The science behind an iPhone dumb phone • Hacker News Board

Re: The science behind an iPhone dumb phone

#31

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Jul 16, 2024, 1:07 PM UTC

philshem wrote: post #21

volatilecarbon wrote: post #10

The grayscale suggestion is pretty interesting. I was skeptical it would make any difference, but I tried it and my home screen instantly felt more calming to look at at. It seems like we really underestimate how much visual complexity exhausts us. Not sure how long I'll keep it like that, but I think I'll leave it for now as I've been trying to minimize my phone for a while now (biggest difference was removing socia…

Can someone explain on an iPhone how to set grayscale? The article doesn’t and I’ve been through the Accessibility settings without any success.

[deleted]

Re: The science behind an iPhone dumb phone

#32

Post by sgarland » Tue, Jul 16, 2024, 1:08 PM UTC

philshem wrote: post #21

volatilecarbon wrote: post #10

The grayscale suggestion is pretty interesting. I was skeptical it would make any difference, but I tried it and my home screen instantly felt more calming to look at at. It seems like we really underestimate how much visual complexity exhausts us. Not sure how long I'll keep it like that, but I think I'll leave it for now as I've been trying to minimize my phone for a while now (biggest difference was removing socia…

Can someone explain on an iPhone how to set grayscale? The article doesn’t and I’ve been through the Accessibility settings without any success.

The article mentions enabling Color Filters as a shortcut action via triple-clicking the power button. It just so happens that the default filter is greyscale.

If you want to play around with the other options (or permanently set greyscale), it’s under Settings —> Accessibility —> Display and Text Size —> Color Filters. Or just search Color Filters from the main Settings search bar.

Re: The science behind an iPhone dumb phone

#33

Post by nottorp » Tue, Jul 16, 2024, 1:08 PM UTC

greggsy wrote: post #24

robertlagrant wrote: post #7

I've uninstalled all social media, which is the main notifications hook. I really think the power of apps is in notifications, and it's best to cut them out. If I want to see a Tweet or a Facebook post, probably because someone I know on Whatsapp sent me it, I'll use the website. I don't want to be dragged in by notifications. Anyone else the same?

I disabled notifications for everything except messages years ago. Never looked back.

Yep, no notifications except sms+iMessage. And only family uses that to contact me, and only when it's urgent.

All the other apps, especially chat apps (including family if it's not urgent) are muted, and the mute slider is nailed down so it can't move accidentally.

That should solve 90% of the problem. Even doomscrolling if you ask me, because if the doomscroll app doesn't notify you, you'll forget about it. At first rarely, but more and more often in time.

Re: The science behind an iPhone dumb phone

#34

Post by littlecranky67 » Tue, Jul 16, 2024, 1:10 PM UTC

cocoflunchy wrote: post #18

I have in my backlogs of projects (one day I will have time for them...) an extreme "dumb smartphone". I want to have maps, whatsapp, chatgpt, a document scanner, my banking app, a guitar tuner... these are tools. So I need both an app whitelist (there are only so many apps that I actually use on my phone) and a website blacklist (no more HN, reddit, twitter, facebook, news websites, etc). I can use those on my compu…

An iPhone has this (not widely-known) feature already: Assistive Access Mode [0].

It is meant for elderly or people with disabilities. You can specify which apps to show in a simple grid, no access to any settings and dumbed down rights for the apps. Exiting the assistive access mode requires a 4-digit PIN. You can ask a friend to set the pin for you and write it down on a piece of paper store it in a safe space, or use an online time-lock service [1].

This is NOT the parental control mode where you need to setup stuff from another iCloud account.

[0]: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/assistive-access-iphon...

[1]: https://lockmeout.online

Re: The science behind an iPhone dumb phone

#35

Post by setopt » Tue, Jul 16, 2024, 1:10 PM UTC

robertlagrant wrote: post #7

I've uninstalled all social media, which is the main notifications hook. I really think the power of apps is in notifications, and it's best to cut them out. If I want to see a Tweet or a Facebook post, probably because someone I know on Whatsapp sent me it, I'll use the website. I don't want to be dragged in by notifications. Anyone else the same?

Mass social media: I deleted my Twitter and Facebook accounts years ago. I still use Reddit, but with no app and throwaway accounts. I also use Discord, but only on the computer.

Direct messaging: WhatsApp is installed and in use, but I disabled notification sounds. Work email is only on my work laptop, personal email is on my phone with notifications off.

That leaves iMessage and Signal with notifications on. I use the former with my wife and the latter with my closest friends. But I still mute my phone during focus work.

Re: The science behind an iPhone dumb phone

#36

Post by BigJ1211 » Tue, Jul 16, 2024, 1:11 PM UTC

philshem wrote: post #21

volatilecarbon wrote: post #10

The grayscale suggestion is pretty interesting. I was skeptical it would make any difference, but I tried it and my home screen instantly felt more calming to look at at. It seems like we really underestimate how much visual complexity exhausts us. Not sure how long I'll keep it like that, but I think I'll leave it for now as I've been trying to minimize my phone for a while now (biggest difference was removing socia…

Can someone explain on an iPhone how to set grayscale? The article doesn’t and I’ve been through the Accessibility settings without any success.

accessibility -> display & text size -> Colour Filters.

Turn that on and then you can select "Greyscale" as an option. I have this mapped to the double tap the back of the phone with an accessibility shortcut.

Basically I can double tap the back to toggle greyscale mode.

Re: The science behind an iPhone dumb phone

#37

Post by raoulr » Tue, Jul 16, 2024, 1:11 PM UTC

volatilecarbon wrote: post #10

The grayscale suggestion is pretty interesting. I was skeptical it would make any difference, but I tried it and my home screen instantly felt more calming to look at at. It seems like we really underestimate how much visual complexity exhausts us. Not sure how long I'll keep it like that, but I think I'll leave it for now as I've been trying to minimize my phone for a while now (biggest difference was removing socia…

Accessibility settings make using grayscale easy on iPhone. Three taps on the right button toggles it on/off. Strongly recommend.

Re: The science behind an iPhone dumb phone

#38

Post by skadamat » Tue, Jul 16, 2024, 1:12 PM UTC

For me, there was a hierarchy of habits I had to kick.

1. Being pulled IN to apps and my phone through notifications

Solutions for me:

- Disabling notifications mostly (minus important ones like Uber arriving)

- Customizing Personal focus mode so only family can reach me and keeping phone in this mode by default

2. Being bored in line or while waiting somewhere, so I open Mail or Safari app to click common news / community websites.

Solution for me:

- Clearing history / browser cache from time to time so I have to manually type in these websites. A bit more friction.

- Deleting YouTube or other unlimited content websites but keeping high quality leisure apps (Kindle or Podcasts)

For me, grayscale didn't work

Re: The science behind an iPhone dumb phone

#39

Post by Zambyte » Tue, Jul 16, 2024, 1:12 PM UTC

robertlagrant wrote: post #7

I've uninstalled all social media, which is the main notifications hook. I really think the power of apps is in notifications, and it's best to cut them out. If I want to see a Tweet or a Facebook post, probably because someone I know on Whatsapp sent me it, I'll use the website. I don't want to be dragged in by notifications. Anyone else the same?

The only browser I have on my phone is Firefox Focus (I even disabled chrome and the samsung browser since they can't be deleted), I have deleted Snapchat, Discord, Instagram, etc. My social life is perfectly fine. I just text or call my friends either on Signal or directly using SMS / regular calling. I think it has positively affected my mental health.

I am also at the point where I leave my phone at home when I go out if I can avoid it. The only times I bring it is if I'm going someplace unfamiliar or if I'm specifically trying to coordinate with someone, and they wouldn't be able to reach me otherwise (such as text someone else that I'm with).

Re: The science behind an iPhone dumb phone

#40

Post by sgarland » Tue, Jul 16, 2024, 1:14 PM UTC

dotcoma wrote: post #17

volatilecarbon wrote: post #10

The grayscale suggestion is pretty interesting. I was skeptical it would make any difference, but I tried it and my home screen instantly felt more calming to look at at. It seems like we really underestimate how much visual complexity exhausts us. Not sure how long I'll keep it like that, but I think I'll leave it for now as I've been trying to minimize my phone for a while now (biggest difference was removing socia…

I have only 4 apps on my home screen —- calendar, phone, camera and Safari. I deleted all social media apps years ago. I’m doing fine most days.

Same-ish, except my dock is Phone, Messages, Camera, and Safari.

I never liked any apps on the screen when I had Android, and liked (and still like) its swipe-for-app-drawer mechanism. It’s unfortunate that on iOS it’s more difficult to have a clean Home Screen, and no options that I’m aware of to get the Android launcher actions.