“We’re determined to approach this in a way that’s fair and safe for everyone, and we’ll be consulting with the Callback community over the next few months to make this determination,” he said.
The Callback 8020 runs the Linux-based operating system Sailfish OS, which is made by Jolla, a mobile company created by Nokia employees in 2012 that also makes phones.
Per Commodore, its phone will support “over 99 percent of Android apps” through Sailfish OS’s Android runtime app compatibility layer, including Spotify, Signal, and WhatsApp. Commodore also equipped the phone with some Commodore 64-era games.
Some Internet-based apps, like WhatsApp, will work.
Credit:
Commodore
To minimize distractions, the phone uses a dome-shaped LED light that lights up when you have a message. Commodore thinks this will be less distracting than pop-up messages, but I wager a lit-up phone draws attention, too.
The former Nokia 3360/3595 owner inside of me is highly interested in another attention-grabbing design feature: the ability to swap phone covers and attach a stringed charm to the case.
Some of the phone’s swappable covers.
Some of the phone’s swappable covers.
Commodore hasn’t said how much the covers will cost.
Commodore hasn’t said how much the covers will cost.
Some of the phone’s swappable covers.
Commodore hasn’t said how much the covers will cost.
Additionally, the flip phone’s exterior screen is designed to resemble 1970s Commodore calculators and has a red tint.
As a former Nokia phone user, I’m excited to hear that the phone is supposed to let you swap covers and let you attach a stringed charm through the case.
For audio, the Callback 8020 uses an 8-bit SID music player, an app for playing music created for the SID (sound interface device) chip in the original Commodore 64. The phone also has what Commodore claims is a high-end, on-board DAC, an integrated FM radio, and a 3.5mm jack, and it comes with a pair of in-ear monitors.
