Recently call quality on our normal mobile phone connections have severely degraded. (At least in the places I visit in NL and especially while in a moving vehicle.) I switched to using FaceTime audio and with the noise cancellation the audio quality is superb and I would t want to go back. So although I would love to use a minimal phone like this I would want to keep all the benefits of modern day audio connections.
Rotary Un-Smartphone Kit
21–30 of 73 posts
Re: Rotary Un-Smartphone Kit
#22I would use this as my daily-driver phone if it were to enable a Wifi hotspot so that my smart device - in the other pocket - could access e.g. Telegram.
Re: Rotary Un-Smartphone Kit
#23Honestly some great ideas (better antenna, e-ink display for basic SMSing, quick dial, probably huge battery life), but they can't be serious about the rotary dial. > Previously, phones with physical keys required a clamshell (flip) form-factor to prevent unintended dialing. Rotary dials are naturally resistant to butt dialing. You can solve butt dialing with a number of ways, like another hardware switch. This solut…
This particular kind of novelty is kind of appealing to people who want to be conspicuously, obstreperously Luddite, while still carrying a mobile phone. I admit I kind of want one of these novel bits of tech just to show off how Luddite I am.
I know this is off topic and it's not a criticism of your comment but I think it's a shame that Luddite has become so watered down. The real life Luddites put their lives on the line in the fight against industrial weaving. The didn't just avoid using a steam loom while drinking an almond latte.
Re: Rotary Un-Smartphone Kit
#24Is there a term for faux retro products? Modern tech used to emulate past hardware?
The term I'm thinking is "pastiche". I usually apply it to "Disney World" type of items or places that try and recreate the feel of a different time. Some "speakeasy" bars fall in to that category.
Re: Rotary Un-Smartphone Kit
#25Honestly some great ideas (better antenna, e-ink display for basic SMSing, quick dial, probably huge battery life), but they can't be serious about the rotary dial. > Previously, phones with physical keys required a clamshell (flip) form-factor to prevent unintended dialing. Rotary dials are naturally resistant to butt dialing. You can solve butt dialing with a number of ways, like another hardware switch. This solut…
This particular kind of novelty is kind of appealing to people who want to be conspicuously, obstreperously Luddite, while still carrying a mobile phone. I admit I kind of want one of these novel bits of tech just to show off how Luddite I am.
I had to lookup "obstreperously." Thank you for teaching me a new word.
Re: Rotary Un-Smartphone Kit
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
This particular kind of novelty is kind of appealing to people who want to be conspicuously, obstreperously Luddite, while still carrying a mobile phone. I admit I kind of want one of these novel bits of tech just to show off how Luddite I am.
I know this is off topic and it's not a criticism of your comment but I think it's a shame that Luddite has become so watered down. The real life Luddites put their lives on the line in the fight against industrial weaving. The didn't just avoid using a steam loom while drinking an almond latte.
first definition in a dictionary says Luddite is someone opposed to new technology. your definition has been moved to the second definition of the word. so the world has moved past you and you now seem to be a Luddite (of sorts) hanging on to a definition of the word the world has found less useful.
Re: Rotary Un-Smartphone Kit
#27Earlier quoted context omitted.
As I see it, the rotary dial is the main feature, the rest are just nice things to have (that you can get elsewhere from many dumb phones). It's an extremely cool project and I can't wait to get one!
You know you can just get a vintage one for a song, real beauties, heavy enough to clobber a would be assassin. https://www.ebay.com/sch/182098/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=rotary...
In no way would these qualify as mobile
Re: Rotary Un-Smartphone Kit
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
As I see it, the rotary dial is the main feature, the rest are just nice things to have (that you can get elsewhere from many dumb phones). It's an extremely cool project and I can't wait to get one!
You know you can just get a vintage one for a song, real beauties, heavy enough to clobber a would be assassin. https://www.ebay.com/sch/182098/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=rotary...
Weight is helpful not only for fighting off assassins. A dial telephone needs to be heavy with good non-slip feet or you have to hold it down while dialling. The UK Trimphone weighed 800 g and people complained that dialling with it was difficult.
Re: Rotary Un-Smartphone Kit
#29For me, a minimalist alternative phone would need to be able to hotspot a more flexible device (tablet, laptop) for when other tasks are required. Else, I’d need a second mobile account.
"So you convince yourself that you only need to implement 20% of the features, and you can still sell 80% as many copies. Unfortunately, it’s never the same 20%."
https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2001/03/23/strategy-letter-iv...
Re: Rotary Un-Smartphone Kit
#30Given that the site is down and this is hn, I’ll just add that I’ve been planning to make something like this with an old 302 rotary, pulse to tone converter, pap2t, asterisk, and a program yet to be made that hooks it all up as a mic/headset for a computer.