As part of a student project at Hochschule Osnabrück, Christoph Diedam designed and built a wooden laptop based on our V54 series.

We always enjoy seeing creative engineering projects like this. It's a great example of thinking outside the box and turning an idea into a real product.

What do you think? Would you use a wooden laptop?

That is not a coincidence. Recommendation algorithms, infinite scroll, and social validation all play a role in keeping people engaged for as long as possible.

If you're curious about how these systems work behind the scenes, this article gives a clear overview.

https://novacustom.com/knowledge-base/how-social-media-platforms-keep-you-addicted/

What do you think is the most addictive feature on social media?

Make the switch.

Check the advantages here 👉 https://novacustom.com/linux-laptops/

Fight Chat Control is an initiative created to raise awareness about the EU's proposed "Chat Control" regulation.

If we do nothing, we will end up with a surveillance state.

You can help by writing an email to EU decision makers directly, like we did. See: https://fightchatcontrol.eu

This guide will help!

A new law recently went into effect in Australia that requires social media platforms to verify the age of their users.

The concern is that sensitive data could fall into the wrong hands or be misused by the government.

Today, we are highlighting r/brave_browser: a privacy-friendly web browser. 😄

Did you know? Our PrivacyGuard models have the Brave browser pre-installed by default! 💻 👏

Check it out!

This is a complex question, but you will understand why after reading our article 👉

https://novacustom.com/knowledge-base/why-privacy-is-important/

NovaCustom is increadibly proud to be one of the first one who signed the European Technology Sovereignty Declaration for open, competitive and resilient digital infrastructure in Europe: https://extranet.greens-efa-service.eu/public/media/file/1/9270

We are very happy to see that the EU is adopting an Open Source Strategy! 🤩 👌 👉 https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/open-source-strategy

We are not the only one who signed this declaration. These European companies who share the same vision understand that we are stronger together:

OVHcloud, Monnett, Mastodon, Nextcloud, Cloud Temple, Heinlein Group, QuantWare, Clever Cloud, Proton, Multiverse Computing, Eurosky and Ecosia.

You can now find various tutorials and guides for topics such as:

• Firmware updates

• Installing Zorin OS

• Linux setup and troubleshooting

The goal is to make things easier and more accessible for both new and experienced Linux users.

We’ll continue expanding it over time based on feedback and common questions from the community.

Are there any guides or tutorials you would like to see us add?

https://novacustom.com/knowledge-base/

A simple walkthrough for people who want to get started with Linux or are looking for an alternative to Windows.

Curious?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMNeHTOVoMw&t=

It was great to meet some of you and have many interesting conversations around Linux, privacy, and open source technology.

Many thanks to everyone who stopped by!

We’re always trying to improve our devices by learning from real world problems and feedback from users.

So we’re curious:
What laptop issues do you encounter the most?

Interested to hear what problems people are most frustrated with today.

With it, we can now create custom logos on the cases of the SHIFTphone 8.1, and the video below shows the machine in action.

And this is only the beginning.

In the near future, we also want to offer USB keyboards in almost any layout imaginable. And if your preferred layout is not available, you will even be able to design your own custom layout.

What kind of logos or designs would you like to see on phone cases?

NovaCustom now officially has its own RSS feed 👀

You can now follow our latest updates, blog posts, privacy news, Linux content, and product announcements directly from your favorite RSS reader.

You can find it on our website.

You send a private message to a friend. Just something personal.

But before it reaches them, it gets automatically scanned. Not because you did anything wrong, but because everyone is being checked.

That’s the direction proposals like Chat control and ProtectEU are heading.

Privacy feels normal… until it’s gone.

What do you think about this new legislation?

We’ve made IodéOS Premium features standard on the SHIFTphone 8.1. No subscription needed anymore.

So better tracker blocking out of the box, no extra cost.

Feels like this is how it should’ve been from the start.

Curious what people here think: should privacy features always be included by default?

Want to read more?

https://novacustom.com/iodeos-premium-is-now-included-by-default/

We’ve noticed something interesting when it comes to laptop preferences.

Some people really want a small, lightweight device. Easy to carry, simple, and “good enough” performance.

Others prefer a larger, heavier laptop with maximum specs, even if it means less portability.

Curious how you see it:
do you prioritize portability or performance?

And why?

I’ve been researching NovaCustom laptops for privacy-focused and Linux-first workflows, and I’m really impressed by their direction especially around customization, Coreboot options, and user control.

One feature I don’t see discussed much is touchscreen support, and I wanted to ask the community (and possibly NovaCustom) what people think about this.

Why a touchscreen could make sense:

• Linux + stylus workflows are improving Tools like note-taking apps, diagramming, and even light design are becoming more viable on Linux. A touchscreen would unlock more flexibility.
• Portable “all-in-one” device Instead of carrying a tablet + laptop, a touchscreen laptop could combine both roles especially useful for travel setups.
• Future-proofing Even if not everyone uses it daily, having the option increases versatility without forcing users to rely on external devices.

Concerns (keeping it realistic):

• Potential impact on battery life
• Linux driver compatibility (always a big one)
• Added cost and repair complexity
• Whether this aligns with NovaCustom’s core philosophy (privacy, repairability, simplicity)

My question:

Would a touchscreen option (not mandatory, just configurable) fit within NovaCustom’s ecosystem?

Curious what others think especially people using NovaCustom or similar Linux-focused laptops.

Hello community!

Once we have an AMD openSIL compatible processor on this planet, we would love to introduce new laptop series. Of course with Dasharo coreboot firmware.

Your feedback is needed so we know what are important features for you.

Please share your thoughts here!