- Rabbit R1, AI gadget, runs on Android app, not requiring “very bespoke AOSP” firmware as claimed by Rabbit.
- Rabbit R1 launcher app can run on existing Android phones, not needing system-level permissions for core functionality.
- Rabbit R1 firmware analysis shows minimal modifications to standard AOSP, contradicting claims of custom hardware necessity by Rabbit.
Hopes were set unreasonably high because the hardware designer has a great reputation. And the hardware seems well made (for the price) and certainly tries out some interesting new ideas. I love how the camera is physically blocked while not in use for example.
The software team has let this product down. Not surprising, but dissapointing.
Camera shutters aren’t new…
Automatic physical camera shutters? Only ones I can think of on phones are pop-up selfie cameras like the LG Wing and OnePlus 7. LG doesn’t make phones any more and OnePlus dropped the pop-up camera in their next phone, and haven’t brought it back.
The hardware team made a device that just couldn’t be turned into a good product no matter what the software team did. None of those AI-in-a-box devices are good products because they simply don’t have a reason to exist. Everything they can do, phones can do. If you have a phone, you don’t need one of those AI boxes, however if you buy one of those AI assistant things, you’ll still need a phone (which, again, can completely replace the AI box with no loss in functionality).
Some phones and PDAs from decades ago had a “jog dial” on the side, like a mouse scroll wheel.
It was so easy to roll through menus and just push it to click.
The separate roller and button arrangement this has seems such a poor choice in comparison.