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  • New FIG Kosher Phone

Regardless I don't think it's that important(or interesting) to fight over the definition of "born kosher". All I intended to do was post what I found. I also wanted to dispel the notion that this was anything different manufacturing-wise from the previous fig flip.

  • FlippyLevel 6 - Platinum Elite Member

    lgexalter1 All good points and truthfully, everything is a grey area now, including what is 'kosher' (no browser? filtered broweser? no apps?....), what is a smartphone, and more. It's a confusing matter. It's not one size fits all and that's what makes the Yetzer Hora be able to gain a foothold here. Technology is complicated.

    lgexalter1 I'll ask the manufacturer tomorrow, but I'm pretty sure it's removed. If i'm not mistaken usually when you factory reset a phone, it loads the "backup" of the os stored on a partition of the storage, and this "backup factory os" contains the default apps and configurations which in stock android usually includes a browser app. So the manufacturer probably removed it from the os and the "backup factory os". Same thing regarding app installation. Again, I'll ask the manufacturer tmrw.

      Helix_X_Dome Congratulations, u found the factory FIG is working with. The new edition of the fig flip has been built and molded in a custom way, as I know from seeing the many different samples they received, officially the terms in which this design would be offered and sold to other people would be illegal on the manufacturers part.

      The definition of "born kosher" should not be the investigation, as it is a simple slogan that FIG chose, although I'm sure they didn't realize at first that it sounds like something its not, making ppl think its some sort of new OS. If it makes anyone feel better, the newer models will not have that slogan on it anymore as they understand that it is misleading to the investigators lol.

      But the fact is, the idea that until you build your own OS independent of android, you cannot be called "Born Kosher" is foolish. The phone has the security of a OS that they would have created themselves, thanks to the hard work of the android developers that are involved. And there's a future for this company, so if they make it big, maybe they can embark on the journey of coding a totally custom OS, but lets be honest that is a very far fetched dream, I cannot begin to imagine the money and recourses this would require. But for now the product is a custom built phone with a secure modified android OS, no browser, no email, no entertainment, no package installer.

      I mentioned this before on this thread, that I'm not advertising for this company at all, I don't make a penny from them either, I just am affiliated to the people that created it and I am a beta tester for them. So I'm just here to give the info that keeps the oilam informed.

      The newer phones will be much better than previous models, and the problems they had earlier are being dealt with now in a more easier fashion. I was told they might roll out a customer service by phone system, which would be great for customers. And also heard the new models have been submitted to Google for verification, which is a long process and will definitely be hard to keep to all their demand as to which their phones need to comply with. But if it could be verified, as we will see in the coming months, the phone should support android auto and the whole experience will be allot easier with google play services.

      Thank for reading till the end lol.

        • MmkwLevel 1 - Junior Member

          does anyone know the eta for deliveries,
          also what's about ribis (ריבית) for the pre orders

            • FlippyLevel 6 - Platinum Elite Member

              Helix_X_Dome You are correct. The browser does not come back with a reset as that would be an obvious (and stupid) mistake on their part which thankfully they haven't made.

              Just out of curiosity: Does anyone on this forum actually use this phone?

                MXRJR

                Congratulations, u found the factory FIG is working with.

                What do I win?? Do I get a gold star??

                Anyway thanks for confirming my findings. And I agree with your definition of born kosher, but like I said before, it's kicking a dead horse by now, nobody really cares about defining it, or at least I don't.

                And also heard the new models have been submitted to Google for verification, which is a long process and will definitely be hard to keep to all their demand as to which their phones need to comply with.

                About this, interestingly, I heard the opposite in the chat I had with the R&D guy earlier, he told me that Google Play Services are not supported and it won't be verified by Google since verification is pricey. I would send a screenshot of the chat but the forum doesn't support uploading pictures.

                But if it could be verified, as we will see in the coming months, the phone should support android auto and the whole experience will be allot easier with google play services.

                I'm not sure Google Play Services would matter for anything besides Android Auto or maybe Waze, since regardless you can't install apps, but I digress.

                  • FlippyLevel 6 - Platinum Elite Member

                    Helix_X_Dome Yes I have it also for my collection, what I mean was does anyone on this forum actually use it on a daily basis. Not use it for testing... or just to try it out...

                      Helix_X_Dome he told me that Google Play Services are not supported and it won't be verified by Google since verification is pricey

                      Pricey means that if you can pay, then u get what u need, if you cannot pay, then you don't. In the event that the verification goes through, we can safely assume that the price they paid was worthy of their verification. Something that's pricey doesn't stop you from getting there, you just need to pay the price. The guy ur talking to is prob Chinese and as I know from experience they can say things from very ungrounded standpoints, this being the perfect example, that they wont get verified cuz its pricey, well what if pricey doesn't matter? Anyway the verification is in the works, that is what I am being told.

                      Helix_X_Dome I'm not sure Google Play Services would matter for anything besides Android Auto

                      Well yes, this is the goal essentially to be able to continue to develop this phone with features that can be used being that it has been verified. I'm sure there are many backend things that will run much better if this can go through.

                      Flippy Just out of curiosity: Does anyone on this forum actually use this phone?

                      are you referring to the new version which is not publicly out yet (FIG FLIP II)?

                        Flippy wait how did you get it? I thought it didnt release yet

                          Hi Everyone. Fights are always fun, so now I get to give my 2 Cents 🙂.

                          Helix_X_Dome LOL. Nice, great investigating. Cool Stuff you did. I honestly would have given up then and there, I wouldn't have had that creativity. I approve of it.

                          @EVERYONE In terms of born kosher, it seems like people aren't arguing on "kosher", but they are arguing on "born".

                          When the FIG company first receives the phone, I don't know what it looks like (well, I know a bit, but not sure I can share it here). Whether they get it with a browser or not, they aren't using that rom. They are building AOSP in a safe and kosher way (custom rom). That means they probably:

                          • Not including partitions that allow device flashing (at least not without some sort of verification - i.e. firehose)
                          • Not including a developer options activity in the settings app
                          • Not including a usb deugging popup in the phone systemui app
                          • Not including a functioning package installer
                          • Very Likely, not including certain hardware parts which allow flashing.
                          • have a Very safe and limited recovery
                          • Don't support GSI Flashing or DSU Sideloading
                          • Doesn't include apps with in-app browsers,etc.

                          I would call this a custom OS (building LineagoOS is already called custom Rom, this is even more).

                          Having said that:

                          There are apps on there (e.g. waze) which by default have issues, and need to be filtered. There are many tools to do this in a strong manner., especially when building AOSP from scratch. They probably have many protections, so even if someone managed to get around some things, there would be other ways to block that. They probably also have some remote access to patch things if needed (does this phone get system updates by the way?)



                          So, I guess this get into a very complicated Sugya of abortion. When is the phone considered born? Is it murdering the phone to put a custom build of AOSP if the chinese sent it with a browser 🙂? Do we say their phone their choice? What about by vaccines, do we say their phone their choice? But, point is, many politics involved.


                          In terms of making a phone based off a fully new operating system, I agree with

                          MXRJR lets be honest that is a very far fetched dream, I cannot begin to imagine the money and recourses this would require.

                          That would be like building windows, building android, etc. And even Android is based off Linux. And KaiOS, which is custom for flips, is based off linux.

                          Anyways, to quote:

                          MXRJR Thank for reading till the end lol.

                            Biden2020prez

                            LOL. Nice, great investigating. Cool Stuff you did. I honestly would have given up then and there, I wouldn't have had that creativity. I approve of it.

                            You can thank my boredom.

                            @EVERYONE In terms of born kosher, it seems like people aren't arguing on "kosher", but they are arguing on "born"

                            To quote what I said earlier:

                            but like I said before, it's kicking a dead horse by now, nobody really cares about defining it, or at least I don't.

                            But apparently I was wrong, people do care, so whatever. Anyway...

                            When the FIG company first receives the phone, I don't know what it looks like (well, I know a bit, but not sure I can share it here).

                            It looks like the images on the FIG website. They don't really do anything to the phone. All the fig branding and the mold, color , etc. is obviously done by the manufacturer, as stated previously.

                            Whether they get it with a browser or not, they aren't using that rom. They are building AOSP in a safe and kosher way (custom rom).

                            See, here is where I differ based off the conversation I had with Mr Jeff Li (who speaks a near perfect English, mind you). Mr. Li told me that the fig company asked them (the manufacturer, Shenzhen Qimei) to remove the browser and app installer from the device, like I said in a previous post. If so, the "aosp" isn't really built or made by them, rather the aosp made by the manufacturer is customized to not include a browser, app installer, or whatever fig wanted them to remove (or install). Regardless, there's not that much of a difference between the two.

                            Not including partitions that allow device flashing (at least not without some sort of verification - i.e. firehose)
                            Not including a developer options activity in the settings app
                            Not including a usb deugging popup in the phone systemui app
                            Not including a functioning package installer
                            Very Likely, not including certain hardware parts which allow flashing.
                            have a Very safe and limited recovery
                            Don't support GSI Flashing or DSU Sideloading
                            Doesn't include apps with in-app browsers,etc.

                            I would call this a custom OS (building LineagoOS is already called custom Rom, this is even more).

                            In regards to the recovery mode and ADB commands, Mr. Li told me they were "disabled"(whatever that means), and that they were removed in software.

                            There are apps on there (e.g. waze) which by default have issues, and need to be filtered. There are many tools to do this in a strong manner., especially when building AOSP from scratch. They probably have many protections, so even if someone managed to get around some things, there would be other ways to block that. They probably also have some remote access to patch things if needed (does this phone get system updates by the way?)

                            I'm not sure what you mean by the end, if there is remote access to patch "issues", isn't that essentially a system update? Also I'm not even sure "remote access patching" is possible (or plausible). But you sound more knowledgeable about this than me, so I'll trust you.

                            So, I guess this get into a very complicated Sugya of abortion. When is the phone considered born? Is it murdering the phone to put a custom build of AOSP if the chinese sent it with a browser 🙂? Do we say their phone their choice? What about by vaccines, do we say their phone their choice? But, point is, many politics involved.

                            Ask your L.O.R. about this, or your local T.A.G., whichever one you want, lol.

                            In terms of making a phone based off a fully new operating system, I agree with

                            [Login to see the link] lets be honest that is a very far fetched dream, I cannot begin to imagine the money and recourses this would require.

                            That would be like building windows, building android, etc. And even Android is based off Linux. And KaiOS, which is custom for flips, is based off linux.

                            Agree with this too.

                            And finally...

                            Anyways, to quote:

                            [Login to see the link] Thank for reading till the end lol.

                              Helix_X_Dome It looks like the images on the FIG website. They don't really do anything to the phone. All the fig branding and the mold, color , etc. is obviously done by the manufacturer, as stated previously.

                              They certainly do something. I know this because I once happened to have a conversation with the guy (I am not affiliated, I don't know him, I happened to meet up), but he showed me the phone, and later told me he may add a button....

                              Helix_X_Dome See, here is where I differ based off the conversation I had with Mr Jeff Li (who speaks a near perfect English, mind you). Mr. Li told me that the fig company asked them (the manufacturer, Shenzhen Qimei) to remove the browser and app installer from the device, like I said in a previous post. If so, the "aosp" isn't really built or made by them, rather the aosp made by the manufacturer is customized to not include a browser, app installer, or whatever fig wanted them to remove (or install). Regardless, there's not that much of a difference between the two.

                              Now I am super curious... Maybe they don't build it....

                              Helix_X_Dome I'm not sure what you mean by the end, if there is remote access to patch "issues", isn't that essentially a system update?

                              Well, there is one difference. Usually you are warned before a system update, and need to press download (at least you get a little while before they force it). but a kosher filter likely has a way to do it remotely automatically.

                              Do you want to remove this in app browser? Your Choice!

                              Although maybe they are super confident that they don't need it.

                              Helix_X_Dome Also I'm not even sure "remote access patching" is possible (or plausible).

                              Possible: Yes. I am working on a few filters (which will likely be free) and I may implement something like this. I am very curious about whether people would appreciate such a thing. It comes very close to (if not) a privacy (and maybe a security...) violation, but there are some benefits. I'd love to hear any thoughts on this. Either way, I should keep in mind this lol:

                              Helix_X_Dome Heh.... Idk if this is muttar. you are taking away parnassah from companies that charge 40$+ to do this lol.

                              And finally...

                              Anyways, to quote: MXRJR Thank for reading till the end lol.

                                They certainly do something. I know this because I once happened to have a conversation with the guy (I am not affiliated, I don't know him, I happened to meet up), but he showed me the phone, and later told me he may add a button....

                                He probably meant that they would tell the manufacturer to add a button or change the look of a button. It's very unlikely that FIG has the manafacturing capability to do such a thing.Or he meant to change the function of a pre-existing button, which FIG (or the manufacturer) could do, but it's unlikely that they would bother doing that when they could just ask the manafacturer to do it for them.

                                Possible: Yes. I am working on a few filters (which will likely be free) and I may implement something like this. I am very curious about whether people would appreciate such a thing. It comes very close to (if not) a privacy (and maybe a security...) violation, but there are some benefits. I'd love to hear any thoughts on this. Either way, I should keep in mind this lol:

                                [Login to see the link] Heh.... Idk if this is muttar. you are taking away parnassah from companies that charge 40$+ to do this lol.

                                Haha, nice one. 😄

                                  • FlippyLevel 6 - Platinum Elite Member

                                    • Edited

                                    MXRJR are you referring to the new version which is not publicly out yet (FIG FLIP II)?

                                    Helix_X_Dome Sorry talking about the fig flip 1 which for some reason they marketed as the fig flip 2 but is actually just the fig flip one with the number 2 afterwards. Now they are coming out with a new model which they are calling the fig flip II. You can thank them for the confusion.

                                    mkw
                                    any answer to this? if they already have one in stock that they can technically sell its muttar

                                      • FlippyLevel 6 - Platinum Elite Member

                                        • Edited

                                        MXRJR Pricey means that if you can pay, then u get what u need, if you cannot pay, then you don't.

                                        If they can pay they would get Verizon approval and not tell customers to lie about the IMEI to trick Verizon into activating it

                                        Biden2020prez There are apps on there (e.g. waze) which by default have issues, and need to be filtered. There are many tools to do this in a strong manner., especially when building AOSP from scratch. They probably have many protections, so even if someone managed to get around some things, there would be other ways to block that. They probably also have some remote access to patch things if needed (does this phone get system updates by the way?)

                                        Biden2020prez Well, there is one difference. Usually you are warned before a system update, and need to press download (at least you get a little while before they force it). but a kosher filter likely has a way to do it remotely automatically.

                                        Now that you bring it up, without getting into specifics, I will mention that the phone did have some backdoor issues with being able to access the internet via EDITED, which they fixed via an OTA software update. The phone does get periodical software updates to fix glitches (and usually introduce some new ones). The updates are not forced, they do not have that type of control over the device.
                                        As an example, the first run of devices had a video player built-in. Until later on, the powers that be decided it was not kosher enough, and decided to remove it in a later update, Whoever had it on that version was able to have video playback, unless they downloaded the new software, which some people choose to refrain from, and stick with the old software,

                                        Biden2020prez So, I guess this get into a very complicated Sugya of abortion. When is the phone considered born? Is it murdering the phone to put a custom build of AOSP if the chinese sent it with a browser 🙂? Do we say their phone their choice? What about by vaccines, do we say their phone their choice? But, point is, many politics involved.

                                        😂 Well said. I would call this, Born goyish and then converted, Its Kosher now, and (supposedly) irreversible. But it was born Android. Real android, not bits and peices of it like other off the beat phones (PUNKT, etc.)

                                        Biden2020prez In terms of making a phone based off a fully new operating system, I agree with

                                        [Login to see the link] lets be honest that is a very far fetched dream, I cannot begin to imagine the money and recourses this would require.

                                        That would be like building windows, building android, etc. And even Android is based off Linux. And KaiOS, which is custom for flips, is based off linux.

                                        Also agree. Even light phone II, and PUNKT, with large budgets and real programmers, are built on android. But they don't claim to be something they are not.
                                        If it was 'Born Kosher, they would never be able to have a backdoor internet issue like the one mentioned above.

                                          • FlippyLevel 6 - Platinum Elite Member

                                            EKASSIN They have samples. Ask an LOR of that works....

                                            Helix_X_Dome He probably meant that they would tell the manufacturer to add a button or change the look of a button. It's very unlikely that FIG has the manafacturing capability to do such a thing.Or he meant to change the function of a pre-existing button, which FIG (or the manufacturer) could do, but it's unlikely that they would bother doing that when they could just ask the manafacturer to do it for them.

                                            This is getting me a bit curios as to how you are viewing the process of this production. As I know for a matter of fact, the factory in which FIG uses to create their phones will do all the necessary manufacturing that's needed, there's is no manufacturing beyond that. FIG has no additional manufacturing resources of their own. However, unlike the idea that FIG "just took some phone off the Alibaba market and sold it", they have full manufacturing control within the factory to be able to add, take away, enlarge, decrease, you get the point.
                                            A good example is the fact that when I first saw the samples, they had a bad hinge, and not such an attractive plastic housing, and then I viewed newer samples in which the hinge was changed and the housing was updated to a stronger and sleeker plastic. They do have the ability to add buttons, and they can change its function as well. But all this is done by the factory as I know for a fact.

                                            Helix_X_Dome Mr Jeff Li (who speaks a near perfect English, mind you)

                                            Well, its easy to speak perfect English when texting with super smart ai manipulated language translation. I dont think he thinks with perfect English.

                                            Flippy If they can pay they would get Verizon approval and not tell customers to lie about the IMEI to trick Verizon into activating it

                                            Could be they would get verified if they are able to, i don't think they didn't do everything in their power to get this done. Just saying that I've seen many diff fringe phones out there (Unihertz, something like those) that require you to do the same when using Verizon, I think Verizon has the problem being flexible with their verification.