My year with a distraction-free iPhone

"Over the last 12 months I’ve learned to enjoy (or at least, be OK with) moments of boredom. I reach for my phone a lot less often. It’s probably just my imagination, but it feels like it’s easier to concentrate when I need to get things done or tackle a big project.

Times on the bus when I would’ve checked email, I listen to music or just look around. I even started meditating on the bus (yes, really! And, uh… please don’t mug me) using an app called Calm."

Is this satire? Meditating using an app, the conquest of boredom, the gain in productivity/focus.

(Posting using a throwaway as I changed my noprocrast settings in HN as mentioned in these comments and ironically blocked my account for the day!)

Somewhat related, I've come to a similar conclusion myself recently but via app fatigue instead. I've been running a Windows Phone for over a year now, and although I loved the OS, constant remarks regarding the app gap made me wonder if I was missing out on the full smartphone experience.

Thus I obtained a Samsung Galaxy and logged into my old Android account, eagerly anticipating all those exciting apps I'd soon have access to at my fingertips. Going thought the Play Store was a great experience - Instagram, SnapChat, Yo, etc. - I installed every hyped app like I was on a crazed shopping spree. This included apps that simply replicated a web experience, e.g. Amazon Shopping, Quora, and even Go Daddy (in case I ever wanted to check my domain renewal status while out and about!)

The first week or so was exciting, I was in thrall of all the things I could potentially do with my phone and how (by some unknown means) these apps would help me live my life. However as the weeks went on I found that even though I had all these apps, I simply didn't use them. I realised that just having the technology available isn't enough, you have to have a want and need for it.

From this experience I've recognised what I personally need from a smartphone. For me it's about a good camera, music player, calendar, and a way to directly and privately communicate with my friends and family. Add to this a few key apps, covering transport/maps, gym, ebooks, podcasts, etc., and I'm good to go.

I now have a Nokia Lumia on its way to me in the post. I won't have the latest hot apps, but that's okay. And when the next big app does come around, hopefully at some point it will come to my platform, and if not I'll happily just get on with my work.

I have a feature phone that comes with a crappy enough Java ME based Google Maps that is just enough to save me from trouble when I really do need directions yet none of the things on the phone is something I could just play with.

Thus, I just use it for calls and texting, and for Google Maps if really needed. I need to charge it once a week and for all I care it just works.

My employer provides me with a smartphone as a work benefit but I mostly use it as a small tablet for reading stuff in bed. The battery is often out of juice, too.

I've done the same thing with my Android but I didn't consider it all that revolutionary. I just like a clean looking phone. Using Atom Launcher I can adjust the 'dock' (around the launcher icon) to slide left and right rather than the home pages. It's a much less distracting experience.

Screenshot: http://jmp.sh/JZIZ12q

That's terribly awkward to carry around. Also, a GPS device doesn't tell me when my next bus is due (there's about 45 minutes between my buses). I also now only require one charger for my GPS and MP3 player. I can also look at cat pictures on the bus.