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Why I’m Using a Flip Phone

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Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone

#131

Post by systemtest »

deanclatworthy wrote: post #123
rpearl wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

don't put work email on your phone

In Finland at least, most employers provide your phone and contract. Of course you can take a separate one but then you’re carrying two phones. I’ve been dying for gmail and workplace (fb for work) to add a feature so I can stop work related notifications after 17. Having this at iOS level would be great also.

When I start at a company I bring my own phone and own data plan. The dev team gets my phone number and nobody else. No work email on my phone, only the work calendar so I know how early to start the day.

That way you don't have to carry two phones, be tied to a dual-sim phone or have troubles when you leave the company (in case you use the company phone number for private calls too).

Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone

#132

Post by jibreel »

ajuc wrote: post #101
boterock wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

that reminded me of how I decided to play Zelda BoTW. Zelda has a 'Pro' mode where it hides all UI but the health. I was fully decided on using it through the whole game and I think it is the best way to play the game. The absence of minimap is the biggest change. When you have your minimap is like when you drive with gps. You only wait til the map says you to turn, and after some turns staring at the minimap you get…

That's the only good way of playing The Witcher 3. They put lots of ui customization, but the defaults are overbearing, you watch ui not the world. At least disable the "?" signs on unexplored areas and the path to next quest objective, game is much more enjoyable without them and not too inconvenient.

I quit playing the game 4 hours into the game, because i felt i was just staring into the map most of the time and not being engaged with the game.

I might give it another go, how did you go on about it ? did you just disable most UI stuff ? and is it still acutally playable ?

Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone

#133

Post by gvurrdon »

RandomInteger4 wrote: post #45

I don't travel much, but when I do, having the ability to not give a flip about knowing directions ahead of time is mentally quite relaxing. Anyone else remember the days of printing out map quest directions only to find that they were out of date or really really wrong? Everything else that comes with a smart phone is an added bonus. EDIT: As far as notification anxiety. I mean, there's a simple way to deal with tha…

Printing out maps sucked. Usually the only way I could manage a long journey would be to stick a summary of the major routes somewhere where it could be glanced at safely, e.g. whilst stopped at traffic lights. I'd make it within a few miles of the destination then get lost and have to pull over to read the map. This was better than the alternative of having the traditional map-reading conversation* whilst driving, though.

I tried dedicated satnavs but they always seemed to be quite expensive, not always reliable and a bit of a hassle to keep updated. The iPhone 3G (inc. S) was OK but its GPS wasn't sensitive enough and it usually resorted to shouting out random directions when in a city centre. Later iOS devices seem better, as do Android phones even of the same era as the iPhone mentioned above. Google maps has been very good, though the reporting of my position to Google isn't something I care for.

* - Which turn should I take at this junction? - How am I supposed to know? - You have the map. - How should I know where we are on it? It doesn't make any sense! etc. etc.

Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone

#134

Post by tostadora »

bikamonki wrote: post #128

20+ years w/out watching TV, yet there is a TV right there on the family room for the occasional movie or soccer match. No need to ditch a very useful device, need discipline to use it wisely.

I'm almost in the same area as you. I have a TV and I use it very sparingly. The difference with smartphones is that the smartphone's applications are engineered to be addictive, which is not the case of TV. There's another important difference between the two: you don't carry your TV all the time with you.

Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone

#135

Post by thom »

MisterOctober wrote: post #53

Dumbphone user since 2006 here. Non-Luddite. Main reasons for avoiding the switch : 1) When not using computers for work [or chess] purposes, I want to spend as little time as practical staring at a screen. I have lots of non-computer activities to attend to [gardening, studying, home maintenance, etc etc] and a family to look after. 2) I am a strong adherent to the notion that one is well-advised to maintain awarene…

Ha, funny that you mention chess, because I've had to delete the Lichess app from my phone, as I realised I'd always be making correspondence moves or trying to play blitz to fill gaps in my day, playing _terribly_ because I wasn't concentrating, and feeling bad all day because I lost.

Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone

#136

Post by Retric »

dancek wrote: post #92
systemtest wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If my train has a delay or doesn't run at all, I need to know a detour quickly. Sometimes you need to decide within the minute to take another line. Otherwise I have to wait 30 minutes for the next train, if that one even runs. And I need to inform the person that I'm meeting with that I will arrive later (if I didn't have slack in my transit time).

Smartphones make it easier to optimize your transit lines on the fly, sure (yet I'll note the practice existed before smartphones). But there are different philosophies to traveling: some leave at the last possible minutes and ponder the optimal route choice while running to the bus stop. Others aim to be fifteen minutes early, stroll leisurely, watch the scenery and get lost in their thoughts. I suspect someone who…

Being a different type may change the frequency of each situation, but stuff happens so anytime can be in these situations.

Really having a smartphone does not mean you need to use it for much. IMO, the jump to cellphone vs not having one is a bigger downside as someone can call ar any time interrupting your thoughts. But even you can just turn them off, while still benefiting in an emergency.

Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone

#138

Post by fulafel »

deanclatworthy wrote: post #123
rpearl wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

don't put work email on your phone

In Finland at least, most employers provide your phone and contract. Of course you can take a separate one but then you’re carrying two phones. I’ve been dying for gmail and workplace (fb for work) to add a feature so I can stop work related notifications after 17. Having this at iOS level would be great also.

Does accepting the employer's phone mean you are required to have work email on your phone, it's not just for phone calls?

Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone

#139

Post by exegete »

Why I'm Using a Smart Phone

I've thought about this, but I've realized it's not the phone but specific websites/apps that can be time-consuming addictions. I have no social media accounts on my phone, so that seems to prevent a lot of the issues. I do like browsing news sites, but there's only so many times I can see the same story before I get sick of it. I do hate some of the privacy issues that come with a smart phone (certain apps I can't get rid of, I can't change to LineageOS with this phone, etc.)

However, I use the phone for learning a new language while on the bus/train. I also like getting email alerts about the bus/train (accidents, etc). My bus carrier tells you instantly where the bus is, so I can walk to another bus line if the next one is delayed. Podcasts on the phone are also great. I could do all those things with a data plan and laptop, but it's much too big. I don't actually need any of those things but they are a huge convenience for a long commute.

I try to be mindful of my phone use when out with friends. I like the fact that I don't know what's been going on in their lives via social media so then we can catch up.

Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone

#140

Post by ajuc »

jibreel wrote: post #132
ajuc wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's the only good way of playing The Witcher 3. They put lots of ui customization, but the defaults are overbearing, you watch ui not the world. At least disable the "?" signs on unexplored areas and the path to next quest objective, game is much more enjoyable without them and not too inconvenient.

I quit playing the game 4 hours into the game, because i felt i was just staring into the map most of the time and not being engaged with the game. I might give it another go, how did you go on about it ? did you just disable most UI stuff ? and is it still acutally playable ?

I left most stuff on, just disabled quest compass (arrows on minimap), gps (paths on minimap), and the question marks on the map/minimap (IMHO it's the most obviously bad setting - it changes exploration from "this looks interesting I go there" to "there's a question mark, let's see what's it about, oh just another smugglers' cache").

When I get a new quest phase I look it up on the fullscreen map and then just go there, it's playable enough. The dialogs describe places where you need to go usually, but not always well enough to get there without looking at the map at all.

I've seen people play with all ui disabled, even the health bar, but it wasn't convenient for me.

The game is very heavy on plot and characters, it has small tutorial in the castle, and then like 10 hours long bigger tutorial area before the world opens up for real, and you have to understand what's happening and who's who at least a little to enjoy it. Game introduces characters reasonably well, but there's so many of them it's easy to lose track.

Also, bonus tip - in some update few months after the premiere they added "alternative movement controls" - be sure to enable that in the settings if you play with keyboard and mouse. It's much more convenient than the default. It makes the animation of movement look less natural, but much more responsive (you can turn instantly instead of making a circle for example).

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