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I've switched to a "dumb phone" over 2 years ago and I have no plans of turning back. I've recently published a piece about it https://pawelurbanek.com/mobile-i

by pawurb 7y ago

I've switched to a "dumb phone" over 2 years ago and I have no plans of turning back. I've recently published a piece about it https://pawelurbanek.com/mobile-internet-addiction-focus https://pawelurbanek.com/mobile-internet-addiction-focus

elagost 7y ago
As I paged-down to start reading, I got four words in ("Mindlessly checking social networks") before four social network badges animated in from the left. Seems a little ironic. Regardless, it was a good read. Your idea about dumbphone+SIM-less smartphone is something I've not heard before and might try.
- pawurb 7y ago
  Yeah I should hide social bar on this one not to be hippocratic :)
  - frequentnapper 7y ago
    hypocritical is the word you're looking for.
cookiengineer 7y ago
I was first using a dumb phone but soon realized that I need at least a maps application when I am abroad in a foreign city. Not being able to search for addresses on the go is also very unhandy if you don't wanna visit police stations around the world. For my current Android I decided to get an upstream open source one (one out of four, to be exact, because there are not many blob free ones). Switched to OmniROM head builds without any google integrations, which kinda has the same effect as a dumb phone. You would not believe what runs through gapps. Searching a bus? Nope, requires google. Take a note? Nope, requires google. Edit a markdown file? Nope, requires google. f-droid and its analysis of apk files is a godsend. My phone stays silent, with ublock0 in Firefox, and never shows a notification if I don't want it to. Use contact stars for allowance of emergency calls in DND mode. I love it when I realize I haven't eaten at 21:00 because I could keep up the focus so much.
- iammyIP 7y ago
  the absence of a digital map/route planner also has advantages in that it removes the "sterile tourist bubble" and forces one to interact with the local people.
  - CamperBob2 7y ago
    Why not leave home without your wallet, too, for that extra dose of third-world verisimilitude?
    - chaps 7y ago
      Snark aside, you realize that there's a middle ground, and that not every travel destination is 3rd world right?
lamby 7y ago
Android user here. The addition of "Focus Mode" has completely changed my approach to my device and, by extension, my life. Various personal relationships have been noticably improved for the better as I can concentrate on them better. I block all of the classic social notifications/apps, and I keep it on 24/7 apart from times I deliberately go out of my way to consciously press "Take a Break" for 5/10 minutes. The deliberate friction here is, of course, a welcome feature.

by pawurb 7y ago

elagost 7y ago

As I paged-down to start reading, I got four words in ("Mindlessly checking social networks") before four social network badges animated in from the left. Seems a little ironic. Regardless, it was a good read. Your idea about dumbphone+SIM-less smartphone is something I've not heard before and might try.

pawurb 7y ago
Yeah I should hide social bar on this one not to be hippocratic :)
- frequentnapper 7y ago
  hypocritical is the word you're looking for.

cookiengineer 7y ago

I was first using a dumb phone but soon realized that I need at least a maps application when I am abroad in a foreign city. Not being able to search for addresses on the go is also very unhandy if you don't wanna visit police stations around the world. For my current Android I decided to get an upstream open source one (one out of four, to be exact, because there are not many blob free ones). Switched to OmniROM head builds without any google integrations, which kinda has the same effect as a dumb phone. You would not believe what runs through gapps. Searching a bus? Nope, requires google. Take a note? Nope, requires google. Edit a markdown file? Nope, requires google. f-droid and its analysis of apk files is a godsend. My phone stays silent, with ublock0 in Firefox, and never shows a notification if I don't want it to. Use contact stars for allowance of emergency calls in DND mode. I love it when I realize I haven't eaten at 21:00 because I could keep up the focus so much.

iammyIP 7y ago
the absence of a digital map/route planner also has advantages in that it removes the "sterile tourist bubble" and forces one to interact with the local people.
- CamperBob2 7y ago
  Why not leave home without your wallet, too, for that extra dose of third-world verisimilitude?
  - chaps 7y ago
    Snark aside, you realize that there's a middle ground, and that not every travel destination is 3rd world right?

lamby 7y ago

Android user here. The addition of "Focus Mode" has completely changed my approach to my device and, by extension, my life. Various personal relationships have been noticably improved for the better as I can concentrate on them better. I block all of the classic social notifications/apps, and I keep it on 24/7 apart from times I deliberately go out of my way to consciously press "Take a Break" for 5/10 minutes. The deliberate friction here is, of course, a welcome feature.