Lets create the PineCom

[barray]

But then, what would it do that a phone doesn't?  That was my point.  Everything suggested here seems like it should work just fine on the PinePhone with some kind of attachment, at most.  This is the nice thing about "smartphones".  They're universal computers.

Based on this reasoning, why bother creating any device other than a phone? Why did Apply ever bother with the iPod touch when it's basically the iPhone without a cell modem?

I think the features already being discussed warrant a new device:

1. "the PineCom will not feature a modem but rather rely on WiFi, IoT LoRa and LoRaWan for communications" - A different communication model already makes this interesting.

2. "The device will also be smaller at (5” LCD panel or less)" - A different form factor.

3. As a result of being smaller and not using a cellular modem, the price point should also come down.

I guess the biggest problem in this post's comments is that it doesn't really reflect some existing device, so people generally don't see it as a viable product. I think it would be useful to think of the PineCom as Pine's version of the iPod touch, but hacker edition. The PineCom will probably be to the PinePhone what the iPod is to the iPhone.

I think such a device could be really awesome and I believe there will definitely be a market & community out there for it if the price is right (perhaps $50-$80 USD).

Honestly, for me, I want to test out whether a completely WiFi-based phone is a viable switch. Inspired by the recent pandemic situation, I would also like to look further into a mesh-based communications network for short messages.

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Also, I would like to put the idea out there of calling it the 'PinePod' (+). I think this name would really focus in the hardware/software goals.

(+) Apple surely can't own the rights to '*Pod'?