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The Light Phone

thelightphone.com

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Re: The Light Phone

#101

Post by nradov »

mrspeaker wrote: post #78
crashedsnow wrote: post #68

Feels like a solution looking for a problem to me. Not only are phones trending away from being "phones" (rather portable internet terminals) but I'd wager the largest portion of smartphone use is content consumption, rather than content creation/collaboration. Both of which would suggest this device is a long, long way from product-market fit.

I think it's in the zeitgeist a bit now. Some people (I'm certainly one) are looking to unhook from their phones - get away from convenience and immediacy and... the internet in general (typing this from Emacs, so it seems more forgivable!). I know at least 5 people - a large percentage of my close network ;) - who would be interested in this device. I'm sure there's a big enough market for it if the execution is rig…

Your network isn't representative of the broader market. Only a tiny niche are actively looking to unhook. Sure plenty of people will claim they want to do so because they think they ought to. But they're not willing to pay actual money for it.

Re: The Light Phone

#102

Post by cheez »

Abishek_Muthian wrote: post #100
cheez wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have DnD 24x7 and it is bliss.

How is your relationship with your friends who are not located close to you? P.S. Please don't mind the bland nature of my question.

We usually pick up right where we left off. Most big news are communicated directly through WhatsApp. I obviously check my messages every once in a while.

Re: The Light Phone

#103

Post by shawnz »

mumblemumble wrote: post #97
ekianjo wrote: post #69

You can do exactly that kind of things with your regular smartphone by not installing tons of apps that disturb you all the time. As far as I know the user is pretty much in control of what apps they choose to add.

You can, but, IMO, smartphones are starting to feel like a money pit, too, not just a time pit. You spend $500 - $1500 on a device that can't be expected to last more than 4 years (presumably a fair bit less if you cut too close to the $500 end of the range), and will have an annoyingly short battery life in 2 years. You have to constantly be careful with it, because if you drop it or it gets scratched by a key or so…

My current device, the moto e5 play, retailed for $120. It still works just fine for me for use cases like web browsing, 720p video, remote desktop, etc. Prior to that I had the e4 which worked great until I dropped it down 5 flights of stairs.

Regarding the battery health issue, I have found the biggest factor to be not recharging soon enough. Don't let your battery drop too low and you will have substantially better battery health.

EDIT: The moto e6 retails for $99.

Re: The Light Phone

#105

Post by Abishek_Muthian »

_hhff wrote: post #99
Abishek_Muthian wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Congratulations on the launch of Light Phone 2. I like the premise of E-Ink as smartphone display for anyone who uses the smartphone display for text, light static graphics consumption. I'm seeing more manufacturers trying to bring cheaper E-Ink smartphones to the market[1][2]. I understand the philosophy of Light Phone and thereby it not having Internet browser; but, HN on Kindle Oasis has always been a pleasant exp…

Thank you! And yes - including a browser was a big debate, but ultimately we wanted to ensure minimalism and restraint was enforced on the software level. A browser means instagram, facebook and email are all readily accessible. A lot of users like our device because it’s impossible to get to those platforms... That said - grids of instagram selfies rendered to a 2.84” Eink screen would surely be an interesting art e…

It is a wise SW development decision, I see the browser development on Alt-SmartPhone OS like Ubuntu Touch being its Achilles heel; by removing Internet browser you've created more value for your target audience and saved yourself from the perils of browser development!

Re: The Light Phone

#106

Post by nisse72 »

troymc wrote: post #76
crashedsnow wrote: post #68

Feels like a solution looking for a problem to me. Not only are phones trending away from being "phones" (rather portable internet terminals) but I'd wager the largest portion of smartphone use is content consumption, rather than content creation/collaboration. Both of which would suggest this device is a long, long way from product-market fit.

I can see this phone being a great fit for certain markets, such as senior citizens who like to talk on the phone, but who get baffled by the complexity of modern smartphones.

For about $50 you can (still) get a Nokia 3310.

Re: The Light Phone

#107

Post by adregan »

tashoecraft wrote: post #11

I think an Apple Watch with cellular accomplishes a lot of what light phone does. Leave your phone behind and just keep all the social apps off the watch (they’re not really usable anyway). You can still accomplish a lot of what you need from a phone, and pair some AirPods and you have music, podcasts, easy hands free calling

I'd love to a have a small limited device, but I'd rather not wear an Apple Watch as I prefer analog watches for aesthetic reasons. I suppose I could keep it in my pocket, but that's a little weird.

Re: The Light Phone

#108

Post by taspeotis »

mrspeaker wrote: post #78
crashedsnow wrote: post #68

Feels like a solution looking for a problem to me. Not only are phones trending away from being "phones" (rather portable internet terminals) but I'd wager the largest portion of smartphone use is content consumption, rather than content creation/collaboration. Both of which would suggest this device is a long, long way from product-market fit.

I think it's in the zeitgeist a bit now. Some people (I'm certainly one) are looking to unhook from their phones - get away from convenience and immediacy and... the internet in general (typing this from Emacs, so it seems more forgivable!). I know at least 5 people - a large percentage of my close network ;) - who would be interested in this device. I'm sure there's a big enough market for it if the execution is rig…

But you can just buy a feature phone now? There are decent ones from Nokia.

Re: The Light Phone

#109

Post by AndrewKemendo »

ricardobeat wrote: post #41

I got mine still in the box in a drawer somewhere. The main selling point for me were the additional features compared to the original. From the FAQ: > These tools are currently being developed and will be released in the coming few months These tools being the promised features of Music / Notes / Calculator / Directions / Ride hailing, and "coming months" being the end of 2019. It's been almost two years since the l…

I thought the whole point of this phone was to NOT have those things.

Re: The Light Phone

#110

Post by cptskippy »

Zenst wrote: post #18
billyhoffman wrote: post #12

I get this is supposed to be minimalist but the texting interaction looks really rough. You read threaded conversations in portrait mode but to reply it switches you to landscape mode where you can’t see the conversation and can only see the reply you’re typing. Nokia candy bar phones from the mid 90s let me type a reply while looking at what I was replying to. This seems like an oversight

I'd say the Nokia still wins out over this, that's without even looking at the price. How many Nokia's could you get for $350. Then there is this aspect: https://news.ycombinator.com/from?site=thelightphone.com Which does kinda make you wonder many things, more so, that price. Everything else seems to of been already covered in past discussions over the many many years.

I paid $500 for an unlocked Nokia 6590 around 2002.
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