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

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

#321

Post by rapind »

jarko27 wrote: post #279
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…

Thanks for giving it a test drive! I'm thinking also about adding an option to have like 50% chance of a popup or a 75% chance, so it's less predictable. I first made it as every 2nd, 3d and so on, but maybe adding a randomness to it will be better? WDYT?

Can you track how long since the last unlock? I think adding a TTL of say 5 minutes to not be asked again after answering would probably eliminate the majority of annoyances.

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

#322

Post by jarko27 »

rapind wrote: post #321
jarko27 wrote: post #279

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for giving it a test drive! I'm thinking also about adding an option to have like 50% chance of a popup or a 75% chance, so it's less predictable. I first made it as every 2nd, 3d and so on, but maybe adding a randomness to it will be better? WDYT?

Can you track how long since the last unlock? I think adding a TTL of say 5 minutes to not be asked again after answering would probably eliminate the majority of annoyances.

Yes. App already has a setting call Cooldown. It allows to have time after phone lock during which the app won't pop-up again. Not sure if that's what you are suggesting, and it's max time right now is 3 minutes.

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

#323

Post by Ylpertnodi »

j45 wrote: post #255

The mobile app Opal and others do a good job too. I dare everyone to try putting their phone into grayscale instead of color display.

Yay! I've been on greyscreen for about two months now. Phone used much, much less, each week.

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

#324

Post by mrkramer »

jarko27 wrote: post #301
mrkramer wrote: post #233

Even more cooler idea would be that the app restricts you to only communication apps when you choose "communication" intent or when you choose "boredom" it prompts you to enjoy IRL activities and tells you to leave your device aside. That would make it even more interactive and fun.

Well, that would be ideal. But as soon as I think about implementation I realize how complicated it is to make such an intelligent system that would understand intent and based on intent adapt the action. In theory, it all can be manually connected, but then it would require a complicated setup. Of course, it's only from an implementation perspective. From the UX it can be trivial.

Idk, my impression always was and is that Android app development is complex, especially when you got Java in the mix....maybe now it's easier when Kotlin is around.

Your idea is very good and you can even monetize your app by selling ad space when users choose "boredom" then you can recommend them sponsored apps and games.

This idea would be also interesting on PC, when users lock their screens and then come back to do something. Maybe it can even be part of some diary/note taking app where when you unlock your screen note window pops up and asks you "What are you planning to do now?".

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

#325

Post by goda90 »

I've been day dreaming about an Android launcher that has a section for tool apps that you can access freely, and then a section for distractions that either guides you towards a "productive" distraction, or makes you wait for a timer before you can open a distracting app.

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

#326

Post by jarko27 »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #286
jarko27 wrote: post #279

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for giving it a test drive! I'm thinking also about adding an option to have like 50% chance of a popup or a 75% chance, so it's less predictable. I first made it as every 2nd, 3d and so on, but maybe adding a randomness to it will be better? WDYT?

For my use case, randomness would make it even worse. For muscle memory, consistency is key. I don't know what the solution is - ideally, the app would not interrupt such quick actions like unlocking to take a photo or switch the song, but in practice, it can't exactly guess what I'm going to do before I do it. I was thinking about maybe "unlock and don't show the popup for the next 5 minutes", but then I already kno…

You also can try setting nudge Cooldown. It will prevent nudge from popping up during Cooldown period. For now it's 3 minutes max, but I can easily add more options in next release.

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

#327

Post by iljya »

Last year I laser-cut a replica of my phone out of wood. I looked at it, said the words "this is my phone", and put it in my pocket, where I normally carried my phone. You wouldn't believe how many times I mindlessly pulled out this piece of wood from my pocket, intending to check messages, or whatever. When I placed it on the table while having dinner with a friend, my inner eye was looking at it, thinking maybe there is a new message. It was absolutely absurd and scary. You can try this out yourself.

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

#328

Post by j45 »

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…

Separate devices for work and personal might help manage these use cases.

Tools that help with managing digital health and screen use can help you slow down access to any problematic apps a bit more than others.

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

#329

Post by anonyme-honteux »

mrkramer wrote: post #324
jarko27 wrote: post #301

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, that would be ideal. But as soon as I think about implementation I realize how complicated it is to make such an intelligent system that would understand intent and based on intent adapt the action. In theory, it all can be manually connected, but then it would require a complicated setup. Of course, it's only from an implementation perspective. From the UX it can be trivial.

Idk, my impression always was and is that Android app development is complex, especially when you got Java in the mix....maybe now it's easier when Kotlin is around. Your idea is very good and you can even monetize your app by selling ad space when users choose "boredom" then you can recommend them sponsored apps and games. This idea would be also interesting on PC, when users lock their screens and then come back to…

Kotlin is a great langage, but Android being difficult was not about Java but about Android APIs being terrible.

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

#330

Post by jarko27 »

tasn wrote: post #298
jarko27 wrote: post #281

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow. It's so cool to see such a project. I even remember in 2019 finding an app that was using a popup after unlock to learn words of a foreign language, unfortunately, it closed and I cannot recall the name. I would be happy to see the notes.

I think it could potentially be us too, though not sure. It was a very flexible product and we had a variety of use-cases. :) We also had a lock screen app that you needed to play a tune on an instrument in order to unlock the screen. This too died because of Google maintenance burden (it had 500k downloads IIRC). Here's what I could find about that one: https://music-lock.en.softonic.com/android

That app I mentioned also had iOS version as well. I don't know how they made it, because AFAIK any customisation to unlock/lock process weren't allowed on iOS from the very beginning.

But nevertheless. It's a bit disappointing that major operating systems are becoming more closed for developers to create such beautiful apps

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