So, I'll give some unsolicited recommendations for your website, regarding accessibility:
- The contrast between the body text and background is to low; it makes it difficult for people with visual impairments to use the website.
- Font size and font weight, the font is too thin and adding this to the low color contrast, it makes it even more difficult to read.
- Images that don't add meaning (textually) to the page, e.g., the logos you use on the "Agile and precise" section. It's a good idea to add `aria-hidden="true"` so they don't "distract" screen readers.
- Also, several images don't have their alt tag, which describes the image to screen readers.
- I can't navigate your website with my keyword.
I don't want to sound like a jerk, but your company builds assistive technology--yes, a phone is an assistive device--so it makes sense that you take care of your primary point of sales, your website, and make it accessible to everybody.
thx for taking the time, will consider the feedback in our re-launch (we were working already on making our pos better) this thread took us by surprise while reworking it
Any other details about the OS? Is it an Android? How are the applications managed and what's their update pipeline? Are they whitelisted and managed by the manufacturer's own App Store? What's the privacy policy like? How often will it issue updates?
I really like the display. I've been waiting for a phone with minimalistic display to save battery ever since the Motofone F3.
But there's way too little information there to convince me to pre-order.
we def. screwed up communication as we've been focused lately on finishing hardware. its based on Android 8.1 and the apps are downloaded via play-store normally. We don't white or black list, but rather are going through the most used apps and building easier integrations for them
Indeed, I'm immensely curious about the OS (I'm an unabashed OS junkie) and if it's not Android based I want one just to dig into that part of it. Beyond that, the display and the GUI are absolutely gorgeous. I was always a fan of Microsoft's flat design for Windows Phone, and this takes it to another level of minimalism. I'm drooling over here.
Edit: I see below that it's Android based after all. I still love the way it looks but it's a hard pass. :-(
Who designed this site? Readability is very poor. 8px font size for the 'pre-order' button, really?
And the contrast ratio is pretty low too.
Please, don't hire designers who just care about the graphic design aspect and making it look beautiful, but a pain to use, i.e. totally neglect usability.
50K for the marketing campaign to probably 200K in pre-orders for a product that will never ship. Not a bad 4X return on investment for the founding team.
we didn't accept money so far and won't till we have working phones reviewed by youtubers. The pre-order just reserves u a spot as we're doing limited batches. and oh boy I wish we had 50k on marketing, the website & content is done part-time by the same team working on the OS.
I imagine it will be oled or something similar. Any black pixels will simply be off. Not sure how a white pixel saves power though, since it needs all three RGB to make white.
Trying to do hardware and software simultaneously from the start is going to kill this project. Pick one and get it right; let the lessons from that inform the next phase.
It looks like you're building a pretty generic device with an interesting software stack, so I'd start by making the software shine, and leveraging e.g. LineageOS to get an install base. Once you have feedback from a good swath real users you can look at making a bespoke device based on real-world needs.
EDIT: Given the presence Blloc has established online, it's likely that this is a real project. My apologies to adhambadr and the rest of the team.
-------------------
I noticed this as well. The images of the device are entirely inconsistent with one another [0].
* Rendering effects are visible in some of the images
* The front is displayed inconsistently. In some renders, a speaker is shown. In others, it is absent.
* The front is shown as having a black bezel at the top in some images and on the bottom in others.
* The radius of the rounded corners fluctuates between top and bottom and from image to image
* On the back, the fingerprint reader, camera lens, and LED may or may not be present from image to image
* Antenna cut outs are depicted as either horizontal or vertical
* The side buttons do not appear congruent
* The information on the back is inconsistent (sometimes device info, sometimes Blloc)
* The camera style fluctuates from image to image (sometimes single lens, sometimes dual lens)
On the flip side, the domain has been registered since 2016 [1] and the project has been referenced on other sites [2][3] (using some of the same rendered images). The Instagram [4] has had posts since 2017, but, again, most appear to be renders.
From adhambadr: trademark application [5] and university article [6]
Basic Android phone with fancy skin, what am I missing? I suppose their custom launcher app might be neat, but I'm not sure I'd buy complete phone just for that..
Good idea. Actually this year in the same thougts direction i refused to buy iPhone X. I use iPhone SE with minimal setup of Reeder, Protonmail, Viber, Mullvad Vpn. Made shortkey to homne button for reducing white point and aded black and white color filter. I am definetely your customer base but this is what i want: 1. High res ink display. 2 Open source OS, no ties with Google. 2. Web based apps (like Palm OS). 3. Security by default, hardware encryption etc. 4. Default mail client. 5. Third party GPS / Maps/. 6 Original visual language. If someone made this, i will spend 500+ eur instantly.:)
Does anybody know of any projects similar to this one (and Light Phone 2 [1]) but for desktop OS in laptop format? Apple's products of late does not interest me and I'm stuck with my beloved 2013 MacBook Air until it dies or something better comes along. I have yet to find something better.
I long for a laptop purposely designed for productivity, simplicity and minimalism. Ideally with a custom designed OS (could just be a linux distro checked for compatibility etc.) to go along with it.
Lot of people want eink on a laptop (including myself) - mostly for the benefit that it's readable in the sun and low power. My understanding is the refresh rate is still too slow and the cost of a large panel is pretty high.
I'd just grab a used thinkpad, chromebook, whatever and treat it as a dumb terminal. Pretty much how I used my laptop these days, ssh -X to a powerful machine and go. emacs --daemon / emacsclient (and of course a couple tmux/screen sessions) means I never lose my state.
"The root" is an exact copy of BlackBerry 10's Hub and sounds great. The problem with all these new phones is they can't secure enough funding or developer attention to ever take off. Not to mention hostility from third party app providers like Facebook. This is android based which is great, but how the heck is The Root supposed to work? I don't think it's possible with closed APIs and walled gardens. You chat with your facebook friends how and when facebook wants you to.
who is the manufacturer? what country is it manufactured in?
basic information that no one provides, and you have to go to the store to look at the back of the box to see...
I am totally looking for a phone like this which serves the minimalism purpose.
All I need is Calling, SMS, Whatsapp, Browsing (HN), News Occasionally, Email, Calendar, Navigation (maybe Uber)
Apart from the Black and White UI and amazing looking device, why is this any different than installing Copperhead[0] on Pixel XL and sideloading chosen apps?
>Instead of multiple distractions we aim for focus. Instead of fragmented conversations, we strive for continuity and fluidity. Booking your flight, checking the weather or ordering an Uber, it all happens in one place, the Root.
I don't see how this will work but reading my messages whilst being informed about my Uber, flights, and/or weather seems quite fragmented and unfocused.
[+] [-] thinkxl|8 years ago|reply
- The contrast between the body text and background is to low; it makes it difficult for people with visual impairments to use the website.
- Font size and font weight, the font is too thin and adding this to the low color contrast, it makes it even more difficult to read.
- Images that don't add meaning (textually) to the page, e.g., the logos you use on the "Agile and precise" section. It's a good idea to add `aria-hidden="true"` so they don't "distract" screen readers.
- Also, several images don't have their alt tag, which describes the image to screen readers.
- I can't navigate your website with my keyword.
I don't want to sound like a jerk, but your company builds assistive technology--yes, a phone is an assistive device--so it makes sense that you take care of your primary point of sales, your website, and make it accessible to everybody.
[+] [-] etatoby|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] disillusioned|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] adhambadr|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] decebalus1|8 years ago|reply
I really like the display. I've been waiting for a phone with minimalistic display to save battery ever since the Motofone F3.
But there's way too little information there to convince me to pre-order.
[+] [-] adhambadr|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] morganvachon|8 years ago|reply
Edit: I see below that it's Android based after all. I still love the way it looks but it's a hard pass. :-(
[+] [-] cryodesign|8 years ago|reply
And the contrast ratio is pretty low too.
Please, don't hire designers who just care about the graphic design aspect and making it look beautiful, but a pain to use, i.e. totally neglect usability.
Erik Spiekermann said it best (enable english captions): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw0syzCeH4Q
[+] [-] ManFromUranus|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bytematic|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] RubenSandwich|8 years ago|reply
But can you bump up the font size? Being partially sighted means that with the current fontSize of 10px the site is unreadable to me.
[+] [-] reaperducer|8 years ago|reply
There's your minimalist right there.
(Also, what is that, a font for ants?)
[+] [-] aw3c2|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] crsv|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] adhambadr|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ggggtez|8 years ago|reply
The little information that is on the site about the specs of the phone has massive vaporware smell.
[+] [-] failedartifact|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] monkeynotes|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] stonogo|8 years ago|reply
It looks like you're building a pretty generic device with an interesting software stack, so I'd start by making the software shine, and leveraging e.g. LineageOS to get an install base. Once you have feedback from a good swath real users you can look at making a bespoke device based on real-world needs.
[+] [-] kennysmoothx|8 years ago|reply
Do you have any working versions of the phone?
A video of the phone being used?
All pictures look like renders, not real devices.
Not sure who would pre-order something with such little information.
[+] [-] ggggtez|8 years ago|reply
Based on the existing information, this looks to be a phone running on Android. And it'll be preinstalled with Uber and Facebook messenger.
So it's a minimalist phone for people who don't care about privacy? I don't get it.
[+] [-] adhambadr|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] nickles|8 years ago|reply
-------------------
I noticed this as well. The images of the device are entirely inconsistent with one another [0].
* Rendering effects are visible in some of the images
* The front is displayed inconsistently. In some renders, a speaker is shown. In others, it is absent.
* The front is shown as having a black bezel at the top in some images and on the bottom in others.
* The radius of the rounded corners fluctuates between top and bottom and from image to image
* On the back, the fingerprint reader, camera lens, and LED may or may not be present from image to image
* Antenna cut outs are depicted as either horizontal or vertical
* The side buttons do not appear congruent
* The information on the back is inconsistent (sometimes device info, sometimes Blloc)
* The camera style fluctuates from image to image (sometimes single lens, sometimes dual lens)
On the flip side, the domain has been registered since 2016 [1] and the project has been referenced on other sites [2][3] (using some of the same rendered images). The Instagram [4] has had posts since 2017, but, again, most appear to be renders.
From adhambadr: trademark application [5] and university article [6]
[0] https://imgur.com/a/W6ogsZJ
[1] https://whois.icann.org/en/lookup?name=blloc.com
[2] https://competition.adesignaward.com/design.php?ID=54753
[3] http://startuptv.io/startups/blloc-die-smartphone-alternativ...
[4] https://www.instagram.com/bllocphone/
[5] https://register.dpma.de/DPMAregister/marke/register/3020172...
[6] https://www.fu-berlin.de/sites/profund/aktuelles/news/EXIST-...
[+] [-] zokier|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] nine_k|8 years ago|reply
What I do see is the UI which looks good (at least on pictures), and, above all, looks consistent.
There would be definitely a market for such an UI. (It's more lucrative if sold with dedicated hardware, of course.)
[+] [-] ktosobcy|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ape4|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] promeus|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] 01001010|8 years ago|reply
I long for a laptop purposely designed for productivity, simplicity and minimalism. Ideally with a custom designed OS (could just be a linux distro checked for compatibility etc.) to go along with it.
Is anybody working on something in this vein?
[1]: http://www.lightphone2.com
[+] [-] SquirrelOnFire|8 years ago|reply
If I'm a writer, I will need very different things than a video editor or software developer to be productive.
[+] [-] jjrh|8 years ago|reply
I'd just grab a used thinkpad, chromebook, whatever and treat it as a dumb terminal. Pretty much how I used my laptop these days, ssh -X to a powerful machine and go. emacs --daemon / emacsclient (and of course a couple tmux/screen sessions) means I never lose my state.
[+] [-] deft|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mrybczyn|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pobo|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] garyfirestorm|8 years ago|reply
All I need is Calling, SMS, Whatsapp, Browsing (HN), News Occasionally, Email, Calendar, Navigation (maybe Uber)
Apart from the Black and White UI and amazing looking device, why is this any different than installing Copperhead[0] on Pixel XL and sideloading chosen apps?
https://copperhead.co/android/
[+] [-] mimsee|8 years ago|reply
I don't see how this will work but reading my messages whilst being informed about my Uber, flights, and/or weather seems quite fragmented and unfocused.
[+] [-] ivanech|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] cryodesign|8 years ago|reply