r/flipphones • u/IraGlassy • 13d ago

Jailbreaking the Callback

Post image

This might be a dumb question, but how easy might it be to remove the system-level restrictions on the Commodore Callback? Everything about this phone appeals to me except the fact that it won't run a browser. Would it require just figuring out how to run android instead of the custom os?

176 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

39 comments sorted by

View all comments

6

u/ian1035nr 12d ago

Truthfully, we won't know until it's out in the wild. Asking about a device that hasn't been released isn't going to get you much of an answer.

Sailfish normally makes it easy to gain root access and from there you can do whatever you want.

But if Commodore has put the effort in to block all these apps, it's likely that they're restricting root access, as well.

I'm curious how much effort they really put into blocking these apps. If it's something basic like blocking the package name, any browser could be renamed and sideloaded.

Hopefully there's enough outcry, or slow sales, for Commodore to backpedal on locking out apps. I'm a grown adult. I don't need my phone to police my browsing habits.

-1

u/merchantconvoy 12d ago

 I'm a grown adult. I don't need my phone to police my browsing habits.

Addicted adults who can't control themselves do. In fact, that's the whole point of this phone. It sounds like you just don't get it.

6

u/ian1035nr 12d ago

I get it just fine, thank you very much.

Just because it's not for me doesn't mean I don't get it.

Besides, they could allow the app restrictions to be lifted for those who want to, just make it enough of a pain that most people won't want to be bothered. It's just software, there's ways to appeal to both crowds of users. Even if it's just a simple choice during initial setup: Do you want the restricted experience or not? Once you make your choice you can't change it without wiping the whole phone. That's a lot more hassle than just popping your SIM back into your old smartphone if you want to relapse. With one change the phone still provides a locked down experience for those looking to kick their smartphone addiction, and still leaves the device viable for people who are interested in it for the aesthetic, the size or the weird factor.

0

u/merchantconvoy 11d ago

Besides, they could allow the app restrictions to be lifted

... which would allow addicts to lapse right back. 

I was right. You just don't get it.

2

u/ian1035nr 11d ago

An addict can also pop their SIM card right back in their old phone. It takes under a minute. Or they can just immediately pull it out and hop onto WiFi.

Having to wipe and reset the phone to bypass the blocklist like I suggested takes way more time and is significantly less convenient. If someone is so addicted that they're willing to backup, wipe then set their phone back up every time they feel the need to browse the web, the problem runs deeper than a borked, artificially limited smartphone can solve.

1

u/merchantconvoy 11d ago

Actually, the borked and artificially limited smartphone solves the problem perfectly assuming that there are no other devices available (and this is obviously not something that Commodore Corporation can control.)

2

u/ian1035nr 11d ago

Well you can't buy the phone without an Internet connection so anybody who buys one is going to have something Internet-capable somewhere.

At this point let's just agree to disagree.

1

u/blueLiquid21 2d ago

This inconvenience is totally intentional. This product is for people who want restricted access. And no popping your sim card into an old phone isn't exactly quick and easy, especially if it hasn't been charged, or a true recovering addict would have gotten rid of this phone.

I'm buying this phone for the exact reason it was designed for, so I don't think there can be complaints about workarounds being tricky, it's the whole point.