| ▲ | nesk_ 6 days ago |
| I've been searching for dumb phones these last weeks to avoid using my phone too much. But it comes with issues: - my bank requires a smartphone - whatsapp desktop requires a smartphone too This smartphone could be an alternative: no videos, you can still use third party applications, perfect for reading. Thank you for sharing! |
|
| ▲ | nottorp 6 days ago | parent | next [-] |
| Have you tried turning off all notifications on your existing phone? From the original article: "I feel like the vibration on the phone is a tad aggressive. Not every vibration is, though—Facebook Messenger notifications feel like the right level. ". It looks like the article author makes the same mistake. Changed the device but kept the notifications on. |
| |
| ▲ | nesk_ 6 days ago | parent [-] | | Notifications aren't the culprit, they're already really limited on my phone. I also appreciate the fact that I could use a simpler phone that really fits the original need: staying in contact, instead of doom-scrolling. | | |
| ▲ | CharlesW 6 days ago | parent [-] | | No one thing is the culprit, but notifications are one of the biggest. Surely Android has similar capabilities, but on iPhone "Reduce Notifications" (uses AI to silence unimportant/time-insensitive notifications) and Focus Modes in general are a great way to manage distraction. | | |
| ▲ | nottorp 6 days ago | parent [-] | | No, the idea is to turn them all off and make phone checking a conscious act instead of notification induced. Whoever needs you now can call on voice. | | |
| ▲ | flkiwi 6 days ago | parent | next [-] | | What makes that difficult is when you have a legitimate case for time-sensitive notifications and the app owner mixes in marketing spam with no way to disable them. It's either accept marketing spam OR lose a valuable notification. Looking at you, LG. | |
| ▲ | theshackleford 6 days ago | parent | prev [-] | | I leave notifications on because o only use them for things I need to be notified about. Largely, medical stuff. |
|
|
|
|
|
| ▲ | coffeefirst 6 days ago | parent | prev | next [-] |
| Right. I also need 1Password, full access to docs and notes while traveling, and the list starts to go on. Ultimately, technologists with cash to burn buying limited devices doesn’t actually address the big problem. What we really want is for mainstream devices to be less frenetic. |
|
| ▲ | dotancohen 6 days ago | parent | prev | next [-] |
| > whatsapp desktop requires a smartphone too
Just so you know, I don't use WhatsApp and find that today, everyone knows Telegram and many already have it installed. Moving to Telegram is completely feasible.The Telegram desktop app does not require an active smartphone. |
| |
| ▲ | jonathantf2 6 days ago | parent | next [-] | | not in Europe - everybody uses WA here, work group chats, friends, parents, etc. My dad sometimes uses iMessage because he can’t see the difference between the icons but apart from that you’d get strange looks if you mentioned Telegram/Signal etc | | | |
| ▲ | nesk_ 6 days ago | parent | prev [-] | | I totally agree with you, but asking my friends to move to Telegram isn't easy. And multiplying the channels is a complex thing. Nowadays I have iMessage, Messenger, WhatsApp—I deliberately omit Slack and Discord—and sometimes I wonder "where is the discussion with friend X?" |
|
|
| ▲ | walthamstow 6 days ago | parent | prev | next [-] |
| The WhatsApp thing can be worked around now. If you have one compliant device logged into WhatsApp as the main device, you can access that account and messages from any other device, including smartphones. I have a WhatsApp device that just stays at home. |
| |
| ▲ | nesk_ 6 days ago | parent [-] | | But you need two devices, and this seems overkill. Without this limitation you could have only one phone. |
|
|
| ▲ | Egrodo 6 days ago | parent | prev | next [-] |
| On Whatsapp web you can now log in with your phone number via a 2fac text, no camera required. |
| |
| ▲ | nesk_ 6 days ago | parent [-] | | That's good to know, but you still need a smartphone to handle the connection. Having a dumb phone wouldn't work, if I properly understand how this works. |
|
|
| ▲ | carlosjobim 6 days ago | parent | prev [-] |
| You are allowed to have more than one phone. |
| |
| ▲ | nesk_ 6 days ago | parent [-] | | You're right, but I don't appreciate to be enforced to. | | |
| ▲ | carlosjobim 6 days ago | parent [-] | | Who is forcing you to do anything? You can do what you please. | | |
| ▲ | nesk_ 6 days ago | parent [-] | | If I want a dumb phone for my daily needs, I have to keep a smartphone at home to stay in contact with my friends that are using Whatsapp. I don't really feel free here. | | |
| ▲ | southernplaces7 6 days ago | parent | next [-] | | Since Whatsapp isn't a public utility, the people who designed it are free to make it for a certain type of device, with a so-called smart screen. That you feel oppressed because they didn't cater to your very specific need to have it work on a button phone is pretty weird. "feeling free" isn't about having any random whimsy catered to. It requires realistic adjustment to the world of others and their efforts. | |
| ▲ | carlosjobim 6 days ago | parent | prev [-] | | Seems like you are very oppressed no matter what. If you want to eat some yoghurt, but have to use a spoon to not get it on your hands, I assume you're oppressed as well. |
|
|
|
|
