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Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

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Re: Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

#211

Post by mar77i »

msadowski wrote: post #77
mar77i wrote: post #62

I'm using the new nokia 8810. The keyboard is annoying, but otherwise with this phone you have a hotspot turned phone in a classic shape with you. KaiOS isn't too bad either (no google stuff on my phone too).

I was looking into buying one at one point when my Android phone started acting up. Do you use maps or whatsapp on it? How is the experience?

I don't think they shipped an app for whatsapp yet.

There's a maps app though, but personally I always have my laptop with me anyway, which has considerably more pixels.

Re: Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

#212

Post by war1025 »

drdeadringer wrote: post #175
war1025 wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those are all flip phones though. I want something in the old candy bar style. I guess technically there is that Sonim phone, but it's ugly as sin.

Perhaps one of the other non-flip phones presented here may work in the "bring your own device" option presented on that Verizon Basic website.

The problem I've always found before when I look is Verizon uses different frequencies than most other carriers, so the phones tend to work on everything except Verizon

Re: Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

#213

Post by sloum »

I have greatly enjoyed my Nokia 3310 3g. I have had intermittent sergice outages, but for the most part it works well. I live in a major metropolitan area though... so if you are more rural you may not have the same experience. I only use it for the following: calls, alarm clock, and the occasional text (but I hate it when people text me and usually just call them back - yes, I know it is frowned upon). While an LTE version of the 3310 exists in europe, I do not believe it opperates on American bands. Which is a bummer and I really wish they would release it here. Having buttons again is so much better than the touch screen plague that has grabbed everyone.

If the WiPhone (http://a.wiphone.io/) manages to see market, I may move in that direction as I am almost never outside of wifi (plus the promise of writing apps in either MicroPython or Wiring or the like sounds great).

Re: Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

#214

Post by JohnFen »

borgel wrote: post #181
JohnFen wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's essentially simple. What I have breadboarded and working right now is based on a Raspberry Pi (although I won't be using the Pi in the end, as it's too bulky -- I'll be using the functional equivalent on a board I'm designing). I'm using a 4G module to provide the cell functionality (you communicate with it much like with a modem) and a 4" LCD touch panel for the display. It is running Linux as the OS, with some…

Whose 4G modem did you go with?

I'm using a Quectel EC25-E 4G/LTE.

Re: Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

#215

Post by borgel »

JohnFen wrote: post #214
borgel wrote: post #181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whose 4G modem did you go with?

I'm using a Quectel EC25-E 4G/LTE.

Interesting part! Looks like Mini PCI-E is the common formfactor, but some come on a little USB dongle. Is that the version you're using?

Will it do voice/SMS? I haven't found any indicators either way.

Re: Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

#216

Post by runjake »

In my mind, the best "dumb" phone is something like the iPhone SE.

Aside from the issue of limited options, traditional dumb phones contain junk like seriously insecure baseband processors, shadow SMS commands, carrier bloatware that does god knows what, BREW, and J2ME. They're often slow and cheaply-made.

If you're concerned about time management, then you have a few options:

- Improve your self-discipline and impulse control, eliminate FOMO. This will pay dividends in your life.

- Uninstall any app you absolutely do not require. In the latest versions of iOS you can uninstall many of the apps the device comes with.

- Configure Screen Time(tm) and Downtime(tm) under Settings->Screen Time.

- Configure Restrictions under the Settings app. Make them as draconian as you want and set up a complicated passcode.

The problem isn't the phone, it's you.

Re: Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

#217

Post by dontbenebby »

bpye wrote: post #189
dontbenebby wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Dumbphones effectively no longer exist. Anything with LTE (aside from iDevices) seems to run a Linux kernel with a stripped down Android or FirefoxOS on top. They have simplified UIs if that's what you're looking for, but they also have security holes out the wazoo (you can frequently get a root adb shell via usb with a stock config), and will never see updates. This has been a concern of mine, and why instead I've…

Check out OsmAnd. It uses OpenStreetMaps data and all the map data is stored offline. OSM has great footpaths in my experience and it does turn by turn navigation and all that fun stuff to.

Thanks for the suggestion, I like that it's open source.

Re: Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

#218

Post by JohnFen »

borgel wrote: post #215
JohnFen wrote: post #214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm using a Quectel EC25-E 4G/LTE.

Interesting part! Looks like Mini PCI-E is the common formfactor, but some come on a little USB dongle. Is that the version you're using? Will it do voice/SMS? I haven't found any indicators either way.

I'm using the Mini PCI for development, but I really need something that is a bit smaller for the final product. I haven't yet determined if this means that I'll need to use a different chipset.

> Will it do voice/SMS?

Yes, it does.

Re: Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

#219

Post by sincarne »

paulcarroty wrote: post #198
crazynick4 wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I tried turning my smartphone into a "dumbphone" and using it less, but I honestly lacked the self-control to put the stupid thing down Did you remove the browsers and app store as well? I got rid of everything except for phone/texting, Slack (for work), and non-bingy convenience apps like Maps/Yelp/etc. On Android, it can be done with the adb shell without rooting, even the 'uninstallable' apps like Google search…

> Did you remove the browsers and app store as well? It's possible with adb or root, but buy a $500-$800 device for removing basic apps? Failed logic IMHO. > Not sure about Apple. You can't.

No, but you can use the Restrictions control pane to block Safari.

Re: Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

#220

Post by spricket »

paulcarroty wrote: post #208
spricket wrote: post #143

If you care about privacy and have about $100 + 4 hours you can get a Galaxy S5 running LineageOs without GApps (use F-Droid store) . Almost completely OSS besides a few manufacturer blobs you can't really work around. I have a "normal" Android phone I use for work but my S5 is my daily driver for everything else. Works great, hardest part is setting up stuff to replace FAANG. I use ProtonMail, Open Camera, Matrix/Ri…

LineageOS still use Google services for DNS and connectivity checks. I'd be non surprised if this number will be much more. Also, every third-party app can easily track you and steal data, check the news.

You may be right about connectivity checks although I thought they recently removed Google from those.

Lineage has built on top of Android permission system to prevent most apps from stealing data (Android location permission is probably the most notorious). If you have a rooted device with lineage you can also run XPeivacyLua which fakes out any data that apps "require" to install

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