Why did SW ON go conservative? Is that normal?

I find that youtube videos can be very helpful if I search for a subject of interest. Freetube has a good search function for youtube. Freetube usually works for me, although sometimes I have to change my vpn location.

I also have a number of channels that I follow using RSS (QuiteRSS). I can be very selective in which channels to follow. I regularly add and delete channels. I use Freetube to search subjects and find channels to follow related to those subjects. I watch the RSS videos in a librewolf browser that deletes cookies every time I shut it down, and it has medium privacy settings.

The youtube feed is horrible, as are the advertisements. I don’t get any advertisements, I am not sure if it is because of adblock or if it is because I never sign in to google/youtube on my device. The sidebar of related videos is somewhat like a feed and contains a lot of junk, but occasionally I find an interesting video or channel by looking at the sidebar while watching a video.

I am happy with the way my setup is working now, but of course things could change at any time.

Email from April 11:

BraX3 April Project Update

Hi everyone,

We’re back with an important update covering three key areas: how we’re adapting to the newly imposed U.S. tariffs, how that change can impact backers, and a short update on our beta program.

Let’s dive in. For U.S. Customers: Navigating the Tariff Challenge Together

We’ve always aimed to do things differently—with more transparency, fairness, and user-first thinking. This moment is no exception.

From the start, we made a conscious decision to ship BraX3 domestically within the U.S.—not from China like most crowdfunded projects. This was meant to save you money and avoid the hassle of customs clearance.

But the recent escalation in trade tensions has changed the landscape. The U.S. has now imposed a 145% tariff on Chinese electronics, making it financially impossible for us to import BraX3 as originally planned without significant losses.

Most companies either freeze deliveries or push 100% of the added cost onto customers. We won’t do that.

Instead, we’ve made a bold move: we’re shifting final assembly to the European Union. This change allows us to:

Regain control of our delivery timeline

Minimize the impact of unpredictable tariff complications

Maintain momentum and keep our promises

Of course, this change adds cost—logistics, disassembly, reassembly, and EU compliance. We’re absorbing the majority of it, but we are asking U.S. customers for a $30 contribution to help close the gap.

Here’s what to expect:

In the next 2 weeks, you’ll receive an email with a secure portal

Through that portal, you can:

    Pay the $30 surcharge

    Add accessories to your order

    Update your shipping information

Full refunds will be available if you decide not to proceed—no questions asked

We know this isn’t ideal, and we wouldn’t ask unless it was truly necessary. But we believe this approach keeps us aligned with the values that brought us all together.

A Note on Delivery Timeline Impact

With the shift to EU-based assembly, we’re also adjusting our estimated delivery timeline.

The logistics of transferring partially assembled units, reassembling them in the EU, and completing the necessary production steps will require an additional 20 days. This pushes our U.S. shipping window to approximately mid-end May 2025.

Additionally, to ensure the product’s EU origin is recognized for customs compliance, there’s a regulatory process we must follow. While we’re working hard to keep this smooth and timely, there’s still a chance it could introduce a few more days of delay—though we’re doing everything possible to avoid that.

We know this isn’t what anyone hoped for, but we also believe this approach gives us greater control, higher quality assurance, and the best path forward under the current global circumstances.

For Non-U.S. Customers: Optional Upgrade to EU Assembly

For our backers outside the U.S., your BraX3 is still set to ship with the original China-based assembly.

However, this shift has also opened up a new opportunity: we’re now offering an optional upgrade to the EU-assembled version of BraX3—bringing the same improvements we’re implementing for U.S. deliveries.

Why consider the upgrade?

Enhanced quality control and handling during final assembly

Compliance with European manufacturing and security standards

Alignment with the changes being made for U.S. units

In the coming weeks, all customers, regardless of location, will receive an email with a link to a dedicated order management portal. Through this portal, you’ll be able to:

Upgrade to the EU-assembled version for $30 (optional)

Add accessories to your existing order

Update your delivery details
Pay VAT as per our terms in the FAQ section (EU-based customers only)

We believe the EU-assembled version adds real value—but if you’re happy with the original assembly plan, no action is needed. Your order will proceed as originally planned.

Beta Devices Are Out & Feedback is Rolling In

We’re also happy to report that the BraX3 beta devices have been shipped and received by most of the selected testers.

Feedback is already flowing in, and we’re addressing bugs with quick turnaround. It’s encouraging to see iodeOS progressing right on schedule, and we’re confident in our momentum toward a stable production release.

In Closing

We’re doing our best to handle real-world challenges with integrity, creativity, and community in mind. Whether you’re a U.S. customer facing a new decision, or a global backer looking to benefit from these improvements—we’re here to make sure the result is still something we can all be proud of.

Thank you for your continued support, trust, and patience.

Plamen

p.s. We recommend listening to the latest live stream on Rob’s channel, where he addresses the challenges and shares our thought process in greater detail.

I am waiting for my Brax3 phone. I am thinking about requesting a refund. I have heard that a Pixel phone with Graphene is a much better choice.

The holy hand grenade of Antioch is one of the most powerful relics known to Christendom.

You are looking at step 1 when you see US actions as related to the federal budget deficit. Step 2 is to reduce the trade deficit and bring home manufacturing and other production. The strategy for Step 2 will be devaluing the $USD.

The biggest issue would be YouTube fingerprinting my RSS browser. But I am trying to learn about privacy, so I don’t know anything.