7 ms·

I want to throw my phone away and switch to a "dumb" phone so I can rid my addiction to it, but I have become dependent on several core apps such as Google Maps

I want to throw my phone away and switch to a "dumb" phone so I can rid my addiction to it, but I have become dependent on several core apps such as Google Maps. I wish Android would allow me full control to delete every app on there but the ones I most need. But unfortunately, its restrictions prevent me from doing so. For example, I want to delete all web browser apps so I am not tempted to the addiction of the internet, but Android won't let me. Does anyone here know how I can bypass this? I am close to purchasing the Light Phone 2 as a means to address my addiction, but again, it is missing Google Maps which I am heavily dependent on.

cristicismas 6y ago
You could block internet access for your browser. There are a lot of apps that let you do that (and in some cases I think you can also manage internet access in your settings).
misev 6y ago
There are dedicated GPS devices (by TomTom, Garmin, etc) which are much cheaper than smart phones. In the past they provided a far better experience too, I'm not sure how they compare to Google Maps nowadays though.
- kmnns 6y ago
  I got myself a Garmin device for exactly this purpose. Put your own OpenStreetMaps on it and you‘re good to go. Perfect GPS reception and much longer battery life included. But note that it‘s not the same als Google Maps/Apple Maps. If you want to test it out first, use an OSM-based app for a while, like OSMand, and see if it fits your bill. You get better hiking maps, but you might miss the integration of business opening hours, Yelp, traffic, etc. But for me it‘s worth it, for GP‘s reasons. People used to live without all these features before, after all.
vollmond 6y ago
Try using the LessPhone[0] launcher. I have used it off and on and had some success with it. It locks you down to a slim set of apps (configurable), in a plain black and white interface. It's not perfect, but it's helpful. [0] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.aswinmohan.nophone https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.aswinmohan....
- foofoo4u 6y ago
  Thank you! This is close to what I am looking for. I'll give it a shot and see if it addresses my problem. update1: Hmm. So it doesn't exactly address the core problem, which is I can still easily access those other apps that I wish to uninstall. So in a way, this app helps by making the UI less enticing to click on, but it doesn't address the core problem, which is to fully uninstall.
  - hammock 6y ago
    On Android if you have Digital Wellbeing you can set a timer for each app. Just set it at 1min for Chrome
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
robertdenir0 6y ago
Is it so difficult to practice self-control?
- felipellrocha 6y ago
  He did mention he's addicted, so yes.
andalusian_ipa 6y ago
It seems that the american/OP mindset is all about throwing dollars to the problems. No, you don't need to buy another phone so you reduce phone usage.
- hanniabu 6y ago
  You say that but can't provide any alternate solutions/suggestions/strategies?
  - andalusian_ipa 6y ago
    Not spend money in yet another phone and try to limit the usage of the current one?
    - freehunter 6y ago
      Nothing like telling an addict that they just need to stop being addicted. Simple answer, problem solved, right?
- zachrip 6y ago
  Why do you assume that OP is American? Consumerism is a worldwide problem.
saeranv 6y ago
I have the exact same desire. I want to delete my web browsers and just keep google maps. My solution to this is to download a parental control app (I use AppLock), and block the web browser and google play.
- foofoo4u 6y ago
  Thanks. I'll give this a shot as well.
bathMarm0t 6y ago
I look up directions before-hand and draw maps. It works most of the time as long as you plan to be a little late "snoopin" around.
- olyjohn 6y ago
  Reviewing your route and drawing it out beforehand works amazingly. You learn the route pretty damn well, and hardly have to even look at the map. This makes your whole drive safer as you're not looking at a screen watching the countdown to the next intersection. You learn how to actually get where you are going, and you learn your way around town better as a result. Using GPS with turn-by-turn directions forces me to rely on it, as I don't tend to remember the route for the next time I go to that location. I also find that if you look at the map and review it before you go, you can simplify most directions. Turn-by-turn directions tend give you every little detail that you may not need to remember to get to where you're going.
derefr 6y ago
A simple solution is to: 1. set up parental-control restrictions that lock you out of these apps; 2. hand your phone to someone you trust, and tell them to set the unlock password for the parental-control restrictions (so that only they will know it); 3. ask that said person also does you the service of typing the password to disable the restrictions when requested—but only with 24 hours' notice. (I.e. you ask, and then 24 hours later they'll do it.) That way, you'll never be tempted to unlock the restrictions for trivial things; but you can still e.g. reset the phone if you want to sell it. (You just need to wait 24 hours first.)
- foofoo4u 6y ago
  Brilliant. This might be the way I'll do it.
- 488643689 6y ago
  Solo tech fun: - Set a long parental control password, you won't remember. - Write it into some file. - Put that file into an encrypted container, with a short to medium generated random password you won't be shown . To access the phone you have to brute-force the container password.
  - derefr 6y ago
    Makes me picture a person who wants to learn lock-picking, putting randomized locks on internal doors between rooms in their house :)
someusername99 6y ago
Duh. Get two.
choicenotchance 6y ago
Install time limiting apps like Open Limit or Digital Wellbeing.
29083011397778 6y ago
I haven't seen anybody else mention it, but there is a method you can use. I've used it on my (unrooted) BlackBerry KeyOne to remove all Google apps, including Chrome and the Play Store. The Android Debug Bridge allows disabling packages and APKs. There's a walkthrough on XDA Developers [1] that (I assume) is more than enough for any HN reader. If not, shoot me a message and we can walk through it together :) [1] https://www.xda-developers.com/disable-system-app-bloatware-android/ https://www.xda-developers.com/disable-system-app-bloatware-...
pmcp 6y ago
I can advice you the Nokia Tough 800, I got it for exact the same reason. it’s a decent device that runs kaiOS, has maps, whatsapp and browser. The browser is so slow that it doesnt really become a time sink, (The bulk of websites are clearly not made for this screen size) so, I just check what i need to and that’s it. Maps works really nicely on it.

cristicismas 6y ago

You could block internet access for your browser. There are a lot of apps that let you do that (and in some cases I think you can also manage internet access in your settings).

misev 6y ago

There are dedicated GPS devices (by TomTom, Garmin, etc) which are much cheaper than smart phones. In the past they provided a far better experience too, I'm not sure how they compare to Google Maps nowadays though.

kmnns 6y ago
I got myself a Garmin device for exactly this purpose. Put your own OpenStreetMaps on it and you‘re good to go. Perfect GPS reception and much longer battery life included. But note that it‘s not the same als Google Maps/Apple Maps. If you want to test it out first, use an OSM-based app for a while, like OSMand, and see if it fits your bill. You get better hiking maps, but you might miss the integration of business opening hours, Yelp, traffic, etc. But for me it‘s worth it, for GP‘s reasons. People used to live without all these features before, after all.

vollmond 6y ago

Try using the LessPhone[0] launcher. I have used it off and on and had some success with it. It locks you down to a slim set of apps (configurable), in a plain black and white interface. It's not perfect, but it's helpful. [0] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.aswinmohan.nophone https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.aswinmohan....

foofoo4u 6y ago
Thank you! This is close to what I am looking for. I'll give it a shot and see if it addresses my problem. update1: Hmm. So it doesn't exactly address the core problem, which is I can still easily access those other apps that I wish to uninstall. So in a way, this app helps by making the UI less enticing to click on, but it doesn't address the core problem, which is to fully uninstall.
- hammock 6y ago
  On Android if you have Digital Wellbeing you can set a timer for each app. Just set it at 1min for Chrome

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

robertdenir0 6y ago

Is it so difficult to practice self-control?

felipellrocha 6y ago
He did mention he's addicted, so yes.

andalusian_ipa 6y ago

It seems that the american/OP mindset is all about throwing dollars to the problems. No, you don't need to buy another phone so you reduce phone usage.

hanniabu 6y ago
You say that but can't provide any alternate solutions/suggestions/strategies?
- andalusian_ipa 6y ago
  Not spend money in yet another phone and try to limit the usage of the current one?
  - freehunter 6y ago
    Nothing like telling an addict that they just need to stop being addicted. Simple answer, problem solved, right?
zachrip 6y ago
Why do you assume that OP is American? Consumerism is a worldwide problem.

saeranv 6y ago

I have the exact same desire. I want to delete my web browsers and just keep google maps. My solution to this is to download a parental control app (I use AppLock), and block the web browser and google play.

foofoo4u 6y ago
Thanks. I'll give this a shot as well.

bathMarm0t 6y ago

I look up directions before-hand and draw maps. It works most of the time as long as you plan to be a little late "snoopin" around.

olyjohn 6y ago
Reviewing your route and drawing it out beforehand works amazingly. You learn the route pretty damn well, and hardly have to even look at the map. This makes your whole drive safer as you're not looking at a screen watching the countdown to the next intersection. You learn how to actually get where you are going, and you learn your way around town better as a result. Using GPS with turn-by-turn directions forces me to rely on it, as I don't tend to remember the route for the next time I go to that location. I also find that if you look at the map and review it before you go, you can simplify most directions. Turn-by-turn directions tend give you every little detail that you may not need to remember to get to where you're going.

derefr 6y ago

A simple solution is to: 1. set up parental-control restrictions that lock you out of these apps; 2. hand your phone to someone you trust, and tell them to set the unlock password for the parental-control restrictions (so that only they will know it); 3. ask that said person also does you the service of typing the password to disable the restrictions when requested—but only with 24 hours' notice. (I.e. you ask, and then 24 hours later they'll do it.) That way, you'll never be tempted to unlock the restrictions for trivial things; but you can still e.g. reset the phone if you want to sell it. (You just need to wait 24 hours first.)

foofoo4u 6y ago
Brilliant. This might be the way I'll do it.
488643689 6y ago
Solo tech fun: - Set a long parental control password, you won't remember. - Write it into some file. - Put that file into an encrypted container, with a short to medium generated random password you won't be shown . To access the phone you have to brute-force the container password.
- derefr 6y ago
  Makes me picture a person who wants to learn lock-picking, putting randomized locks on internal doors between rooms in their house :)

someusername99 6y ago

Duh. Get two.

choicenotchance 6y ago

Install time limiting apps like Open Limit or Digital Wellbeing.

29083011397778 6y ago

I haven't seen anybody else mention it, but there is a method you can use. I've used it on my (unrooted) BlackBerry KeyOne to remove all Google apps, including Chrome and the Play Store. The Android Debug Bridge allows disabling packages and APKs. There's a walkthrough on XDA Developers [1] that (I assume) is more than enough for any HN reader. If not, shoot me a message and we can walk through it together :) [1] https://www.xda-developers.com/disable-system-app-bloatware-android/ https://www.xda-developers.com/disable-system-app-bloatware-...

pmcp 6y ago

I can advice you the Nokia Tough 800, I got it for exact the same reason. it’s a decent device that runs kaiOS, has maps, whatsapp and browser. The browser is so slow that it doesnt really become a time sink, (The bulk of websites are clearly not made for this screen size) so, I just check what i need to and that’s it. Maps works really nicely on it.