Earlier quoted context omitted.
Nope. All features of focus modes alone, I think.
Just the greyscale needs a shortcut automation.
Oh I didn’t catch that part. It makes sense that wouldn’t be available by default as a focus option.
Minimal phone gets back to basics with E Ink display and real keyboard
121–130 of 168 posts
Re: Minimal phone gets back to basics with E Ink display and real keyboard
#122These types of phones keep getting made and people keep not buying them in any significant numbers. I think people want to want this kind of phone. But it ends up being a kind of performance art thing / statement about modern society thing more than filling an actual demand in the market.
While I don’t disagree with you, I think you have to be heavily plugged into tech news to even know they exist in the first place. I’d guess 99.9% of people have no idea such things exist even if they did want one.
Re: Minimal phone gets back to basics with E Ink display and real keyboard
#123Ugh another minimal phone that tries to sell me new hardware. I don't think there's anything wrong with current smartphone hardware. What I want is someone to reimagine the OS. My phone should be like a Startrek Tricorder - a very advanced tool that can assist me with anything. The key metric should be how much time it saves me... not how much time I waste using it. What I don't want is spyware, ads, and interactions…
Problem is, most people so want that also don’t want to pay for it, let alone pay more for hardware or software than they do for the spystuff. So the vicious cycle continues
Re: Minimal phone gets back to basics with E Ink display and real keyboard
#124Earlier quoted context omitted.
Maybe price is a factor? If this thing cost $100 you'd see mass adoption.
My guess is that the people who want minimal phones buy feature phones. They are less of investment for lifestyle change, can be used as secondary phones, and have nostalgia. I bet this phone would be more popular if it looked more like Blackberry.
I’d guess effectively no one knows they exist in the first place.
Re: Minimal phone gets back to basics with E Ink display and real keyboard
#125> Can I use apps on Minimal? > Yes, Minimal runs on Android, allowing you to download and use essential apps. However, the e-ink display and device optimization are geared towards minimizing unnecessary distractions. That answers the only question I had about this. You still get full access to every app you need, it just increases the friction (via the low refresh rate and the lack of colors) so you can't doomscroll.…
Isn't bluetooth bundled with every wifi chip / mobile soc these days?
I thought so too.
Re: Minimal phone gets back to basics with E Ink display and real keyboard
#126I appreciate these basic phones but what I need is something different. I would prefer 2 phones: a regular smartphone and a basic feature phone. Then I’d take the one I need when I leave the house. The problem is you either need two lines with your carrier or swap physical sims. Swapping physical sims is inconvenient and means you cant use an esim.
Cellular watch + earbuds would do that for the basic phone part, and it shares the number with your full smartphone.
Re: Minimal phone gets back to basics with E Ink display and real keyboard
#127Ugh another minimal phone that tries to sell me new hardware. I don't think there's anything wrong with current smartphone hardware. What I want is someone to reimagine the OS. My phone should be like a Startrek Tricorder - a very advanced tool that can assist me with anything. The key metric should be how much time it saves me... not how much time I waste using it. What I don't want is spyware, ads, and interactions…
> What I don't want is spyware, ads, and interactions designed to maximize my engagement. Turn off notifications. > Every single blocker app completely sucks Install 1Blocker (indie dev) and turn on the on-device firewall. Works like magic. > Screen time on iOS isn't enough Have more self control. ;-) > Sometimes I don't have the willpower to overcome the digital crack But seriously, use Screen Time to disable Safari…
>> Screen time on iOS isn't enough
> Have more self control. ;-)
Focus modes are more powerful and customizable, sounds like what GP wants to me.
Change wallpapers, notification preferences, show/hide apps, all sorts of stuff.
Re: Minimal phone gets back to basics with E Ink display and real keyboard
#128Earlier quoted context omitted.
Depends on your particular flavor of 'real' dev. https://vscode.dev/ and an SSH app and a web browser.
My bar is being able to execute a compiled binary produced with clang/gcc.
Locally? Despite how powerful an iPad is I have no expectation you’re going to be able to do it anytime soon.
Re: Minimal phone gets back to basics with E Ink display and real keyboard
#129The best minimal phone is a cellular smart watch.
Now if these could operate in stand-alone mode... but both Wear OS and watchOS require a companion phone.
You could buy an older iPhone to use with it and just basically keep the phone at home in a drawer.
There is a mode for the watch that is designed to let you give them to family members who don’t have phones (think small children or maybe the elderly) but from what I’ve heard it’s a buggy hassle.
Re: Minimal phone gets back to basics with E Ink display and real keyboard
#130I appreciate these basic phones but what I need is something different. I would prefer 2 phones: a regular smartphone and a basic feature phone. Then I’d take the one I need when I leave the house. The problem is you either need two lines with your carrier or swap physical sims. Swapping physical sims is inconvenient and means you cant use an esim.
One option that tends toward this is to have a cellular modem which tethers to the device of your choice. SIM is assigned to that device.
Voice comms go over a VOIP service such as Jitsi or whatevs.
Carry the VOIP device you want to use, whether a minimal comms-only device, or a more capable tablet or laptop which you can talk to.
A device which talks to a headset or transport-based option (e.g., your car's Bluetooth system) might also be convenient. The idea that you need a full-compute device with a high-res screen just to make voice calls is ... somewhat silly.
The main concern I have with this is the level of phone spam either now present or in the likely future. You'll want a comms system which filters out unknown and/or suspect calls. PSTN, of any stripe (POTS, mobile, VOIP) isn't cutting it any more.