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Dumber phone

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Re: Dumber phone

#31

Post by my_username_is_ »

Lionsion wrote: post #12
eleitl wrote: post #4

Way ahead of you here. I've upgraded to the original Nokia 3310 years ago, and it does the trick.

> I've upgraded to the original Nokia 3310 years ago, and it does the trick. I wish there was a "dumbphone" that supported and extremely small number of utility apps, like Signal.

The issue is that people have differing opinions as to what those essential apps should be... I'd imagine that it's hard to get consensus around what you need.

For what it's worth I've been trying to have a more "dumb phone" experience recently, but not by having an extremely small amount of apps. I simply removed all of the ones that are sources of distractions on a daily basis. The biggest culprit for me is Chrome. I'm realizing that I really don't have any need to have access to the entirety of the internet at all times. A couple dozen apps will give me what I actually need, and no distractions or aimlessly browsing [HN, Reddit, Facebook Instagram, etc.]

Re: Dumber phone

#32

Post by bad_user »

masklinn wrote: post #18
parvenu74 wrote: post #9

Personally, I would love a flip phone with a removable battery and a physical button on the side to turn WiFi hotspot functionality on/off -- with OFF being the default. Having a phone that you only need to charge once a week is a great feature!

Get a 3310 and a mobile hotspot with a data-only sim? The Huawei E5770 has 500h standby 20h activity, an ethernet port and USB power output (to act as a powerbank).

The problem with portable routers is that it requires a different plan and you always have the phone with you, so you're not in danger of forgetting it home.

Re: Dumber phone

#33

Post by innocentoldguy »

josefresco wrote: post #29

Does anyone with an Apple watch (or other smartwatch ) feel it helps them leave their smartphone behind and/or reduce their smartphone usage?

I do. I have an Apple Watch with a SIM chip in it and I leave my phone at home all the time. I still get text messages and emails, so I know if something urgent is going on, but it is also a bit of a pain to reply, so I find, more often than not, I don't. It helps me to plan my responses to specific times during the day.

Re: Dumber phone

#35

Post by prophesi »

I just got a Pixel the other day after being phone-less for about 3 months. I only need it to do ARCore development, so I keep it powered-off.

* I had to print out directions to get to new places, which had me learn my way around.

* People were much less flaky since they couldn't text me at the last minute to cancel our plans.

* I no longer had a crutch in difficult social situations, which helped me actually get to know strangers and form new relationships.

I might still use it as a GPS when traveling, but I otherwise can't see why it's necessary for people/machines to be able to steal your attention at a moment's notice.

Of course, this isn't do-able for a lot of people, as their work/life depends on it. And it's possible to reap the above benefits without going fully phone-less. But for those interested, it's not as bad as it seems to drop the phone altogether.

Re: Dumber phone

#36

Post by josefresco »

innocentoldguy wrote: post #33
josefresco wrote: post #29

Does anyone with an Apple watch (or other smartwatch ) feel it helps them leave their smartphone behind and/or reduce their smartphone usage?

I do. I have an Apple Watch with a SIM chip in it and I leave my phone at home all the time. I still get text messages and emails, so I know if something urgent is going on, but it is also a bit of a pain to reply, so I find, more often than not, I don't. It helps me to plan my responses to specific times during the day.

Thanks for this. We're considering smartphones for our soon-to-be "tween" children, however I've considered pairing them with a smartwatch, in an attempt to keep them from developing this same "dependence". I doubt it will work for them (Snapchat/Instagram etc.) however it might work for me/us.

Re: Dumber phone

#37

Post by wonton2 »

I’m I the only one who get fomo by using my smartphone? Consider all the experiences and face to face conversations you miss by looking at others on social media or when you are playing candy crush.

Re: Dumber phone

#38

Post by ad7024 »

cdnsteve wrote: post #11

This is already being built from a company with a similar vision : Lite Phone https://www.thelightphone.com/ Lite Phone 2: Campaign https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/light-phone-2-design#/

Check out Siempo (www.getsiempo.com) - it's basically a software version of the Light Phone 2 (for Android only now).

We believe the launcher approach is the most effective way to solve the problem b/c it actually gets at the root cause, which is that the smartphone interface has no protections against the persuasive techniques of addictive apps. So we made a new interface that is less distracting and more intentional.

We just launched in the Play Store and would love your thoughts and feedback!

Re: Dumber phone

#39

Post by Lionsion »

my_username_is_ wrote: post #31
Lionsion wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I've upgraded to the original Nokia 3310 years ago, and it does the trick. I wish there was a "dumbphone" that supported and extremely small number of utility apps, like Signal.

The issue is that people have differing opinions as to what those essential apps should be... I'd imagine that it's hard to get consensus around what you need. For what it's worth I've been trying to have a more "dumb phone" experience recently, but not by having an extremely small amount of apps. I simply removed all of the ones that are sources of distractions on a daily basis. The biggest culprit for me is Chrome.…

> The issue is that people have differing opinions as to what those essential apps should be... I'd imagine that it's hard to get consensus around what you need.

I don't think so. There's already a consensus around the dumbphone experience. Those featured a limited UI and and OS focused communication, so really it's just about integrating with evolved versions of standard dumbphone apps (e.g. CardDAV, messaging apps like Signal, etc).

Re: Dumber phone

#40

Post by baybal2 »

Lionsion wrote: post #20
baybal2 wrote: post #5

As somebody who had an always on internet connected PDA back it times when most PDAs were black and white, I can say it will eventually pass. The sense of novelty will vanish, and the thing will not be as interesting when an average person first see it.

> As somebody who had an always on internet connected PDA back it times when most PDAs were black and white, I can say it will eventually pass. I don't think the software and cultural environment was that same for those devices as it is for smartphones now. An old internet-connected PDA chiefly had utility apps like this guide advocates. There was nothing from giant companies whose business is to capture and sell you…

>no attention slot machines

I lived in the time when slot machines were standing on the street in the open in Russia, and yes, mentally infirm people were wasting themselves on them. Normal people not.

It takes a particular lack of basic logical reasoning to not to understand that the the purpose of a bling bling slot machine is to waste time and money.

It takes a particular lack of basic logical reasoning to not to understand that the the purpose of 20 bling bling popups a second smartphone apps is to waste time and money and suck out clicks out of mentally infirm.

It takes no special personality to get an idea that clickfarming app must be removed, and take actions to do so.

My former high school classmate who did not manage to leave Russia is running a typical "smartphone fixer" kiosk. He said few years ago that the most common request is to "remove Google nagware and lock/destroy/delete google pay so, god forbid, your child will never ever buy anything in that Internet thing mouth breathers waste themselves on."

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