HTC Launches Blockchain Phone With Full Bitcoin Node

kingcolex

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Quote from: zviadits on October 23, 2019, 04:48:58 PM

This phone will be on the Android operating system. This is very dangerous for the security of the bitcoin network running on the phone. Doesn't sound safe

This is a stupid reply and holds no merit, there is no issue with the android os running the full node. Android is based off of linux and has constant security updates, the issue is the file size and running it on a phone, that would mean a large microsd (you're not using an ssd with a phone or a mechanical drive unless it's a no longer mobile phone) and it's going to have constant writes to it. Micro SD cards have issues with constant writes to them and they die easily to this, the other main issue is, you'll be using your mobile data constantly downloading blocks, slowing your phone and eating up valuable mobile data, which pounds on the battery as well.

A raspberry pi with a usb ssd or mechanical drive is a much better solution if you want to have a full node.

zviadits

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This phone will be on the Android operating system. This is very dangerous for the security of the bitcoin network running on the phone. Doesn't sound safe

Kyraishi

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Quote from: finzyoj on October 23, 2019, 12:04:21 AM

Quote from: HammadAli on October 22, 2019, 06:11:26 AM

It can be a step up in the field of crypto to get reputation on the global scale.

That was great news but who would buy HTC in the first place? Don't get me wrong, I like this another milestone for bitcoin but how it will become effective and spread faster if the platform itself falls behind from the superior brands in their industry such as IPhone,
Samsung, Xiaomi and others? It already came from your mouth, you said it was on the side of lower end phones. If I am HTC's CEO I will forcus first on developing my phone to become competitive once again before adopting blockchain.

They aren't really competing against those brands to be honest, after some more thinking. I don't think the plan was ever to overtake Samsung as the next flagship, or Xiaomi with their low prices.

It's a niche that probably needed filling if HTC did their research correctly. It's designed for people who don't need a snapping CPU or a good screen. It's designed for people who work with crypto-currencies and want the functions that laptops and hardware wallets have.

I don't see anyone using this without having a least 10,000 in crypto-currencies or being involved in a crypto-currency company.

audaciousbeing

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Quote from: HammadAli on October 22, 2019, 06:11:26 AM

HTC has launched a new blockchain phone with Bitcoin (BTC) network support. The Exodus 1 will allow users to run a full Bitcoin node.

https://usethebitcoin.com/htc-launches-blockchain-phone-with-full-bitcoin-node/

On the all, phone is just on the side of lower end phones with Snapdragon 435, running Android 8.1. The screen is a 5.7-inch HD+, coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. There’s a microUSB port and, good news, a headphone jack. The new device lowers the barrier of entry to €219 (~$244). It is available in all of the various equivalent cryptocurrencies.

It can be a step up in the field of crypto to get reputation on the global scale.

This is a good one coming from HTC in their effort in getting some portion of their market from the crypto inclined population who it might interest but really for me, I dont see myself buying one of these phones just because it has the entire bitcoin node when I don't even need it and surely quite a number of people won't need a full node when there are online websites where your balances can be secured enough. They would have appeal more if the phone comes with a wallet and they are sure to provide support for such software at the same time be able to synch it with reputable players in the crypto industry.

DdmrDdmr

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This is what they state with regards to the capacity required to run a full node:

Quote

Running a full bitcoin node, in this case, does not mean mining bitcoin, Chen said. The new HTC device has the ability to hold the entire bitcoin ledger of transactions utilizing an SD card in the process, purchased separately, which is inserted into a slot on the phone.

They propose using a 400 GB SD card but, on top of that, they do give a warning as to resource limitations:

Quote

Running a full bitcoin node on a phone comes with its limitations. HTC recommends that you connect the phone to Wi-Fi and plug it into a power source while it’s running the full node, and you’ll also need to buy an SD card with a capacity of 400GB or more if you want the phone to be able to hold a full copy of the Bitcoin ledger. The Exodus 1S will also not be able to operate as a mining node.

I’d say that it’s like cutting your toes to fit the shoe, only to find out you can't walk properly afterwards ...

https://www.forbes.com/sites/benjaminpirus/2019/10/19/new-htc-exodus-able-to-run-full-bitcoin-node/#6784112927d2
https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/21/20924520/htc-exodus-1s-full-bitcoin-node-blockchain-phone-budget

gabbie2010

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Quote from: Red-Apple on October 22, 2019, 08:49:52 AM

it appears that their own suggestion to run this so called full node on phone is to first connect your phone to a power outlet and then start it up! which defeats the whole purpose of it being on a phone (portability). and also the data usage is going to go through the roof unless you are in range of your own WIFI network which again defeats the portability purpose!

I was also curious about running the bitcoin node using the phone battery obviously this will consume a lot of power and there is tendency the phone will be heated up in course of the running the node then how viable will the phone in a long run?, HTC is trying to be relevant in the highly competitive phone market thus has to bring out new smart phones with new innovations and features which is a welcome idea.

yazher

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Quote from: elda34b on October 22, 2019, 06:38:59 AM

A full bitcoin node with only 64gb of storage? The blockchain size is larger than that and I don't expect this phone will maintain stability if you run it as a 'full node'. It supports extra memory though, but hey, that means you need to spend more money.

A pruned node is what you can run at best but even with that, you can't expect to use it without any problems. Why not build an SPV client for god's sake?

Maybe they will use some like that of the Electrum technology because 64GB seems impossible to save all of those Nodes. Every Big time brand is coming into blockchain technology, I read on Howdoo's page that they are partnering with the Huawei company too. this news is good for us, it will make the use of blockchain technology known to the world. You can read the full article here: https://twitter.com/howdoohq/status/1185097223941566465?s=21

bounceback

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Quote from: ?? on ??

Is this about the old model? Aren't they at least up to rev 2? I ask because the micro USB slot, seems outdated for an expensive phone and nobody is running a full node on 64gb. A mobile full node seems like a data eater as well.

but it's also good for us to run bitcoin nodes on smart phones when there are problems with the computer or fatal damage so we can access them temporarily via smart phones especially now when HTC launches their smartphone with a fairly sophisticated system with Snapdragon 435 I think that's enough to access the bitcoin node for a while.

finzyoj

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Quote from: HammadAli on October 22, 2019, 06:11:26 AM

It can be a step up in the field of crypto to get reputation on the global scale.

That was great news but who would buy HTC in the first place? Don't get me wrong, I like this another milestone for bitcoin but how it will become effective and spread faster if the platform itself falls behind from the superior brands in their industry such as IPhone,
Samsung, Xiaomi and others? It already came from your mouth, you said it was on the side of lower end phones. If I am HTC's CEO I will forcus first on developing my phone to become competitive once again before adopting blockchain.

Kyraishi

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Quote from: elda34b on October 22, 2019, 06:38:59 AM

A full bitcoin node with only 64gb of storage? The blockchain size is larger than that and I don't expect this phone will maintain stability if you run it as a 'full node'. It supports extra memory though, but hey, that means you need to spend more money.

A pruned node is what you can run at best but even with that, you can't expect to use it without any problems. Why not build an SPV client for god's sake?

Haha, don't think it's actually located in the 64 gb storage of the phone, looking at the graphics there seems to be a SD card slot (similar to another Sim slot), that holds a SD card with the Bitcoin node.

HTC looks like they've made a very, very niche product. With it's pricing matching other top flagships like iPhones and S10's, only the most enthusiastic of crypto-currencies would find a need for this.

And it'll be pretty apparent it's a special phone with the way it's designed and could very well be a target for theft, wouldn't recommend getting one of these at all.

btc_angela

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For me its not the best hardware to set up a full running node, raspberry PI might be a good options if people are looking for one. And I haven't check the price, but I'm sure its going to be expensive. So it better to just used a dedicated machine if someone really need to run a bitcoin node, and not on a smart phone.

Ucy

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Quote from: OmegaStarScream on October 22, 2019, 06:48:57 AM

This has been discussed a few months back when they first announced the phone, my opinion remains the same, a waste of money:

Quote from: OmegaStarScream on May 12, 2019, 11:23:04 AM

If running a full node for the purpose of helping the network, then I'm a little bit skeptical. A full node should preferably be up 24/7 and for a phone, It should be resource consuming to do so when it comes to the battery and also storage as years go by.

And If by that, it's just so the user is in full control of his transactions unlike with SPV wallets or closed source/centralized ones then, to be honest, I doubt that anyone cares that much. Not to buy another phone anyway.

I would rather go with something like Bitseed. It's a little bit more expensive, but it does the job perfectly and it's up 24/7 and it also lasts for years to come (1 TBB storage).

For anyone interested in helping the network or developing something that requires a full node, here is a list of hardware nodes: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/ap2nep/list_of_plugnplay_full_nodes_bitcoin_lightning_on/

And as for using the phone as a hardware wallet, then there are cheaper options out there (Ledger nano S, Trezor).

The bitseed (bitsend?) link is probably dead or didn't work at my own end. Would like to see what it looks like.
You made a good point. I guess hardware nodes should be developed specifically for running nodes (and not for any other purpose) for the sake of being online 24/7 and to work efficiently?

Darker45

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I cannot see the practicality of this. If I am carrying with me a mere smart phone which is running a full Bitcoin node, I might end up carrying with me as well a power bank that offers 1,000 times more power over my phone. How can a mere smart phone, its battery to be specific, last long enough if it is running a full Bitcoin node at the same time used for calling, texting, browsing the internet, games, wallets, and so many more apps?

YuginKadoya

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Quote from: Ucy on October 22, 2019, 08:11:37 AM

Well, this makes sense but how safe is running a Node on a phone? Wish the device and OS that powers it are open sourced. I guess Android custom IOS would be good in this regard, but how about the phone production? Open sourced phone production, maybe?
This is a good idea anyway. Whether it is low quality phone or not, doesn't matter atall. Phones are always online... which is very important for quite background syncing of nodes.

I guess HTC products are consistent with their security and base on my experience in using one myself, I really trust using OS for HTC handheld devices, I guess this new Blockchain Mobile Device was put on their new model phones and not the existing lines that have low-quality resolutions, I guess it will run on Android Oreo Version, and I guess even though your phone are always online in the internet I guess they will put security measures for that as well, But I think they will still be victims for hackers because there are no 100% perfect system after all.

Red-Apple

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it appears that their own suggestion to run this so called full node on phone is to first connect your phone to a power outlet and then start it up! which defeats the whole purpose of it being on a phone (portability). and also the data usage is going to go through the roof unless you are in range of your own WIFI network which again defeats the portability purpose!

Ucy

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Well, this makes sense but how safe is running a Node on a phone? Wish the device and OS that powers it are open sourced. I guess Android custom IOS would be good in this regard, but how about the phone production? Open sourced phone production, maybe?
This is a good idea anyway. Whether it is low quality phone or not, doesn't matter atall. Phones are always online... which is very important for quite background syncing of nodes.

blckhawk

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Quote from: Mandoy on October 22, 2019, 06:54:04 AM

Given the specs of the phone I dont still think it is profitable enough to mine bitcoin using a phone. I think its not worth it given the value of that smartphone I guess it will already broke down even before you can mine the amount of the phone you bought. The phone has 4gb ram and a 646 gb storage, this mobile could run a 2 bitcoin codes given the specs but I still think its not profitable to use that phone. But I am still open for correction, if there will be people who can profit enough more than the value of that phone in a few months then guess I am wrong.

I don't think it's made for mining. Mining is the act of making new blocks as far as I know, and these full nodes aren't responsible for making those blocks. They are the ones who only validate transactions using their computing power and relay their validation to the network. They are the ones who want to help make transactions validated faster because the more nodes connected to the network, the less queue time transactions need to go through because there are more available computing resources in total. I don't think they're made to profit, it's just like donating/contributing something to the network.

HammadAli

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Quote from: elda34b on October 22, 2019, 06:38:59 AM

A full bitcoin node with only 64gb of storage? The blockchain size is larger than that and I don't expect this phone will maintain stability if you run it as a 'full node'. It supports extra memory though, but hey, that means you need to spend more money.

A pruned node is what you can run at best but even with that, you can't expect to use it without any problems. Why not build an SPV client for god's sake?

Dont know about the expandable storage option. But if it is there then it can be increased with good amount as compared to real storage.

mindrust

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Something is off. They either come up with a decent new storing and computing power tech or they don't know what a full node means. It will eat up your mobile data plans too and that's very precious in many countries.

This is probably just one of those "Hey we are going blockchain!" kinda advertisement.

Mandoy

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Given the specs of the phone I dont still think it is profitable enough to mine bitcoin using a phone. I think its not worth it given the value of that smartphone I guess it will already broke down even before you can mine the amount of the phone you bought. The phone has 4gb ram and a 646 gb storage, this mobile could run a 2 bitcoin codes given the specs but I still think its not profitable to use that phone. But I am still open for correction, if there will be people who can profit enough more than the value of that phone in a few months then guess I am wrong.

Topic: HTC Launches Blockchain Phone With Full Bitcoin Node (Read 203 times)