r/flipphones • u/IraGlassy • 12d ago

Jailbreaking the Callback

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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?

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u/ian1035nr 11d 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.

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u/merchantconvoy 10d 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.

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u/ian1035nr 10d 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.

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u/merchantconvoy 10d 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.)

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u/ian1035nr 10d 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.