Show HN: App that asks ‘why?’ every time you unlock your phone • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: App that asks ‘why?’ every time you unlock your phone

#221

Post by iLoveOncall » Wed, Nov 27, 2024, 4:44 PM UTC

littlecranky67 wrote: post #30

iLoveOncall wrote: post #17

I haven't seen any of those apps (or built-in OS features like screen time on iOS) not become useless in a matter of days. People that will use their phone for distraction (which I don't think there's actually anything wrong with) will take only a few days to get "notification fatigue" from those screens and automatically bypass them without even thinking about it. I get that you can prevent bypassing the screen as y…

> There's not a single person (myself included) I have seen use screen time not automatically bypass the limitation instantly as it pops up. You can take the more drastic approach and lock yourself out of your phone by changing it's unlock code and use a timelock [0] to prevent yourself from bypassing it for a given time. Works also with parental-control like Apps that require you to enter a password/code to unlock.…

I think that's extremely dangerous and I would never consider this to be honest. My phone is my only phone, and I need to be able to call emergency services, or answer an important call, at unexpected times.

If I reached the point where I was comfortable literally being unable to use my phone for a period of time, I would just not have a phone or not carry it with me.

Re: Show HN: App that asks ‘why?’ every time you unlock your phone

#222

Post by edm0nd » Wed, Nov 27, 2024, 4:46 PM UTC

al_borland wrote: post #190

flaviomartins wrote: post #162

I use this on iOS https://one-sec.app

I usually just delete the app if it's dominating my time on the phone or drawing me to it.

I went another route. I bought a second phone.

I have my regular main phone that I use M-F for work and personal.

then I bought a second phone and installed GrapheneOS on it. I use this phone when I go out or doing anything on the weekends. I only have a few contacts on it and only 2 apps that I use that are my banking app and Signal. Keeps all the distractions away from me.

I bought a used unlocked Pixel 7 Pro off eBay for $250 so it wasnt the cheapest route but sure makes it really easy.

Re: Show HN: App that asks ‘why?’ every time you unlock your phone

#223

Post by echelon » Wed, Nov 27, 2024, 4:47 PM UTC

TeMPOraL wrote: post #213

I installed this in the morning to give it a test drive, and after several hours, I learned the following: it's great when I reach for the phone as a distraction; it's a big annoyance otherwise. E.g. each time I want to change the currently playing song, what was muscle memory gets scrambled by the interruption. Or, when I'm taking a lot of photos (like on my daughter's kindergarten event today), I tend to keep the s…

This is where an OS-based agent would help. If it semantically understood the tasks we're trying to accomplish, it could filter the cases we care about.

I'm even more excited about browser or OS agents being able to unilaterally scrub the web of all advertisements, spam, polarized toxicity, etc. Forget adblock - I can effectively block all the bad things Google, Meta, Twitter, etc. do and their army of PMs won't be able to stop me.

This tech is going to rip the advertiser and algorithmic madness out of the internet and make it serve me and only me.

Re: Show HN: App that asks ‘why?’ every time you unlock your phone

#224

Post by Y_Y » Wed, Nov 27, 2024, 4:49 PM UTC

throwaway290 wrote: post #153

mongol wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agree. I had a free app with 100000 downloads, no ads and 4.5 rating on Play store, it is no longer there because I got fed up with Google's nagging. If I will do free things going forward, I will do them outside closed ecosystems.

It is economically better for google if your free app is gone and someone makes a paid app or an app with ads...

Interesting point. I think that the availability of good free apps on Play Store has a positive effect on the market for Android phones in general. I know it factors into people's decision of phone religion that apps are more likely to charge on Apple's store (even sometimes for an app which is free on Android).

All that said, F-droid is the only one I'll ever love.

Re: Show HN: App that asks ‘why?’ every time you unlock your phone

#225

Post by bornfreddy » Wed, Nov 27, 2024, 4:50 PM UTC

TeMPOraL wrote: post #213

I installed this in the morning to give it a test drive, and after several hours, I learned the following: it's great when I reach for the phone as a distraction; it's a big annoyance otherwise. E.g. each time I want to change the currently playing song, what was muscle memory gets scrambled by the interruption. Or, when I'm taking a lot of photos (like on my daughter's kindergarten event today), I tend to keep the s…

Maybe the app should kick in only if you start using one of the "bad" apps, like a browser or a social network app? Being in the way when I want to snap a quick photo doesn't sound nice.

Re: Show HN: App that asks ‘why?’ every time you unlock your phone

#226

Post by jbobrow » Wed, Nov 27, 2024, 4:54 PM UTC

flaviomartins wrote: post #162

I use this on iOS https://one-sec.app

Same. Installed for ~ 1 year, deleted after my muscle memory adapted. It was an inconvenience for some of the apps that I would actually need access to some of the time, but then again, it is a less obvious inconvenience when excessive amounts of time were spent in apps I showed up to do one thing in... All that to say. I think these tools are great, and ideally they assist us in shaping our behaviors to match our intent. A little more system 2 than system 1 thinking.

Re: Show HN: App that asks ‘why?’ every time you unlock your phone

#227

Post by nosduhz » Wed, Nov 27, 2024, 4:56 PM UTC

On iOS, I've tried nearly everything, but here's what's lasted more than a few months.

1. A physical blocker like Brick (getbrick.app) and/or a Kitchen Timer Safe (KSafe).

2. One Sec app

I'll occasionally leave my phone at home and use only an Apple Watch with LTE.

These are the only flows that haven't become frustrating over time and have worked to cut screen time and addicted apps (or altogether).

Re: Show HN: App that asks ‘why?’ every time you unlock your phone

#228

Post by koevet » Wed, Nov 27, 2024, 5:00 PM UTC

bornfreddy wrote: post #225

TeMPOraL wrote: post #213

I installed this in the morning to give it a test drive, and after several hours, I learned the following: it's great when I reach for the phone as a distraction; it's a big annoyance otherwise. E.g. each time I want to change the currently playing song, what was muscle memory gets scrambled by the interruption. Or, when I'm taking a lot of photos (like on my daughter's kindergarten event today), I tend to keep the s…

Maybe the app should kick in only if you start using one of the "bad" apps, like a browser or a social network app? Being in the way when I want to snap a quick photo doesn't sound nice.