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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 de

by nesk_ 1y 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!

walthamstow 1y ago
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_ 1y ago
  But you need two devices, and this seems overkill. Without this limitation you could have only one phone.
carlosjobim 1y ago
You are allowed to have more than one phone.
- nesk_ 1y ago
  You're right, but I don't appreciate to be enforced to.
  - carlosjobim 1y ago
    Who is forcing you to do anything? You can do what you please.
    - nesk_ 1y ago
      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.
      - carlosjobim 1y ago
        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.
      - southernplaces7 1y ago
        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.
nottorp 1y ago
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_ 1y ago
  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 1y ago
    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 1y ago
      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 1y ago
        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 1y ago
        I leave notifications on because o only use them for things I need to be notified about. Largely, medical stuff.
Egrodo 1y ago
On Whatsapp web you can now log in with your phone number via a 2fac text, no camera required.
- nesk_ 1y ago
  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.
dotancohen 1y ago
> 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.
- nesk_ 1y ago
  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?"
- jonathantf2 1y ago
  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
  - AlexeyBelov 1y ago
    Depends on where in Europe :) Some parts use Telegram by and large.
coffeefirst 1y ago
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.

by nesk_ 1y ago

walthamstow 1y ago

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_ 1y ago
But you need two devices, and this seems overkill. Without this limitation you could have only one phone.

carlosjobim 1y ago

You are allowed to have more than one phone.

nesk_ 1y ago
You're right, but I don't appreciate to be enforced to.
- carlosjobim 1y ago
  Who is forcing you to do anything? You can do what you please.
  - nesk_ 1y ago
    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.
    - carlosjobim 1y ago
      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.
    - southernplaces7 1y ago
      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.

nottorp 1y ago

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_ 1y ago
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 1y ago
  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 1y ago
    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 1y ago
      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 1y ago
      I leave notifications on because o only use them for things I need to be notified about. Largely, medical stuff.

Egrodo 1y ago

On Whatsapp web you can now log in with your phone number via a 2fac text, no camera required.

nesk_ 1y ago
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.

dotancohen 1y ago

> 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.

nesk_ 1y ago
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?"
jonathantf2 1y ago
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
- AlexeyBelov 1y ago
  Depends on where in Europe :) Some parts use Telegram by and large.

coffeefirst 1y ago

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.