The Clicks Communicator
I noticed some entries in my RSS feeds this morning making reference to the Blackberry, and I suspect they were in reference to the Clicks Communicator, a new Android-based phone to launch later this year. This is from the company that has been selling a physical keyboard case for the iPhone. The Clicks Communicator has a built-in physical keyboard, hence the reference to Blackberry.
The device software is built on Android 16 with a customized launcher that is optimized for communications. What it looks to me like is the Android notification shade made front and center to the device. It has hardware buttons to initiate voice to text input, if one prefers and has an LED around the primary button that will flash different colors one configures for different notifications. The color LED reminds me of the roller ball of the first Android phone, the T-Mobile G1.
The negatives start with the price, while one can reserve one now for a $399 total price by paying $199 to reserve it, the Communicator will retail for $499, which I think is too much for a device being promoted as a second phone. The intro video compares the Communicator to a Kindle as it compares to the iPad, but Kindles cost much less than $499.
Another big miss in my opinion is not providing a removable battery nor Magsafe support, although I imagine this might be something that could be provided via special “cover.” The device includes the things smartphones lost over the years like the physical buttons, storage card slots, and 3.5mm audio adapter, so why not go all the way and provide removable batteries?
The Clicks Communicator is going to be a niche device, it’s not going to take over the smartphone leaders. I got to think that $499 starting price will have to come down to the $300 to $400 range to justify the purchase as an “accessory” to an every day carry smartphone. The question then is, will enough sell for the device to last long enough for the price to come down? The answer depends on whether there is truly a demand for this type of device.
Woke up this morning to the news that the U.S. has illegally invaded in to another country, captured its leader and his wife, and kidnapped them out of their country. I see this as an act of war, no matter the claims of crimes that the leader may have committed. Unfortunately, these events will continue to happen so long as the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) of 2001 is in place. Congress must repeal this blank check it gave to the President for military force. Stop feeding the Military Industrial Complex.
Lots of sunshine today but the temperatures stayed in the twenties.
At The Start Of 2026
Mother Nature set the scene today by providing freshly fallen snow, sunshine, and frigid temperatures, which I take as a sign for a fresh start. Today is not only the start of a new year, but for me it is the start of the fifth chapter of my life, now as a retiree. My most specific plan for now is to savor more of life, to take it in fully and continue to learn and grow.
I have long followed people who seem to be able to spend most of their time on whatever they find to be most fulfilling in the moment and dreamed of that for myself. My intentions for this year are to read more, to write more, to listen to more music, to spend more time with people I love, and to be grateful for every minute.
Year in books for 2025
Here are the books I finished reading in 2025. I fell short of my goal to read 20 books this year, and I am committed to meeting and exceeding that goal in 2026.
Freshly fallen snow, sunshine, and blue skies on New Year’s day 2026. A clear sign of a fresh start to a new year and new start. Happy New Year!
I am taking more pictures than normal the last several days as a way to capture the memories. The following summarizes what it is like outside on this New Year’s Eve.
Today I have a mixture of emotions. Disbelief and gratitude are highest among them. At midnight on New Year’s Eve 2026 I will become an unemployed bum.
Currently reading: The Gales of November by John U. Bacon 📚
The sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald is a memorable event for one who grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan during the 1970s and I am enjoying this book that provides all of the background about the Fitzgerald and shipping on the Great Lakes. Taconite, which is lower grade iron ore that is pulverized into little marbles for shipment, was the Fitz’s cargo at the time it sank. I remember trains that ran through my childhood home in the Upper Peninsula that carried the taconite to the ore docks to be loaded on these ships. The marbles often fell off the ore cars of the train on to the tracks and we used to gather them up for slingshot ammo.
I am going to fall short of my goal of reading 18 books this year, I have three that I am currently reading but this one is the furthest along at 26% complete and I don’t expect to finish it by the end of tomorrow.
We are in Grand Rapids for the annual Great Lakes Invitational hockey tournament while the big winter storm hits. Fortunately all I need to do is walk a block from the hotel to the arena later today, no need to drive.
