A few moments ago you we've talked from the PinePhone, a PINE64 in-house phone that will use a mobile variant of KDE Plasma and will begin reaching developers later this month. The one that will also be available this month, more specifically its first shipment, will be the By 5 from Purims, another phone with a Linux operating system that, in this case, focuses on security and privacy.
Like the PinePhone, the Librem 5 will be a phone that will run free and open source software, but it will also include functions that include a kind of "switches" to completely disable components such as WiFi, camera or microphone. It has been in development for two years and Purism already Has revealed that the first units will arrive on September 24 in the "Aspen Lot". And the Librem 5 is going to be launched gradually in different batches, dates and with slightly different specifications.
The different lots of Librem 5
Purism will be releasing its Librem 5 with PureOS operating system in the following batches / versions with wood / plant names:
- Aspen: September 24.
- Birch: October 29.
- Chestnut: December 3.
- Dogwood: January 7.
- Evergreen: second quarter of 2020.
- The Fir: fourth quarter of 2020.
The differences between the lots are not only in the arrival dates, but in the design / manufacture and operating system included default. The Aspen bundle will arrive with the initial software, with basic applications for managing contacts, basic navigation, battery management at an early stage and updates via terminal. The design will also improve over time, until the Fir batch will use Long Term Support software, with better finish and a 14nm CPU. To be fair and to say it all, the LTS version is also coming to the Evergreen batch.
Considering this of the batches, maybe it's not a bad idea to wait at least until the second quarter of 2020 and buy a Librem 5 from the Evergreen lot, knowing that in about six months there will be another model with an improved processor. In any case, from this month the secure Purism phone will be available.
I hope this project goes forward, but without the basic android programs, I don't think it has much of a future. And I emphasize, hopefully go forward.
It is not a device for the masses, those who supported and contributed to the project already knew that from the beginning. It makes no sense to say that it does not have much of a future when it has been said (and it is obvious) that it is not for everyone.