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Comment by rasz | Hacker News Reader

>Starting later this year

So not launching anything after all. This, Samsung announcement (overpriced half a clamshell with integrated LCD for only two flagship models, no batteries at all) and Apple pathetic IRP (cant buy anything, only parts exchange 1:1, spying on your company books for a couple of years etc) is a sign manufacturers already see that Right to Repair legislation is coming no matter how much money they keep throwing at lobbyists, and are desperately trying to limit its scope by claiming they already offer everything advocates want (spare parts) while offering almost nothing (screens only at the price of fully working unit at a second hand market).

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So not launching anything after all.

If I say "I am having a 50th birthday party" that means I'm talking about an event that's happening in the future. It doesn't mean I'm having it immediately. It's a statement that's in the "future perfect" tense. Besides, people would be very confused. I'm 45.

If Google say they are launching something, the same thing applies. It means they're launching it at some point. That doesn't have to be right now. They're using the future perfect tense.

Everything I'm seeing regarding future perfect tense seems to indicate both 'will' and 'have' are required.

Saying "I am having a 50th birthday party" is not talking about an event that's happening in the future. You can say that and be referring to a party which is presently happening.

The word "Starting" is the real lawyer'd up word there. Starting has so many meanings.

In my work life I've started hundreds of projects, and a few actually make it beyond a line in a planning document!

I promise, this is real—I've got parts in the bulding—and it's going to launch soon.

Why not hold off the announcement until actual launch day? Big bang, lots of publicity, lots of sales.

I've got a Pixel 3a XL with a cracked screen. I'm coping with it cracked, but if I'd seen this announcement and was able to order, I probably would have ordered right now. As it is I just see "coming soon", and will probably forget about it by the time it's actually live.

What you say makes perfect sense from an engineering perspective. From a marketing and legal perspective, this is a feature to advertise for perspective buyers and ammunition for their anti-R2R lobbying so best to announce it as soon as possible.

The real reason I liked the pinephone so much was not the price tag, but the replacement parts [1]. I didn't go for the librem cause it's an overexpensive bet with no sight of any repair parts.

Before that I only bought android phones where I knew that I can find either scrapped parts or replacement parts on ebay.

[1] https://pine64.com/product-category/smartphone-spare-parts/

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