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The Quest for a Dumber Phone

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Re: The Quest for a Dumber Phone

#11

Post by rootusrootus »

patchorang wrote: post #8

I've posted this here before, but I've figured out a way that makes an iPhone work as a semi-smart phone for me. I delete all app that I waste time in, but keep one that are useful. (I won't blow two hours scrolling Lyft, and it's very helpful sometimes) I then set screentime permissions to block websites I don't want to use (like reddit), and prevent app downloads. I set a screentime password and give it to my partn…

This reminds me of when my dad used to ask my mother to hide the peanut butter so he couldn't find it. He was still fat, so clearly that wasn't a perfect solution.

Re: The Quest for a Dumber Phone

#12

Post by dbalatero »

ajsnigrutin wrote: post #10
post_break wrote: post #3

Here's an example of living with the light phone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7G1pWYVtBg Honestly I think using an Android phone with minimal apps, or having two profiles, one for work, one for play/weekends makes the most sense. And on iPhone using screen time to force your grip from app vices makes more sense than the self punishment of these phones. That said my ADHD makes me want to buy one of these https://…

> Here's an example of living with the light phone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7G1pWYVtBg That's expensive for a phone with basically zero features... Why not just buy a nokia 3310 (the new one) for around 60eur, where you get a better, faster phone, with basically the same limitations as any other of the dumbphones, but it's cheaper and works faster and has a better screen? Also, the ergonomics are better, dua…

This idea of "more features, better deal" is a common thing people bring up. However, one of the stronger "features" that draws me to the Light Phone is that they are an opinionated company that designs their product specifically to prevent the distraction/engagement-seeking style of apps that are so prevalent in smartphone ecosystems.

Whether or not that's a feature that resonates with you is, of course, another story!

For me I have the money, would like to vote with it by supporting a company aligned with my interests, and don't mind paying that premium. You might have different finances and prefer the $60 EUR option, and that's fine too.

If you check out Jose's channel (from the article), he reviews tons of these phones and there's likely a sweet spot in there for most people that are curious.

Re: The Quest for a Dumber Phone

#13

Post by yadoomerta »

xcambar wrote: post #2

> Disclosure: Every [the website every.to] co-founder and CEO Dan Shipper is an investor in Light. I do appreciate the disclosure.

idk why you're being downvoted, it did read like an insidious content marketing piece. At least there was a disclosure.

With that said, I've been trying to lock down my smartphone to offline-only apps + text + calls, totally agree with the mission, I've felt so much more distractable of late

Re: The Quest for a Dumber Phone

#14

Post by sparrish »

ajsnigrutin wrote: post #10
post_break wrote: post #3

Here's an example of living with the light phone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7G1pWYVtBg Honestly I think using an Android phone with minimal apps, or having two profiles, one for work, one for play/weekends makes the most sense. And on iPhone using screen time to force your grip from app vices makes more sense than the self punishment of these phones. That said my ADHD makes me want to buy one of these https://…

> Here's an example of living with the light phone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7G1pWYVtBg That's expensive for a phone with basically zero features... Why not just buy a nokia 3310 (the new one) for around 60eur, where you get a better, faster phone, with basically the same limitations as any other of the dumbphones, but it's cheaper and works faster and has a better screen? Also, the ergonomics are better, dua…

Because texting on a Nokia touchpad is terrible plus I'd like to have driving directions and prompts.

Re: The Quest for a Dumber Phone

#16

Post by setgree »

I long for a dumber phone, but I’ve been thinking about all the supplementary devices I’d need to buy to make up for it — basically a printer (+ ink) for tickets and a GPS device with car ride services and google maps built in for getting around.

I _feel_ as though I need those things, at any rate.

Re: The Quest for a Dumber Phone

#17

Post by giantrobot »

patchorang wrote: post #8

I've posted this here before, but I've figured out a way that makes an iPhone work as a semi-smart phone for me. I delete all app that I waste time in, but keep one that are useful. (I won't blow two hours scrolling Lyft, and it's very helpful sometimes) I then set screentime permissions to block websites I don't want to use (like reddit), and prevent app downloads. I set a screentime password and give it to my partn…

I don't use many apps outside a browser, e-mail, and text. Two things that help me are I leave my phone on silent all the time and I disable all notifications. I can't stand notifications. I don't need them. I'm not 911, no one is contacting me with a life threatening emergency, I'll get back to their call or text whenever.

I love having a smartphone because it's a cybernetic appliance. It's awesome. I just don't need it constantly occupying my attention. It's annoying how many apps, even system ones, that want to show notifications all the time. I wish iOS supported an affirmative toggle, let me disable all notifications by default and then let me turn them on one by one. Do not disturb by default and let me affirmatively enable "ok to disturb". I filed ERs to that effect when I was at Apple but I'm sure they went to the Future/NTBF black hole.

Re: The Quest for a Dumber Phone

#18

Post by nlavezzo »

patchorang wrote: post #8

I've posted this here before, but I've figured out a way that makes an iPhone work as a semi-smart phone for me. I delete all app that I waste time in, but keep one that are useful. (I won't blow two hours scrolling Lyft, and it's very helpful sometimes) I then set screentime permissions to block websites I don't want to use (like reddit), and prevent app downloads. I set a screentime password and give it to my partn…

I've done this in the past too and it works. Right now though I have it set so that I know the passcode to unlock it all, but that small amount of pain to go and unlock it is enough to make me pause and think about whether I actually do need to check the news, etc. Very rarely is the answer yes, but when I do need an actual smart phone (confirm a ticket on some random website for example) it's nice to have the ability to do so. Just have to have the discipline to lock it back down!

Re: The Quest for a Dumber Phone

#19

Post by jihadjihad »

patchorang wrote: post #8

I've posted this here before, but I've figured out a way that makes an iPhone work as a semi-smart phone for me. I delete all app that I waste time in, but keep one that are useful. (I won't blow two hours scrolling Lyft, and it's very helpful sometimes) I then set screentime permissions to block websites I don't want to use (like reddit), and prevent app downloads. I set a screentime password and give it to my partn…

Not sure if it's a typo but how in the world would a person spend 2 hours "scrolling Lyft"?

Re: The Quest for a Dumber Phone

#20

Post by em500 »

Focusing on the phone seems like missing the mark. The addictive thing is not the phone, but the internet. Even with a dumbphone you can easily waste as much time on your laptop's web-browser (and people did: FB and Youtube were already big before the iPhone was a thing).

Conversely, if you turn off data, there are not many possibilities to spend huge amounts of time on your phone. (And yes, there are still plenty of useful offline smartphone apps.)

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