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Why I’m Using a Flip Phone

pam-moore.com

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Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone

#181

Post by Fnoord »

ersii wrote: post #176
Fnoord wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you don't take your phone with you, you're not being tracked. It isn't an all-or-nothing proposition. We have the choice of not taking our phone with us. Also, PTSN can be easily eavesdropped as well, and paying by the minute isn't attractive. The phone companies squeezed us long enough.

Well... even if we do leave it at home, everyone else has at least one where ever you go..

That depends. Generally, sure, but that doesn't mean one cannot lead by example. If not just for the fact that you finally got some rest and finally are not reachable by phone/WhatsApp/e-mail/etc.

We're discussing mostly location tracking here (GPS etc), but we also shouldn't neglect the impact of cameras or mics. Nor the way GPS coordinates are embedded in pictures we ourselves take and we ourselves share on Instagram.

Yesterday on TV there was a talkshow about the decline on Facebook due to privacy reasons (with which they seemingly agreed), and someone went how Instagram was the next hottest thing (owned by the same parent company). I wanted to bash my head...

Right now I'm watching Tour de France and the 24/7 in-ears/mics and cameras make it a vastly different game than how it was before the TV era and during the TV but not yet everyone having ears.

Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone

#182

Post by upofadown »

nemild wrote: post #20

Anyone have tips on some good US flip phones that work with modern networks (4G)? In a perfect world, with GPS (but not required)?

* https://ca.alcatelmobile.com/alcatel-go-flip/

The phone specs list A-GPS but it is not clear if you can actually use it without getting an app off a store that doesn't seem to exist yet.

Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone

#183

Post by realusername »

onion2k wrote: post #57
prolikewh0a wrote: post #17

I obliterated one of my smartphones last year after dropping it on concrete while getting off the bus. I freaked out, had no clue what to do since I was low income and couldn't afford anything for quite awhile. For a few days it was like I was an addict, constantly feeling my back pocket vibrating, constantly reaching to check my phone. After a few more days, I felt very liberated. I felt very free. I started enjoyin…

My first question to anyone who says they can live without a smartphone: what do you use for two factor auth?

I use sometimes an old Samsung Galaxy S Wifi personally, it's technically Android but it's more like an iPod than a smartphone.

Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone

#185

Post by Vinnl »

squiggleblaz wrote: post #10

Life with a smart phone is so much better than life before a smart phone. It's hard to realise how recently they came around. I've probably only had the internet on my phone for five years (I've had a smart phone for longer, but I couldn't get the data to work and data was expensive enough at the time I didn't care). I can communicate with my fiancee even when she's in another country (international sms = fail). I ca…

I mean, even just being able to see the message I'm reply to makes a smartphone worth it to me.

Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone

#186

Post by codingdave »

squiggleblaz wrote: post #10

Life with a smart phone is so much better than life before a smart phone. It's hard to realise how recently they came around. I've probably only had the internet on my phone for five years (I've had a smart phone for longer, but I couldn't get the data to work and data was expensive enough at the time I didn't care). I can communicate with my fiancee even when she's in another country (international sms = fail). I ca…

There were things to read on trains before phones. There were small portable cameras before phones. You could listen to music on your walkman before phones. People carried books, newspapers, sketch books, journals, and music before phones. We even played games before phones - when I was growing up, everybody knew how to play at least a few card games, and there was always a deck of cards to be found.

Life before phones was in many ways totally different than life now. But in others ways, we're still the same people, doing the same things, with newer tools. Everyone can make their own decisions on what tools they want to use, but I'm just not buying the argument that life is better or worse. It is different.

Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone

#187

Post by refurb »

hnzix wrote: post #36
cncrnd wrote: post #13

I don't see why you can't just control your cell phone habits. Swearing technology off is like cutting off the nose to spite the face. The optimal setup for me is the basic apps installed (mail, messenger, uber/lyft, finances) with all notifications turned off. Less distraction while retaining the utility of having a smartphone.

I don't see why you can't just control your drinking habits. Swearing alcohol off is like cutting off the nose to spite the face.

I think the response to that is - most adults can control their drinking habits. It’s a very small minority who have an addiction to alcohol.

Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone

#188

Post by SmellyGeekBoy »

codingdave wrote: post #186
squiggleblaz wrote: post #10

Life with a smart phone is so much better than life before a smart phone. It's hard to realise how recently they came around. I've probably only had the internet on my phone for five years (I've had a smart phone for longer, but I couldn't get the data to work and data was expensive enough at the time I didn't care). I can communicate with my fiancee even when she's in another country (international sms = fail). I ca…

There were things to read on trains before phones. There were small portable cameras before phones. You could listen to music on your walkman before phones. People carried books, newspapers, sketch books, journals, and music before phones. We even played games before phones - when I was growing up, everybody knew how to play at least a few card games, and there was always a deck of cards to be found. Life before phon…

Your comment brought back happy memories of playing rummy and blackjack on the train with my grandparents when I was a kid. Thanks for that!

Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone

#189

Post by grkvlt »

krageon wrote: post #77
freeflight wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depending on the service you are talking about there are quite a few non-smartphone reliant options like SMS or email.

SMS is like having someone shout your second factor off of a rooftop a few streets away, loud enough that you can hear it. There is 0 security on it and anyone with even a modicum of motivation can intercept it without you noticing (ever). This is bad advice. Email is bad for similar reasons (although slightly less in terms of exposure if you use a good provider).

SMS interception is hardly a low bar for attackers. If you are being targeted by someone with these capabilities then there is a lot more you have to worry about. Many other 2FA mechanisms would be similarly vulnerable to an attacker with that amount of money and technology...

Re: Why I’m Using a Flip Phone

#190

Post by fps_doug »

WalterSear wrote: post #41
mooreds wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you mean by "peak photo"?

They mean the Photomeggadon. The Photocalypse. The Big Kodak Moment. IMNSHO, the parent is simply behaving reactively to the threat of new paradigms. Email does not convey the emotion of a phone call, let alone a video call. Easy access to information fosters discussion - by ending pointless, heated debates over nothing. Only teenagers, and I now presume, older people, fuddle with their phones instead of talking to t…

> Email does not convey the emotion of a phone call, let alone a video call.

Certainly does not, and it's a nice bonus, but when on earth do people use video calls? Since they are even better at conveying emotions, by your logic everybody carrying a smartphone should be making video calls at all times. But it's the contrary, people even prefer texting on Whatsapp over phone calls or even voice messages.

> Easy access to information fosters discussion - by ending pointless, heated debates over nothing.

They are the opposite of pointless. I feel the current/younger generation has completely lost the ability to have civilized, structured debates. If you can't solve a disagreement by a google search people freak out pretty quickly. And then we need safe spaces left and right and everybody is a victim and it's all society's fault. Those pointless debates over trifles serve a purpose, like kitten playfully fighting all day.

> Only teenagers, and I now presume, older people, fuddle with their phones instead of talking to the person in front of them.

Mostly teenagers yes, but them being the next generation of adults I doubt they'll just stop once they're into their twens. It'll just become the norm.

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