I love my 2e, but: (i.e. “next time I’d like:”)
A.k.a. responding and building on what others have said:
1: Wireless charging capability.
It’s close to a deal breaker; I have just rearranged my living space and remembered the 2e doesn’t, an it’s a big problem.
Even if it’s via an alternative waterproof case that connects to external contact points, it’s very important to have Qualcomm Quick Charge and qi charge capability.
Not only is there the ability to spend more time on the go and not on charge, but if you’re going to look at sustainability then you must consider the cables; copper, rubber, manufacturing, the finite lifespan of every cable… They simply cannot compete with the option of never having to plug anything in at all.
Remembering that the USB standards include a minimum requirement for breakability because repeated connect/disconnect cycles wear plugs out, this simply cannot be ignored.
2: IR blaster. (@Braindmged)
I like the idea, but it’s not a deal breaker. It could be included as part of that waterproof case. I have two Broadcom Wi-fi to Bluetooth units that I have simply never set up because of the hassle; I’d prefer to just use my phone. Not to mention my mum always losing her TV remote and having digital arthritis; it’d be much better to have a touchscreen phone as a remote instead of the old rubber button setup.
But NEVER make it require use of the USB or headphone socket
3: Warranty/replacability (Merc410)
Perhaps a guarantee that if no replacability parts are offered, a replacement (with proper, environmentally sound resource reclamation of the old device,) will be available. Personally I’m happy.
On the other hand, if sustainability is a value, don’t drop it for/until success. This is a choice between integrity and commercial gain and will alienate a lot of your base. And when you switch back, you’ll alienate the rest.
4: Screen options (gnoodlemeier)
The TC2e is not my primary phone. (For various reasons I also need a flagship level phone.) It is my preferred one, though.
So I don’t need a top-of-the-line, cook and drain battery to make it readable, instant response AMOLED or Retina display.
In fact, I do quite like the idea of the e-ink alternative. Swap out the response time and all that for an e-ink display that barely uses battery, is viewable in full sun and rests the eyes. Plus, durability increase much?
Look into:
-EPLaR (uses existing AM-LCD manufacturing plants) but you’ll have to make friends with Philips (but they may jump at the collab opportunity; it wouldn’t hurt to ask?)
-Electrowetting allows 50% saturation for colour (even RGB can only give 33% max per colour) and could run a CMYK screen quite fast. No polarisation means no light loss, too.
-Plasmonics would be awesome but is still needing a lot of development.
You could have it as an option at Point-of-sale or a repair ability part.
5: Pipedreams (@mlrsmp)
Is an optional 1TB that unthinkable? I mean, it would HAVE to be optional so that people made the choice to sacrifice power usage, but a 1TB chip isn’t that far off …
But the idea of the Abraham’s tank… Is that how he and Isaac got up the mountain, or how he rescued Lot? Or are you simply implying that the General Abrams it was named after also had a "meeting the angel of God"moment as subsequent name change?
Sorry, couldn’t resist googling some Bible trivia.
And with the right ingredients before toasting, a gooddcroissant can be really heavy.
Perhaps it should come with a vaccine… For, you know… But one made out of rose hip oil, mint and hommus…
6: Waterproof, waterproof, WATERPROOF. (Carl.Bond)
By case, by design or by magical enchantment, at least make it gasket-based water resistant to a high degree .
Heck, I’ll take it coming with a snap lock bag and a bottle of reusable sealant if that’s what it takes (and doesn’t hamper the rest of the phone’s functionality.)
I’m too much of an idiot (and impatient in water-ready situations) to not have a phone that can handle the dihydrogen monoxide death we all fear.
Until dihydrogen monoxide has been banned as a toxic substance, we need this protection for our phones.
7: Right to repair (Merc410)
Can you make it sustainable AND right to repair?
8: Whalephone (Merc410)
I’d do it. I work hard to convince my “oh, I’ll just get an HP” friends to invest in a Metabox laptop. And I succeed.
I’d buy the whalephone; give me the option for bells and whistles at a 10% mark-up from cost variance and I’ll happily subsidise the rest of your development to that 10% rate.
Plus, if sustainability and modularity for the whole industry is part of your goal, what better way than to force the major players to take notice of a customisable phone? Go full PC master race on their mobile console asses.
What phone store wouldn’t back the product that guarantees return customers? There’s a reason why Pandora is so successful; every bracelet they buy guarantees a tween that will return on a weekly basis for a new charm to add to her ever-increasing collection. Us technophiles are just a much cooler version of those angsty girls.
Just sayin’
