Somebody has bought all Commodore's intellectual property and the company's name is "Commodore International Corporation." So I'd say it's pretty much safe to say that Commodore is selling it. 🤷

[–] KingKong33@lemmy.ml 1 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

That's like me murdering you and wearing your skin, and when people say "that's not Mihies" someone replies "of course it is, it's got his face and everything!"

[–] Mihies@programming.dev 1 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Awesome, I'm alive while dead then :) But seriously, how do you call the company that is named Commodore then? Is it exact same company? No. Is it a successor? Um, yes. Is it named Commodore? Yes.

[–] KingKong33@lemmy.ml 1 points 9 hours ago

Nu Commodore? Commodore 2.0? The Commodore meat-puppet?

[–] Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org 1 points 12 hours ago

You are right from a certain point of view. But a different point of view is more helpful to understand the issue here.

[–] Nytefyre@piefed.social 3 points 18 hours ago

I like the idea on paper but why do they have to go make it look like an expensive child's toy?

[–] Babalugats@feddit.uk 2 points 16 hours ago

The Callback 8020 is set to be released in five variants. The BASIC Beige, ProtoPET White, and SX Silver models will each cost €499.99. Commodore is charging €549.99 for the transparent Starlight Edition. The Founders Edition, with a gold-plated “C=" key and gold-colored casing, will be offered for €640.

They are a lovely looking phone, but I'm sure that they must be targeting a niche section of the market.

There are definitely people that are pretentious enough to spend an extra €140 on an already expensive phone, so that they can have the gold plated "C=" on the front of the phone. I guess I know who they are targeting with these, and I'm glad I'm not one of them.

[–] twinnie@feddit.uk 3 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Why wouldn’t you just get an old Nokia for like £10? We see loads of these, they get released a you never hear from them again. You may like the idea but for most people you need stuff like a browser sometimes because it’s pretty much necessary in modern society.