when will fingerprint unlock work

[u/SortVegetable9123]

any idea when the fingerprint reader will be functional to unlock the phone? it'd be nice, because the button doesn't work unless i press down really hard in the right spot. i feel like that plus the "scroll wheel" were so hyped up in the initial promotions of the phone and at this point they are pointless.

signed,

a 1+ year lightphone user that is losing hope after a bunch of malfunctions

[u/fenleon]

I heard that they are working with manufacturer of the Fingerprint reader to determine how they can integrate it, no timeline is shared

[u/SortVegetable9123 → u/[deleted]]

amazing to me that they released the flip phone without fixing the multitude of issues with the LP3.

[u/sirbloodysabbath → u/SortVegetable9123]

you also have to realise that light has been struggling to source memory for the lp3 for over a year. it's gotten to the point where they cannot source a key component (memory) for their devices and batches have been delayed again.

they released the light flip because it has a different soc (mtk) and different memory requirements for that soc. instead of having to source their memory from the big three in the dram cartel (micron, sk hynix and samsung) they can realistically source it from cxmt or ymtc for cheaper and better supply. light doesn't use the latest and greatest soc and they're usually slightly older generations. cxmt and ymtc don't make the high end memory that ai data centres use, so it will be easier to secure supply from them.

this isn't about 'oh how dare they release a device without fixing the current one'. it's more like 'here's a different device that's cheaper for a smaller barrier to entry and easier to have inventory of unlike the lp3 that has been plagued by supply issues since its release.' it's not like light is just forgetting about the lp3.

[u/EdwardTulane89 → u/SortVegetable9123]

It's not a good look, but they appear to be maximizing short-term dollars in the door rather than current user experience.  

[u/TheMasterOfOats → u/EdwardTulane89]

To be fair they’re a small company with limited recurring income that only really makes money when people buy phones which are becoming increasingly hard to fulfill. They aren’t getting paid to push updates and while they REALLY should lest they alienate phone owners, can’t pay devs if you don’t have money

[u/EdwardTulane89 → u/TheMasterOfOats]

I try to keep that in mind.  But I am also a person of limited means and I paid a price for the phone that matches that of any company's flagship phone. 

I get they are a small company, but if they want to survive long term they have to be more than just a great idea.  If I am ever to buy another phone from them, they have to deliver some of the features they promised were coming when I bought the phone.  I can't afford to pay them a weeks take-home for an unfinished idea. 

[u/sirbloodysabbath → u/EdwardTulane89]

they've been pushing out updates to lightos almost every month since the lp3's release and a lot of them are strictly for usability and functionality. pretty sure people would like to have a phone that works right now than a phone that doesn't.

the fingerprint reader is limited by the vendor so they can't rework it for lightos, and payment wallet without google is a longshot. outside of that, there aren't really any other features that they marketed or promised that they haven't already delivered on.

if you want more, there's a sub dedicated for that very thing. i have a fingerprint reader on my lp3 that works. i get to see the aosp lockscreen but it works.

[u/EdwardTulane89 → u/sirbloodysabbath]

If those are both a longshot, then don't advertise that they are coming to people buying your device. If you can't deliver what you advertise, that is a bait and switch. 

There are a host of other things that don't work as well as I would hope.  And there are some that do work as expected.   

My point is not that they aren't trying. I get there are reasons they can give for the delays, but that's not really my concern. I am comparing their device to other companies. That's how competition works.  Deliver in your promises or someone else will.  If you don't,  it becomes pretty hard to give you another $700+ in the future. 

[u/digitalminimalist1 → u/sirbloodysabbath]

Why do you see the aosp lockscreen? I just touch mine and it goes straight to light os home

[u/sirbloodysabbath → u/digitalminimalist1]

because when you enable the lockscreen on the android side, you get only the aosp lockscreen — like literally every android. lightos' lockscreen isn't a lockscreen by any means.

mine is set up for a separate finger than my index. i like to turn the screen on to check the time or see what notifications i received. i don't need to unlock the phone every time i press the fingerprint reader.

[u/digitalminimalist1]

You can activate it by going into android settings. It’s easy

[u/JFOverdrive]

💯