IdeaWell

Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

Clicks Communicator

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

Here is a summary of the 4 most prevalent themes from the discussion:

1. Nostalgia and a Market for Physical Keyboards

Many users express a strong desire for the tactile feedback and efficiency of physical keyboards (PKB), citing nostalgia for devices like the BlackBerry and Palm Treo. There is a consensus that modern touchscreens are inferior for extended typing, especially for power users or those typing in multiple languages.

  • SunshineTheCat: "I actually use to have a Palm Treo and I feel like I stopped being able to text even remotely efficiently ever since I switched from that to my first iPhone."
  • wowczarek: "Well, seems to have all the right ingredients: - PKB (check) with gestures / navigation (check) - Customisable, colour notification LED (check) - Unified inbox (check)."
  • Topfi: "Being able to touch type without looking, even whilst walking around/changing trains has been truly game changing. Writing SOPs, editing spreadsheets, answering long mails, typing without the atrocious autocorrect making it impossible, all that is far better with the Clicks keyboard."

2. OS Freedom and Privacy Concerns

A recurring demand is for the device to run a more open, private, or general-purpose operating system than standard Android. Users frequently mentioned wanting to install Linux, GrapheneOS, or other custom ROMs to avoid Google services and increase privacy and longevity.

  • voxleone: "If only form factors like these could run general use/free OS's..."
  • drcongo: "One of these running linux would be nice, but definitely not buying one to run Android."
  • gumby271: "I wish they'd specify if the bootloader was unlock/relockable. Could have been cool to see GrapheneOS support."

3. Skepticism About Feasibility and Company Reputation

There is significant doubt about the product's viability and the company's ability to deliver. Commenters point to the company's association with F(x)tec (known for delays), the use of a MediaTek SoC (poor Linux support), and the lack of real-world usage videos in marketing materials.

  • Elidrake24: "I do worry this is a moonshot that will sink them."
  • paxys: "I really do hope they succeed, and will definitely buy one if it turns out to be a viable product, but not before that. I went through the website and all the marketing and watched the launch video to find out how this thing works, but all I see is the same rendered home screen and lots of promises."
  • darthbanane: "The leadership behind this project is f(x)tec. While they're not outright scammers they have a TERRIBLE track record in delivering products like this... It's just data points but so far the modus operandi was to take pre-order money and then take years to deliver a bad product with no aftermarket support."

4. Utility of the "Second Device" vs. Daily Driver

Users are divided on the marketing strategy of positioning this as a "second device." Some agree it’s a realistic way to curb distractions, while others (particularly existing Clicks keyboard users) argue it's a confusing message for a device that requires significant practice to master, making it unsuitable for infrequent use.

  • LunicLynx: "I think you misunderstood. My point was: This would be a great device if there wasn’t a need for it to support these apps... This would be awesome if it would just be that a „communicator“ meaning a device that allows to communicate."
  • memoriuaysj: "people still need their IG and TikTok... you can fight that, and lose (no market) or accept second device status (for werk)"
  • Topfi: "I'd argue the two are in fact polar opposites, someone who needs reliable input on the go is likely not the same someone who wants to use their phone less... They have clearly just confused the messaging for the core audience of Clicks... by chasing what I'd argue is a mirage, a customer base that doesn't exist."

🚀 Project Ideas

Communicator-First Browser

Summary

  • A specialized mobile browser designed for small, square, or unusual aspect ratio screens (like the Clicks Communicator or Unihertz devices).
  • Solves the "content blocking" and "tiny text" frustrations mentioned by users when modern websites fail to render on non-slab devices.
  • Value Proposition: High-efficiency browsing via pagination instead of scrolling and aggressive layout reflow.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Power users of physical keyboard phones and "minimalist" devices.
Core Feature In-browser pagination (e-reader style) and "Text-Only" auto-reflow.
Tech Stack Kotlin/Swift (Native) or Chromium-based with a custom rendering engine overlay.
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: One-time purchase or $5/year subscription.

Notes

  • HN users specifically mentioned the difficulty of reading on 4" square screens: "Reading websites should be no problem if pagination is used instead of scrolling."
  • Solves the problem where "apps won't render properly on too small a screen" by forcing a "Communicator Mode" that strips away fixed headers/footers.

DashMod (MDM-Lite for Personal Devices)

Summary

  • A lightweight "Corporate Wrapper" that allows users to run work apps (Teams, Outlook, Authenticator) without giving the company a traditional "Nuclear Option" MDM profile.
  • Solves the frustration of needing a secondary device just because of invasive corporate security policies.
  • Value Proposition: Privacy-first work/life separation on a single physical device.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Employees who refuse to install MDM on their personal phones but need work access.
Core Feature Secure containerization for work apps with isolated storage.
Tech Stack Android Work Profile API / Knox (Samsung) / Virtualized Containers.
Difficulty High
Monetization Revenue-ready: $10 monthly per user (B2C or B2B).

Notes

  • Direct response to commenters claiming they need a "second phone" specifically for work: "I don't want MDM on my phone... they can erase my phone at any time. I also would check work email and Teams constantly."
  • Addresses the "Authenticator app" lock-in that prevents people from moving to niche or dumb phones.

PKB (Physical Keyboard) Power-Mapper

Summary

  • A "Companion App" for Android PKB devices (Clicks, Unihertz, Zinwa) that enables deep system-level customization.
  • Solves the "stiff navigation" and "lack of shortcuts" problems mentioned by users switching from Blackberry to Android.
  • Value Proposition: Turns any physical keyboard into a high-productivity command center.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Keyboard enthusiasts and power users (e.g., SSH/Terminal users on mobile).
Core Feature Custom Chords/Macros (e.g., Space+W for Whatsapp) and cursor navigation via keyboard.
Tech Stack Android Accessibility Services / Input Method Framework (IMF).
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: Freemium with a Pro tier for advanced macro support.

Notes

  • Commenters complained about the lack of utility keys: "The clicks keyboard does not have ctrl, arrows... it would be nice if they talked more about... what is the home screen and stuff."
  • This app would bridge the gap described by those missing the "Blackberry experience," where navigation was handled by keyboard shortcuts rather than screen taps.

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