6 ms·

I just put my iphone on "do not disturb" full-time and use my favourites list to only allow calls though (from a selected list). People who double call are also

I just put my iphone on "do not disturb" full-time and use my favourites list to only allow calls though (from a selected list). People who double call are also allowed through. Then you are not constantly distracted by notifications, emails, texts, spam calls [1]. My thinking is, my phone should serve me, not the other way around, so I only check when I'm not focused on something else. Personally, I find useless notifications way worse than calls. [1] https://www.iphonelife.com/blog/32671/tip-day-how-let-favorite-contacts-call-you-when-do-not-disturb https://www.iphonelife.com/blog/32671/tip-day-how-let-favori...

kylec 8y ago
I want to do this, but only for calls. All other notifications should happen normally. It annoys me that iOS doesn't support that though, it's all or nothing.
- IgorPartola 8y ago
  Custom ringtone that is silent and individual ring tones for the select few contacts?
  - tintor 8y ago
    That is genius!
    - EGreg 8y ago
      Well you know us HN crowd...
  - Meph504 8y ago
    Wonder if you could do a no vibration pattern also, I haven't turn my ring tone on in like 10 years.
    - DonHopkins 8y ago
      Yea, Crazy Frog "The Annoying Thing" permanently turned me off to ring tones.
    - afiori 8y ago
      I really like my Nokia 6 except I hate that you cannot disable just vibrations easily. and also that there is a high minimum volume for all sounds, sometimes at night I use earphones as speakers.
  - CamperBob2 8y ago
    I've done this since the original iPhone first started to support custom ringtones. I used a quiet passage from a recording of Beethoven's 7th. Why Apple doesn't include a silent ringtone -- a feature found on pretty much every 'feature phone' I've ever seen or used -- is just one of life's dumb mysteries.
    - DonHopkins 8y ago
      Probably because they were too cheap to pay the licensing fees.
      - garmaine 8y ago
        For silence...?
        mmjaa 8y ago
        Take your pick, ask for a license, see how far you get: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_silent_musical_compositions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_silent_musical_composi...
      - nkrisc 8y ago
        I'm pretty sure they could afford to hire a composer for an original silent composition and a recording session to go along with it.
    - cco 8y ago
      Surprised you didn't use 4'33".
- paul7986 8y ago
  Exactly only for calls... text is my main form of communication. I want only calls from those I let ring my phone do so and all others go to voicemail. I hope Apple updates DND with more options like DND for calls only.
m463 8y ago
This still lets people on that list wake you up after hours unless you take manual action. I believe apple has a new call fitering API, but of course you don't have a way of really knowing what apps do with their permissions. Apple should give you the ability to firewall apps from any net access.
- WestCoastJustin 8y ago
  Yeah, in my case that is what I want. There is only a handful of family that can get through. But, if they are calling at 3am, it is very likely an emergency. If this becomes a problem, I'd just ask them not to call at 3am. I haven't had any issues though.
- joshka 8y ago
  https://developer.apple.com/documentation/callkit/cxcalldirectoryextensioncontext/1779571-addblockingentry https://developer.apple.com/documentation/callkit/cxcalldire... Single number at a time though. Useless for spammers that use random spoofed numbers. Not sure what sort of performance problems you'd hit by adding 10M numbers per area code. It's probably a hashset underneath, so maybe none...?
  - paulie_a 8y ago
    I was so annoyed by spam calls that I called my carrier and asked if I could block Texas and Florida. Apparently you cannot.
    - brerlapn 8y ago
      The Hiya app lets you block calls that start with a particular string. It looks like the app allows for blocking just an area code. The only downside is that numbers being blocked by Hiya will sometimes start to ring for like a quarter of a second before the blocking takes effect - still better than having them ring through. I have the area code and exchange for both of the numbers that ring to my phone automatically blocked in Hiya (so, first six numbers) and it makes a big difference. My LG G7 has a call blocking feature, as well, but trying to block only the initial string of numbers for the area code and exchange didn't work. I'd recommend Hiya. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.webascender.callerid&hl=en https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.webascende...
lowlevel 8y ago
I've wanted a whitelist only setting for a very long time... and I have also resorted to using the iPhones DND feature but instead of favorites I just use contacts. Havn't heard from the fake CRA, chinese immigration or duct cleaners for ages... I do still get text messages so I'm not sure what people are talking about by 'all or nothing' ... As far as I can tell, the only downside is anyone in my contact list can wake me up at 4am...
BillinghamJ 8y ago
Not quite the same thing, but I have my mobile network set up to forward every call to a Twilio number which just states that my number doesn't accept calls. It sends me an SMS so I know someone tried to. It's great. People who do need to call me then will just use FaceTime Audio or WhatsApp calls.
- savrajsingh 8y ago
  Interesting. Do you state FaceTime/WhatsApp in the twilio message?
  - BillinghamJ 8y ago
    Nope, don't want to encourage it.
- cblades 8y ago
  That seems really obnoxious for anyone that has your number. Do you just not give your number out?
  - greedo 8y ago
    Because spam calls don't occur because you gave your number out, but because the spammers either farm your number from a "partner" or iterate through numbers.
    - Terretta 8y ago
      That’s one class. Another class is if the number was in a credit application or marketing form, then got resold or data-breached. I only put burner numbers on forms. They start to get called about 90 - 180 days later. Not all, but enough you don’t want to give your cell out.
  - BillinghamJ 8y ago
    I avoid giving it out wherever possible. Some forms require phone numbers, in which case I generally try to enter an obviously-incorrect number.
russelldavis 8y ago
This approach comes pretty close to solving the problem, but a couple issues are dealbreakers for me: 1) It mutes all notifications, not just non-whitelisted calls. As much as I hate notification overload, I do want a select few to come through. 2) I want a discoverable way for non-whitelisted callers to be able to break through (not everyone will know to call multiple times to break through). I'm working on an app that addresses those -- email me if you're interested (see my profile).
- kd5bjo 8y ago
  re #2: They can leave a voicemail; I'll listen to it and call back if necessary.
  - linsomniac 8y ago
    Usually works well, but when you get caught in a cycle of always missing each other it sucks. Usually this is a business or similar where they call and are making a bunch of calls, so by the time I call back they are on the line with someone else.
  - tones411 8y ago
    Going back and listening to voicemails of spam is more time consuming than just answering it at the time it comes in.
    - kd5bjo 8y ago
      At the moment, the percentage of spam calls that bother to leave a message is low enough that it seems to work out. I also don't have to worry about the impoliteness of hanging up when it's a live human on the other end, and can time-shift the annoyance to when I'm not in the middle of something.
    - paulie_a 8y ago
      I wish I could ban the hundreds of 2-4 second voicemails I get a week. actually ban the number too.
    - 8y ago
freehunter 8y ago
I've been getting a lot of spam calls where they call, immediately hang up, and then call back from the same number. I assume it's to get around do not disturb.
INTPenis 8y ago
I love the DnD feature of Android but I've noticed that if someone persists they still get through. A feature I assume.
- linsomniac 8y ago
  This is a setting. Go to settings and search for "repeat" and disable "Allow repeat callers".

kylec 8y ago

I want to do this, but only for calls. All other notifications should happen normally. It annoys me that iOS doesn't support that though, it's all or nothing.

IgorPartola 8y ago
Custom ringtone that is silent and individual ring tones for the select few contacts?
- tintor 8y ago
  That is genius!
  - EGreg 8y ago
    Well you know us HN crowd...
- Meph504 8y ago
  Wonder if you could do a no vibration pattern also, I haven't turn my ring tone on in like 10 years.
  - DonHopkins 8y ago
    Yea, Crazy Frog "The Annoying Thing" permanently turned me off to ring tones.
  - afiori 8y ago
    I really like my Nokia 6 except I hate that you cannot disable just vibrations easily. and also that there is a high minimum volume for all sounds, sometimes at night I use earphones as speakers.
- CamperBob2 8y ago
  I've done this since the original iPhone first started to support custom ringtones. I used a quiet passage from a recording of Beethoven's 7th. Why Apple doesn't include a silent ringtone -- a feature found on pretty much every 'feature phone' I've ever seen or used -- is just one of life's dumb mysteries.
  - DonHopkins 8y ago
    Probably because they were too cheap to pay the licensing fees.
    - garmaine 8y ago
      For silence...?
      - mmjaa 8y ago
        Take your pick, ask for a license, see how far you get: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_silent_musical_compositions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_silent_musical_composi...
    - nkrisc 8y ago
      I'm pretty sure they could afford to hire a composer for an original silent composition and a recording session to go along with it.
  - cco 8y ago
    Surprised you didn't use 4'33".
paul7986 8y ago
Exactly only for calls... text is my main form of communication. I want only calls from those I let ring my phone do so and all others go to voicemail. I hope Apple updates DND with more options like DND for calls only.

m463 8y ago

This still lets people on that list wake you up after hours unless you take manual action. I believe apple has a new call fitering API, but of course you don't have a way of really knowing what apps do with their permissions. Apple should give you the ability to firewall apps from any net access.

WestCoastJustin 8y ago
Yeah, in my case that is what I want. There is only a handful of family that can get through. But, if they are calling at 3am, it is very likely an emergency. If this becomes a problem, I'd just ask them not to call at 3am. I haven't had any issues though.
joshka 8y ago
https://developer.apple.com/documentation/callkit/cxcalldirectoryextensioncontext/1779571-addblockingentry https://developer.apple.com/documentation/callkit/cxcalldire... Single number at a time though. Useless for spammers that use random spoofed numbers. Not sure what sort of performance problems you'd hit by adding 10M numbers per area code. It's probably a hashset underneath, so maybe none...?
- paulie_a 8y ago
  I was so annoyed by spam calls that I called my carrier and asked if I could block Texas and Florida. Apparently you cannot.
  - brerlapn 8y ago
    The Hiya app lets you block calls that start with a particular string. It looks like the app allows for blocking just an area code. The only downside is that numbers being blocked by Hiya will sometimes start to ring for like a quarter of a second before the blocking takes effect - still better than having them ring through. I have the area code and exchange for both of the numbers that ring to my phone automatically blocked in Hiya (so, first six numbers) and it makes a big difference. My LG G7 has a call blocking feature, as well, but trying to block only the initial string of numbers for the area code and exchange didn't work. I'd recommend Hiya. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.webascender.callerid&hl=en https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.webascende...

lowlevel 8y ago

I've wanted a whitelist only setting for a very long time... and I have also resorted to using the iPhones DND feature but instead of favorites I just use contacts. Havn't heard from the fake CRA, chinese immigration or duct cleaners for ages... I do still get text messages so I'm not sure what people are talking about by 'all or nothing' ... As far as I can tell, the only downside is anyone in my contact list can wake me up at 4am...

BillinghamJ 8y ago

Not quite the same thing, but I have my mobile network set up to forward every call to a Twilio number which just states that my number doesn't accept calls. It sends me an SMS so I know someone tried to. It's great. People who do need to call me then will just use FaceTime Audio or WhatsApp calls.

savrajsingh 8y ago
Interesting. Do you state FaceTime/WhatsApp in the twilio message?
- BillinghamJ 8y ago
  Nope, don't want to encourage it.
cblades 8y ago
That seems really obnoxious for anyone that has your number. Do you just not give your number out?
- greedo 8y ago
  Because spam calls don't occur because you gave your number out, but because the spammers either farm your number from a "partner" or iterate through numbers.
  - Terretta 8y ago
    That’s one class. Another class is if the number was in a credit application or marketing form, then got resold or data-breached. I only put burner numbers on forms. They start to get called about 90 - 180 days later. Not all, but enough you don’t want to give your cell out.
- BillinghamJ 8y ago
  I avoid giving it out wherever possible. Some forms require phone numbers, in which case I generally try to enter an obviously-incorrect number.

russelldavis 8y ago

This approach comes pretty close to solving the problem, but a couple issues are dealbreakers for me: 1) It mutes all notifications, not just non-whitelisted calls. As much as I hate notification overload, I do want a select few to come through. 2) I want a discoverable way for non-whitelisted callers to be able to break through (not everyone will know to call multiple times to break through). I'm working on an app that addresses those -- email me if you're interested (see my profile).

kd5bjo 8y ago
re #2: They can leave a voicemail; I'll listen to it and call back if necessary.
- linsomniac 8y ago
  Usually works well, but when you get caught in a cycle of always missing each other it sucks. Usually this is a business or similar where they call and are making a bunch of calls, so by the time I call back they are on the line with someone else.
- tones411 8y ago
  Going back and listening to voicemails of spam is more time consuming than just answering it at the time it comes in.
  - kd5bjo 8y ago
    At the moment, the percentage of spam calls that bother to leave a message is low enough that it seems to work out. I also don't have to worry about the impoliteness of hanging up when it's a live human on the other end, and can time-shift the annoyance to when I'm not in the middle of something.
  - paulie_a 8y ago
    I wish I could ban the hundreds of 2-4 second voicemails I get a week. actually ban the number too.
  - 8y ago

freehunter 8y ago

I've been getting a lot of spam calls where they call, immediately hang up, and then call back from the same number. I assume it's to get around do not disturb.

INTPenis 8y ago

I love the DnD feature of Android but I've noticed that if someone persists they still get through. A feature I assume.

linsomniac 8y ago
This is a setting. Go to settings and search for "repeat" and disable "Allow repeat callers".