I don't have a smartphone or at least I wish I didn't
1–10 of 267 posts
Re: I don't have a smartphone or at least I wish I didn't
#2I want to use GrapheneOS without the ability to access the browser and without the ability to install new apps. At least without a password. A long one written down on paper would be enough friction for me. You could also give it to a trusted person. You can also write/give only a portion of a password and then memorize the other part.
Afaict there's not an effective way to do this like you can on iPhones with Apple Configurator [1].
Removing appstores from secondary profile and browser with ADB has a workaround (which I won't say in case someone uses that setup). Another drawback is enabling ADB is bad for security.
Dumbphones are stupid because they're overpriced, not secure, and lack awesome apps like maps or Signal. And I already have a phone.
[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45171200 this is seriously great if you have an iPhone, I used to use it before I switched to GrapheneOS.
Re: I don't have a smartphone or at least I wish I didn't
#3I do not have one (and it's actually true.) And it's not easy. :-(
Re: I don't have a smartphone or at least I wish I didn't
#4I went back to a old Motorola phone not once but twice. Both attempts were unsuccessful. For directions I got a Garmin potable gos navigator. Once I was coming back from somewhere with my kids and it was 10:30 pm. They were hungry and wanted pizza. I used the Garmin gps and went to the restaurant but it was closed. That happened because the gps unit did not have the latest information. My family was mad and I went back to smartphone. The second time my extended family living outside the country were mad because they couldn’t call me on WhatsApp. So I went back to my smartphone. Totally two failed attempts at using a dumb phone.
Re: I don't have a smartphone or at least I wish I didn't
#5I get it, I really hate it too. When I don't want to use my phone, I just leave it somewhere in the house and forget about it for a couple of days.
Re: I don't have a smartphone or at least I wish I didn't
#6> Just in my toilet, I’m supposed to have an app for the seat, an app for the flush and one for the ventilation.
There should be some sort of unofficial rule that if you’re writing something that strains credulity, you should actually link to something that explains it.
Re: I don't have a smartphone or at least I wish I didn't
#7Installing an app vs scanning a qr code is vastly different. That being said, I won't do either to see s menu.
Re: I don't have a smartphone or at least I wish I didn't
#8No one actually believes you if you say that. Even if it is true.
Re: I don't have a smartphone or at least I wish I didn't
#9I do have a smartphone, but I don't seem to feel the pain the author feels about being inundated by QR codes and apps. Maybe I have all the apps I need already? Maybe I just don't mind having an app on my phone because I know that I can set it to basically never bother me. Most of my apps have notifications silenced. My home screen is empty, save the handful of apps I do want. And for the little bit of effort I put forth to tweak the device to my liking, I get the world in my pocket - a full browser, every song I've ever liked, every picture I've ever taken, all my scanned documents, etc - not to mention all my loved ones available at a moment's notice. My battery lasts long enough, and when it doesn't, it's because I was using the device. I just don't understand the complaint I guess. Make the device work for you, not the other way around?
Re: I don't have a smartphone or at least I wish I didn't
#10When you buy something from a medium-sized shop in India, they would insist for your phone number, as their POS app have that field as almost mandatory. I had to fight at a pharmacy checkout, holding up the queue behind me, as I refuse to give my phone number.