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> 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 br
by crazynick4 8y ago
> 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 and the Samsung browser. Not sure about Apple.
I tried this before without getting rid of the Play Store and found that I would just cheat and download FF Focus when I felt like binging and then deleting it again when I was done. Now if I think I need a new app, I actually have to go on my laptop, download the apk, and move it to my phone to install it. It's not foolproof but it's enough extra steps to where I don't act on it on impulse.
It's worked really well and I don't binge like I used to . I still have some compulsive phone-checking habits but it's way less time consuming than compulsive-random-article-reading/scrolling. And I also get to keep the nicer benefits like the good camera and the large screen for when I need a GPS.
- perlgod 8y agoI should try something like that. Honestly just having the device in eyesight triggers some kind of latent mental FOMO. Removing the option entirely has worked well for me so far. I still keep an old iPhone for when I know I'll need an Uber or something, but the smartphone isn't a part of my daily life anymore.
- crazynick4 8y agoIf I could go with a flip phone I gladly would, but I do need to have Slack around for when I'm on call for work. I suppose I could switch to a flip phone for when I'm off call. You're giving me ideas here.
- leesalminen 8y agoYou could also use Slack’s API + Twilio to trigger a SMS to send when a post to #app-outage happens. I’ve been playing with this myself.
- mikelward 8y agoGreat idea! I guess that way you don't get app updates tho?
- crazynick4 8y agoThe apps you'd have to uninstall/reinstall manually for updated versions but I did still get a few official Samsung updates come through recently so I guess those aren't tied to the Play Store. I think at least one of those reinstalled some of the apps I had removed but other than that it went ok.
- boznz 8y agoJust change your plan to have no data (hint the cheapest pay and go) turn off mobile data and wifi and voila a dumb phone works with my old sony.
- HNLurker2 8y agoOr just use third party app to block and let only a few: -https://offtime.es https://offtime.es
- ip26 8y agoI try that but then I wind up needing Chrome for some legitimate purpose or another.
- paulcarroty 8y ago> Did you remove the browsers and app store as well? It's possible with adb or root, but buy a $500-$800 device for removing basic apps? Failed logic IMHO. > Not sure about Apple. You can't.
- Double_a_92 8y agoYou can get a decent smartphone for under 200$.
- sincarne 8y agoNo, but you can use the Restrictions control pane to block Safari.