Ask HN: Have you ever tried to live without a phone? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever tried to live without a phone?

#21

Post by 0xcoffee » Sat, Sep 12, 2020, 1:01 PM UTC

My life improved measurably once I got a phone. Many events happen more or less spontaneously and people will message me in the moment if I want to join something. Since joining facebook and whatsapp I have become a much more social person (in real life).

I don't use facebook for posting, just for messaging. I don't install works apps (teams) on my phone, so if I get a notification, it's usually positive/meaningful one. I mute all group chats.

This is how I keep my phone a positive object in my life.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever tried to live without a phone?

#22

Post by icebraining » Sat, Sep 12, 2020, 1:01 PM UTC

daniellarusso wrote: post #10

Raed667 wrote: post #3

My work requires a smartphone for multi-factor authentication and to unlock the office door (if we ever go back to the office)

For multi-factor, could you use an Android emulator running on your PC? Obviously, that does not work for the doorlock.

Running it on the same machine would defeat much of the purpose.

A better idea is to just turn it on for 2FA, then turn it off again.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever tried to live without a phone?

#23

Post by tmpfs » Sat, Sep 12, 2020, 1:01 PM UTC

I did this intentionally for a few years about five years ago and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The only reason i ended up getting a phone afterwards was to develop mobile software.

As i notice myself get too attached to my device i miss those peaceful years. At the very least leave it behind when you go on holiday if possible.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever tried to live without a phone?

#24

Post by Putintseva » Sat, Sep 12, 2020, 1:01 PM UTC

When I have broked my last hpone, I spend several days without anything. It was hard but in some case greate. I had digital detox)

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever tried to live without a phone?

#25

Post by fl0tingh0st » Sat, Sep 12, 2020, 1:02 PM UTC

I want to try this once. But I'm so much into WhatsApp, Instagram. It will be kind of digital detox. I had deleted twitter and Facebook 6yrs back that was once of the best decision I had made. Now I'm kind of addicted to that Insta feed and Youtube feed. I will be deleting Insta account. But hope will come over the need of WhatsApp and other cool apps and ditch phone completely.

But if you suddenly need a document and you have been out for some work, and you don't have mobile to receive it ? This is the only thing I'm not able to cover it up. Rest if I ditch I can come over it.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever tried to live without a phone?

#26

Post by ivanonchi » Sat, Sep 12, 2020, 1:02 PM UTC

My phone melted down last week and spent a long weekend without it. It was very refreshing, and tempted to stay phone-less, so kind of regret that I used the warranty and received a new one. What a coincidence that I just wrote about the brief experience a few hours ago: https://ivanluque.com/unphoned/

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever tried to live without a phone?

#27

Post by gravitas » Sat, Sep 12, 2020, 1:03 PM UTC

daniellarusso wrote: post #10

Raed667 wrote: post #3

My work requires a smartphone for multi-factor authentication and to unlock the office door (if we ever go back to the office)

For multi-factor, could you use an Android emulator running on your PC? Obviously, that does not work for the doorlock.

This will depend on the solution - a common Enterprise solution, RSA SecureID SoftToken, includes the ability to IMEI lock the app on the user (I am not sure if this is required or optional, I'm an end-user not RSA admin) to ensure it only runs on company provisioned mobiles (many companies use further solutions such as MobileIron on all provisioned devices for fleet management).

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever tried to live without a phone?

#28

Post by tehabe » Sat, Sep 12, 2020, 1:03 PM UTC

Why should I do that? I remember the time w/o cell phones and it was horrible. I never want to go back.

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever tried to live without a phone?

#29

Post by shawnz » Sat, Sep 12, 2020, 1:05 PM UTC

dwighttk wrote: post #15

shawnz wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's very bad for the lifetime of a lithium battery to let it drop all the way to 0% charge

Do most devices wait until 0% to turn off?

No, but the higher the depth of discharge, the worse the degradation will be.

See: https://batteryuniversity.com/index.php/learn/article/how_to...

Re: Ask HN: Have you ever tried to live without a phone?

#30

Post by BlueTemplar » Sat, Sep 12, 2020, 1:05 PM UTC

dwighttk wrote: post #15

shawnz wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's very bad for the lifetime of a lithium battery to let it drop all the way to 0% charge

Do most devices wait until 0% to turn off?

The "0%" is somewhat arbitrary, this is also why it's recommended to keep lithium ion batteries between 25% and 75%.